SOS Las Vegas leader wearing 2 hats while entertaining in Waikiki

NIGHT MUSINGS: Richard Natto, the leader of the Society of Seven Las Vegas, has been juggling two gigs in recent weeks. His principal engagement, of course, is with the SOS at the Main Showroom of the Outrigger Waikiki Hotel. But for a couple of weeks now, Natto has been heading Richard Natto and the NightTime Philharmonic, the new house band on "NightTime With Andy Bumatai," the talk show hosted by comedian Bumatai, now ensconced at Hilton Hawaiian Village's Tropics Surf Club.

Natto and the Phil have replaced Don Tiki, the exotic music-makers, bringing a sound that's more rock-oriented and hip, said Bumatai.

"Don Tiki decided they wanted to leave," said Bumatai, so there was no ouster.

With tapings from 7 to 10 p.m. twice a week (generally on Mondays and Thursdays, but occasionally on a Wednesday), Natto can perform and accommodate the first of three tapings. Then he has to make his own curtain time with the SOS. "He literally has a car waiting," said Bumatai, "with driver and engine running." Thus, he sprints to the Outrigger from the Hilton. ...

Natto also has provided an additional element: "He wrote our 'NightTime' theme song," said Bumatai.

HERE 'N' THERE: With a flock of locals in Las Vegas for the University of Hawai'i Warriors' football game, a couple of hundred took in the Tony Ruivivar-led Society of Seven matinee show at the Flamingo, prompting Ruivivar to coax songbird Lani Misalucha to sing her powerful "Kamehameha Waltz." It was a big hit. About 100 VIP guests were treated by the Flamingo. By the way, the SOS close Jan. 2 for 30 days, reopening Feb. 8, in case you're heading that way. ...

Joy Abbott has a busy fall ahead — on the Mainland — with a Jason Alexander-helmed black-and-Hispanic production of her late husband George Abbott's "Damn Yankees," plus a yet-to-be-announced project at Temple University, her alma mater. She just made her concert debut here with "Broadway Reflections" with pal Davis Gaines at the Hawai'i Theatre, a benefit for the Hawaii Performing Arts Foundation. ...

Guy Merola, president of the new foundation, is eager for the day the organization can help steer the course for youngsters to find theatrical success in New York or L.A. "For me to have someone like Davis Gaines come in to help ... I'm living vicariously," said Merola, a sometimes singer who is co-founder of Commercial Data Systems, a patron of the performing arts and one-time singing waiter at Le Bon restaurant. ...

THEATER CHATTER: Eric Johnson, Honolulu Theatre for Youth artistic director, has a premier engagement on the books: He's getting married. His fiancee is Megan Saito, an attorney at Cades Schutte, and the engaged couple are off to his hometown, Boone, N.C., so she can meet his extended family. Johnson joined HTY in May, met Saito through HTY volunteer Carolyn Kishi at the opening of "Winnie-the-Pooh" four months later — proving there are sparks in theater. ...

Dennis Proulx has been cast as Tevye, performing the likes of "If I Were a Rich Man," joining the earlier-announced Shari Lynn as Golda, in Army Community Theatre's "Fiddler on the Roof," opening Nov. 15 at Richardson Theatre. ...

John Mount had been previously named as Cervantes/Don Quixote, the "Man of La Mancha," at Kennedy Theatre, starting Nov. 19. Others in the cast: Erin Kim (Aldonza/Dulcenea), Daren Kimura (Sancho Panza), Larry Paxton (the Padre). Sounds like a dreamy cast. Glenn Cannon directs, Tom Bingham conducts. ...

SHORTS OF SORTS: Georgia McCauley, who was interviewed on Emme Tomimbang's recent special, was misidentified in this space earlier; she is the hanai mother of Maya Soetoro-Ng, the sister of presidential hopeful Barack Obama. ...

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.