On the Scene
For Friday, October 23, 2009
By John Berger
POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Oct 23, 2009
JOHN BERGER / JBERGER@STARBULLETIN.COM
HIFF OPENS: 1. Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann, second from left, was the guest of honor as the 2009 Hawaii International Film Festival opened Oct. 15 with a reception hosted by HIFF Executive Director Chuck Boller and Halekulani Hotel public relations director Erika Kauffman, right, at the Halekulani. Philippine film actress Manilyn Reynes, center, and her manager, Olive De Jesus, joined them for a photo.
JOHN BERGER / JBERGER@STARBULLETIN.COM
"DANCING" AT TAG: 2. Jeff Katts, center, congratulated Curtis Duncan (Haniel), left, and Thomas Smith (Gaap) on their performances in the Actors Group production of "Dancing Between Heaven and Hell," a spinoff of his "Soul Saviors" film series, Oct. 12 at the TAG theater in Chinatown. "Dancing" closes this weekend.
JOHN BERGER / JBERGER@STARBULLETIN.COM
"LEGALIZE AND TAX IT!" 3. Doug Benson, third from left, stand-up comic and marijuana activist, wrapped up his 13-day, 13-state tour with Graham Elwood, left, Oct. 13 at the Pipeline Cafe. Pipeline owner Greg Azus, second from left, welcomed them to the club before show time. Comic Steve Byrne, right, headlined "The Pipe" the following night.
JOHN BERGER / JBERGER@STARBULLETIN.COM
BEN'S BACK IN TOWN: 4. Shep Gordon, left, and Ben Vereen enjoyed dinner backstage before the sold-out Aerosmith concert Sunday in Blaisdell Arena. Vereen performs with the Honolulu Symphony tonight and tomorrow at the Blaisdell Concert Hall.
JOHN BERGER / JBERGER@STARBULLETIN.COM
NOT "BARBARIAN"! 5. Cultural consultant Puakea Nogelmeier greeted Q'orianka Kilcher at the private pre-show reception for "Barbarian Princess" last Friday at the Hawaii Theatre. All things considered, the film should be titled "Hawaiian Princess."