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).

Wizard of Oz Street Fair at Garland District

"We're not in Kansas anymore Toto, we're on Garland."

I grew up reading L. Frank Baum's Wizard of Oz books, faithfully watched the movie with Judy Garland every year on television, and sing along to the cast album of Wicked. So when the Garland District announced that its 5th Annual Street Fair would have a Wizard of Oz theme, I began brushing off my black pointed hat and witch shoes. Well, it does make sense. The strip of shops and businesses roughly between Howard and Monroe Streets includes the Tin Man Art Gallery, The Ruby Slipper, and the Garland movie theater (for showings of Judy Garland's classic).

The big day is Saturday, August 11 from 10a-8p. Well, until past midnight if you count the midnight showing of The Wizard of Oz at the Garland Theater - the other showing is at 3 p.m. Some free tickets to the 3p showing are available, "ask how at the information booth And imitate either Dorothy or Toto and you or your pet could win one of two contests.

Judy Garland Impersonator Contest: How's your Somewhere Over the Rainbow? Music is provided; show up in costume and sing your heart out to win the prize. Contest is after the movie showing, outside the Garland Theater at 5p. To sign up in advance, please email Sean at Quinn Advertising, sean@quinngroup.com.

Toto Look-A-Like Contest: This is open to all four-legged critters. Your dog, your cat, your iguana... Sign up pets at 11:30a at the Garland Animal Clinic, 623 W Garland. Contest takes place at noon.

At 6p, the stage outside the Garland Theater is turned over to one of KPBX's favorite local bands, The Celtic Nots. No word if the trio has some L. Frank Baum-inspired music in their repertoire, but I wouldn't be surprised if Carlos Alden has something up his sleeve.

Crafts: Kids can make a Glinda Wand or a Lollipop Kids (Munchkins) lollipop, a Tin Can Man, their own lion tail, and tissue paper poppies. They can also have their face painted.
Teen and Older: Volunteers will help make a Munchkin pin or a Ruby Red Slipper magnet.

The Spokesman-Review wrote a story about the Garland District recently, including why street fairs like this are helpful to business communities. Full disclosure: I'm very partial to Garland for several reasons, including the amazing assistance KPBX gets from Dave Sams and Garland Printing.

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!

New Releases

In a couple of weeks I'll play a sampler of new(ish) releases. In the meantime, here's a little list, not including the CDs mentioned in the Tony Award week.

Hairspray the film version of the musical... which was once a film. This is the John Travolta one.
Infertility the Musical. "Hard to Conceive" is right. This off-Broadway show recording sounds like a hoot.
Barbara Cook: No One is Alone. Barbara Cook still has a lovely voice, and I love her renditions of songs.
Face the Music, 2007 Encores! I love the Encores concert series, and this time they've unearthed an Irving Berlin diamond in the rough.
The Pirate Queen. You liked Riverdance? You liked Les Miserables? Critics didn't but audiences are still liking this Celtic tale based on a real-life Irish ship captain who defied Queen E.
Legally Blonde the new movical


And Andrew Lloyd Webber's company is remastering several CDs for release.
Beautiful Game, the 2000 Andrew Lloyd Webber soccer musical. I've heard good things about this score, set against the turmoil of Northern Ireland.
Starlight Express, the 1992 London Cast Recording (and to many people, the only recording worth hearing because it doesn't have De Barge on it)
Song and Dance, the 1984 London cast with Sarah Brightman

"Ultra-charming" Cheyenne

The stage version of Xanadu opened on Broadway last night starring Spokanite Cheyenne Jackson. He got the role as an artist in need of a muse only a month ago as the initial star had a severe accident (on the roller skates?) Photos from the opening night party on BroadwayWorld show Jackson hanging with Olivia Newton-John, star of the original flop film that glorified roller disco. Reviews are mixed, depending on how much camp the particular person was willing to embrace, but the acerbic Clive Barnes of the NY Post called Cheyenne "ultra-charming."

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.

Drama Desk Awards

Drama Desk Award nominations were announced this morning. It's not "The Tonys^®" and it's not such an exclusive club, either. The Drama Desk panel covers Off-Broadway, Off-Off-Broadway, and legitimate not-for-profit theatres in all the NYC area. The nominations are a nice review of what was notable in the past year.

