Joy Abbott, the part-time Honolulu resident who’s a former Na Hoku Hanohano Award winner, is recuperating fromhip replacement surgery at Mount Sinai Hospital in Miami, her winter home.
Abbott, the widow of the legendary Broadway icon George Abbott, gave her surgeon, Dr. Marc Umlas, her two CDs prior to surgery, and "he enjoyed (listening to the recordings) and wanted to be sure she could continue her career," said Jerry Mirrow, Abbott’s companion and a veteran Philadelphia furrier.
"Joy is back to most of her normal routine, eating, sleeping, watching TV and using her phone," said Mirrow. "She even ventured to stand up two hours after arriving in her room, No. 711 — how lucky is that?" he said. Abbott undergoes two weeks of rehab at Miami Heart before going home. …
AROUND TOWN: Sony Open folks at the Hawai‘i Convention Center last week heard a Supreme act, diva Diana Ross. …
Speaking of Ross: Lani Misalucha, the superstar at the Magic of Polynesia showroom at the Holiday Inn Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel, does a marvelous Ross impersonation, complete with big wig and costume finery. …
Misalucha dashed to the Arcadia last week to sing two tunes to commemorate the 45thanniversary of the senior residential facility, headlining an all-Arcadian show mounted by resident Jack Cione. "We had a 5-foot cake and 250 dinner guests — all residents, no outsiders," said Cione, who excerpted four numbers from last year’s "Follies" revue. Servers donned black and white costumes for a clubby feel, and "Lani was the star of the show," said Cione. Now Arcadia will send a busload of residentsto Misalucha’s show the next three Tuesdays — at a special rate. Smart! …
HERE ‘N’ THERE: Christian Okoye, former all-pro running back for the Kansas City Chiefs, aka "The Nigerian Nightmare," will be joined by fellow NFL alumni serving cocktails from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Ruth’s Chris Steak House bar at Waikiki Beach Walk. It’s a benefit for the Christian Okoye Foundation, which supports underprivileged youths through sports and mentorships. …
Director Ron Bright is rehearsing the Paliku Theatre’s musical "How I Became a Pirate," opening Feb. 11 at Windward Community College. Liam DeClive-Lowe, 12, a Hakipuu Charter School seventh-grader who recently auditioned for the Broadway musical "Billy Elliott," plays Jeremy Jacob, a youth seeking treasure who encounters Capt. Braid Bear, played by Andrew Doan. The show will boast costumes made from fabric from the Johnny Depp "Pirates of the Caribbean" film shot here; the makers donated the treasure to costumer Peggy Krock. Tickets: 235-7310. …
Bruddah Smitty, a member of the Sons of Hawaii, marks his birthday with "60 Years of Excellence" at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 3 at Kahilu Theatre at Waimea on the Big Island. The all-star performing roster includes Eddie Kamae, Keoki Kahumoku, Darlene Ahuna, Duane Yamada, Mark Yamanaka, Lono Kanaka‘ole Trio, Nino Ka‘ai, Sugah Daddy, the Kailua Bay Buddies, the Boys from Laupahoehoe and more. Tickets: $100, $45, $35.
Call Kahilu Theatre at 885-6868. …
ATTA BOY: Bruno Mars has been cleared of his felony cocaine possession case in Las Vegas — and has learned from his lack of judgment, according to his Honolulu dad, Peter Hernandez. A judge dismissed the incident from Mars’ record after the Grammy winner paid a $2,000 fine,performed 230 hours of community service at children’s charities and health organizations, and completed drug counseling.
"Bruno called me after the incident and promised to fulfill his obligations and keep out of trouble," Hernandez said. "He’s got too much at stake." Like a possible working partnership with Paul McCartney, the ex-Beatle, whose people called while the former Little Elvis performer was Christmasing with family. …
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.
