These are good and busy times for Bruno Mars, the Hawaii-born singer. He has a new girlfriend, Rocsi Diaz of BET’s "106 & Park"; a performing date with Lady Gaga for an MTV Europe Music Awards European show Nov. 6 in Belfast; and he guests (with Kelly Clarkson) on the Brit "X-Factor" show tonight.
Of course, he’s sinking his teeth into the "Twilight" theme he composed, which should top the pop charts. "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 1" opens Nov. 18, where the tune will be heard.
Whew!
The singer is continuing his European tour, shopping in Paris and Milan recently as he marked his 26th birthday on Oct. 8. His girlfriend is a VJ with ties to Honduras and Ecuador. The two have been smitten with one another since meeting on a BET show last December.
Mars will get his game up when he performs in the Belfast show where he is nominated four times, including as best male singer. Selena Gomez ("Wizards of Waverly Place" and Justin Bieber‘s sweetheart) emcees, with pop names like Katy Perry, LMFAO, Linkin Park and Arcade Fire also aboard. And the "X-Factor" guest slot follows a recent competing group, The Risk, performing Mars’ "Just the Way You Are." Cool! …
TRADEWINDS: Singer Melveen Leed is taking on a new husband next month. On her Facebook page she doesn’t mention his name, but writes: "Scoops everyone! I’m gonna tie da knot next month. Secret elopement. Can you feel my heart smiling for the first time? This one’s a keeper!!!!! He takes good care of me for a change. Woooohooo! Do I hear a woohoo from my friends?" …
Entrepreneur Jack Cione is off to New York for a visit (Broadway shows) before embarking on a Mediterranean cruise aboard the Epic, with a pause in Miami before turning home in a month. …
BALLET HIGH: Ballet Hawaii has nabbed the Birmingham Royal Ballet’s Chi Cao, the star of the "Mao’s Last Dancer" film, to join its "Nutcracker" cast as the Cavalier at 8 p.m. Dec. 16, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 17 and 2 p.m. Dec. 18 at the Blaisdell Concert Hall.
"Not only is it a thrill for our young dancers from across Hawaii to rehearse and perform with an artist of his caliber, it adds a new level of artistic and creative innovation to have Chi Cao part of our time-honored production," said artistic director Pamela Taylor-Tongg in a statement.
Other dancers include New York City Ballet’s Sterling Hyltin (Snow Queen) and Andrew Veyette (Snow King and lead Russian), Carolina Ballet’s Lilyan Vigo Ellis (Sugan Plum Fairy), Timour Bourtasenkov (Arabian), Gabor Kapin (Chinese and Harlequin Doll) and Broadway star John Selya (Soldier Doll and Spanish).
Opening night’s gala, from 6:30 p.m., includes dinner, parking and an après-show backstage reception; call 521-8600; other tickets ($35 to $75) are on sale at the box office and at ticketmaster.com. …
HITHER ‘N’ YON: Kyle Kakuno will direct Sacred Hearts Academy’s "Disney’s Mulan Jr." Nov. 5 through 12 at Mamiya Theatre at Saint Louis School. Sacred Hearts junior Kiloni Ramo plays the title character in this musical retaining all the palette of the Disney tradition. But Kahuku High students Nigel and Colin Gonzaga (a senior and a freshman, respectively) play soldiers Yao and Chi Fu, reside in Laie and travel long distances to perform. Sacred Hearts girls and boys from Saint Louis, Punahou, McKinley and Kaimuki compose the cast. Tickets: Renee Ortogero at 734-5058, ext. 262, or email rortogero@sacredhearts.org. …
Crystal Lee, a budding 11-year-old starlet, salutes Connie Francis at 3 p.m. today at the Outrigger Waikiki’s Main Showroom. Greg Gabaylo and Jan Luna also will perform on the Society of Seven stage, in a family show produced by Freddy Von Paraz, a member of the SOS LV. …
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.
