WHITHER WHITNEY: Whitney Houston begins rehearsal next...

WHITHER WHITNEY: Whitney Houston begins rehearsal next month for a summer tour capitalizing on the extraordinary popularity of the “Bodyguard” soundtrack, which has passed the 8-million mark in the United States. The surprise is she’s apparently forgoing arenas in favor of intimate theaters--at least in the beginning.

The tour starts July 5 in Miami and, for the moment, ends with Aug. 25, 27-28 shows at the Cerritos Performing Arts Center. There is, though, talk of larger-venue dates, including a possible Hollywood Bowl concert in August.