Civic's 2007-08 Season includes Oklahoma, Forum

The exciting thing about the Spokane Civic Theatre season is the number of musicals it's producing: 4 upstairs, 1 downstairs. I think this might be a record for Civic.

The opener will be Oklahoma, the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical that pushed the book musical in a new direction, and still is considered one of the top, if not THE top, musicals in history. Run dates are Sep 26-Oct 26.

At Christmastime comes the musical version of A Christmas Carol, the version by Alan Menken and Lynn Ahrens. Menken says in interviews that this is some of his favorite work. After being presented at Madison Square Garden 10 years in a row, Kelsey Grammar starred in a TV movie version of it. Civic run dates are Nov 21-Dec 20.

Someone in the Spokane theater community has lobbied Civic a long time to produce No No Nanette, and it's finally happening Feb 20-Mar 15 '08. It's a darling show, one that's about to get new life from Walter Bobbie (director of the Chicago revival on Broadway) in a special one-week production in New York. By the time Civic does it, the show will be 84 years old - so will the songs Tea For Two and I Want To Be Happy. Kudos to Civic for pulling this one off the shelf.

"Sondheim doesn't sell" is the phrase I hear often, meaning Stephen Sondheim's work is too cerebral to make for popular entertainment. Frankly, "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" SHOULD sell - it's a farce that sneaks in some satirical comments on social class. This was Stephen Sondheim's first Broadway musical writing both lyrics and music. Civic's main stage run happens May 15-June 14 '09.

Downstairs in the Firth Chew Studio, they'll tackle Godspell from March 20-April 19. This little show from Stephen Schwartz has gotten the film and Broadway treatment, but it's wonderful in a little black-box stage like the Studio. Since the show is a musical version of the Gospel of Matthew, it's appropriate that this is taking place during Lent (the Christian season leading up to Easter). I'm a little surprised that the run dates include April 19, which is the Eastern/Greek Orthodox date of Easter itself. (Catholic and Protestant churches celebrate one week earlier, on April 12).

Auditions at Spokane Civic Theatre

Civic began doing musicals in the downstairs Firth Chew Studio Theatre some years back: small unusual musicals that probably wouldn't fill the Main Stage but deserve to be heard. The one slated for this year is so intimate it seems made for the Studio space. The Last Five Years by Jason Robert Brown is like two solo shows for one man and one woman. He tells the story of the unsuccessful five-year relationship beginning to end, she tells it end to beginning. The press release says Yvonne has wanted to direct this show for a long time, and is looking for two strong performers to look ages 28 - 32. Auditions are Nov. 5 & 6 at 6:30p in the Studio Theatre.

The following week (Nov. 12 & 13) are auditions for Laughing Stock for Civic. It's not a musical, but it is a show parodying summer stock theater. Director Troy Nickerson is looking for nine men (look ages 18-75) and five women (look ages 18-65).

Sep 19: Fall Preview

Songs from shows that are on their way to area theaters this fall.

Lake City Playhouse: now through Oct. 6
Man of La Mancha [Original Broadway Cast] , The Barber's Song Golden Helmet - Gino Conforti, Richard Kiley, Irving Jacobson MCA
Man of La Mancha [Original Broadway Cast] , I'm Only Thinking of Him - Mitch Leigh MCA

Civic Theatre: September 29 - October 28, 2007
South Pacific (in Concert from Carnegie Hall), I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair - Reba McEntire Decca Broadway
South Pacific (in Concert from Carnegie Hall), Happy Talk - Lillias White Decca Broadway

Best of Broadway: September 25-30, 2007
Movin' Out, Movin' Out -Anthony's Song - Michael Cavanaugh Sony

Best of Broadway: Saturday, Oct. 6, 2007 - 8pm
Chad Mitchell Trio, Mighty Day - Chad Mitchell Trio Varese Sarabande

Best of Broadway: Oct. 30 - Nov. 4, 2007
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels , Here I Am - Sherie René Scott Ghostlight
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels , Chimp in a Suit - Gregory Jbara Ghostlight

Spokane Children's Theatre: Oct. 6 – 28
High School Musical, Breaking Free - Zac Efron, Vanessa Anne Hudgens Disney

Christian Youth Theater: November 2-4, 9-10
Little Women: The Musical, Days of Plenty - Maureen McGovern Razor & Tie/Ghostlight

Civic Theatre: November 16 - December 16, 2007
The Christmas Schooner, We All Have Songs - Company Louisa May Alleycat Music

Civic Theatre: October 21, 2007
Into the Woods [London Cast], Our Little World - Julia McKenzie/Mary Lincoln BMG

Best of Broadway: Nov. 27 - Dec. 2, 2007
Wedding Singer, Grow Old With Me - Stephen Lynch Sony

Best of Broadway: December 18-19, 2007
Jesus Christ Superstar (Original Motion Picture Soundrack) , Gethsemene - Ted Neeley Decca U.S.

