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Mary Gutzi, whose theatrical credits here and abroad include "Cats," "Sunset Boulevard" and "Les Miserables," is producing a fundraiser for actor and stylist Greg Howell at 2 p.m. Dec. 2 at Paliku Theatre, Windward Community College.
Howell, a stylist at Paul Brown, has been battling an aggressive form of lymphoma, and Gutzi has solicited the talents of colleagues such as Cathy Foy, Shari Lynn, Guy Merola, Doug Dunnel, Charles Degala and others to help him with mounting medical costs. Keoki Kerr, a sometime actor when he’s not filing investigative reports on Hawaii News Now, will emcee.
A silent auction will include hotel stays, spa treatments and jewelry. Art by Georg James and Jon Dinsmore (who created murals at the Trump Hotel and Aulani Resort) also will be up for bid, and they’ll be on hand to sign the treasures.
"We want to help Greg," Gutzi said. "He has been such a part of the performing arts community here … performing at (Manoa Valley Theatre) and (Diamond Head Theatre) and doing wigs and makeup. He’s someone we love and admire."
Tickets: $35, available in advance (Showtix4u.com) or at the door. …
TRAVEL LOG: Hapa has been touring Los Angeles, including a gig at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center with a 50-member cast, with promoter Mitch Chang conducting the Mitch Chang Orchestra. Hapa’s Barry Flanagan appeared on the Fox station’s "Good Day L.A.," the morning show, to promote the concert and discovered a Hawaii link: Ex-islander Maria Quiban does weather there. …
Speaking of weather: Hurricane Sandy, nee Superstorm Sandy, still has thousands of victims on the East Coast reeling and awaiting kokua. Flanagan, a New Jersey native, saw his Aunty Patsy’s house on Beach 131st in Belle Harbor, Rockaway, N.Y., in the closing scenes of ruin in a "60 Minutes" report.
"This was the house I spent all of my summers growing up in," Flanagan said in an email. "I still visit Rockaway every year. My family has been gathering in that area since the early 1900s." It’s about a mile from Breezy Point, where fire destroyed more than 100 homes at the height of the storm. To kokua, visit www.graybeards.com. …
DATEBOOK: Frank De Lima‘s Christmas show will be held Dec. 14 at the Pagoda’s C’est Si Bon ballroom. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., with a buffet dinner served from 5:45 to 7 p.m. The show, from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m., is the only time De Lima does his celebrated "Filipino Christmas" in full. With audience participation, expect the unexpected. Tickets: $50 adults, $30 children ages 5 to 8. Reservations: 948-8370. …
The Honolulu Boy Choir’s "Merriest Hawaiian Christmas" singout will be at 7 p.m. Dec. 15 in the Central Union Church sanctuary. La Sorellanza Samoan Gospel Choir will be guest artists; pre-show music begins at 6:30 p.m. Admission is free, but an offering will be taken. …
When The Makaha Sons stage their Dec. 19 Christmas show at the Queen Kapiolani Hotel,musician Eric Lee will join the festivities to help fill the void left by John Koko‘s death earlier this year. He’s stepping in to kokuaJames Koko and Louis "Moon" Kauakahi. …
"Annie," which opens Dec. 7 at Diamond Head Theatre, announced three additional performances — Dec. 27, 28 and 29 — before the launch. A sellout is anticipated. Even cynics will be caught in the web of hope and inspiration in "Tomorrow," which says it all. …
CHATTER: Did Bruno Mars overdo it when he hosted and starred on NBC’s "Saturday Night Live" a few weeks back? Could be. He’s had a throat infection since and was advised to take it easy, so he’s tabled his tour of Australia and New Zealand. His second CD, "Unorthodox Jukebox," drops Dec. 11. …
And that’s "Show Biz." …
——— Wayne Harada is a veteran entertainment columnist; reach him at 266-0926 or wayneharada@gmail.com; read his Show and Tell Hawaii blog at www.staradvertiser.com.
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