HAUTE TICKET: Greg Howell visited New York recently with pal Bree Bumatai. At a white-elephant sale to benefit Equity Fights AIDS, Howell came across an original Playbill from the off-Broadway laugh-riot, "Fully Committed." He bought it, not merely as a keepsake from the hit show that played the Cherry Lane Theatre in 2000 but as a possible motivational tool. Howell will be the cast of one, playing as many as 40 different characters, when the Manoa Valley Theatre presents "Committed" Nov. 15 through Dec. 3. The original starred Mark Setlock, who co-created the work with Becky Mode. In it Sam, a reservationist at the hottest restaurant in New York, deals with demanding customers, the maitre d' and a host of other landmines. Howell has been in communication with Setlock as he prepares for the launch. He earlier alternated with Andrew Meader in the role at The ARTS at Marks Garage. ...

The aforementioned Meader directs "Gridiron 2006: Raw and Untreated," at 8 p.m. Oct. 20-21 at Diamond Head Theatre. The Society of Professional Journalists Hawai'i Chapter's spoof of newsmakers and headline grabbers includes tunes such as "Stuck on the Freeway Tonight" (sung to "Luck Be a Lady Tonight," on the H-1 debacle that choked traffic for hours. How can you not laugh at lines like "We've crawled about a mile, it's now 10:23; there's nothing left to drink in the car, and I really have to pee." ...

CURTAIN CALLS: You have two more chances to see "Thoroughly Modern Millie," at 8 p.m. Saturday and 4 p.m. Sunday at Diamond Head Theatre. Go. You won't be disappointed. It's quite an achievement, with terrific output from Shawna Masuda, Pedro Haro, Cathy Foy, Alison Maldonado, Jodi Leong, Tricia Marciel, Mikel Humerickhouse, Gary Masuoka and Elitei Tatafu Jr. Ingenious choreography, seamless set changes — it's one of DHT's best. ...

Bryan Da Sylva, who acted at DHT in the 1970s and '80s (when it was Honolulu Community Theatre) celebrated his 75th birthday at "Millie." He caught up with Foy, aka dragon lady Mrs. Meers. They reminisced about their "Paradise Found" days at the now-gone Hilton Hawaiian Village Dome. ...

Ditto, designer Nake'u Awai, another "Paradise" castmate, who attended a performance with Randy and Gay Hongo. ...

TALK ABOUT PEOPLE: Paul Walker, star of "The Fast and the Furious" and the upcoming "Flags of Our Fathers," has dined twice at Ruth's Chris Steak House at Restaurant Row. He has family here. ...

Richard Roundtree, still remembered for "Shaft," picked up a Montecristi Panama hat, planter's style, from Robert Dewes, a sales associate at Newt in the Village. ...

Canadian actor Nathan Fillion, who played Capt. Malcolm Reynolds in "Firefly" and "Serenity," is set for "Lost" filming. You may also recall him from "Saving Private Ryan." ...

Former NBA superstar Dan "Thunder Dan" Majerle dined at Lahaina's E&O Trading Co. last weekend. Another diner, possibly a Phoenix Sun fan, sent him a beer. ...

Pianist Jeffrey Swann gives a recital at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Doris Duke Theatre at the Honolulu Academy of Arts. Tickets: $25 ($23 for museum members). Swann is a long-time pal of Ernie Chang; both studied with Adele Marcus at Juilliard. Besides his recital and symphony work, Swann is a deft chef and adores Chinese food "so much so that he even learned to read and write Chinese so that he can order dishes from the Chinese menu," said Chang. ...

Chuck Boller has to be at two places at once next weekend. His Hawaii International Film Festival stages a four-night Sunset on the Beach, Oct. 20-23 in Waikiki, but the fest also will be under way at Regal Dole Cannery Theatre. If history repeats, HIFF's executive director will get speeding tickets as he races to and from the overlapping events. "The worst part is parking your car," he sighed. He ought to get a driver. ...

AND THAT'S SHOW BIZ. ...

Wayne Harada starts a week-long vacation today. Show Biz will resume Oct. 24.

Show Biz is published Tuesdays and Thursdays. Reach Wayne Harada at 525-8067, wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com or fax 525-8055.