Spokane Children's Theatre
The Velveteen Rabbit: Nov. 23 – Dec. 15

Actors Repertory Theatre
Souvenir: Nov 23 - Dec 8

Costume Shop Blowout Sale

If you've ever been in a show at Spokane Civic Theatre or just went there to check out Halloween ideas, you know that the costume shop is wonderful. Racks upon racks of dresses, shirts, gowns, capes, pants, unusual styles and all periods.
Sun Rentals recently sold their costume inventory to Civic, which means there's even more items there -- too many items, not enough space to hold it all. So several items will be available for sale for $20 or LESS on Saturday, July 28 from 9a-3p. (By the way, cash is preferred)
The sale takes place in the Firth Chew Studio Theatre, off of Dean Street. (You might consider parking on the street - the parking lot owners seem to give out tickets every 10 minutes or so for unpaid parked cars.)
Civic provided costumes for at least two KPBX Kids' Concerts, several Children's Theatre shows, and many organizations around town. (Once I went to a show at another theater and saw that one of their characters was wearing one of MY dresses from another show!) I've been a costume nut for more than a decade, and frankly I plan on being one of the first in line. Hope to see you there!

EXCELLENT showing by Assassins crew

Thanks to Kathy Nickerson for giving me a phone call about the final AACTFest '07 results. The Spokane Civic Theatre entry, Assassins by Stephen Sondheim, came in second from the 12 national-ranking shows. It was stiff competition, according to some other visitors who have been there the entire week.

Patrick McHenry-Kroetch won Best Actor award for portraying John Wilkes Booth.
George Green won Best Supporting Actor for portraying Lee Harvey Oswald.
Marianne McLaughlin won Best Supporting Actress for her role as Sara Jane Moore
The production also won Best Makeup and Hair - not really surprising seeing as how director Troy Nickerson is a hairdresser, but since there were no special makeup or hair effects, makes you wonder what the other hair and makeup looked like.
The back-stage crew also won the "the most professional" award.

One nice thing about being first in line is that the local newspaper, the Charlotte Observer, gave Assassins a beautiful pictorial display. Beautiful images of a disturbingly thought-provoking show. Congratulations to the entire group.

Rare chance to see Lonely Planet, more Assassins fundraisers

The road to national competition is paved with some excellent theater opportunities. Civic and the cast of Assassins is raising money to get to the national festival -- like the World Series of Community Theater. It's not cheap to take a dozen people to Charlotte, NC. The cast and crew of Assassins is multi-talented, and they're combining their efforts to put on some impressive fund raisers.

As mentioned before, Assassins will play on the Civic Main Stage on April 28.

On May 9 and 13, Lonely Planet returns to the Studio Theater, at least in Readers Theater form. Troy Nickerson and Thomas Heppler took this poignant, beautiful show to nationals in '99 and practically swept all the awards -- for good reason. They also SHARED the "best actor" prize -- they're the only two performers in this piece. Reader's Theater means they use their scripts and no set, but I hope they manage to use the one set of props that adds a heart-wrenching visualization of current events. (What, you think I'm gonna spill and spoil it for you?)

On June 3, Abbey Crawford will perform her cabaret "Food, Glorious Food" at the Studio Theater TWICE -- early show at 7:30, late show at 9:30. Abbey was invited into the Cabaret Conference At Yale and performs around the area when possible (she's now half of the morning team at KXLY FM)

Tickets to any of these performances are available at Civic, 328-2507. Again, all proceeds go to taking Assassins to competition. By the way, Civic would also appreciate any donations to help raise competition funds, including donations of Airline Miles. IF you can help, contact Yvonne at 325-1413.

One more Assassins performance Apr. 28

Spokane Civic Theatre's production of Assassins received the “Best in Region” award at the 2007 Kaleidoscope Regional Community Theatre Festival at the end of March. It now moves on to Charlotte, NC in mid-June to compete in the national competition.

The production was sold out in the small Studio Theatre, so the Civic is giving audiences one more opportunity to see it, this time in the larger Main Stage. The special performance takes place Saturday, April 28 at 8 p.m. The proceeds benefit the traveling competition production.