The winners are announced May 20 at their gala ceremony, hosted this year by one of my favorite performers, Kristin Chenoweth. They'll webcast live on TheaterMania.com. The NYC PBS station WNET plans to tape the show and offer it to PBS stations for subsequent airing. (No clue if any of the Inland Northwest stations plan to air it, I ask them PLEASE to do so.)

The hot talk of the nominations is LoveMusik, a musical using songs by Kurt Weill. It's based on the "unlikely" love between the brilliant German composer and the street girl who became his muse and star, Lotte Lenya. Michael Cerveris plays Weill, Donna Murphy portrays Lenya. It received 12 nominations, and it hasn't even officially opened yet (it's in previews now, opening is May 3).

Kander & Ebb's Curtains, the latest screen-t0-stage transfer Legally Blonde, and the sexy Spring Awakening all received 10 nominations.

Speaking of Kander & Ebb, the longtime partnership (continuing posthumously with Curtains, with Fred Ebb's death in 2004) is being recognized with a special achievement award.

And a neat note for public radio fans: the Capitol Steps earned a nominee in "Best Lyrics" category. If you haven't listened to their political satire and parodies during their four specials airing on KPBX, KSFC, and other public radio stations, check out their clever wordplay at capsteps.com.

The musical-related nominees are:

Outstanding Musical:
Curtains - Broadway, the murder-mystery-comedy play within a musical
In the Heights - Off-Broadway debut of a 27-year-old Dominican/Cuban composer mixing salsa, meringue, hip-hop and other musical styles with traditional Broadway fare.
Legally Blonde -
LoveMusik
Mary Poppins
Spring Awakening

Outstanding Revival of a Musical:
110 in the Shade
The Apple Tree
Company
Di Yam Gazlonim!
H.M.S. Pinafore
Les Miserables

Outstanding Actor in a Musical:
Michael Cerveris, LoveMusik
Raul Esparza, Company
John Gallagher, Jr., Spring Awakening
Jonathan Groff, Spring Awakening
David Hyde Pierce, Curtains
Martin Short, Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me

Outstanding Actress in a Musical:
Ashley Brown, Mary Poppins
Laura Bell Bundy, Legally Blonde
Kristin Chenoweth, The Apple Tree
Audra McDonald, 110 in the Shade
Lea Michele, Spring Awakening
Donna Murphy, LoveMusik

Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical:
Brooks Ashmankas, Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me
Christian Borle, Legally Blonde
Aaron Lazar, Les Miserables
Gavin Lee, Mary Poppins
Orville Mendoza, Adrift in Macao
David Pittu, LoveMusik

Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical:
Linda Balgord, The Pirate Queen
Celia Keenan-Bolger, Les Miserables
Debra Monk, Curtains
Orfeh, Legally Blonde
Barbara Walsh, Company
Karen Ziemba, Curtains

Outstanding Director of a Musical:
John Doyle, Company
Thomas Kail, In the Heights
Michael Mayer, Spring Awakening
Jerry Mitchell, Legally Blonde
Harold Prince, LoveMusik
Alex Timbers, Gutenberg! The Musical!

Outstanding Choreography:
Patricia Birch, LoveMusik
Andy Blankenbuehler, In the Heights
Matthew Bourne, Edward Scissorhands
Matthew Bourne and Stephen Mear, Mary Poppins
Bill T. Jones, Spring Awakening
Jerry Mitchell, Legally Blonde

Outstanding Music:
John Kander, Curtains
Paul Leschen, Twist: Please, Sir, May I Have Some More?
Peter Melnick, Adrift in Macao
Lin-Manuel Miranda, In the Heights
Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin, Legally Blonde
Duncan Sheik, Spring Awakening

Outstanding Lyrics:
Fred Ebb with added lyrics by John Kander and Rupert Holmes, Curtains
Lin-Manuel Miranda, In the Heights
Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin, Legally Blonde
Steven Sater, Spring Awakening
Bill Strauss, Elaina Newport and Mark Eaton, Capitol Steps
Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman, Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me

Grey Gardens, a contender for this year's Tony's, is not eligible for the Drama Desk because it transfered from an off-Broadway theater (it was eligible last year and won Best Actress for Christine Ebersole).

