Happy birthday, Bruno Mars. The Hawaii-born star turns 27 on Monday. He’s truly in orbit these days; for starters, he just was on the cover of Billboard, the music biz bible.
Mars also is gearing up for the Dec. 11 release of his sophomore album, "Unorthodox Jukebox,"his follow-up CD to "Doo-Wops and Hooligans." And the first single from that disc, "Locked out of Heaven," premiered on I Heart Radio and YouTube last week.
And, yep, double duty awaits as Mars hosts and performs as musical guest on NBC’s "Saturday Night Live" on Oct. 20.
Further, Mars — joined by Rihanna and Justin Bieber — will perform at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show that will be televised Dec. 11 on CBS. Sounds fashionably chic.
It’s been another banner season for the dude known for his fedora and a growing list of hits that began with "Just the Way You Are." …
OUT OF RETIREMENT: Vanita Rae Smith and Jane Campbell, two retired movers and shakers of local theater, are revving up to relaunch Readers Theatre (which was a Sunday staple at the defunct Army Community Theatre) at Pohai Nani retirement residence in Kaneohe. Smith is directing and Campbell is promoting three performances of "Hope and Glorie" at 7 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday and 4 p.m. Oct. 14.
Smith was the honcho of ACT and is partnering with Campbell, the longtime publicist for Honolulu Theatre for Youth and current head of the Windward Arts Council. Sylvia Hormann-Alper and Stef Anderson co-star, with Suzanne Green providing sound effects. Pohai Nani residents will attend and the public is welcome. See my blog for more information. It’s free, but donations accepted. Call 254-4885 or email janekailua@hawaii.rr.com. …
HATS OFF: Gotta hand it to behind-the-sceners Karen Wolfe and Shell Dalzell, at Diamond Head Theatre’s "Funny Girl." When doughboy helmets ordered from England were delayed in the mail (blame Hurricane Isaac), the costume designer and set and special-effects designer replicated the wayward helmets needed for the musical’s "Rat Tat Tat Tat" number. How? Plastic cereal bowls, which were dressed with construction paper and painted green, were utilized in the opening weekend performances. The real McCoy arrived a few days tardy. Applause, applause. …
Andee Gibb, who played Rose Brice (Fanny’s mom) in the 1988 DHT production of "Funny Girl" (Shari Lynn was Fanny), flew in from Las Vegas to see and cheer Shari, who’s Rose in the current sell-out show (extended with an Oct. 14 matinee). Everything came up Rose(s) for Gibb, who earlier played Mama Rose in Army Community Theatre’s "Gypsy," which then starred Isabelle Decauwert as Gypsy Rose Lee. While here, Gibb also reunited with Izzy, who is the current Fanny. Small world? …
More reunions at DHT: Ryan Lympus, who was in DHT’s 2002’s "Titanic" and 2001’s "Victor/Victoria," flew in from New York (where he was company manager for "Altar Boyz") to surprise best buddy Bradley Moon. They first met while touring with "Up with People." Remember "Up with People"? …
NAMES ‘N’ PLACES: Send a get-wellcheer to Cha Thompson of the Tihati ohana, who is home recuperating from a spinal stenosis problem affecting her neck. She was in the Queen’s Medical Center for a couple of days, but with meds her pain has subsided. Speedy recovery, kiddo. …
Seventh-grader Mahealani Sims-Tulba, daughter of comedian Augie T and Kimberly Tulba, won two pageants this past summer: Miss Pre-Teen Beauties of the Nation in Hollywood, Calif., in July, as well as the talent award (she sang "Don’t Rain on My Parade"); then in August, Mahealani copped the Miss Princess Royal Dynasty National crown (plus four other laurels) at the Royal Dynasty Pageant in Orlando, Fla. …
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.