Assassins received the “Best in Region” award at the Region IX AACT/Fest 2007 in Tacoma, WA on Saturday, March 31. Performers George Green (Lee Harvey Oswald) and Patrick McHenry-Kroetch (John Wilkes Booth) also received recognition at the festival for individual performance awards as part of Region IX’s “All Star Cast.”

Spokane Civic Theatre previously won the “Best in State” award at the Washington State Festival, Kaleidoscope 2007, in Walla Walla, WA, on Sunday, March 11, which solidified its advancement to the regional competition. By securing the “Best in Region” award in Tacoma, Assassins will now advance to the national competition.

In the past, Spokane Civic Theatre’s involvement in AACT led to its “Best in Nation” titles for the productions of Lonely Planet (1999) and Getting Out (1989). Spokane Civic Theatre is the only community theatre in the country to place “Best in Nation” twice.

Showdown in Tacoma, Part 2

Judges of the Region 9 AACTFest in Tacoma this weekend have a difficult task ahead of them: comparing an apple with an orange with a banana. The three shows competing for the "Best in Region" title are completely different, and it might come down to whether the three judges are in the mood for a funny yet philosophical play, a musical comedy, or a dark musical ringing with gunshots.

The Gallery Theatre in McMinniville, Oregon won that state's title with a production of Art, the funny yet thought-provoking play by Yasmina Reza (translated from French by Christopher Hampton) where the friendship of three men is tested by a large white canvas. Is a nearly blank canvas "Art"? And worth the large sums of money that "art" collectors are willing to pay? I have no idea how this production went, but I thoroughly enjoyed the script, and the performances I saw on Broadway in '99, and at Interplayers several years ago. In short, it's strong material, and good competition pieces are built on strong material.

Saturday night, the cast of Forever Plaid had their final audience dress rehearsal (an benefit) before heading to the competition. The show is the first and probably final big gig for a men's harmony quartet from the early '60s -- "probably final" because they were killed in Feb. 1964 by a bus filled with teens off to see the Beatles on Ed Sullivan. The songs are nostalgia pieces -- Three Coins in a Fountain, Sixteen Tons, Chain Gang, Love is a Many-Splendored Thing. The key to the show is the harmonizing between the four characters. Two of them are played by Mike Hynes and Kent Kimball, two of the region's best male singers, period. Kent's rich baritone is going to be starring as the Captain in Sound of Music at Civic this spring. Mike has a tenor voice to die for, even though Plaid doesn't show off his range: LCP Executive Director Brian Doig takes the top notes. Todd Jasmin, also Artistic/Technical Director for the Playhouse, rounds out the quartet.

Assassins is about nine people who have killed or tried to kill Presidents of the United States. Patrick McHenry-Kroetch is truly regal as John Wilkes Booth. Frankly, there's nothing funnier than Sara Jane Moore (Marianne McLaughlin) spilling the bullets from her gun as Gerald Ford walks by, then throwing them at him yelling "Bang! Bang!"* It's dark. The Balladeer, the representation of "normal" American sensibilities, is ignored -- much as many of the 60% who disapprove of our current president feel ignored. The more things change, the more they stay the same... Unfortunately, their performance rights for the Stephen Sondheim show didn't include a benefit dress rehearsal. I haven't seen the trimmed-down version, without the chorus and their musical numbers.

All shows have the same rules: Begin with the actors (in costume) and crew standing with their set in a 10x10 square area. It must all fit in this 10x10 area. The cast and crew then has 10 minutes to put up their set. They have 60 minutes to perform their piece (for example, Forever Plaid did it in 57 on Saturday). After their performance, they have another 10 minutes to tear down the set (3 minutes).

What would be fun is seeing the Civic and Playhouse people hanging out together there. At Civic's 60th Gala party on Sunday night, Mike Hynes and Kent Kimball were there on stage singing songs from two of the shows they've been in. (Mike Hynes IS the Cowardly Lion. Talk about being born to play a part! That was his own lion costume and wig he was in on Sunday night, too.) Actors and other creative theatre folks do go back and forth across the state line to do a show they absolutely love. We're very lucky to have these two opportunities to showcase what our theatres can do.

*Historical quibble: It was Squeaky who didn't have any bullets in her gun when she tried to shoot Ford. Somebody knocked Sara Jane aside after she shot her first bullet, which careened off of the doorway near Ford. Okay, now I'm coming off as a history geek and most people don't care, and I know the show needs good comic relief. But the lead female characters are the comic relief, and that goes against my need for strong female characters. Thank goodness for the Emma Goldman portrayal ;-) Okay, soapbox moment over.

