“It had the new-car smell,” said Augie Tulba, aka comedian-radio personality Augie T, of the renovated auditorium at Farrington High School.
So Augie is going back to his alma mater on Saturday, becoming the first performer to stage a public show in the restored Joseph Rider Farrington Community Auditorium in Kalihi.
The facility, a multi-use show space, was forced to close when a Nov. 12, 2012, rainstorm sent the water-slogged ceiling and roof crashing into the auditorium. The hall also doubled as a regular place of worship for New Hope Christian Fellowship.
After an $11.9 million renovation, the auditorium is ready for its closeup, boasting state-of-the-art equipment, new dressing rooms and seats, and updated classrooms.
Rightfully, Augie, a member of Farrington’s Class of 1986, gets to make a statement and share his pride by being the first act in his alma mater’s updated auditorium. He’ll be the centerpiece of “Da Homecoming,” a fundraiser for the school’s Student Activities program.
“I originally called my classmate, Al Carganilla, who happens to be the principal, to do a free show for the new football field (adjacent to the auditorium) encouraging students and people in the community to take care of what could be the diamond in the rough in Kalihi,” he said.
The conversation initially was about doing a fundraiser for the school, “and bam! The show was created,” Tulba said. “Da Homecoming” also will be the last show of 2016 for the stand-up comedian.
“I’m celebrating 30 years out of school, but I’ve had so many memories in that theater doing drama and winning ‘Brown Bags to Stardom.’ So there’s going to be a lot of reflecting.”
AUGIE’S HIGH SCHOOL FLASHBACKS
>> Happy memories: “Treating all my friends (to a) second lunch after winning my first professional boxing match senior year, senior escort at Senior Prom and not knowing the formal dance, doing stand-up in my math class to get a passing grade.”
>> Bad memories: “Finding out my girlfriend was pregnant, but I don’t regret it because it has made me the person I am today and I’m very proud of my son.”
>> Advice to kids today: “Believe in hard work and dedicate yourself in something you love doing. Stand-up has taken care of my family for the last 26 years and has given me amazing opportunities in my community and state.”
>> The Kalihi DNA: “If you can roll in Kalihi, you can roll anywhere; maroon and white runs deep. ‘Enter to Learn, Go Forth to Serve’ (the Farrington way) is more than a motto. Hopefully, a lot of former graduates will turn up and give back.”
(Disclaimer: I am an ex-Farringtonian. Notable alumni include Gov. Ben Cayetano and TV producer Emme Tomimbang along with entertainment pros Jack and Cha Thompson, Joe Mundo of The Aliis and the late Dick Jensen.)
“Da Homecoming” starts at 8 p.m. Saturday. Tickets: $19 FHS students (available on campus), $15 general, $20 main floor seats, $40 VIP (includes FHS T-shirt and Augie DVD), at augiet.com. Food trucks will provide snacks.
And that’s “Show Biz.” …
Wayne Harada is a veteran Honolulu entertainment columnist. Reach him at 266-0926 or email wayneharada@gmail.com.
