SHE SOMEBODY: John Rampage, artistic director at Diamond Head Theatre, didn't waste time in asking the Broadway-bound Loretta Ables Sayre, his two-time star of "You Somebody," to do Bloody Mary the next time "South Pacific" pops up on the DHT schedule. "Yes, I asked, and she said yes," said Rampage.

In case you missed our Sunday story, Ables Sayre has landed the role of Bloody Mary in a major Lincoln Center Theater revival of "South Pacific" starting April 3. The production is being directed by Bartlett Sher, who has Island ties, so she'll have a blast. She and husband David Sayre leave Oct. 21 for a week of readings, but they get to spend the holidays in the Islands (Christmas should be particularly sweet), with a planned January relocation to New York for the rehearsals and then the show. ...

On Monday of this week, the Ables Sayre casting was posted at playbill.com, which included some material about her local plays and club dates from The Advertiser. Broadway audiences should adore our talented tita from Hawai'i. ...

RAIN? NO PAIN: At the Wai'alae Country Club's 80th anniversary celebration last Saturday, the Matt Catingub Orchestra of Hawaii, performing under the stars, staged an incredible musical journey through eight decades, featuring 25 new arrangements by Catingub and an array of guest troupers — Linda Harmon, Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom, Doug Tolentino, Jimmy Borges, Fiji and Afatia. In the middle of Gilliom's performance of Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Have You Ever Seen the Rain," which she recently recorded with the Catingub orchestra, the skies opened up with showers. No worry: The party moved inside, where all of the singers came together for a finale rendition of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," accompanied by Hula Halau Olana. ...

ABOUT PEOPLE: Though it was a smallish house (perhaps 600) at Tony Conjugacion's 10th Kamau Pono concert last Friday at the Hawai'i Theatre, it was a gem of diverse delights. Each guest brought a particular style of song: Jimmy Borges, the epitome of old-time jazz cool; Teresa Bright, a savory mix of jazz and Hawaiiana; Raiatea Helm, a radiant songbird; O'Brian Eselu, slendering and still vocally powerful; Guy Cruz, folkie and soulful; Aaron Sala, perennially scholarly and endearing; Brother Noland, the Jawaiian giant who seems to be living the life of his "Mystical Fish"; Healani Youn, a Miss Aloha Hula of yesteryear who retains the luster of her title; and the Ladies of Kaulumau (Piolani Motta, April Villa, Joan Lindsey) bonded still with a flair and love of hula. Conjugacion, still a tad gabby at the mike, has picked Sept. 26, 2008, for his 11th Kamau Pono. ...

"Le Masquerade," Honolulu Theatre for Youth's fundraiser Oct. 27 at the Japanese Cultural Center, has "Spooky Kabuki" as its theme, and event chairs Tim Bostock and Anne Namba and music program director (and taiko kingpin) Kenny Endo had a hair and makeup practice session with Nathan Wade of Paul Brown Studio recently. Wade prepped on kabuki makeup with the Brown crew, creating horrific hairstyles. All this for pre-event photos — and a prelude to David Furumoto's "Obake" play, which bows Oct. 19 at Tenney Theatre for the Halloween-inclined. ...

ITEMIZATIONS: Koa Siu welcomes his Christian CD, "I Am Yours," with a free concert from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday at the Tropical Smoothie Cafe at Pi'ikoi and Queen streets. ...

I went back to see "The Lion King" a second time Saturday night at Blaisdell Concert Hall and it was packed. The audience was gung-ho from the get-go, with cheers of glee and approval, as the puppets descended on the stage, right down to the standing ovation at the final curtain. This kind of response clearly has motivated the cast, too, with thrills at every turn. If you haven't yet decided to score tickets, what are you waiting for? Sure, it's costly, but you won't see another spectacle like this anytime soon. ...

And that's Show Biz. ...

Show Biz is published Tuesdays and Thursdays. Reach Wayne Harada at 525-8067, wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com or fax 525-8055.