60 Years of Spokane Civic Theatre

It's ironic that as Civic Theatre prepared to celebrate 60 years of great community service to the Spokane area, the last of its primary founders passed away. One week, Betty Tomlinson died, the first artistic director and general manager. The following week, Dorothy Darby Smith passed on, the "Grand Dame of Spokane" and first president of the board. Both were remembered at the "Best of Civic" concert on Sunday evening.

That was a wonderful walk down memory lane. Many people have moved from the area, or just moved on with their lives and can't afford the time and effort to rehearse two months then spend another month of nights in performance. Kudos to Martha Lou (times have NOT changed all that much!), Janice Abramson, Susan Hardie, and others who rarely showcase their performing skills on stage these days. Jean Hardie capped the evening with one more showstopper as Mother Superior from the Nunsense shows.

Thanks to everyone who performed Sunday night, and to everyone who has given their talents to Civic over the past 60 years.

Benefit concerts coming up for regional theatres

Two of our regional theatres are about to kick off seasons marking major birthdays, and taking the occasion to raise more money for their future theatrical efforts. And a third group is raising money for their trip to the community theatre compeition.
March 24: Lake City Playhouse's cast of Forever Plaid performs their competition show.
March 25: Spokane Civic Theatre's 60th Anniversary: A "Best Of Civic" revue
March 30 & 31: Coeur d'Alene Summer Theatre's 40th Anniversary: Carousel in Concert.

And now details, in reverse order.

March 30 & 31: Coeur d'Alene Summer Theatre's 40th Anniversary: Carousel in Concert. This was CST's first production (hence the name "Carousel Players"), presented with costumes, lead roles by CST veterans (see below), the 60-member NIC chorale as the chorus, and a 28-piece orchestra. Ticket price is $40 each (40th anniversary, $40, yeah you get it)

Since it's not listed on their website, here are cast details:
Julie Jordan…………………………..Krista Kubicek
Billy Bigelow….…………………..David Jon Wilson
Carrie Pipperidge……………Callie McKinney Cabe
Mrs. Mullin…………………………Molly Allen Ritter
Nettie Fowler…………………….Jennifer Niederloh
Enoch Snow………………………………Jadd Davis
Jigger Craigin……………………………Mark Cotter
Policeman…………………………….Robby French
David Bascombe………………………Todd Jasmin
StarKeeper……………………………Kelly Quinette
Louise…………………………………….Jessie Little

And not that this is influencing my decision to go, but three of the esteemed KPBX staff will be in the orchestra: Verne Windham on horn, Brian Flick on bass, and our chief engineer Jerry Olson on tuba.


March 25: Spokane Civic Theatre's 60th Anniversary: A "Best Of Civic" revue, with several familiar names and old friends. Ticket price $30 each, details at the Civic site.

Again, since it's not listed at the website, here is the cast as announced:
Janice Abramson, Tom Armitage, Patricia Brady, Lei Broadstone, H. James Brown, Alyssa Calder-Day, Kyle Carter, Sallie Christiansen, Dennis Craig, Abbey Crawford, Melody Deatherage, Kathie Doyle-Lipe, Nancy Emerson, David Gigler, Jean Hardie, Susan Hardie, Thomas Heppler, Michael Hynes, Bryan Jackson, Brianne Jordan-Green, Katie Kapelke, Kent Kimball, Tami Knoell, Cameron Lewis, Danae Lowman, Patrick McHenry-Kroetch, Marianne McLaughlin, Jan Neumann, Troy Nickerson, Russ Seaton, Daina Toevs, Patrick Treadway, Andrew Ware Lewis, Martha Lou Wheatley-Billiter, and the 2006-2007 Box n Hat Players

The performances will feature musical numbers from the following shows:
The Angry Housewives, Guys and Dolls, Fiddler on the Roof, Oliver!, The Secret Garden, Singin' in the Rain, Falsettos, Cabaret, Kiss Me Kate, 42nd Street, A Chorus Line, Nunsense, The Wizard of Oz, My Fair Lady, Damn Yankees, Brigadoon, Fantasticks, 1776, The Music Man, Hello, Dolly!, Into the Woods, My Favorite Year, Anything Goes.


March 24: Lake City Playhouse's cast of Forever Plaid performs their competition version in POST FALLS, at the Old Church Arts & Cultural Center, 405 William St. Show starts at 7 p.m. Donations are $15.