Hedwig to happen at Bayou

So you think Hedwig is the name of Harry Potter's owl? Then this show might not be for you (at least, it's not for the child in you).

This Hedwig is a transgender punk rock singer created by John Cameron Mitchell. The 'rock concert' is actually "an adult, thought-provoking musical about the quest for individuality," as a NY Times reviewer put it. The movie based on the stage show has a cult following, but it's great to have that heart-pounding beat live in person.

We're getting the chance. Tessa Gregory of e.v.e. productions plans to launch a Spokane production of Hedwig and the Angry Inch in Spokane during Pride Week. Performances are Friday June 8 at 8 p.m., Saturday June 9 at 8 p.m., and Sunday June 10 at 4 p.m. It'll be at the Ignite space, the former Fat Tuesdays/Bayou Brewery at Hamilton and Trent. Tickets are $15, proceeds benefit the LGBT Center (formerly the Rainbow Regional Community Center). More at this website.

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.

Bernadette Peters in Spokane Oct. 13

Big news from the Spokane Symphony this morning, unveiling their 2007-08 season. The headliner for the SuperPops series is a super celebrity -- two-time Tony award-winner Bernadette Peters performs her concert Oct. 13, 8 p.m., at the INB Center.

Annie Matlow, head of marketing for the Symphony, was in the building this morning talking with Verne Windham about the season of concerts and the move from the INB to the newly-remodeled Fox Theater this November. Season subscriptions go on sale today.

Other concerts of interest to Broadway lovers:
Three Mo' Tenors (Feb. 2 '08): The showcase of African-American tenors and eight different musical styles, including classical opera, blues, gospel, and showtunes. A CD of some concert selections includes "Make Them Hear You," from Ragtime, and Sondheim's "Being Alive." Several other songs appeared on Broadway through musical revues of popular blues and jazz, including the title to Five Guys Named Moe (slightly reworked to fit the Mo' theme of the evening) and Let the Good Times Roll. By the way, there are two "equally outstanding casts" rotating through the schedule, hence the lack of faces on the advertisements.

Tonight -- Bernstein's Broadway (May 10 '08): The Spokane Symphony has been using guest vocalists to showcase the music of particular composers; two seasons ago it was Gershwin, this spring it was Andrew Lloyd Webber. They continue the new tradition with "popular scenes and songs" from Bernstein's "Greatest Hits." Hey Morihiko: how about some of his lovely non-hits, like 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, and his version of Peter Pan?

The big deal for showtune fans, though, is the Bernadette concert for Oct. 13. According to reports from Playbill.com, her concerts include Peters' renditions of two Gypsy tunes, "Let Me Entertain You" and "Rose's Turn," as well as songs by Stephen Sondheim ("Children Will Listen" and "Not a Day Goes By"), Rodgers and Hammerstein ("Some Enchanted Evening") and Jerry Herman ("Time Heals Everything"). Concertgoers can also expect tunes by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Irving Berlin as well as the Peggy Lee classic "Fever." Peters was in the Northwest around Valentine's Day, performing in Southern Oregon. A review of that concert is online.

The bottom line: Individual tickets go on sale this August, no word on what the individual price will be. Based on the difference between the Headliner Series (6 concerts) and the SuperPops Series (5 concerts) looks like the four prices will be $50, $40, $30, and $25. There are several combinations available, if classical music or the other pops series interest you.

WestCoast Best of Broadway Season '07-'08

Silly silly silly Janean. I only picked two of the eight Best of Broadway shows announced as coming to town this next season. I didn't pay enough attention to which shows were Equity and which were non-Equity (the actors are not paid according to union rules, so they are therefore less expensive. As a rule, they are considered the "B" tours, or less quality. That's not necessarily true, but higher chance than not.)

I don't mean to be biting the hand that feeds me -- literally. WestCoast Entertainment put on a lovely luncheon to announce their upcoming musicals, and yours truly was invited. But frankly, for a 20th Anniversary rollout, the delicious lunch on the stage of the INB Center was the best thing about the gathering. My table companions were unimpressed overall.

