Richard Vida, a star of "The Drowsy Chaperone," the Broadway hit now on a national tour, is visiting this week and has agreed to stage-manage "Music of the Night," Ballet Hawaii's fundraising gala at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 6 at 3766 Old Pali Road in Nu'uanu. The event showcases "The Three Phantoms," the Hawai'i Theatre-bound show Sept. 12-14 starring Craig Schulman, Cris Groenendaal and Kevin Gray. It's another Ballet Hawaii event showcasing tunes from The Great White Way.

Vida will be in the Islands through opening night, then return to the cast of "Chaperone" in San Diego, Sacramento, Denver and Seattle, but he's sorry to miss the opening night of "Les Misérables," the Broadway megahit starting Sept. 26. Peter Lockyer is playing Jean Valjean (and co-directing and choreographing with wife Melanie Tojio Lockyer) in the Diamond Head Theatre premiere; Vida and Lockyer were castmates in the Cameron Mackintosh biggie on Broadway, when Vida was Thénardier and Lockyer Marius. ...

WHEE, THE PEOPLE: Looks like the soft economy is a cause in the halting of live music at the Kahala Resort, starting September. Veteran keyboarder at the Veranda Betty Loo Taylor, a Na Hoku Hanohano Award-winning artist (with singer Joy Abbott) this year, got word that she'll be pau, after nine years, effective next Monday, her final night. Ditto, Kit Samson, on Sundays. Buzz is that Hoku's, the main dining room, also is shutting down Sundays and Mondays, but returning to normal service eventually ...

Taylor and saxophonist Gabe Baltazar will share jazz at Chuck's Cellar this Saturday night at the Ohana East Hotel. ...

If you're jazz inclined, consider the Shari Lynn and Jimmy Borges pairing at "Sunset Jazz Etc.," at 6 p.m. Sept. 7 at La Pietra's Great Lawn, on the slopes of Diamond Head. Also on the bill: The Saloon Pilots, DeShannon Higa, Rocky Brown, The Savoy Sisters and proteges of these artists. Tickets: $50 individual; $400 for a table of eight, includes includes wine, coffee and dessert; a catered dinner is available for $125 per table of eight. Call 922-2744. Valet parking is available, with free shuttle to and from the Kapi'olani Community College lot opposite Diamond Head Theatre. ...

SIGHT 'EMS: That was golfer Michelle Wie dining with pals Monday night at Tango Contemporary Cafe in the Hokua tower. Foodie Joan Namkoong, former Advertiser food editor who now lives in Waimea on the Big Island, also was in that evening. ...

Yep, Duane "Dog" Chapman and bounty-hunting wife Beth had dinner together at Ruth's Chris Steak House at Restaurant Row last Friday. ...

Roy Yamaguchi of Roy's Restaurant got word here that after their Hawai'i vacation, Barack Obama and family dined at Roy's Chicago on the eve of the announcement that Joe Biden would be Obama's Democratic teammate in the fall election. A huge media crowd had assembled at Roy's to await word of a leak on the eventual announcement. ...

The laughs will continue for eight more weeks on Thursdays at Comedy on the Moon, the Brew Moon gig featuring Lanai, Shawn Felipe, Champ Kaneshiro (who has replaced Mento Mahu Elroy). Steve Byrne, a visiting comedian, did a guest gig last week, practicing for an upcoming appearance on the "Tonight Show With Jay Leno." And Rome was in earlier; he's host of ABC's "I Survived a Japanese Game Show." ...

AROUND TOWN: It's a big week for singer Amy Hanaiali'i. Her latest CD, " 'Aumakua," was released Tuesday, and a launch party from 4 to 11 p.m. Saturday at The Waterfront at Aloha Tower Marketplace should be a star-studded event, with the likes of brother Eric Gilliom, Mahi Beamer, Nina Ke'ali'iwahamana, Jimmy Borges, Marlene Sai, Cecilio & Kapono, Jerry Santos and sundry others — and a growing list — scheduled to perform. Further, Hanaiali'i has been tapped to replace Willie K in the Oct. 3-4 Honolulu Symphony Pops concert at Blaisdell Concert Hall because Willie has a scheduling conflict. Great timing, since " 'Aumakua" will be a hot commodity by then. ...

Hey, Ed Kenney fans (no, not the chef-restaurateur, but his dad, the one-time singer): His "An Island" album will be re-issued in September, containing several compositions by Eaton "Bob" Magoon, and plenty of memories and melodies from yesteryear. ...

KHON 2 reporter Olena Rubin, the 2004 Miss Hawaii, has a role in "The Soul Saviour Chronicles," a local indie film by director Jeff Katts, which screens at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 25 at the Regal Dole Cannery. She plays the demon Helyssia, the leader of the Five Furies, a group of lady demons collaborating on conjuring up souls on Earth. Tickets: $10. ...

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.