Vanita Rae Smith, a veteran producer and director of Army Community Theatre, will receive the David C. Bryant Outstanding Service Award of the American Association of Community Theatre, for significant and lasting service to community theater in America.

Smith will receive the honor at an awards luncheon July 11 at Sardi's, a celebrated restaurant on Broadway.

Army Community Theatre, anchored at Fort Shafter's 808-seat Richardson Theatre, presents musical theater for both a civilian and military audience. Smith's was the first community production of "Miss Saigon," the Tony Award-winning musical based on "Madame Butterfly" but set against the Vietnam war. Over 40 seasons, Smith and ACT have produced works ranging from "Cats" to "Guys and Dolls," from "Secret Garden" to "Sweeney Todd."

She also presents one of the state's largest Fourth of July celebrations at Schofield Barracks on July 4. Besides presenting a Readers Theatre at ACT, she frequently guest-directs at Manoa Valley Theatre, most recently for the acclaimed drama "Doubt."

— WAYNE HARADA, ADVERTISER ENTERTAINMENT WRITER

MADONNA NOW DAVID'S MOTHER

A Malawi judge yesterday gave final approval to Madonna's adoption of David Banda, 2, whom she met at an orphanage in 2006.

Justice Andrew Nyirenda said Madge, 49, and her British filmmaker husband, Guy Ritchie, "are perfect parents" for David.

"I am glad it's all over," said David's biological dad, Yohane Banda, 33, a farmer. "I am glad David has a new, good home."

David's mother died when he was a month old.

DOURDAN PLEADS GUILTY ON DRUGS

"CSI" co-star Gary Dourdan pleaded guilty yesterday to two counts of felony drug possession (for cocaine and Ecstasy) in Indio, Calif., in a deal that will keep him out of jail.

A third count, for heroin possession, was dropped.

Dourdan was busted last month when police found him asleep in his parked car.

He has until Nov. 20, 2009, to complete drug-ed courses.

Ashlee goes for old-school Mrs.

LOS ANGELES — Ashlee Simpson is so over.

The newlywed pop singer will go by Ashlee Wentz in private, and be professionally known as Ashlee Simpson-Wentz, according to a report yesterday on People.com.

She married Fall Out Boy bassist Pete Wentz on May 17.

"I think that that's something that a woman should do when they're marrying a man," the pop star lil' sis of Jessica Simpson told the magazine. "It's a tradition that I think is a great tradition."

The two got married at her parents' Encino home, with her father performing the non-denominational ceremony