January 13, 2008 in Features

Spotlight: Civic offers reasons to go ‘Cuckoo’

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The Spokane Civic Theatre’s 2008-09 season includes a Lockerbie air crash drama, the Northwest-themed classic “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” and a slapstick Sondheim favorite.

Executive artistic director Yvonne A.K. Johnson says she’s calling her just-announced season “the Powerhouse Season” because of heavy-hitters like “Cuckoo’s Nest” and “The Women of Lockerbie.”

It also includes a mix of musicals that have stood the test of time, beginning with one that features a certain surrey with a fringe on top.

Here’s the Main Stage lineup:

“”Oklahoma!” – The Rodgers and Hammerstein classic, Sept. 26-Oct. 26.

“”A Christmas Carol, The Musical” – A new adaptation with music and lyrics by Alan Menken and Lynn Ahrens, Nov. 21-Dec. 20.

“”One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” – The Ken Kesey classic, adapted for the stage by Dale Wasserman, Jan. 9-Jan. 25, 2009.

“”No, No, Nanette” – A tap-dance extravaganza, Feb. 20-March 15, 2009.

“”Shakespeare in Hollywood” – Ken Ludwig’s latest Broadway farce, April 3-19, 2009.

“”A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” – The Roman-themed Stephen Sondheim slapstick musical comedy, May 15-June 14, 2009.

Here’s the lineup at the downstairs Firth J. Chew Studio Theatre:

“”Graceland” and “Never Swim Alone” – A pair of one-acts, Oct. 31-Nov. 23.

“”The Affections of May” – A Norm Foster romantic comedy, Jan. 30-Feb. 22, 2009.

“”Godspell” – The Biblical musical, March 20-April 19, 2009.

“”The Women of Lockerbie” – A drama about the aftermath of the Lockerbie air disaster, May 8-31, 2009.

Rights are pending on a few of these shows – subscriptions will go on sale in March.

Cheyenne update

Plenty is happening on the Cheyenne Jackson beat – Jackson being the Broadway and movie star (“United 93”) who got his start on the stages of the Spokane Civic Theatre and Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre.

TheaterMania.com recently interviewed him, and here’s what we learned:

“He continues to play the lead role of Sonny in Broadway’s campy musical “Xanadu,” based on the film of the same name. Jackson first went into the cast in June as an emergency replacement for James Carpinello, who injured his foot in a rehearsal (this show features a lot of roller-skating). Jackson was given the role permanently in October, after he emerged as one of the show’s main attractions.

“He and the cast recently recorded the “Xanadu” original Broadway cast album, which has already become a campy hit.

“He recently filmed a pilot called “Family Practice” for the Lifetime channel, co-starring with Beau Bridges and Anne Archer, about a family of lawyers. He’s waiting to hear about the status of that project. Otherwise, he’s under contract to “Xanadu” through July.

‘Dancing With the Celebrities’

The Christian Youth Theatre of Spokane has come up with an entertaining idea for a fundraiser: the “Dancing With the Celebrities” benefit, March 21, 6:30 p.m. at the Bing Crosby Theater.

They’ve lined up a dozen well-known local characters – including William Pitts of KREM-2, Jennifer Kim of KHQ-6, Kjerstin Ramsing of KXLY-4 and Joe Shogan, Spokane City Council president – to participate in this contest. Tickets are now on sale by calling (509) 487-6540 or online at www.cytspokane.com.

Leppard, Styx and REO

It’ll be like 1980 all over again.

Def Leppard, Styx and REO Speedwagon have been booked into the Spokane Arena on April 23.

Start stocking up on hair mousse now.

Tickets will go on sale Saturday, 10 a.m., through TicketsWest outlets (509-325-SEAT, 800-325-SEAT, www.ticketswest.com).

Big MAC attacks

The Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture has some national-class exhibits coming up:

“”Tradition & Change: Contemporary American Indian Art” – An ambitious exhibit of the best in Indian art, featuring works by such well-known names as George Flett, Kevin Red Star, R.C. Gorman and Harry Fonseca. Jan. 26-June 29.

“”Samuel Colt: Arms, Art and Invention” – A traveling exhibit about the famous inventor and gunmaker’s life and work. It includes Colt’s personal collection of arms and art. Feb. 2-April 27.

Also, don’t forget about the Olmsted lecture series, “Discovering Olmsted Landscapes,” Jan. 24, Jan. 31 and Feb. 7. Call the MAC at (509) 456-3931 for details, or visit www.northwestmuseum.org.

Flett demonstration

Speaking of artist George Flett, he will be demonstrating the art of ledger painting at the Tinman Gallery, 811 W. Garland Ave., on Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m.

Ledger painting is a traditional Native American art form combining pictographs and storytelling with archival papers.

The demonstration is free.

Visual Arts Tour alert

Just a reminder to mark your calendar: The next downtown Visual Arts Tour takes place Feb. 1, 5 to 9 p.m., at dozens of galleries and exhibit spaces. This makes for a lively downtown scene, and will be, as always, free.

The return of Celtic Woman

Celtic Woman – that’s an Irish music group – will play the Spokane Arena’s Star Theatre on April 24.

This popular concert draw combines traditional Irish themes with modern stagecraft. They just did a well-received show in May at the INB Performing Arts Center.

Tickets for this Arena show go on sale Monday, 10 a.m., through TicketsWest outlets.

‘Riverdance’ sold out

Another wildly popular Celtic-themed show, “Riverdance,” has already sold out its entire five-show run at the INB Performing Arts Center, Friday through Jan. 20.

Since this is billed as a “farewell tour,” at least for North America, you may have to catch them on some other continent if you don’t already have tickets for this one.

Spokane Art School workshops

The discouraging news broke last week: The Spokane Art School is going to have to sell the landmark building it has occupied for more than two decades.

But the Spokane Art School will continue, we hope stronger than ever. In the meantime, we’d like to remind you that classes will continue in the old building through the end of winter quarter, March 15, including special printmaking workshops for students on Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, President’s Day and on Feb. 9. For information on these and any other classes, call (509) 328-0900 or go to www.spokaneartschool.org.

The ‘Fox’ doc

One more reminder: “Spokane’s 21st Century Fox,” the documentary about the renovation of Spokane’s 1931 art-deco theater, airs on KSPS-7 on Thursday at 7 p.m. and repeats next Sunday at noon.

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