Spotlight: Organists line up for cathedral event

The organ at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist will be roaring today as members of the American Guild of Organists perform music ranging from J.S. Bach to Denis Bédard.

The concert, today at 4, will begin with the church’s carillonneur, Byrl Cinnamon, playing the cathedral carillon. Also planned are performances of “Ave Maria” and Samuel Barber’s Adagio for String, arranged for the organ.

The organists scheduled to perform are: Mary Jo Beck, Robert Carr, Mark Haberman, Jim Holmes, Tom Jefferson, Walt Kroon, Chris Nelson and Ty Peterson.

The church’s three-manual Aeolian-Skinner pipe organ was installed in 1960. The organ features five divisions of 72 ranks in 86 stops as well as an antiphonal organ in the west gallery under the Cathedral’s Rose Window.

A suggested donation at the door of $10 will benefit projects of the organ guild. The cathedral is at 127 E. 12th Ave., on Spokane’s South Hill.

‘American’ primer

Best of Broadway later this month is bringing the musical “American Idiot” to Spokane for a two-day run.

Don’t expect a jukebox musical, a la “Buddy” or even “Million Dollar Quartet” (coming to town in December). It’s more like “Rent” – a rock opera based on the hit rock record by the band Green Day.

The musical, which Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong wrote, centers on three young men who struggle to find themselves after stifling suburban childhoods.

If you want to find out more about the musical before checking it out at the INB Performing Arts Center on Nov. 22-23, you’ll have a chance Wednesday night. That’s when “Broadway Idiot: The Documentary Film” plays for one night only at nYne Bar and Bistro, 232 W. Sprague Ave. The free screening will allow you to watch as Armstrong translates Green Day’s Grammy-winning album into a stage musical.

Showtime is 6 p.m. For more information, visit bestofbroadway spokane.com.