ACT’s Vanita Rae Smith wins national theatrical honor

Vanita Rae Smith, 64, longtime producer-director of Hawaii's Army Community Theatre, will be honored July 11 with the American Association of Community Theatre's Outstanding Service Award at Sardi's on Broadway. The award recognizes "significant, valuable and lasting service" to community theater in America. Vanita has directed 124 plays or musicals during her career. She says her "calling" to serve was clear, to salute her dad, Pfc. Ray Smith, who was killed in World War II. In 1982, Vanita got involved with the 808-seat Richardson Theatre at Fort Shafter, founded a nonprofit foundation to provide additional support and partnered with the state Department of Public Safety to secure inmate labor for set construction and maintenance. That is still going on. Vanita opens ACT's 66th season Sept. 4 with the musical "Oliver" at Richardson. She has been at the helm of ACT for 30 of its 66 seasons ...

...Bill and Betty Fiddler, who own Fiddler's on Kamani Street, which specializes in fancy bath and kitchen fixtures, marked their 60th wedding anniversary recently at the Outrigger Canoe Club. Their son, Bill Jr., manages the shop, but they still work there ... Two locations in Hawaii, Molokai's Kalaupapa Peninsula and Kauai's Anahola Bay, are included in a new book by LIFE, "Dream Destinations: 100 of the World's Best Vacations" ...

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Guitarist Jeff peterson books solo concert

Jeff Peterson's regular gig is at Michel's spectacular ocean-view restaurant, but the standout guitarist is much in demand when it comes to working with singers and groups. Jeff returns to Hawaii Public Radio's Atherton Performing Arts Studio for a solo concert June 7 doing songs from his latest solo CD, "Pure Slack Key," and from "Haleakala," a CD coming out next month. Besides island music, Jeff will perform classical and jazz selections, as well as tunes from North and South America, Europe and Asia. Jeff grew up on Haleakala Ranch. Listening to the music of his father and other paniolos got him into the music of Hawaii at an early age. Call 955-8821 for tickets, reasonably priced at $20, and for students $10 ...

Ben Wood, who sold the Star-Bulletin in the streets of downtown Honolulu during World War II, writes of people, places and things in our Hawaii. E-mail him at bwood@starbulletin.com