Comedian Augie T crashed Lea Salonga's Maui concert recently, ending up doing an impromptu 15-minute warm-up for the Broadway songstress. "First time I had a comic open up for me," Salonga said of the fun-filled intrusion. See, she was concertizing at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center's Castle Theater; he had a competing stand-up show, with his own opening act, at another MACC venue, which meant he had a few minutes to trek to the main hall and "surprise" a fellow Filipino entertainer. However, he did get permission from show presenter Tom Moffatt to do his shtick, so it wasn't like he barged in without an OK.

While on the Valley Isle, Salonga dined at Mala Wailea, the Mark Ellman hot spot at the Wailea Beach Marriott Resort & Spa. Salonga particularly loved the Kobe cheeseburger (said it was the best Island meal she'd had), a creation of Ellman, one of the founders of Hawai'i Regional Cuisine. Diners included Art Vento, head of the MACC, and Salonga's mother, who accompanied her on this Hawai'i trek. ...

NAMES 'N' PLACES: Some Hawaii Opera Theatre patrons and supporters will be in New York City for local boy Quinn Kelsey's Metropolitan Opera debut as Shaunard in "La Boheme" beginning March 29 at Lincoln Center. Kelsey is among the shining stars of the HOT Mae Z. Orvis Opera Studio and last graced the HOT stage in 2007's "Madama Butterfly" in the role of Sharpless. ...

Out New York way, it's been a marathon of rehearsals and now preview performances for our Broadway Babe, Loretta Ables Sayre, who is making her Great White Way debut as Bloody Mary in "South Pacific," being directed by one-time Islander Bartlett Sher at Lincoln Center's Vivian Beaumont Theatre, where it premieres April 3. So far, it's been a strenuous but exciting experience for Ables Sayre - long hours, a test on her vocal cords, an aura of big-league wonderment. Still, there have been local connections. Leslie Wilcox, honcho of PBS Hawaii, had dinner with the actress, and was told that Sher has been encouraging Ables Sayre to add depth, breadth and cultural dimension beyond the wild-and-wacky persona associated with the Tonkinese character. "Since she has leeway in curse words (in character, of course), she's swearing in the Filipino language," said Wilcox. Her Playbill bio will mention that Ables Sayre is "the voice of PBS Hawaii," but in her absence, Laurie-Ann Salomon is pinch-hitting. ...

Ables Sayre's husband, David Sayre, is back in New York to provide a soft shoulder; and ex-pats like Melanie Tojio (who was in "Miss Saigon") and Randl Ask have connected with Ables Sayre with words of encouragement and support. And many locals will bring their aloha to "South Pacific," too, over the next three months. ...

ABOUT PEOPLE: Tannya Joaquin, co-anchor of Hawaii at Five on KHON2, is hapai; she and hubby Alan Joaquin are expecting a son around Labor Day, which may bring her new insights of that holiday. Joaquin announced her great expectation on-air recently; Justin Cruz, weather anchor, said the forecast since has been very cool and calm. "Very little morning sickness," said Cruz. "She's doing very well." ...

Michael Shishido, former radio guy (Salem's programming director for The Fish KAIM-FM, 99.5 KHUI and 97.5 KHNR), has been channeling his energy at The Ocean Network, Channel 349 on the TV dial, where sea-worthy programs thrive on surfing, fishing, boating, diving and marine life stuff. "Ultimately, we will be expanding to the Mainland to make this a true network," said Shishido. To date, the network casts its line only locally. ...

Compadres Bar & Grill normally offers its legendary corned beef and cabbage quesadillas on St. Patrick's Day but it remains on the menu all week after the holiday. One person who couldn't wait for the delish dish was Frannie Kirk of Outrigger Entertainment. She called up and ordered a major group luncheon for her staff, served on March 10. Chef Raul Puga was happy to cook it up early. ...

"The New York Bad-Ass" Phil Baroni, a martial arts fighter, dined recently on sushi at Kevin Aoki's Doraku Sushi in the Royal Hawaiian Center. With his girlfriend by his side, Baroni came prepared with an appetite for hamachi kama and other delicacies dished up at the restaurant's sushi bar. Baroni was here to face Wai'anae's Kala Kolohe Hose last weekend at Blaisdell Arena. ...

FINALLY: That Princess Ka'iulani biopic, which was shooting in Waimanalo a few days back, will get a chance to film inside historic 'Iolani Palace shortly. Q'orianka Kilcher ("The New World") plays the princess, but don't expect "Barbarian Princess" to be the final title. Bryan Furer, who's doing makeup, says a historical drama is a toughie -a challenge. ...

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.