Berlin Favorite Packed With Broadway Hits
The 1946 Irving Berlin classic “Annie Get Your Gun” rolls into the Beasley Coliseum in Pullman for one show only, Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.
This national touring version features a pair of stars, Glenn Yarbrough and Rita McKenzie.
From 1959 to 1963, Yarbrough was the lead singer of the Limeliters, one of the top folk acts at the height of the folk boom. He then went solo and hit the charts in 1965 with “Baby the Rain Must Fall.” He has continued to be a concert and theater performer, as well as an accomplished sailor (he cruised the seas for five years at one point).
Rita McKenzie has made a name for herself as a modern-day Ethel Merman in “Ethel Merman’s Broadway.” She’s particularly suited to the role of Annie Oakley, since the role was created by Merman on Broadway.
This show is about the romance between Oakley and sharpshooter Frank Butler (Yarbrough). It contains such show-stopping Berlin songs as “There’s No Business Like Show Business,” “Doin’ What Comes Naturally,” “They Say That Falling In Love is Wonderful” and “Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better.”
Critic Vernon Rice of the New York Post said this about the show on opening night back in 1946: “Irving Berlin has outdone himself this time. No use trying to pick a hit tune, for all the tunes are hits.”
Tickets for the Pullman performance are $25, $20 and $16 for adults; $16 and $10 for students, and $12 and $8 for children under 12. Tickets are available at the Beasley Coliseum, UI Ticket Express in Moscow; Albertson’s in Lewiston; all G&B Select-a-Seat outlets, or call 325-SEAT or (800) 325-SEAT.
‘Tom and Jerry’
The Valley Repertory Theatre opens its season Saturday with “Tom and Jerry,” a black comedy by Rick Cleveland about two hit men who will do anything for a price.
It stars Patrick Treadway, Patrick Heald and Ron Varela. The show contains adult situations and adult language.
This show is actually a replacement for “Personals,” which was originally scheduled to be the opening show but it fell through. Meanwhile, “Tom and Jerry” was originally planned for the ACT Theatre, but the ACT is now defunct.
“When the ACT folded, we’d already rehearsed the show enough to see how hilarious it could be, so we decided to just take it over and find a place to do it,” said Varela.
So they offered the show to the Valley Rep. It already had three performances at Spokane Falls Community College in September.
“Tom and Jerry” opens Saturday night and continues Thursdays through Sundays through Oct. 19. Friday and Saturday shows are at 8 p.m., Thursday shows are at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday matinees are at 2 p.m.
This is the first show of a season which continues with the Agatha Christie mystery “Ten Little Indians,” Nov. 8-23; a Christmas show presented by the Valley Rep Children’s Workshop Group, Dec. 6-21; “New Stage IV,” original one-acts, Jan. 24-Feb. 1; “Bargains,” Feb. 21-March 8; “Lone Star” and “Laundry and Bourbon,” March 28-April 12; and the musical “Lysistrata 2411 A.D.,” April 25-May 17.
Anybody interested in keeping live theater in the Valley should show their support now. The theater is surviving by a thread.
The Valley Rep is on the southwest corner of Sprague and Pines in the Valley. To reserve tickets, call 927-6878.
‘The Pale Pink Dragon’
The Spokane Children’s Theatre opens its season Saturday with a whimsical musical, “The Pale Pink Dragon.”
The show runs Saturday at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m and Sunday at 1 and 3 p.m. It continues on Oct. 12, 19, 26 and Nov. 2 at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. There will also be a 7 p.m. performance on Oct. 21.
All tickets are $3 and must be reserved by calling 328-4886. Performances are at the Spokane Civic Theatre, 1020 N. Howard.
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