John Rampage, artistic director of Diamond Head Theatre, makes his first appearance in 10 years on the DHT stage when he plays The Man in Chair, the lead role in the Tony Award-winning musical, "The Drowsy Chaperone," premiering Friday.

His last on-stage performance was in that tap-dancer, "42nd Street."

When Rampage and DHT's executive director Deena Dray saw the show during a 2006 Broadway visit, he nudged her, saying: "If we ever get that show, that's the role that would get me back on stage." She held him to his word, and happily, guest director James Patterson approved.

Patterson is a Broadway vet who has toured with "Chaperone." While ensconced at the Sheraton Waikiki hotel, he ran into fellow New Yorker David Spangenthal, who helmed and choreographed DHT's "Beauty and the Beast" (and also played the Beast) in 2005. Spangenthal was visiting with his family. Both earlier were in "Beauty and the Beast," but in separate runs. Curiously, both played Knife, one of the dancing utensils in the Disney hit. ...

STAGE SHORTS: Ashley Layfield, former Miss Hawai'i, and sister Jonelle Layfield, ex-Miss Hawai'i-Universe, plan to relocate to New York and Los Angeles respectively, to pursue entertainment careers. Both are dancers with Marcelo Pacleb, who is choreographing Paliku Theatre's "West Side Story," in which Ashley is playing Anybodys. Ashley was in the Big Apple in November to prep for her move, and was mesmerized by the dancing in the "West Side Story" revival now on Broadway. ...

Manoa Valley Theatre's "Forbidden Broadway: Special Victims Unit," has been extended for five more performances, so the show now closes Sept. 27. It's Gerard Alessandrini's valentine to the Great White Way, seen through poke-fun glasses. You'll love the segment on "Les Misérables," especially Tricia Marciel's "On My Phone" parody, plus hits on "Mamma Mia," "Jersey Boys," "Mary Poppins" and "The Little Mermaid." Good to see Guy Merola channel his opera-quality voice into tongue-in-cheek situations, too. And, if director Elitei Tatafu Jr. is in the house, take a periodic peek at him; he'll laugh and chuckle, enjoying and living the dream with his actors. ...

HERE 'N' THERE: A swarm of top local talent helped Vicky Hollinger celebrate her birthday recently at the Elks Club, where she occasionally performs with Kawika McGuire and Joe Recca as Naluhoe. Marlene Sai, Nina Keali'iwahama, Mahi and Sunbeam Beamer and Makana took the stage to say hauoli la hanau. ...

Jazz songstress Pauline Wilson had a homecoming concert at Hilo's Palace Theatre recently — her first show since she left Seawind 30 years ago. She was joined by David Choy's jazz group. Wilson has been recording a U.S. Seawind album for an expected reunion tour; an Asian CD recorded in Japan also is due. ...

Pianist Kit Samson provides cocktail music at the Restaurant Association of Hawaii's "Hall of Fame" event tomorrow at the Hawaii Prince Hotel. ...

Sunset Street (Gail Mack and Gordon Kim) will perform from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at Hukilau Restaurant at downtown's Executive Center. ...

MENTIONABLES: When the Aloha Festivals parade journeys through Waikiki this Saturday, Melveen Leed will be the Pa'u Queen on horseback. The parade co-emcees at the Hawaii Prince Hotel will be Jeffrey Apaka and Augie T. ...

Regis Philbin, of "Live With Regis and Kelly," talked up his recent Hawai'i stay and the fun he had on the Atlantis Submarines tour off Lahaina, even sharing photos from his sub dive and his pretense of being scared. ...

And that's Show Biz...

Reach Wayne Harada at 266-0926. Read his Show Biz column Sundays in Island Life. Read his blog at http://showandtellhawaii.honadvblogs.com.