BROADWAY BITS: We're just back from New York, where we bumped into Peter Lawrence, the former Islander and one-time drama critic for The Advertiser, while crossing W. 50th Street and Eighth Avenue. Lawrence said he's doing pre-production work for the 2008 debut of "Shrek: The Musical," which will be the animated franchise's first venture on the Great White Way; Jason Moore ("Avenue Q") will direct.

The show will feature tunes by Jeanine Tesori ("Thoroughly Modern Millie," "Caroline, Or Change") with book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire ("High Fidelity"). Casting Ogre, Fiona, Donkey and the other critters sounds like a major challenge.

Lawrence was associate director and production stage manager of "Spamalot," has associate-directed "Gypsy," "Man of La Mancha" and "Miss Saigon," and has been involved in various capacities for hits such as "The Goodbye Girl," "Annie Get Your Gun," "Sunset Boulevard," "Zorba" and "Ain't Misbehavin'." Local actors may know him from earlier Broadway auditions conducted in Honolulu.

He earned his stage stripes at the University of Hawai'i, has lived on the Big Island and said he's eager to return to the Islands someday when it's pau- hana time. "I'd love to retire in about two years," Lawrence said. "Know of any jobs then?" ...

There's an emerging buzz in New York about the 2008 revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein's "South Pacific" at Lincoln Center. This is the 1949 classic, for which Islander Loretta Ables Sayre (who opens Friday in Diamond Head Theatre's "You Somebody") has been tapped to go through another audition phase for the role of Bloody Mary. Bartlett Sherr, who directed the elegantly enchanting "The Light in the Piazza," will direct. Ables Sayre will fly to New York in August, after "Somebody" closes, to pursue this dream. ...

THE LOCAL ANGLE: Finally got to see three Punahou grads in two musical revivals: Jason Tam in "A Chorus Line" and Ann Harada and Douglas Kreeger in "Les Miserables." Tam, as Paul San Marco, is poignant and marvelous in his lengthy monologue, but also an accomplished and agile dancer, taking the front-and-center spot in the "One" finale. "I'm smaller than I was when I first started doing the show," he said at the Gerald Schonfeld Theatre stage door after a Sunday performance, referring to his buff and toned body, a result of the energy required to play a chorus liner seeking a role. ...

Harada (no relation) is enjoying her second major role in The Big Apple (she was previously Christmas Eve in the Tony Award-winning "Avenue Q"), taking over the comedic Madame Thenardier part (opposite Gary Beach as Thenardier) in "Les Miz" at the Broadhurst Theatre. Her Maui parents have also moved to New York and are playing the role of proud grandparents. ...

We missed Kreeger at the Broadhurst stage door but saw his portrayal of Jean Prouvaire in "Les Miz"; he has understudied and played Marius on a couple of occasions. ...

Visited the Virgin Music store at Times Square the day Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's "Wonderful World" CD went on sale, and picked up a copy there. A few days later, there were empty spots on the CD racks, indicating Iz is off and humming. ...

NAME-DROPPING: Out of jail and back on Maui? Socialite Paris Hilton dined at Longhi's at The Shops of Wailea a few nights back. ...

Josh Holloway, the Hawai'i Kai resident who's the con man of "Lost," dined at Morton's the Steakhouse with his wife, finding fine steaks and wines. ...

Winemaker Peter Mondavi also found his way to Morton's with his family, selecting filet as well as opah with a pairing of — what else? — his own Charles Krug 2002 Vintner's Select Cabernet Sauvignon. ...

And that's Show Biz. ...

Show Biz is published Tuesdays and Thursdays. Reach Wayne Harada at 525-8067, wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com or fax 525-8055.