Vanita Rae Smith, veteran producer-director of the Army Community Theatre at Fort Shafter, has received the David C. Bryant Outstanding Service Award from the American Association of Community Theatres, recognizing her service to community theater in America.

Smith received the honor at an Awards Luncheon in New York at Sardi's, the famous Broadway restaurant underwritten by Theatrical Rights Worldwide.

Smith, a Kailua resident, will open the Army Community Theatre's 66th season Sept. 4 with the Broadway musical "Oliver." Her Readers Theatre series opens on Sept. 7 with Dante's "Inferno."

ACTOR ENTERS PLEA IN STABBING ATTACK

SAN DIEGO — An actor who appeared in the hit comedy "The 40-Year-Old Virgin" has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder in the stabbing of his girlfriend.

Shelley Malil appeared yesterday in San Diego County Superior Court. The 43-year-old could be sentenced to life in prison if convicted of the charge, which includes special circumstances of premeditation, causing great bodily injury and using a deadly weapon.

Malil was arrested Monday.

Sheriff's deputies found 35-year-old Kendra Beebe on Sunday after receiving reports of screams at her home in the inland suburb of San Marcos. She had been stabbed more than 20 times.

She was hospitalized in critical condition.

WAGNER PARTS WAYS WITH CRUISE

LOS ANGELES — Tom Cruise's producing partner Paula Wagner said she will leave her job as chief executive of the United Artists studio to produce projects independently.

Wagner said in a statement yesterday that she wants to return to making movies but still believes in the vision she and Cruise have for UA, which she co-owns with Cruise.

She also said she has enjoyed working with Cruise and is proud of what the pair has accomplished.

Cruise and Wagner took over United Artists, a film studio first formed nearly 90 years ago by Hollywood actors, in November 2006.

MAYER-ANISTON HOOKUP ENDS

Four weeks after rumors surfaced they were on the verge of possibly talking about perhaps becoming engaged comes news that John Mayer, 30, and Jennifer Aniston, 38, who were last reported to be having tons of fun, are no longer so ardent.

British tabloid the Mirror claims the couple, who first hooked up in May have broken up. The New York Daily News says Aniston at first was "furious" but soon down-shifted to "a little heartbroken."

Mayer has previously rocked the house with Jessica Simpson and Jennifer Love Hewitt.