Remember the Crater Festivals of yesteryear — or the couple of revivals in the more recent past? Promoter Ron Gibson, joined by Henry Kapono, Willie K and Jim Linkner, recently met with Department of Land and Natural Resources officials to gain an extension on Gibson’s earlier permit to stage another rock-out inside Diamond Head Crater.
It looks like a go, so a search is under way to determine which mainland and local acts might fill the bill. A date has not yet been set, but a Crater Fest sometime in 2013 is likely to happen. …
TRADE WINDS: Since Glen Cannon has been unable to take over the reins of the Tony Award-winning "Next to Normal," which goes into rehearsals shortly, leading to the opening March 7 at Manoa Valley Theatre, Brett Harwood, formerly of Army Community Theatre, has stepped in to direct the powerhouse musical. You might not know much about it now, but you’ll hear the cheers when this stellar show debuts — imagine, a musical about a wife with bipolar disorder. …
I couldn’t attend the recent Greg Howell benefit at Paliku Theatre, but organizer/entertainer Mary Gutzi said he was able to attend despite his health problems and had a smile on his face — appreciative of the aloha and the music. And the 40 or so silent-auction items were snapped up, to add to his medical relief fund. To kokua, send a check in Howell’s name to Gutzi: 46-1064 Emepela Way, No. 7B, Kaneohe, HI 96744. …
AROUND TOWN: Tony and Karen Ruivivar (he’s the co-founder of the classic Society of Seven) have been visiting. His group’s Riviera gig ran into financial problems, so Las Vegas play dates were canceled this month. …
Manoa DNA, joined by Kapala, will conduct the fourth "Boys and their Toys" drive from 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 21 at Gordon Biersch at Aloha Tower Marketplace. Bring an unwrapped toy to qualify for raffle prizes including a mainland trip via Hawaiian Airlines. …
MDNA, in the recording studio, also is promoting a solo project featuring member Alex Kawakami, who took on the monicker ALX for his recent "Alx Kawakami" EP. Another four-tune collection, "Sweet Embrace," is in limited release primarily for the Japanese audience, but the title song, a composition by Alx, is the result of an inspirational Project Aloha visit to the tsunami-devastated Tohoku area of Japan. In the solo CD, the three-part harmony features dad Lloyd Kawakami and bro Nick Kawakami, also of MDNA. …
Sorry to learn of the death Tuesday of Il Lupino’s executive chef Nicola Sayada, who succumbed to cancer. …
ALL ABOUT EVE: Some 50 performers will perform on eight waterfront stages when Aloha Tower Marketplace rings in NYE 2012, capped by "The Sky of Lighters" fireworks by the incomparable Grucci company (you saw ’em at the London Olympics). Gordon Biersch, The Lanai, Hooters, Center Stage, Bikinis and the new Sunset Room will participate.
Organizers have secured the services of Cirque Hawaii, Summer, Funkshun, So Roots, Roots Oddyssy, White Jackets, Virgin Mary, Son Caribe and Cease Fyah, and the list grows by the week.
Doors open at 7 p.m.; tickets are $25 to $100, with $650 VIP packages for four, at www.alohatowernye.com, www.ticketmaster.com, Blaisdell, Walmart, UH Campus Center, Buti-Groove and Hungry Ear. …
And looks like Hilton won’t bring a "name" act for New Year’s Eve this year. …
APOLOGIES: Actor Robert Wagner, mentioned in this space last week, is married to actress Jill St. John. We misidentified her, and boy, did readers flag the blooper via emails and phone calls. …
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.
