SHOW BIZ By
Wayne Harada
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You might have seen her but may not have recognized her: Local dancer Cara Horibe, of Fanny Pak ("America's Best Dance Crew"), appears in Disney's "High School Musical 3," performing as the funky cheerleader. After a Halloween gig, Horibe headed to Guam with Kaba Modern and Boogie Bots. She'll likely be on a Canadian tour with Super Cr3w and Supreme Soul, but be home for the holidays for some deserved R&R. ...
HERE 'N' THERE: Chef Alan Wong recently brought a three-day "Taste of Hawaii" to Munich, Germany, last month. It was a joint venture with Oliver Altherr, formerly of the Kahala Mandarin Oriental Hotel who now is CEO of Marche Restaurants. The award-winning Wong shared such signature fare as his kalua pig nachos, 'ahi poke spoons, soy-braised kalbi short ribs and tomato beet salad with li hing mui vinaigrette. It was a reunion, too, for Wong and Altherr, but also with Altherr's wife Karin, who was a former sous chef at Alan Wong's flagship restaurant on King Street. The bond between Wong and the Altherrs runs deep: The chef was at the couple's beachside wedding ceremony at the Hualalai Resort — and was the one who gave away the bride. ...
The German promotion also tapped the music and aloha of Danny and Anna Akaka Jr., who provided music, hula and talk-story vignettes of Hawai'i. Wunderbar! ...
"That's What Friends Are For," that noontime Nov. 9 benefit event at Ruth's Chris Steak House (Restaurant Row) for publicist Lisa Josephsohn to ease her medical bills in her current cancer battle, will offer seats to Broadway musicals to the top bidders. Loretta Ables Sayre and her publicist husband David Sayre have offered two seats to her "South Pacific" Tony Award winner (best revival of a musical, plus best actor in a musical) at Lincoln Center; and local boy-turned Broadway producer Kevin McCollum has donated two tickets to "In the Heights" (best musical), which stars Lin-Manuel Miranda, at the Richard Rodgers Theatre. ...
And apologies to entertainer Joey Caldarone, whose "I Am What I Am" CD debuts at the aforementioned Josephsohn benefit (with proceeds going to her medical fund): In our Island Sounds review in the TGIF section Friday, we mistakenly referred to his very-much-alive dad as his "late" father, to whom "Torna Sorrento," one of the tracks, is dedicated, because it's his dad's birthplace. ...
SIGHT 'EMS: Singer Raiatea Helm and her photographer friend Guy Sibilla paused to see Weldon Kekauoha at Tiki's Grill & Bar a few nights back. Kekauoha, a Wednesday night regular at Tiki's, invited Helm on stage to jam. It was a pre-Halloween treat for the listeners. Helm and Kekauoha are former Na Hoku Hanohano Award winners. ...
Stand up comedian Ralphie May, in town for two performances at the Pipeline Cafe last week, dropped in for lunch with his family at Cheeseburger Waikiki (1945 Kalakaua Ave.) prior to his shows. ...
When "Knight Rider" was in town for limited shooting on O'ahu, some hot wheels were part of the deal. " 'Ohana Road" TV show executive producer Bill Maloney loaned his 2003 Ford T-Bird for on-camera time in the forthcoming episode, which will have a Hawai'i link in the story line. ...
Blake Kushi, a Hilo native who was a six-year member of the improv group Loose Screws, appeared in ABC's "Pushing Daisies" series last week, portraying a manager of a Chinese restaurant. You may remember him from shows at other theaters, like Diamond Head Theatre, Manoa Valley Theatre, Honolulu Theatre for Youth and Kumu Kahua. ...
TRADE WINDS: There was a bit of Hawaiian ceremony at the conclusion of Thursday's opening night of Cirque du Soleil's "Saltimbanco" at Blaisdell Arena, when keiki from Kawaiaha'o School sang an oli (chant) in Hawaiian for the performing ensemble. Mayor Mufi Hannemann, who has championed the move to have Cirque finally make its debut in Honolulu, presented a traditional ho'okupu (gift) to a Cirque member on behalf of the city. The bundle Hizzoner presented, wrapped in ti leaves, included something from the mountain and the sea, sweet potato and salt. The keiki also presented each cast member a lei — must've been a treat, since the diverse company includes many foreigners making their first-ever trek here. ...
ITEMIZATIONS: Members of the Hawai'i Academy of Recording Arts, the organization that hands out the Na Hoku Hanohano Awards, are reminded that there will be a noon meeting Nov. 11 at The Willows' Rainbow Room. The session is open and free to HARA members; those wanting to partake of lunch at 11 a.m. — cost is $26 per person — should reserve space at 593-9242. The new Board of Governors will be installed. ...
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.