JOHN BERGER / JBERGER@STARBULLETIN.COM
Cast members Genny Wilson, left, Josh Stevenson, Paul T. Mitri and Bree Bumatai celebrated at the opening-night party for Manoa Valley Theatre's powerful "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" on Wednesday. Bumatai dominates with her superb performance as Martha, and Mitri's subtle use of inflection and body language enhance his impressive portrayal of George. Stevenson (Nick) steps forward as the action heats up, and Nick becomes more important in the "games" that George and Martha play. Edward Albee's play is a classic, and this is an excellent treatment. "Woolf" runs through Jan. 28. Call 988-6131. CLICK FOR LARGE

JOHN BERGER / JBERGER@STARBULLETIN.COM
"Woolf" director Glenn Cannon, left, welcomed Roger Long to the party. It was Long who first suggested that MVT do the show. He was originally cast as George but had to resign for health reasons. CLICK FOR LARGE

JOHN BERGER / JBERGER@STARBULLETIN.COM
Bree Bumatai was surprised by her cousin John Quincy Adams, left, who brought her a lei, and by veteran actor Michael Beard, who had accepted a last-minute invitation to see the show and hadn't told her he was going to be there. Beard has several MVT shows on his resume but has lived in Japan for the last decade as an actor and magician. CLICK FOR LARGE

JOHN BERGER / JBERGER@STARBULLETIN.COM
Kumu Kahua cast members Daniel "Tits Bumbye" Kalahele, left, D. Tafa'i "Aunty Hina" Silipa and Jeremy "Sidekick" Wagner had plenty to celebrate at the opening-night party for "Living Pidgin" on Thursday. All three were "winnahs" with the opening-night audience, an' da party grindz wuz ono. CLICK FOR LARGE

JOHN BERGER / JBERGER@STARBULLETIN.COM
Sana Poma, left, shared a table with Fitha Dahana, Marsha Castillo and Jason Ubay at the Second Annual Hawaii Publishers Association Media Mixer at Murphy's last Tuesday. The event drew a capacity crowd of media professionals representing newspapers, radio and television stations, PR firms and ad agencies. Poma and Ubay represented Trade Publishing; Dahana and Castillo are with the Bright Light Marketing Group. CLICK FOR LARGE