Shameless plug!

^^KITV’s Ben. Gutierrez, in stilts as Honolulu’s altitudinous mayor, addresses the masses in last year’s Gridiron show.

If you want to take a break from all the doom and gloom found in the headlines these days, make sure to head out to Diamond Head Theatre next weekend for the annual Gridiron show put on by the Society of Professional Journalists-Hawaii Chapter.

The show itself is a fundraiser for the SPJ’s journalism internship program, but more than that it’s just a raucous romp spoofing the news and newsmakers of the past year (think Rex Johnson’s e-mail foibles, Dan Inouye’s wedding and June Jones’ abrupt departure, to name a few).

Gridiron features the talent of more than 30 members of Hawaii’s media outlets with artistic direction from award-winning members of the island’s performing arts community.

For ticket information, go to Honolulu Box Office.

Shows:

7:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 23: Dress rehearsal. ($25 general admission tickets sold at the door)

8 p.m., Friday, Oct. 24: Opening

3 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 25: Matinee (good seats still available)

8 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 25: Closing

(Yours truly is in the cast and will be taking the week off to concentrate on dance steps and song lyrics rather than political campaigns and gas prices. Look for more blog posts from Richard Borreca and Laurie Au.)