It's not out yet, but Roy Sakuma's updated recording of "I Am What I Am," his morale-and-spirit-boosting ditty that is a highlight of the Wednesday Starbucks Wildest Show in Town at Honolulu Zoo, might surprise those who are familiar with Sakuma. For the first time, the 'ukulele instructor, who also is honcho of this Sunday's Starbucks 'Ukulele Festival at Kapi'olani Park Bandstand, is singing on record, with kiddie voice support.

"I asked my wife (Kathy) who I sounded like," said Sakuma. She said: "Listening to it, I thought of Mister Rogers." Not the worst neighborhood to be in. ...

STAGE COUP: It took a combination of quick action and patience to land the rights to "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee," which will cap for Manoa Valley Theatre's upcoming 40th season. That's spelled C-O-U-P. ...

Dwight Martin, MVT producing director, orchestrated the move with the support of theater's artistic planning committee — Becky Dunning, Guy Merola, Matt Pennaz, Jo Pruden, Mike Rosenberg, Linda Tam and Mark Taylor. MVT worked for six months, and even delayed (and tweaked) its 40th season to make it happen.

" 'Putnam County' is one of the funniest shows to appear on Broadway in a long time," Martin said. "It closed a three-year run just in January and is now touring nationally."

Folks in this season's finale, "Rocky Horror Show," are hoping to try out in May. "Bee" opens July 1 under the direction of Linda Johnson.

CLOTHES ENCOUNTER: As director Ron Bright begins auditions to find his cast for the Oct. 3 launch of "Miss Saigon" at Windward Community College's Paliku Theatre, plans to create costumes with authenticity are under way. Paliku costumer Evette Tanoue will fly to Saigon some time soon, accompanied by Than Lo Sananikone, owner of TAF International and a Vietnam refugee from the 1970s, to shop for fabric and accoutrements. The popular Broadway musical is set in Saigon during the Vietnam War. Than and her husband are close friends of Gary and Apol Stice, whose daughter Jade was in the New York production of "Miss Saigon." Huddles with the Stices, and Bright and his wife, Mo, led to the decision to go the distance and shop for material in Hanoi and environs. ...

THE PARTY LINE: When former Island PR honcho Nick Sylvester and his wife, Barbara, celebrated his birthday at the Hilton Hawaiian Village's Village Steak & Seafood restaurant, the couple dined and shared memories with soprano Nina Keali'iwahamana and her husband, Gordon Rapoza, who are longtime pals. Nina's brother, entertainer Boyce Rodrigues, also was in attendance.

As the evening drew to a close, Sylvester asked Rodrigues to sing the Myra English classic, "Drinking Champagne," for Barbara. And he did, grinning and singing from his seat. That was the song Rodrigues always sang for her when he performed at the 'Ilikai's Primo Gardens, when the Sylvesters popped in. Those were the days. ...

Kellie Harris, general manager of Compadres, celebrated her birthday with publicist Lisa Josephsohn at Tango a few days back. Everyone knows Josephsohn can't sing, so everyone at Tango sang "Happy Birthday" to Harris. No problem with voice from nearby diner Joey Caldarone - the sometime actor was lunching with fellow real-estate man Kainoa Lee. ...

WIZARDLY: Finally got to see Diamond Head Theatre's "Wizard of Oz" — a virtual sellout, so check if seats are still available, if you plan to go. Director Rob Duval has assembled a wonderful cast with wizardly skills, including Paul Mitri as the Wizard (normally, artistic director of the Hawai'i Repertory Theatre and a drama prof at the University of Hawai'i's theater department). Mitri also plays Professor Marvel (in a real switcheroo from his Moliere). Kalia Medeiros, 14, is an accomplished and confidant Dorothy. Justin Hashimoto is the most nimble and pliant Scarecrow I've ever seen (how he splits his legs, horizontally from his body, is uncanny). This is truly an ensemble achievement, with courage, heart and brains. And kudos, too, to Maile (Toto), who refrained from barking at the performance I caught. ...

Some lucky kids coming to "Oz" this Saturday and Aug. 2 will get an after-show, over- the-rainbow treat: "Dinner in the Emerald City" with Dorothy (Kalia) and a host of Oz characters. Big City Diner is bringing the food, with desserts from Town. ...

RANDOM NOTES: Nobu in Waikiki has discontinued lunch, in case you didn't notice. A sign of the slow economy. ...

That vacant Kahala lot, at Wai'alae and Kilauea avenues (once home to a gas station and, in recent years, used for Christmas tree and fireworks sales), will emerge as an Assaggio restaurant. ...

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.