Have you ever been to the annual Gridiron show? It's a variety show full of singing, dancing, and a little acting to poke fun at just about anyone and anything in Hawaii’s headlines over the past year--done by a cast comprised of (mostly) local media.

For us, the audience, it's a chance to see the local media like we've never seen them before. For the last eight years, for example, Dan Cooke has dressed in drag as Governor Linda Lingle. Last year, a chorus line of TV news personalities sang & danced across the stage. This year's theme, in light of the massive layoffs, is "There's No Business like NO Business!" Some of the cast, in fact, have lost their jobs at least once in the last two years.

I was lucky to get a preview the other day when I sat in on the rehearsals--OK, partly because my niece Ahnya has been the director for the last several years! But lucky nonetheless! That's her on the left, making sure the guys hit their marks.

Local composer Roslyn Catracchia is the music director, and harnesses the media's singing talent. Here's my homeboy Ben Gutierrez belting out one of several numbers he has during the evening.

It's a pretty exciting show! They physically get into their roles and, as you can see, put their whole selves into it.

I don't know if I could fall back like this! Yow!

They pull every move possible on stage. It's a well-choreographed performance!

Artistic director Keoki Kerr, left, with my J-school classmate Gordon Pang, practicing a dialogue to segue into the next dance number.

You'll see a few PR people in there, too. Moani Wright-Van Alst is one of the cast who can tap dance and sing!

Anyway, after watching a little bit of rehearsal, I'm looking forward to another fantastic show! It was cool to see people that we know from different media outlets working together in a totally different environment. It was even cooler to see them taking directions from Ahnya.

Go see the show! You'll be laughing the whole time. They usually sell out, so they added a Saturday matinee. Also, it's a creative fundraiser for the Society of Professional Journalists’ Hawaii Chapter student internships and scholarships.Shows:

8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 13
3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 14
8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 14

Diamond Head Theatre
For more information, go to the SPJ site or the Gridiron Facebook page.

For tickets:
To charge tickets by phone, call (800) 745-3000 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Hawaiian Standard Time) Monday through Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Hawaiian Standard Time) Sunday.

TICKETS MAY ALSO BE PURCHASED AT:
Ticketmaster outlets: Blaisdell Arena box office, Sports Gear at Windward Mall and Walmart stores at the following locations:
 Keeaumoku St., Honolulu
 94-595 Kupuohi St., Waipahu
 95-550 Lanikuhana Ave., Mililani
 1131 Kuala St., Pearl City
 101 Pakaula St., Kahului, Maui,
 3-3300 Kuhio Hwy., Lihue, Kauai
 325 Makaala St., Hilo
 75-1015 Henry St., Kailua-Kona
Tickets are $60 for Super Good Seats (lowered from 2008’s $65) and $40 for Really Good Seats.
Fees charged by Ticketmaster are: $5 per ticket for $40/$60 tickets, $3 per order

Mahalo to Robbie Dingeman and my niece Ahnya Chang for letting me sneak in to your rehearsal!