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Broadway diva Ables Sayre joins The Caz for Christmas

Loretta Ables Sayre will guest-star on "A Cazimero Christmas," Robert and Roland Cazimero‘s holiday hoopla, at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 10 and 11 and 2 p.m. Dec. 12 at the Hawaii Theatre. It will be Ables Sayre’s first concert appearance here since completing her 2 1/2 -year run as Bloody Mary in Lincoln Center’s hit revival of "South Pacific." But it won’t be her first time on the Hawaii Theatre stage; in 1989, Ables Sayre starred as Effie in the late Tommy Aguilar‘s "Dreamgirls."

Her Broadway pedigree (a Tony nomination two years ago for featured actress in a musical) ramps up The Caz’s yuletide extravaganza this season. It’s a make-up of sorts for last year’s cancellation when pneumonia sent Roland to the hospital, according to Burton White, g.m. and artistic director of the Hawaii Theatre, who is producing the show directed by Robert.

The Caz have chosen "Christmas Is …" as the theme; "Christmas is family, friends, faith and folly," Robert said. Mix in ohana (sister Tootsie Cazimero and brother Rodney Cazimero), hula (Robert’s Halau Na Kamalei O Lililehua, the Ladies of the Royal Dance Company, and soloist Leinaala Kalama Heine) and keiki (last year and this year’s Miss Keiki Hula and two Master Keiki Hula), and it adds up to fantastic fun.

And best of all, Santa must’ve heard The Caz’s Christmas wish — they got the Broadway diva as the holiday plum. Tickets: $30, $40, $50, $75. Call 528-0506 or visit www.hawaiitheatre.com. …

By the way, The Caz return to the Hawaii Theatre at 7:30 p.m. March 19, in "A Tribute to Helen Desha Beamer and R. Alex Anderson," interpreting and sharing the prolific musical legacy of Beamer and Anderson. Tickets go on sale Dec. 7. …

SEQUEL-ITIS: "Conan," that "Conan the Barbarian" reboot starring Hawaii’s Jason Momoa as the titular figure and Ron Perlman as his father, will be released — in 3-D — by Lionsgate on Aug. 19, 2011. …

And "Alvin and the Chipmunks III," 20th Century Fox’s second "squeakquel" to the escapades with those chirping chipmunks, will be partially filmed in the islands — in 3-D — beginning in January, presumably with Jason Lee topping the cast. It’s due Dec. 16, 2011. …

WHEE, THE PEOPLE: Derek Sakakura of Maui, a principal dancer and former Ballet Hawaii member, has a scene in the Clint Eastwood-directed film "Hereafter," partially shot on Maui. He appears in the beginning, when a tsunami hits Lahaina. …

Ka’imi Hanano’eau Brede, lead guitarist for HIRIZ (think High Rise), always starts a gig with his rockin’ "Hawaii Ponoi" — a la Jimi Hendrix — and can even do his own "Star-Spangled Banner" (minus the vocals) in the classic Hendrix acid style. Catch Brede and bandmates Steve Keola (bass), Shannon Tanudra (rhythm guitar) and Kainoa Ah Chong (drums) at 9 p.m. Friday at Bob’s in Kailua, with Brede going solo at 7 p.m. Tuesdays at Board Riders. …

WHEREABOUTS: Lloyd and Carla Kawakami — he’s the Manoa DNA leader — took some time off from their Iolani of Kona Street boutique duties to trek to Las Vegas for some R&R and to celebrate Carla’s birthday. The group is finally home for the holidays after a series of working trips to Japan and was happy to perform for Sen. Daniel Inouye and wife Irene at Kani Ka Pila Grille two Saturdays ago, since the senator wanted to hear Manoa DNA without much hoopla, but it was hardly an under-the-radar trek since Inouye has security personnel wherever he goes because he’s the Senate president pro tempore, third in line to become U.S. president behind the vice president and speaker of the House. …

Inouye and Iolani’s late patriarch Keiji Kawakami served together in the celebrated 442nd Regimental Combat "Go for Broke" Team during World War II. …

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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