Theater-loving Mauians are spoilt for choice this summer. If the artsy Market St. scene is your thing, head to Gallerie Ha for a special performance of WARGATE. Sponsored by the Maui Live Poets Society (MLPS), poet/actor Wide Garcia will perform his original–and satirical–two-act monologue recreating World War II nostalgia. Guests are invited to share their own original art, music or spoken word with a WWII theme, dress up for the ’40s costume contest, and boogie to big band beats [Fri (July 16), 7pm, donations to MLPS accepted, 51 N. Market St., Wailuku, 244-3993, gallerieha.com]. Also on Market St., at the historic ‘Iao Theater, Maui OnStage presents their second weekend of The Wedding Singer, the musical. Featured in last week’s Arts & Entertainment, it’s a spunky stage rendition of the rom com flick made popular by Drew Barrymore, and friend of the paper, Adam Sandler [Fri & Sat , 7:30pm, $40/$20 and Sun, 3pm, (through Aug 1), $15, 68 N. Market St., Wailuku, 242-6969, mauionstage.com]. Wedding Singer may be the last of the ‘Iao’s ’09-’10 season, but more is in store. Maui OnStage has announced an open audition for Arsenic and Old Lace, the show slated to kick off the new season, in October. Interested? Call to make an appointment, prepare a comedic monologue, bring along a current headshot and resume, and be ready cold-read the script [Wed (July 21), 6-9pm, 68 N. Market St., Wailuku, 242-8680]  (more…)

Meanwhile, South Pacific celebrates its finale weekend. The Maui Academy of Performing Arts presents this Rodgers & Hammerstein classic at the Maui Tropical Plantation, under a ceiling of stars. Bring blankets or low chairs for lawn seating, and come hungry–Bruddah Willy’s Sticky Ribs and a full bar available before showtime [Thurs, Fri & Sat (July 15-17), 7:30pm, $18-$25, 1670 Honoapiilani Hwy., Waikapu; 244-8760, mauiacademy.org] On the West side, Theater Theater Maui presents Follow That Rabbit, an updated version of Lewis Carroll’s classic Alice in Wonderland. It’s the summer-long culmination of 42 hardworking keiki, who’ve studied the art of acting under director Kristi Scott [Fri, 10am & 7pm, Sat 7pm, Sun 3pm (July 16-18), $10 adults / $5 keiki, Westin Maui Restort & Spa, Ka'anapali, 808-661-1168]. Too, at the Hyatt’s Maui Moon Theater, are the colorful acrobatics of Cirque Polynesia–a show which offers year-round kama’aina specials and deals for keiki [Mon - Saturday, 6pm, 200 Nohea Kai Dr., Ka'anapali, 667-4540]. And if you simply can’t get enough funny, there’s plenty of comedy to be had. The island improv of The Comedy Hui features fast-paced games, musical numbers and a slew of wacky characters [Fri (July 16), 7pm, $22 adult / $11 keiki, McCoy Studio Theater, MACC, 242-7469, www.mauiarts.org]. Plus, check out this week’s Arts & Entertainment for the nitty gritty on the Tin Can Comedy‘s championships, where not only can you win cash, and a chance to open for Augie T in September, but the pupus are free and the beer is cheap [every Tues through Aug 31, 9pm, Mulligan's on the Blue, Wailea, 874-1131].

JULY 13 – Championships Round One

Winner snags first entry into finals, and a $50 cash prize.

JULY 20 – “Musical Night”

$75 cash prize and a chorus-worth of bragging rights.

JULY 27 – Championships Round Two

Second-spot entry into finals, and a $50 cash prize.

AUGUST 3 – “Improv Night”

$75 cash prize and bragging rights for being funny on the fly.

AUGUST 10 – Championships Round Three

Winner assumes third spot in finals, and a $50 cash prize.

AUGUST 17 – “Flashlight Night”

Silent and more subtle than a gong. $75 cash prize for the winner still in the spotlight.

AUGUST 24 – Championships Round Four

$50 cash prize and last-available spot to compete in the finals.

AUGUST 31 – Championships Finals

The final four qualifiers duke it out by performing their best 10-minutes sets. Winner takes all.

SEPTEMBER 4 – Augie T Live at The ‘Iao Theater

The Tin Can Comedy Champion will take to Maui’s most historic stage, to open for Augie T.

HEY THERE. I’M A VIDEO. WATCH ME: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mauitime/4425877998/

MORE ABOUT AUGIE T.

DON’T BE BLUE. BE ON THE BLUE! CLICK ME.

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Ever since getting this darned iPhone, I’ve been rather addicted. My once highly neglected Facebook is now a forum for whining of all sorts. Though mostly joking, my latest gripe (running out of a bad-habit cancer sticks) yielded a kind invitation from the always entertaining and ultra-informative Shaggy Jenkins at Q 103.

Considering their studio is just down the way, it sounded like a nice diversion from the day (that on Mondays and Tuesdays often stretches into the evening), and I decided to take up Shaggy’s offer.

Shaggy is slick on da controls, effortlessly bringing up new tunes for my listening pleasure.

Shaggy's probably never bored with this board.

The offices are a ‘converted’ bank and the architecture shows it–teller desks still in place, the wood accents very financial establishment-looking. Inside Shaggy’s studio domain, I learn the Bob-centric decor began with a single door of posters, and grew to a variety of posters and whatnots, the coolest perhaps being the wall above the (sort of) white leather couch, upon which hang the posters, flyers stickers and other memorabilia, tagged with autographs and shot outs from the artists that have filtered through.

Part of the wall that started it all...

A bevy of tags and love notes from the entertainers that have visited the studio.

Not only did I get a sneak peek at their picks of the week–hot new tracks to be added to the rotation (about three or four at a time)–but I got to meet Spence Jah too, and Shaggy gave me (among other interesting, music-related lessons) a brief history on the invention of the radar.