SHOW BIZ By
Wayne Harada
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SIGHT 'EMS: Actor Robert Redford was ensconced for a week with family and friends at Kona Village Resort on the Big Island recently — where he celebrated his 70th birthday. The Sundance Kid worked on his tennis, took long strolls around the resort's 82 acres and dined most evenings at the hotel's Hale Samoa — under watchful but respectful scrutiny from other guests. ...
"Lost" actor Naveen Andrews (Sayid) dined at Chai's Island Bistro recently, when Hapa was in the spotlight. Fellow actor-director Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (Mr. Eko) also was in with pals to mark his birthday, listening to The Brothers Cazimero. "Lost" producers of the ABC-TV show also "find" their way to Chai Chaowasaree's night spot at Aloha Tower Marketplace. ...
BACKSTAGE BITS: Actress Victoria Gail-White, who also is The Advertiser's art reviewer, is a kitchen whiz. She's the baker of irresistible oatmeal-granola-cranberry-chocolate cookies that are popular nibblers at Manoa Valley Theatre's intermission. For the upcoming "Urinetown," she's preparing spiced Pee-Cans, Pee-nut butter cookies, Urinetown Cheesies (golden yellow cheese biscuits) and a lemon-glazed poundcake. You get the idea. ...
Darren Lee replaces David Spangenthal as director-choreographer of Diamond Head Theatre's "Thoroughly Modern Millie," premiering Sept. 23. Besides Shawna Masuda in the title role, the cast includes Cathy Foy (Mrs. Meers), Alison Maldonado (Muzzy Van Hossmere), Tricia Marciel (Dorothy Brown), Pedro Haro (Jimmy Smith), Elitei Tatafu Jr. (Ching Ho), Gary Masuoka (Bun Foo), Mikel Humerickhouse (Trevor Graydon) and Jodi Leong (Miss Flannery). ...
Jack and Marlena Hufstetler (he's the technical director at Paliku Theatre at Windward Community College) welcomed their first child, Eric Elijah Hufstetler. The Hufstetlers were married on the Paliku stage in 2005 and had promised the theater supporters that Eric would become a human mascot for Paliku, joining their canines, Hoku and Makani, who have been attending "Oklahoma" rehearsals prior to the Oct. 13 launch. ...
Michael J. Fisch, The Advertiser's president and publisher, is the Aloha Council, Boy Scouts of America's 2006 Hawai'i Distinguished Citizen. The honor came a day before his 55th birthday on Sept. 1, so Danny Kaleikini — who performed both the national and state anthems — led the audience in a "Happy Birthday" serenade. Fisch's mom, Eileen, traveled from Arizona to celebrate both milestones. ...
RANDOM NOTES: Raiatea Helm performed in Reno, Nev., accompanied by dad Zachary Helm and Jack Ofoia, then hopped a flight to Japan to promote her "Sweet & Lovely" CD for Victor Entertainment/JVC Japan. She's also in the studio with Dave Tucciarone, working on a new CD. ...
Power players galore dined at Ruth's Chris Steak House last week. Danny Kaleikini and Linda Wong hosted Mayor Mufi Hannemann and wife Gail, Sharon Weiner of Duty Free Shoppers, Rosie Rafael (spouse of the hotelier Georg Rafael) and Rex Johnson of the Hawai'i Tourism Authority. At other tables: Bob Fishman, former Honolulu managing director, here for a business meeting from Washington; and Guy Merola and Mark Wong of Commercial Data Systems, community activists and sponsors of Army Community Theatre's "Sweeney Todd," listening to Broadway stories shared by producer-singer Joy Wood and theater vet Richard Vida. ...
FINALLY: Singer Manny Lagod, Farrington grad and ex-member of The Aliis (which backed Don Ho), is visiting from California. He'll hit the golf links with ex-classmate former Gov. Ben Cayetano, huddle with Flip McDiarmid of Hula Records on the prospects of a Hawaiian music CD, visit mom Juanita here and attend nephew Rocky Parades' wedding. Lagod also is a nominee in the L.A. Music Awards on Oct. 27; his "Sunday Mornings" is vying for Male Singer and Songwriter of the Year. ...
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.