Actress Megan Ward, a Kaiser High School grad, is portraying Kate Howard, the new love interest of Emmy winner Maurice Bernard's Sonny Corinthos character on ABC's "General Hospital" soap opera. Ward and Bernard are creating sparks (Google Corinthos and Howard and explore) and her friends and family (her dad is acting coach Wayne Ward) are happy with the buzz. ...

And on ABC's "All My Children," Sterling Sulieman is portraying Dre, a member of a garage band, in a teen-angled story revolving around Sean Montgomery (enacted by Brent Weber) and Colby Chandler (played by Ambyr Childers). Sulieman previously was on "The Bold and the Beautiful" and more recently was a dance ensemble member for Disney's "High School Musical" national tour. He was a 2001 Brown Bags winner who graduated from the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television. You also may know Sterling as the brother of Yasmeen Sulieman, the singer. ...

And don't forget, Jason Tam of Honolulu is portraying Markko on "One Life to Live," too. ...

Belated congrats to local boy Chip Goebert, a Castle High grad who now calls Los Angeles home, for his second prime-time Emmy Award for his cinematography in CBS' "The Amazing Race." Understandably, his mom — who still lives in Kailua — is plenty proud. ...

AFTER HOURS: Want to see and meet a couple of principals starring in "The Lion King" at Blaisdell Concert Hall through Dec. 9, without the makeup and doing a bit of performing outside the usual Disney framework? Mufasa (Geno Segers), Rafiki (Gugwana Dlamini), Simba (Clifton Oliver) and Nala (Ta'Rea Campbell) are among the performers at the Lion King Cabaret Show, benefitting "Destination: Groove Dance Hawai'i," from 6 p.m. Monday at the Halekulani hotel. The pair playing Young Simba (Nicholas L. Ashe and Trevor Jackson) and the duo portraying Young Nala (Diamond Curvy and Jamani Epps) also will appear, along with most of the African-American ensemble members. It should be a night to remember. About 10 songs and six dances will be shared, plus a special video presentation by Segers. That's the buzz. Tickets are pricey ($100 each, $200 for VIP seating), but this is a one-time-only adventure. ...

I caught up with Kevin Gray, who is Scar in "The Lion King," and he can't believe that the musical is nearly at the halfway mark of its 12-week run. He's managed to enjoy some scuba-diving during his free time. ...

WHEE, THE PEOPLE: Daddy would surely be proud. Hoku, the singing daughter of the late Don Ho, gives a performance next Tuesday at the Roxy in Los Angeles, with Brett Young and Ryan Calhoun sharing the bill. It's kind of a coming-out party of music Hoku was creating at the time of the unexpected death of her beloved father in April. ...

Hawaii Opera Theatre's Karen Tiller has been out of town, directing the Memphis Opera's "Turandot" production. Her high school chum, Roy Smith, was doing the Calaf role, which he recently did in Vienna to rave reviews. The last time they worked together was in high school, when they appeared in "Carousel." ...

Also on the road is HOT's general and managing director, Henry Akina. He heads for Canada in November to premiere "Don Giovanni" at the National Theatre of Canada for Opera Lyra Ottawa. The set, by Peter Dean Beck, was part of HOT's past season. ...

MOVING ON?: FACE of Nu'uanu is pau for another year, and certainly has bolstered the Downtown arts district as a place of reckoning. But looks like the major runway event will expand to Waikiki next year, eager sponsors awaiting to join the reinvented celebration in a hub that attracts both visitor and local clientele — and broader spotlight potential. Certainly, Waikiki players have deeper pockets to finance Takeo and Eric Chandler's vision and budget. ...

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.