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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, September 11, 2008

SHOW BIZ
Stars come out for actor Lee's nuptials

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Columnist

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser
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Actor Jason Scott Lee tied the knot with Diana Chan, a native of Singapore he met while filming there, last Sunday at Our Lady of the Mount Church in Pearl City, where his mom Sylvia resides. Lee's brother Stuart was best man; Monsignor Terry Watanabe officiated.

About 200 family and close friends attended the reception at Chai's Island Bistro, including actor Daniel Dae Kim, Jin of ABC's "Lost." Robi Kahakalau, a Chai's regular, entertained; and Lee's longtime pal, Emme Tomimbang, emceed.

Lee, whose diverse films include "Rapa Nui," "Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story," "The Jungle Book" and "Lilo and Stitch" (voicing the role of David), has opted for the secluded life in Volcano, Hawai'i, away from the Hollywood spotlight. His farm includes a home with a built-in theater utilized for special plays and music. ...

AROUND TOWN: Look for the return of "American Idol" finalist Jasmine Trias at the Outrigger Waikiki's Main Showroom. She'll rejoin the Society of Seven Las Vegas, beginning Sept. 26, and will remain in the lineup till Oct. 25. The SOS LV will be on vacation from Oct. 26, returning Nov. 8.

Trias brought zest and sparkle to the SOS venue, attracting beaucoup locals. "The showroom staff and I are ready to welcome her back royally; we missed having Jas around," said Frannie Kirk, Outrigger entertainment director, who knows how to spot a hot combo. ...

K-EARTH 101, a Southern California oldies radio station, has been broadcasting its afternoon drive show live from the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa on the Big Island and the Wailea Beach Marriott on Maui this week in a partnership with Marriott and Hawaiian Airlines. DJ "Shotgun Tom" Kelly has been featuring both Islands and giving away 20 trips to Hawai'i, courtesy of the Marriott sponsor. ...

Jennie Von Rohr, the mother of singer-actress Loretta Ables Sayre, will be off to Los Angles tomorrow, meeting up with Loretta's sister Barbara Karges before trekking to New York to see, for the very first time, our Tony nominee Ables Sayre in "South Pacific" at Lincoln Center's Vivian Beaumont Theater. Betcha she'll get a "Bali Ha'i" high. ...

Comedian Jaz Kaner has been summering as the Huntington Beach Hilton's No. 1 surf instructor ... before the fall cruise ship season. ...

broadway buddies: Hawai'i is somewhat of an off-off-off-Broadway zone this week with the presence of "The Three Phantoms," returning for a three-day run starting tomorrow at the Hawai'i Theatre. The trio of Broadway stars — Craig Schulman, Cris Groenendaal and Kevin Gray — all have donned the Phantom's mask, plus taken other roles.

Because their new show is a benefit for Ballet Hawaii, they've been rehearsing at Ballet Hawaii's studio at Dole Cannery, where Richard Vida, a Broadway vet (on a brief hiatus from his touring show, "The Drowsy Chaperone"), has been hanging out. Turns out that Peter Lockyer, who is co-directing and co-choreographing "Les Misérables" with wife Melanie Tojio Lockyer at Diamond Head Theatre, visited their ol' Broadway pals the other day — recalling incredible links. ...

Like: The Lockyers (Chris, Kim) both did "Miss Saigon" with Gray (The Engineer); and Lockyer (Marius) did "Les Miz" with Schulman (Valjean) and Vida (Thenardier). Lockyer has "Phantom" ties (understudying Phantom, playing Raoul) with Groenendaal.

Lockyer was fortunate to chat with Colm Wilkinson, who originated the Valjean role that Schulman has done here twice previously, getting notes and well-wishes on the endeavor. "Les Miz" opens Sept. 26 but has been extended through Oct. 19, enabling the couple to get a few more days with family here.

"It was funny to come all he way to Hawai'i to meet up with old friends," said Tojio Lockyer. "We are going to drag them to the beach between all our rehearsals." ...

CONSIDERATIONS: "Oliver!," at Army Community Theatre's Richardson Theatre (Fridays and Saturdays, through Sept. 20), has lots going for it: two stellar kiddie leads (Lucas Cusick as the sweet-toned Oliver Twist and Chandler Bragdon as pickpocketing Artful Dodger), a slippery Fagin (Michael Pa'ekukui, as the leader of the band of thieves), and a paradoxical but vocally stunning Nancy (Jennifer Cleve Sojot). Director Stephanie Conching not only has a small army of on-stage kids; the Hawaii Youth Opera Chorus (about 10 kids per show) also provides splendid off-stage choral support. ...

And yep, Lucas' dad, Henry Ian Cusick (Desmond on "Lost") snuck in both Friday and Saturday nights, and had pizza and sodas with the delighted cast at the opening-night party. ...

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.