The best surprise: A special one-night concert with the Chad Mitchell Trio. No kidding! Chad is from Spokane, and still lives here (he performed in Civic Theatre's A Child's Christmas in Wales and was an absolute delight). Mike Kobluk and Joe Frazier met Chad at Gonzaga, and they were a nationwide sensation among folkies in the 1960s. The luncheon featured a great montage of appearances on TV shows of the '60s, including Ed Sullivan. The one concert takes place Oct. 6 at 8 p.m. This is an EXTRA add-on.

Actually, half of the announced shows are add-ons at this point. Nothing was announced for after March 30. My guess is that the April and May shows are still in negotiations. Rather than announce and then change direction, as had to happen last season (the planned Little Shop tour shut down), I would hope they're make arrangements and will make future announcements. Otherwise, we've got a season of four shows for $177.

The pre-picks: Movin' Out (Sep 25-30), and Riverdance.

More on Riverdance: The tour will swing up our way after going through Portland, on its way up to Alberta. Jack Lucas said they worked hard to convince Riverdance to stop in Spokane, and I'm glad they did. This is reportedly the final tour of Riverdance. (or at least the production company is going to give it a nice long break) I will admit that I have watched the video several times and listened to the music, but have never sat in a theatre to watch them live. Considering how much I love to watch the Haran Irish Dancers perform, I think I've been missing out. Performances Jan. 18-20. Again, this is an ADD-ON show.

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels: I thought I'd put this in the pick list, but on second look, I hadn't. I'm very glad this is on its way to Spokane. (We almost saw it in New York last year, but messed up our timing, saw something really bad instead.) I never saw the movie this is based on, but I enjoy the cast album. So I guess I'll have a shock at the start: composer/lyricist David Yazbek wrote a new opening number for this tour, called "The Only Game in Town." Ironically, the song it replaces is called "Give Them What They Want." I hope this isn't an omen of not getting what we want out of this tour. Performances are Oct. 30-Nov 4

Jesus Christ Superstar: The only reason I didn't pick this as a show coming to town is that Ted Neely's "Farewell Tour" has been going on for a while. I thought the 60-year-old might be finished with singing Gethsemane by spring. I should have checked his Wikipedia site -- it's listed there as continuing into 2008 (open-ended). Neely and Superstar was last here in '93 (the first date my hubby and I went on together) and, according to our Wiki friends, is a "stripped-down version with staging and set limited to a few risers." It comes through Spokane Dec. 18-19. This production's booking is done by Troika Entertainment (same group associated with Cats, Chicago, Joseph and Movin' Out)

Speaking of producing companies, this season includes an early start in a first national tour -- HIGHLY unusual. The Wedding Singer began its stage life in Seattle's 5th Avenue before hitting Broadway. It was charming and got a little notice in its eight or nine months on Broadway, mostly because of lead Stephen Lynch. The Road Company is the booking agency, responsible for several A-list tours, specifically Wicked. (Talk about wanting to get in on their good side!) Perhaps the Wedding Singer creatives are fond of the Northwest. In any case, the '80s-style musical comes to Spokane Nov. 27-Dec. 2.

Gypsy is the most ... ambiguous of the productions listed. It's being touted based on its solid score by Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim lyrics. Whereas most of the video montages publicizing the tours showcased the Broadway stage productions they are based on, this montage featured clip after clip of the film versions (visible at Phoenix Entertainment's site).
I was hoping it was because the production would be based on this summer's Encores series at New York's City Center, which will have Patti LuPone play Mama Rose for a special one-month production this summer.
Phoenix Entertainment -- the group also behind the current television show looking for the next leads in Grease -- is then sending the production on tour, but NOT with LuPone. Rumor has it that Kathy Halenda will portray Mama Rose. She's not a big name, hence the focus on the show itself. Maybe that'll be a refreshing change, seeing Mama Rose as a stage mom and not as a celeb portraying a stage mom. Rumors also say the set pieces and costumes, etc. are coming from the 2003 version with Bernadette Peters. That'll come Feb. 21-24 next year.

