Fantasy, Franco share spotlight

(Posted Tuesday) Sequels are the story for the week’s openings, though romance, family-friendly fare and a couple of art films may liven things a bit for moviegoers. The main Friday releases are as follows:

“How to Train Your Dragon 2” (in both standard, 3-D and IMAX 3-D formats): The sequel to the first animated adaptation of the children’s book series introduces a whole new gang of wild dragons. Sounds hot.

“22 Jump Street”: Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum return as the dumb-as-nails undercover cops whose beat graduates from high school to college. Will Johnny Depp make another cameo?

“Words and Pictures”: Romantic comedy starring pretty people Clive Owen and Juliette Binoche as teachers competing to prove which is more important, words OR pictures. Since I’m writing this, you pretty much know what I think.

And at the Magic Lantern:

“Ida”: Set in the 1960s, this Polish production follows a young novitiate, on the verge of taking her nunly vows, who learns a family secret hidden since the Nazi years of World War II.

“Palo Alto”: Gia Coppola (granddaughter of Francis Ford Coppola and niece of Sofia Coppola) wrote and directed this contemporary tale of teens braving that hell known as high school. As my wife might say, “Two words: James Franco.” You have been warned.

Dan Webster

‘Book of Mormon’ on sale next week

(Posted Thursday) In case you’ve been wondering, individual tickets for “The Book of Mormon” will go on sale in a week, on June 20.

The show will kick off West Coast Entertainment’s 2014-15 Best of Broadway series with an Aug. 12-17 run. To say it’s highly anticipated is an understatement. The folks at WCE say they’ve been inundated with calls from folks who want to buy tickets to see this Tony-winning smash hit musical from the guys who created “South Park.” Of course you could buy tickets for “Book of Mormon” right now by getting a season subscription. If you’re not up for a seasonlong commitment then, you’ll have to wait until next week. TicketsWest will have the show on sale beginning at 10 a.m. Prices range from $45 to $154.50. The run will be eight shows over six days. The rest of the series will include Blue Man Group, “Memphis,” “Camelot” and “Guys and Dolls,” with add on shows featuring William Shatner, Alton Brown and Lewis Black.

For more information, visit www.bestofbroadway.com.

Carolyn Lamberson

Light up the sign at Ink

(Posted Thursday) Ink Art Space, a new program aimed at teaching children the arts, is hosting a fundraiser Friday. The Light Up the Sign Happy Hour from 5 to 8 p.m. will feature hors d’oeuvres and drinks, as well as a silent auction. Among the prizes in the auction are artworks, a day on the set of the SyFy series “Z Nation” currently shooting in Spokane, and a selection of books by Spokane-area authors, all autographed and curated by Ink board president Jess Walter.

Among the more than 50 titles – including some first and special editions – are works by Timothy Egan, Sherman Alexie, Chris Crutcher, Terry Trueman, Natalie Kusz, Shawn Vestal, Samuel Ligon and Walter.

The evening will feature beer from River City Brewing and wine from Townshend Cellar.

Ink is located at 228 W. Sprague Ave., in downtown. For information, visit Ink’s Facebook page or inkspokane.org.

Carolyn Lamberson