TheBuzz
TheBuzz
Manoa Valley Theater has launched its regular season on the heels of a successful four-performance production of "The Odd Couple," starring Channel 2 news anchor Joe Moore and "Wheel of Fortune" host Pat Sajak. Moore makes more
money for Manoa"We'd been talking about doing it for 10 years," Moore said, "but our schedules didn't match up."
"We had the scripts in hand back in January," Moore said, "so it was a nine-month project for us."
Three formal weeks of rehearsals in July, August and September led up to the play's sold-out performances, which will benefit MVT.
The benefit was an enriching experience for all involved.
The production may have raised in excess of $40,000 after expenses, according to MVT Producing Director Dwight Martin.
"Both Joe and Pat have very broad audience bases," he said. "People came out in droves and they did a darn good job."
Both were adamant about wanting to help the theater, he said.
"Pat contributed three trips to Hawaii in order to accommodate rehearsals and performances," Martin said, "and Joe contributed a great deal of time -- Joe very kindly hosted everybody involved with the show, 50 people, at a closing night party at Outrigger."
Meanwhile the run of "Smokey Joe's Cafe," the regular season opener, has been expanded from 15 shows to 30, but a 31st performance has been added as a benefit for the September 11th Fund.
At $50 per show, the Oct. 14 and final performance may raise close to $7,000 -- it's already sold out.
"I've asked the royalty company to consider donating the royalty," for the right to perform the play, Martin said, "but the cash isn't nearly as significant as the spirit behind it."
Stations losing "sisters"
New Wave Broadcasting LP, the Delaware-incorporated parent company of KQMQ FM 93.1/AM 690, KPOI FM 97.5, KORL FM 99.5 and KDDB 102.7 in Honolulu, has sold off its five FM stations, their translators and boosters in California.California-based Mapleton Communications has purchased KBTU FM in Carmel; KHIP FM, Felton; KMBY-FM, Gonzales; KCDU FM in Hollister and KPIG FM in Freedom, and has entered into a joint sales agreement to operate KBOQ FM-Carmel, which has a different owner.
A radio industry publication reported the value of the transaction at $10.25 million.
The New Wave stations are among 18 which Mapleton has recently snapped up, pending Federal Communications Commission approval.
New Wave recently filed documents with the FCC to assign its broadcast licenses for the affected stations to Mapleton.
Erika Engle is a reporter with the Star-Bulletin.
Call 529-4302, fax 529-4750 or write to Erika Engle,
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210,
Honolulu, HI 96813. She can also be reached
at: eengle@starbulletin.com