The other add-on show finishing the announced season is ... Mamma Mia. Wait, didn't we just bop to this staged concert to ABBA tunes a year ago? Jack Lucas said that WestCoast thought it was too early too, but the producers really really really really wanted to come back to Spokane. (So "back by popular demand" refers to the producers? Do they need to fix their set? Do they want to take a group photo on the carousel or the wagon slide? Was there an untapped audience here who learned about the first showing too late? Will it spark a new debate on jukebox musicals? We'll find out Mar. 25-30 '08.

I'm really surprised that Light in the Piazza and Sweet Charity are not on the list. The main reason is that they are both booked by Network Productions, the same group that shopped around Annie and Hairspray, and is about to bring Rent. Who knows, maybe we'll have some new announcements before too long.

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.

Benefit for Hart Family on Thursday

If you go see locally-produced shows in the Spokane area, you might recognize this fellow at right: John Hart. This was part of a photo taken for "A Reduced Christmas Carol" (hence the paper chain "links" for Marley... other silly stuff not visible in this clip). John and his wife Beth added to their family a month ago, and unfortunately baby Colin is critically ill.

Beth is a teacher at St. Aloysius Elementary School. The school is holding a spaghetti-feed dinner/fundraiser on Thursday night. Come to the cafeteria at St. Al’s, 611 E. Mission (Mission and Standard) between 5-7 p.m. for spaghetti, salad, rolls, and dessert. They will also sell raffle tickets for a variety of gift baskets, including a KPBX gift basket. Suggested donation is $5 adult, $3 child, or $20 family.

The KPBX Arts Calendar doesn't post non-arts fundraiser announcements, so I'm a little disappointed I can't share this more on the air. John and Beth Hart are pretty important to me. I've done a couple of shows with John, most recently I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change, also Return to the Forbidden Planet. But he's also an excellent dad and teacher's aide. It's too sweet watching him with their preschool-aged daughter, and he comes in to Beth's classroom regularly to clean the frog tank. Meanwhile, I can't say enough good things about Beth as a teacher. She is kind but firm, open to new ways of teaching, always concerned for her students' safety, and very creative. To get kids interested in brushing teeth, she figured out how to cut the bottom half off of small clear-plastic soda bottles (the lumpy bumpy bottoms), paint the insides white, cut a pink sheet of Foamies lengthwise and glue it on the open parts of the bottle, then turn it all over. Voila! A big set of teeth, to brush with big toothbrushes. (With that kind of reinforcement at school, my daughter actually ASKED to brush her teeth at home!) And these two caring, loving people are going through any parent's absolute worst nightmare.

If you can’t come to the spaghetti feed but would like to make a donation to the Hart family, please mail to Sandra Skeim at St. Aloysius, 611 E. Mission, Spokane WA 99202.

Showdown in Tacoma

Congratulations to Spokane Civic Theatre and the cast & crew of Assassins! The cut production of the Stephen Sondheim musical was the winner at Washington state's Kaleidoscope 2007 competition last weekend.

This is a bit of a triumphant return -- Spokane Civic Theatre won the state competition almost every time in the 1990s. Troy Nickerson, director of Assassins, took Best in Nation at the 1999 competition (not to mention tying for "Best Actor" in the nation with co-star Thomas Heppler).

The next step is the regional competition. The Region IX AACTFest takes place in Tacoma March 30 & 31. It will compete against the winners from Alaska, Oregon, and Idaho.

Yes, that's Idaho, as in Forever Plaid from Lake City Playhouse. Two of the actors in that show, Kent Kimball and Mike Hynes, are veterans of the Civic stage. Talk about friendly competition!

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.

Movie Musical Update: Here comes Pierce!

A slew of movie musicals are in production or in pre-production casting. The one that really gets my attention is Mamma Mia! with Meryl Streep and, be still my heart, Pierce Brosnan. Okay, during filming of Dante's Peak, I discovered I could be 5 feet from him and still act professional. But as an eighth grader, at least one other classmate was enthralled with him in Remington Steele. Can he sing? Frankly, I don't know and I don't care. He's set to play Sam, one of three potential fathers of the bride, in the ABBA musical/rock concert. In the stage show, Sam gets "SOS" and "Knowing Me, Knowing You." Will the movie be as fun as the show? The live stage concert has so much energy, the audience is dancing in their seats. Concerts on film don't have that, and it's doubtful the movie can live up to the "most popular musical in the world."

