‘Miracle Worker’ back for encore
‘The Miracle Worker,” directed by Patty Duke – a springtime hit for Interplayers Professional Theatre – is coming back next month for a 12-performance encore.
The story of Helen Keller and Annie Sullivan will return from Aug. 26 to Sept. 4.
Tickets are $24 and should become available soon through TicketsWest outlets (800-325-SEAT, www.ticketswest.com). Keep an eye out for further details.
Sarah Denison will return in her award-winning role as Annie Sullivan. However, audiences will be seeing a new Helen Keller: Caroline Slater, 9.
Duke was quoted in a press release as saying, “Thank you, Spokane, for keeping ‘The Miracle’ going.”
Rebecca Cook will be “associate director” of this revival.
Broadway series single tickets
On-sale dates for single tickets to the upcoming Best of Broadway shows and various add-on events have now been set by WestCoast Entertainment.
These will be the first time you can get tickets to these shows without buying a full subscription or group package. Here are the dates, all effective at 10 a.m.:
• Aug. 12 – “Defending the Caveman,” “Spamalot,” Blues Brothers, Clayton-Hamilton Orchestra and the New Shanghai Circus.
• Aug. 26 – “Come Fly Away,” “Young Frankenstein” and “In The Heights.”
• Sept. 16 – “Beauty & The Beast.”
• Nov. 4 – “Mary Poppins.”
Tickets will be available through TicketsWest. For more information about the Best of Broadway shows, check out www.bestofbroadwayspokane.com.
Symphony’s ‘Best’ event
The Spokane Symphony will play Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony and Vivaldi’s “Summer” from “Four Seasons” for some of Spokane’s “best” causes on Aug. 18, 7:30 p.m. at the Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox.
We say “best” because the symphony is billing this as its first-ever “Best of Spokane Concert.” It will be both a tribute and a fundraiser for these Spokane institutions: Bloomsday, First Night, Hoopfest, the Lilac Festival, Musicfest Northwest, Spokane International Film Festival and Unity in the Community.
Tickets are $20, through the symphony ticket office (509-624-1200) or TicketsWest outlets.
Now, about that “Best of” idea: Those organizations will not only be honored at the concert, but they will also get a cut of the proceeds. Concertgoers are encouraged to wear T-shirts and hats representing any of those organizations.
Eckart Preu will conduct, and the concert will also include a patriotic singalong. This event replaces the BestFest, which the symphony has held the last two summers.
The second ‘Best’
The second part of the symphony’s “Best of Spokane” event – officially titled “Say Wow! Celebrating the Best of Spokane” – will be the Community Open House and Showcase on Aug. 20 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at The Fox.
It will be a lot like the open house the symphony hosted when the theater reopened in November 2007. This event is free, and includes performances by local groups, tours and hands-on children’s activities.
Here’s the performance schedule:
• 9 a.m.: Blessing and Drum Circle.
• 10:30 a.m.: Floating Crowbar, traditional Irish music.
• Noon: Master Class Jazz Orchestra, big-band swing.
• 1:30 p.m.: Spokane Civic Theatre’s Musical Showcase, previewing its season.
• 3 p.m.: Big Red Barn, rhythm and bluegrass.
Please note that this free day does not include a performance by the Spokane Symphony. The symphony is only sponsoring, not performing.
Kathy Griffin date switch
Comedian Kathy Griffin’s appearance at the INB Performing Arts Center has been switched from Aug. 20 to Aug. 28. All tickets sold for Aug. 20 will be honored on the later date.
Tickets are $35, $50 and $75, through TicketsWest.
The Ludiker connection
A familiar name – Ludiker – is part of the up-and-coming Austin-based bluegrass band MilkDrive, which is coming to Spokane’s A Club, 416 W. Sprague Ave., on Tuesday at 8 p.m.
Dennis Ludiker, of Spokane’s famous fiddling Ludiker family, plays mandolin and sings.
The family has won many, many fiddling competitions, regionally and nationally. Dennis himself has won national titles in both fiddle and mandolin.
Cover charge at the A Club will be $8.
Hapa’s Hawaiian sounds
Here’s an alert for fans of Hawaiian music: Hapa, Aug. 7, 6 p.m. at the Bing Crosby Theater, 901 W. Sprague Ave.
Hapa is a well-known Hawaiian music institution, often called “the sound of Maui.” It blends pop and traditional Polynesian styles. You can expect to see some hula dancing as well.
Tickets are $22, through TicketsWest outlets.