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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, November 16, 2006

SHOW BIZ
Plantation Village hosts Emme's Christmas show

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Columnist

VILLAGE PEOPLE: Emme Tomimbang's Christmas TV special, set for taping at the Hawaii Plantation Village in Waipahu, will air at 9 p.m. Dec. 14 on KHON-2, with a hana-hou screening at 5 p.m. Dec. 24. The plantation theme will embrace multicultural elements such as Japanese mochi-pounding, Filipino lantern-making, and Portuguese bread-baking. Among her guests: Jordan Segundo, Kristian Lei and Little Albert Maligmat. Plus reflections from Na Leo, Pauline Wilson, Rene Paulo and Martin Nievera. ...

Tomimbang's Hawai'i Filipino Centennial film, "Mabuhay With Aloha," has been part of this year's Hawaii International Film Festival, so she's been Island-hopping; pal Jason Scott Lee took in the Hilo screening recently. And next stop is this Saturday on Lana'i, when Tomimbang will have Segundo aboard to perform. ...

AROUND TOWN: Congrats to Neva Rego, veteran vocal coach and recent winner of the Governor's Fine Arts Award. Rego is new president of the Hawai'i Chapter of the National Society of Arts & Letters for the 2006-2008 term. Over the years, Rego has trained a host of Island singers in all realms of entertainment. Broadway: Willy Falk and a host of "Miss Saigon" troupers from Hawai'i. Local scenesters: The Brothers Cazimero, Jimmy Borges, Shari Lynn, Jordan Segundo, Nohelani Cypriano and the late Loyal Garner. ...

Marian Jay Morrison, who launched a dance career in the Islands at least three decades ago, is home after 18 years toiling in Los Angeles, New York and, most recently, Orlando, where she has been involved with Disney World shows. Morrison's here to tend to an aging parent, but she'll also oversee an open call Nov. 26 for Disney's International Casting Team at the Mauka Room of the Hyatt Regency Waikiki. The timetable: female Polynesian dancers at 10 a.m., male Polynesian dancers at 11 a.m., fire knife dancers at noon, musical theater and jazz dancers at 1 p.m., and musical singers-actors at 3 p.m. Applicants must be at least 18, bring a resume and nonreturnable photo. For specifics, call the audition hotline at (407) 397-3299. ...

DATEBOOK: Big-band ballroom dancing returns to The Royal Hawaiian hotel's Monarch Room from 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 3 when the Lupus Foundation of America, Hawai'i chapter, presents a program to raise awareness of lupus as well as provide an opportunity for folks who love to foxtrot, tango and merengue. Trombonist Pat Hennessy's big band will provide the dance music, with Tom Moffatt hosting. Singers Jan Brenner, George Chun and Sonny Maguire will provide vocals. Tickets: $20 at the door, or $15 in advance, available through the Lupus Foundation, at 538-1522, or online at www. lupushawaii.org.

Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom's Windward Mall appearance, announced for Nov. 26, has been postponed till 6:30 p.m. Dec. 15 because she is bound for Papeete, Tahiti, for shows with The Makaha Sons and Gabilou, and had to juggle airline return dates. She's booked a Christmas concert, too, but it's on her home-base island, Kaua'i, at the Princeville resort Dec. 23. ...

Diamond Head Theatre is readying its Dec. 1 launch of "Cinderella," with Ashley Ingersoll as the title character, Sean Jones as the Prince, Daniel Kunkel as the King, Jessica Doyle as the Queen, Renee Noveck as the Stepmother, Kristin Jann-Fischer as Jo, Melissa Bustamante as Portia, Alison Maldonado as the Fairy Godmother, Viet Vo as the Herald, Friston Ho'okano as the Chef and James Kimo Kaona as the Steward. Greg Zane is guest-directing, Tim Albrecht is guest-choreographing (both are from New York) and Emmett Yoshioka is conducting. Lots of fairy-tale tunes from Rodgers and Hammerstein for this pre-Christmas holiday spectacle. ...

Tonight's opening: "Annie" at Army Community Theatre. Early buzz is that Channing Weir, 12, in the title role, is a genuine star, as ready for Broadway as anyone her age. ...

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.