So what else is going on in the movie musical world?

Hairspray: John Travolta put it best when he stood next to the film's co-star Queen Latifah and said "I love a full figured woman who can stand in front of a camera and sing her heart out. But that’s enough about me." The photos are incredible, especially of Travolta in the prosthetics. (WOW!) Having just had the show come through Spokane in January, it's still very fresh in my mind, and the high energy from the cast still infuses the recording. The big disappointment: Mama I'm a Big Girl Now is out, because it "doesn't move the plot along." Two new songs are added. Coming July, New Line Cinema. (And yes, Disney ain't the only ones with fashion dolls! But these girls are more realistic than princesses.)

Johnny Depp as Sweeney Todd. The mixture of Depp, Tim Burton, and Stephen Sondheim could result in mad genius. Consider that Sacha Baron Cohen is cast as Pirelli, a rival barber, and the contest scene will be wild at the very least! Burton's significant other, Helena Bonham Carter, is Mrs. Lovett, a part that requires significant singing experience. "Worst Pies in London" doesn't even have space to breathe. I'm hoping for the best, but wondering how well they'll pull it off. A co-production of DreamWorks and Warner Bros.
UPDATE: Filming is back on track after Depp's young daughter was "critically ill" at a British hospital; she's doing much better and home with her parents now. (I'm not a celebrity-seeker, but I always feel for the parents of hospitalized children. Not to mention the kids!) Burton is aiming for a wide release of January 2008, limited release Dec. 21. Sweeney at Christmas??? Now that's macabre.

Across the Universe. The trailer makes it seem like a cross between Hair and Moulin Rouge, with Beatles songs. The story of young love in the '60s and '70s, crossing continents and political conflicts. Julie Taymor's vision made the Lion King a hit (along with Lebo M's music), and her stage work is remarkable. In film, she has no boundaries at all; some sequences are downright psychadelic. I hope I don't have to go to Seattle or New York to see it.

Enchanted. Disney takes an animated princess tale (a take-off on Snow White) and sends the characters into modern-day New York City, with live-action. Songs are by Alan Menkin (music) and Stephen Schwartz (lyrics). Susan Sarandon (remember her singing in Rocky Horror Picture Show?) is the evil queen. I admit, I'm a Disney-holic, and enjoy Belle, Ariel, Aurora, etc. (Fortunately, our daughter does not -- yet) Giselle will make a nice addition to the Princess line (yes, the dolls -- animated version and person version -- are ready for the Christmas rush.)

Bob, The Musical. Disney takes another off-beat direction, where a guy who hates musicals suddenly hears the "inner song" of people's hearts after being struck in the head. (The TV show Scrubs did a similar theme this season where a woman with a brain condition suddenly starts hearing everything as a musical.) Songs are being done by Marc Shaiman (Hairspray). Expected in 2008.

Other projects being thought about:

Sunset Boulevard with Glenn Close; Rapunzel, another Disney princess movie, with Kristin Chenoweth. There are lots of other rumors, most of them involving Hugh Jackman.

Congratulations Lake City Playhouse

I hear through the grapevine that the Lake City Playhouse entry in the Idaho State Festival won the AACT competition there. As state winner, it moves on to the Region IX AACTFest, held in Tacoma March 30 & 31. It will compete against the winners from Alaska, Oregon, and Washington State.

Who will the Washington state winners be? Kaleidoscope 2007 takes place March 9-11 in Walla Walla. Civic is sending Assassins -- break a leg!

Elphaba's a real doll

The 2007 Toy Fair is opening in New York, and one of the items previewed caught my eye. Mattel is bringing back a series of Wizard of Oz dolls as part of the Barbie line, and this time they've added a Wicked Witch of the West doll. Pictures show it looks nothing like Margaret Hamilton's crone. Instead, she's a pretty witch, looking remarkably like Elphaba in Wicked.

