Tam twosome heads East to catch son’s performance

Actor Jason Tam, the islander now appearing in Broadway’s "Lysistrata Jones," will be joined by two castmates in singing the national anthem before today’s New York Giants-Washington Redskins football game at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.

Tam’s proud parents, James and Linda Tam, are off to the cooler climes to check out their son in "Lysistrata Jones," whichhas moved to the Walter Kerr Theatre on the Great White Way from an off-Broadway perch in a school basketball gym. It’s based on Aristophanes’ ancient sex comedy, reimagined on a basketball court environment.

While the visit will include Broadway shows such as "War Horse" and "Chinglish," dad James says it will "be even more fun if I can get tix to see the Giants football game."Yep, to hear "The Star-Spangled Banner" from his boy, who starred in "Les Miserables" as a youngster and most recently as Paul San Marco in "A Chorus Line." …

BREAK A LEG: When Hawaii Pacific University’s "The House of Blue Leaves" closed recently at the Paul and Vi Loo Theatre on the Windward campus, there was some off-stage drama with a detour to the E.R. when cast member Lisa Barnes had an at-home mishap before the final curtain. She was tending to her flowers when one of the terra cotta pots fell on her foot, severing a tendon. The injury required emergency care, crutches and a 15-minutecurtain delay.

Director Joyce Maltby had to reconfigure blocking so Barnes could perform in sit-down position in scenes with fellow actors Rob Duval and Stacy Ray.

Surgery is ahead, to reattach Barnes’ tendon, so don’t expect her to be gardening for a bit … or hear her colleagues utter the iconic backstage shout, "Break a leg." …

By the way, the aforementioned Barnes and Ray knew each other in New York and Los Angeles, reconnecting when Ray saw Barnes on Facebook, asking "Are you the same Lisa I knew?" Yep, and that’s how they both auditioned for "House." …

DATES TO LOG: Fox’s "American Idol" kicks off its season with a two-nighter from 7 to 9 p.m. Jan. 18 and 19 on KHON, with a special episode after the NFC championship game on Jan. 22. Beginning Feb. 1, expect an hour episode from 7 p.m. Wednesday; two-hour shows from 7 p.m. Feb. 15. …

Hana hou: Two popular TV specials get encore showings today on KHNL: "Rap: Hawaii’s Comic Genius," featuring Rap Reiplinger, will be on at 8 p.m. followed by "The Brothers Cazimero: At Home in the Islands," at 9 p.m. Both were helmed by Phil Arnone. …

Singer-educator Keith Haugen puts on his storytelling cap to share holiday tales and song poems at 10 a.m. Saturday at Kahala Mall. …

HERE ‘N’ THERE: "A Cazimero Christmas" at the Hawaii Theatre was joyful and triumphant. Robert and Roland Cazimero wove a holiday lei, blending hula, Hawaiian, holiday fare and the classy and classic Jimmy Borges. ‘Twas a touching moment when Borges dedicated "I’ll Be Home for Christmas" to his hanai granddaughter, Sarah, soldiering at war. "I almost lost it," Borges said afterward. "Sarah is a beautiful, young girl, carrying a big gun. How wrong is that picture? She’s surrounded by an environment that doesn’t believe in Christmas." …

Local girl Kawena Souza, 20, Miss Hawaiian Islands, placed second in the Miss South Pacific competition recently in Apia, Samoa. The winner was Miss Fiji, Alisi Rabukawaqa, 24. Islander Jack Cione, who originated the contest 25 years ago, was a judge. The pageant will be in American Samoa next year. …

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.