COCONUT WIRELESS: With his autobiography just out, Tom Moffatt is now turning to newspapers — in February, the promoter debuts as a MidWeek columnist, taking the space of retired Eddie Sherman. Negotiations to launch Uncle Tom as a scribbler are under way. A ghostwriter may help Moffatt take on the challenge. "I'm excited," he said. ...

Update: John Bryan, hired by Universal Studios, won't be Los Angeles-bound after all; he received word that he's headed instead for Universal in Osaka, Japan. ...

Tiny Tadani is moving his regular luncheon shows — which had been at Loulen's — to Chai's Island Bistro starting in February. Stay tuned. ...

AROUND TOWN: Sometimes it pays to eat at restaurants other than your own. When Tina Wary, wife of restaurateur Ed Wary (Auntie Pasto's, Dixie Grill) dined at Baci in Kailua instead of one of the family eateries, she spotted "Lost" star Matthew Fox, one of her faves from his "Party of Five" days, seated at a nearby table. ...

And the talk was about theater, school and the arts when Katherine Mills and Kanoa Goo descended upon Romano's Macaroni Grill, where Shawna Masuda works when not in classes at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa. Mills, a theater freshman home from New York University, was Maria in Army Community Theatre's "West Side Story." She hooked up with Masuda (Kim in ACT's "Miss Saigon") and mutual pal Goo (still remembered as Young Patrick in Diamond Head Theatre's "Mame"). ...

Those hula auditions for singer Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom's upcoming Japan tour will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Kamakakuokalani Center for Hawaiian Studies at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa. Check in between 10 and 10:30 a.m. ...

BACKSTAGE BITS: Colin Miyamoto, playing the title character in Manoa Valley Theatre's "M. Butterfly," ventured to the new Vera Wang Halekulani boutique looking for an appropriate cologne to get into the spirit of the role. So happens the boutique is owned by an MVT board member, Donna Bebber. ...

MVT's next musical, Stephen Sondheim's "A Little Night Music," will be directed and choreographed by Diamond Head Theatre's John Rampage (with Lina Doo conducting the music). Look for Stefanie Smart as Desiree Armfeldt, Larry Paxton as Frederik Egerman, Brent Yoshikami as Henrik Egerman, Doug Scheer as Carl-Magnus Malcolm, Zenia Moura (Zambrano) as Charlotte Malcolm and Betty Burdick as Madame Armfeldt. "Music" plays Feb. 22 through March 12. 988-6131. ...

Sarah Marovits will be Grizabella, the "Memory" feline, when Army Community Theatre stages the Andrew Lloyd Webber favorite "Cats" at Richardson Theatre. Vanita Rae Smith will direct, with choreography by Grace Bell Humerickhouse and musical direction by Lorna Mount. The meowy-go-round features Shawna Masuda (Jellylorum/Griddlebone/Jemina), Ginnie Little (Jennyanydots), Cameron Krainin (Demeter), Philip Amer Kelly (Skimbleshanks), Elizabeth Harrison (Bombalurina), Jimi Wheeler (Rum Tum Tugger), Shane Taylor (Macavity), Joshua Tucker (Old Deuteronomy), Lowen Patigayon (Mistoffelees), Tony Young (Munkustrap) and Jay Flores (Bustopher Jones/Growltiger). Playdates are Feb. 23 through March 11. 438-4480. ...

Randl Ask will direct Diamond Head Theatre's "Enchanted April," Feb. 3-19, with Jo Pruden as Mrs. Graves, Melanie Garcia as Lotty Wilton, Brian Gilhooly as Mellersh Wilton, Laura Bach Buzzell as Rose Arnott, Jerome Anthony as Frederick Arnott, Genny Wilson as Caroline Bramble, Derek Calibre as Anthony Wilding and Patrice Scott as Costanza. 733-0274. ...

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.