The opening show at the Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre, “The Wizard of Oz,” which runs June 9-19, has had a robust pre-sale – just 300 tickets behind the theater’s all-time biggest seller, last year’s “Cinderella,” at a comparable date. That’s a good harbinger going into…
Here are two new books about a crucial and controversial issue in our region: “Atomic Frontier Days: Hanford and the American West” (University of Washington Press, $24.95), by John M. Findlay and Bruce Hevly. The authors tell the complex and fascinating story of Hanford’s atomic…
Here we go again: Another Spokane-made movie, direct to DVD, complete with atrocious reviews. "The Big Bang," the Antonio Banderas movie shot here in fall 2009, came out on DVD last week and the critics have been merrily brutalizing it. Andrew Barker of Variety called…
The Spokane Arena is staging a contest for free KISS tickets -- and these are excellent tickets, in the first five rows. But you'll have to work for them. The rules are complicated, so I'm just going to paste the Arena's instructions in here: Here’s…
I just walked through “Leonardo da Vinci: Man – Inventor – Genius” while installers and curators readied it for a June 3 opening at the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture (MAC), 2316 W. First. Among the highlights: A huge full-size reproduction of da Vinci’s…
The folks in “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” are feverishly raising money to go to Rochester, N.Y., for AACT/Fest, which is the national community theater competition. They’ve already come up with $20,000. They have $10,000 more to go. This Spokane Civic Theatre production…
The Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture (MAC) has escaped the death sentence. We just received word that the museum received $2.965 million in the state budget, which is a cut of five percent. That's far less severe than feared. The museum will have to…
I received an e-mail from a reader pointing out that what I called a "a giant dragon looming over the proscenium" in "Wicked" was, in fact, a giant bat. "Don't you remember the bats in the 'Wizard of Oz?" she asked. I was ready to…
Let's take a moment to savor an exceptional moment in Spokane theater. Rarely, in my 22 years covering local theater, have I seen so much creative energy, at the same moment, enlivening our cultural scene: Raucous sellout crowds are whooping and hollering at "The Full…
Here's my unedited review of "Wicked." It will appear in Saturday morning's print edition, after more editing and refinement: “Wicked,” Thursday night, INB Performing Arts Center, continues through May 29, tickets available through TicketsWest outlets (800-325-SEAT, www.ticketswest.com) The first thing a newcomer to the “Wicked”…
Just got in from 'Wicked' and I will write a full review for Saturday's print edition. But here's my quick initial reaction: "Wicked" is a feast or the eyes, with exceptionally creative sets, costumes and lighting. And it works for the heart and the brain,…
The Festival at Sandpoint lineup was announced this morning and went on sale at 9 a.m. Here's the list: Rickie Lee Jones, Aug. 4, 7:30 p.m. -- She's the jazz-pop chanteuse of "Chuck E.'s in Love" and she'll be with her 8-piece band. Openers will…
We found an online photo album from Monday's Cannes Film Festival beach party for the premiere of the Spokane-filmed "The River Sorrow,'" directed by North by Northwest's Rich Cowan. It looks like a glamorous event, with stars Sarah Ann Schultz and Gisele Fraga. Here's a…
Two new shows to report: The Robert Cray Band, an old favorite among Spokane blues aficionados, will play the Knitting Factory Concert House on July 2, 8:30 p.m. Cray was a fixture in Spokane clubs before he broke out and became an international star. Tickets…
The people at WestCoast Entertainment have a few important reminders for people who have tickets to "Wicked," which opens a two-week run Wednesday. Those are: Leave the babies and toddlers with the sitter. No one under 4 will be allowed in the theater. And although…
The post-show talkback sessions at Interplayers Professional Theatre are always worthwhile -- but this is the talkback not to miss. Director Patty Duke will attend the May 29 matinee of "The Miracle Worker" at 2 p.m. and will be there for the after-performance discussion. This…
The Spokane Symphony has announced the return of the Soiree on the Edge concert at the Arbor Crest Winery, July 9, 6 p.m. This annual summer concert combines the elegance of the Symphony’s “Soiree” series with the experimental nature of the “Symphony on the Edge”…
Spokane novelist Jess Walter's latest book, "The Financial Lives of the Poets," has just been picked up as a Jack Black movie vehicle, re-titled "Bailout." The screenplay was also written by Walter, and the director will be Michael Winterbottom. Filming is scheduled to begin in…
The New York Times ran an interview on Wednesday with Tony Krantz, director of another Spokane-filmed thriller, “The Big Bang,” starring Antonio Banderas. Here's a link The Times said the movie is “undoubtedly one of the stranger films to make it to theaters this year,”…
Spokane will be represented at the Cannes Film Festival on the French Riviera on Monday. That’s the day that “The River Sorrow,” filmed in Spokane by North by Northwest, will have its European premiere and an after-party in a giant tent on the beach. Star…
Neko Case, the indie singer-songwriter, has just been booked into the Bing Crosby Theater in Spokane, July 7, 8 p.m. She has a big fan base for her solo work as well as her work with the New Pornographers. Tickets go on sale Friday, $30,…
Here are the "Wicked" performances in Spokane that have the best ticket availability: May 18, 7:30 p.m., May 19, 2 p.m., May 24, 7:30p.m., May 25, 7:30 p.m., and May 29,, 1 p.m.. Many of the other "Wicked" performances are already sold out and many…
Eric Greitens, the author of "The Heart and the Fist: The Education of a Humanitarian, the Making of a Navy SEAL," will do a reading and signing at Auntie's Bookstore, 402 W. Main, on Saturday, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Greitens has been in the…
"The Miracle Worker" has just been extended a week, through May 29. I thought I'd post my unedited review of last night's performance, which should appear in Sunday's print edition: “The Miracle Worker,” Interplayers Professional Theatre, Friday night, continues through May 29, call (509) 455-PLAY…
"The Miracle Worker" hasn't even opened yet -- it previews tonight (Thursday) and opens Friday -- yet it is already setting ticket records for the Interplayers Professional Theatre. It has sold more first-week tickets than any show in Interplayers history and some performances are sold…