Autumn Ogawa returns to the Army Community Theatre at Fort Shafter's Richardson Theatre to portray Cassie, the centrifugal force in "A Chorus Line," starting Feb. 25. It's a homecoming, since Ogawa, now a teacher at Punahou School, made her musical theater debut at ACT in 1990 as the titular character in "Annie."

"She beat out over 80 little girls for our first 'Annie,' " recalls Vanita Rae Smith, who is directing the adult Ogawa in the celebrated backstage musical of dancers eager join a chorus line.

For Ogawa, it's art imitating life. After years of auditions, she never imagined trying out for "A Chorus Line," but received a call last year to consider Connie Wong, the Asian role, in an upcoming national tour of the Michael Bennett classic. However, she already had a gig in Hawaii Ballet Theatre's holiday "Nutcracker" and landed a teaching and choreographing job at the junior school at Punahou. "Funny how I always come home for a vacation and end up staying and working," Ogawa muses. " 'Music and the Mirror' (Cassie's pivotal song-and-dance moment) was one of the songs I always was asked to perform, but never allowed to do; instead I was given 'Miss Saigon,' 'The King and I,' 'Mikado' and 'Flower Drum Song.' "...

The "Chorus" cast also features Peter Togawa as Zack, Chris Villasenor as Paul, Lynne Nakamoto as Connie, and Heather Taylor as Sheila. Grace Bell Humerickhouse is choreographer and Peter Rucci is musical director. ...

WHEE, THE PEOPLE: When comic-actor Bill Cosby was here for his Blaisdell Concert Hall shows, he lunched at Linda and Larry Chan's Mandalay Restaurant. Liked it so much, he ordered takeout every day. His gotta-have? Bitter melon, a dish his mom used to make, which surprised Linda Chan a skosh, since bitter melon is a traditional Chinese dish, not so common on the Mainland. ...

Emme Tomimbang and hubby James Burns invited Mike Hewitson, an assistant valet to Elton John, to dinner at Chai's Island Bistro when the Rocket Man was concertizing here. Tomimbang first met Hewitson when he was here with the Dave Clark Five in 1964. It was a walk down memory lane, since her gal pal Corliss Ota, a fellow Korlette (sorta groupies/helpers at the old KORL Radio), brought photos of the Brit rockers with the local teens. If John is on tour again next year, he'd include Hawai'i — he played tennis daily at Waialae Country Club and was a regular at Roy's Hawai'i Kai. ...

Jim and Pam McCoy earned the costume prize — peacock fathers affixed to their horned helmets — at the recent Hawaii Opera Theatre 50th anniversary party. The plumes honored opera's iconic woman warrior, largely associated with "Die Walkure," HOT's showcase production to be directed by Henry Akina Feb. 12, 14 and 16 at the Blaisdell Concert Hall. ...

NAME-DROPPING: Six contemporary Island music acts — Anuhea, Pimpbot, Mishka, Kona, Sabrina and YAHOWHA 13 — will head for the 24th South by Southwest Music & Media Festival and Conferences in Austin, Texas, March 17 through 21. It's the second year with a Hawai'i presence at SXSW. ...

Ex-Islander Jason Momoa, Ronon in "Stargate Atlantis," will star in a remake of "Conan" that begins shooting in March in Bulgaria. But don't expect him to sport the dreadlocks that gave him headaches and even a whiplash during Ronon filming. Watch for Momoa in HBO's upcoming "Game of Thrones," in which he plays yet another warrior, Drogo. ...

And that's Show Biz. ...

Reach Wayne Harada at 266-0926. Read his blog Fridays in TGIF and online at http://showandtellhawaii.honadvblogs.com.