Wicked is immensely popular with a similar pre-teen girl crowd that the Barbie dolls are marketed towards. Young people (mostly girls) about the age of 10 and older going wild for it. It's a coming-of-age story, with themes of friendship and being yourself -- that speaks strongly to girls in their teens and pre-teens. At the touring production in Seattle last September, the high-pitched cheers for Elphaba and Galinda made it clear: THE GIRLS WERE IN DA HOUSE.

So Barbie gives us the new icon of individuality nestled amongst the plastic princesses. Mattel's been looking for a way to expand their audience, and at least they recognized the purchasing power behind Wicked fans. Incidentally, the Glinda doll sticks with the movie character's costume, and Dorothy looks like Judy Garland.

Civic announces '07-'08 season already

2007 is barely into double-digit days and Spokane Civic Theatre already has announced its upcoming season of shows.
The pattern has, at least since 1994 (after the "JC Superstar at Christmas" fiasco), been to start with a classic "golden era" musical, a kid-friendly musical at Christmas, and end with a musical. For the past few years, they've also had a main-stage, one-night concert of a big musical that could never pay off for the Spokane audience (Hair, Jeckyl and Hyde.) Most excitingly, each season includes a musical in the Studio theatre, either something pretty new or controvercial that would NEVER fly on the main stage.
Those slots this year:
Opening Musical: SOUTH PACIFIC
September 28 – October 28, 2007
This Oscar and Hammerstien show was highly controvercial for romantically mixing Polynesians with Whites. (Gasp- the horror ;-p) Highly fun, several good roles for women.

Concert Musical: INTO THE WOODS
October 21, 2007
This is my favorite Stephen Sondheim show, probably my favorite show period, and certainly the best memories of being onstage. I had the honor of being the Baker's Wife way back in '95? at the Lake City Playhouse. I fell in love with this show with the London production in '90/'91, and I still love to pop in my tape of the Broadway Great Performances version (a show my husband saw live, and I'm still envious). When Civic did this on the main stage, in '92? it was the first community theatre to get the chance to do it (thanks to Jack Phillips). Unfortunately, I heard it didn't sell well. Maybe it was still too new, maybe it's the Spokane Sondheim curse. But seriously, how can you lose by combining Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and his Beanstalk, and Rapunzel? The script is fantastic and funny, the songs have something to say while being completely entertaining.... Okay, I'll get off the soapbox. Needless to say I'm thrilled that Civic will do at least a concert version.

Christmas Musical: THE CHRISTMAS SCHOONER
November 16 – December 16, 2007
I have never heard of this show, but a quick Google shows it's based on the Christmas Tree Ships, specifically the Rouse Simmons which was lost in a storm in November 1912. Christmas Trees (Tannenbaum) were a German tradition, and immigrants loved to have that reminder of home in the new world at Christmastime. So it's a story of tradition, ancestors, and human fellowship. One theatre specifically said Schooner is not appropriate for children younger than 6 (my guess being some characters die and the storm scene would be potentially frightening). In any case, now that I know it exists and a CD is out there, somewhere, I'll look for more on the songs themselves.

Studio Musical: THE LAST FIVE YEARS
January 25 – February 17, 2008
Jason Robert Brown is a young, prolific songwriter for the stage, with a pop style. If you watched Audra McDonald's PBS concert at Lincoln Center last fall, she sang one of his songs as he accompanied on piano. Last Five Years is a two-character work, completely out of synch with time. A man and a woman meet, marry, divorce in the span of five years; the two tell their stories separately. Somewhat confusingly, Cathy tells her story backward; the show begins with her "Still Hurting." Jamie tells his side of things chronologically, beginning with meeting his "Shiksa Goddess." It's not a new gimmick, and I'm not sure it's more than a gimmick, but I'm still looking forward to a local production of a new-ish (2002) work.

Closing: THE MAN OF LA MANCHA
May 16 – June 15, 2008
Don Quixote! The Lord of La Mancha! A male-heavy show, and an operatic one to boot. Unfortunately, there is a problem of finding enough Spokane-area men who sing, especially in spring. (For example, the Chorale has mid-April and mid-May concerts.) I wish the director and producer luck in casting.