Latest from The Spokesman-Review

• ‘Rock of Ages’ fun and sassy ’80s sojourn

  February 9, 2013 in City on Page B6 I was expecting to not like “Rock of Ages,” the rock musical that opened Thursday at the INB Performing Arts Center as part of the Best of Broadway series. After …

• Review: ‘The Producers’ finds comedy in taboo places

  September 23, 2012 in City, Features on Page B9 Leave it to comedy legend Mel Brooks to conceive a musical with material so offensive it becomes downright hysterical. Thus, the major ingredient in Brooks’ multi-Tony Award-winning musical, “The Producers.” …

• Theater review: Nelson shines in Patsy Cline musical memoir

  September 16, 2012 in City on Page B7 Nearly a decade later, Interplayers Theatre brings back its tried-and-true production of Ted Swindley’s musical revue “Always … Patsy Cline.” It’s hard to imagine the theater’s wildly popular 2003 show …

• Theater review: Music is the real star of musical ‘Ragtime’

  August 19, 2012 in City, Features on Page B3 Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre is closing its season with the epic musical “Ragtime.” The production fills the stage at North Idaho College’s Schuler Performing Arts Center with big voices, big …

• Review: ‘Spring Awakening’ rocks tradition in bold musical

  August 2, 2012 in City on Page A6 Conveyed with raw intensity, Lake City Playhouse presents its preseason production, “Spring Awakening.” The mature-themed rock musical by Duncan Sheik (music) and Steven Sater (book and lyrics), adapted from Frank …

• Theater review: Caustic wit, swingin’ songs enliven ‘Pete ’n’ Keely’

  March 26, 2012 in City, Features on Page A6 Showmanship and swingin’ music flourish in Lake City Playhouse’s “Pete ’n’ Keely.” Cabaret singer and local theater veteran Abbey Crawford directs and performs in this entertaining production of James Hindman, …

• CdA Theatre’s ‘Oz’ is true to the fun

  June 11, 2011 in City on Page B2 Witches soar across the stage on bicycles. Flashpots spew flame in front of the eerie green visage of the great and powerful Oz. Flying monkeys do aerial acrobatics. The Coeur …

• Civic Theatre breaks out ‘The Full Monty’

  May 19, 2011 in Features on Page C1 Yes, we know the question on everybody’s mind. Here’s the only way to answer it:

• Civic brings back the hilarious ‘Nunsense’

  February 17, 2011 in Features on Page C1 Way back in March 1990, a wimple-wearing Mother Superior Mary Regina walked out on the Spokane Civic Theatre stage and gave the audience a crabby tongue-lashing for arriving late and … 1

• Civic’s musical ‘Grill’ carries substance if not a lot of sizzle

  March 19, 2010 in Features on Page C1 ‘The Spitfire Grill” is a musical – and a beloved one at that – but it’s hardly of the Lloyd Webber blockbuster mega-musical variety. It’s based on the kind of …

• CdA Summer Theatre to stage record-breaking musical

  July 2, 2009 in Features on Page C1 After 12 Tony Awards and two movie versions (37 years apart), most of us know that “The Producers” is rude, hilarious and filled with raucous Mel Brooks humor. This musical, …

• Civic Theatre stages ‘Godspell’ on a New York City subway

  March 19, 2009 in Features on Page C1 Plenty of people have seen “Godspell” since it premiered in 1970 – but never like this. Director Troy Nickerson is setting the Spokane Civic Theatre’s new production in a New …

• Frivolity meets fancy footwork

  March 3, 2009 in City on Page A6 The lyrics perfectly state the theme of “No, No, Nanette”: “I want to be happy, but I won’t be happy, till I make you happy, too.” So this bright and …

• Interplayers’ ‘Cowgirls’ mixes honky-tonk and Beethoven

  January 29, 2009 in Features on Page C1 The concept of “Cowgirls” is almost classical (so to speak) in its simplicity. A classical music group called the Coghill Trio has been booked to play a concert in Hiram …

• ARt’s got ‘Pete ‘n’ Keely,’ babe

  April 3, 2008 in Features on Page D1 For the names “Pete ‘n’ Keely,” feel free to substitute Steve ‘n’ Eydie. The 2000 off-Broadway hit “Pete ‘n’ Keely” is a musical sendup of married ‘60s lounge acts such …

• Musical is low-rent good fun

  January 12, 2008 in City on Page B3 “The Great American Trailer Park Musical” isn’t exactly a great American musical – but at least it’s a semi-great trailer park musical. This national touring company delivers what the title …

• ‘Schooner’ sets sail

  November 16, 2007 in Features on Page D1 Finding a new Christmas show with just the right mix of music, history, sentiment, plot and tradition is no easy task. Maria Caprile, director of “The Christmas Schooner,” which opens …

• CdA Summer Theatre stages ‘Kiss Me, Kate,’ a Broadway classic

  August 3, 2007 in Features on Page D1 When “Kiss Me, Kate” first opened on Broadway in 1948, the New York critics swooned. “If ‘Kiss Me, Kate’ isn’t the best musical comedy I ever saw, I don’t remember …

• Great Success Karate Kid Ralph Macchio Knows How To Succeed On Stage With A Broadway Musical

  September 12, 1996 in Features on Page D1 1. Despite the debut in 1961, “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” continues to ring true with its delightful mix of comedy and cynicism. 2. Ralph Macchio plays …

• Don’t Keep Your Distance ‘Evita’ Is Coming Your Way

  March 17, 1995 in Seven Kerri Jill Garbis