Shuttered Venues Operator grants have been delayed, which impacts a number of local venues. They are waiting on help from Congress so they can start to rehire staff, plan shows and take the next steps to reopening. 

Summer is on the horizon – the first day is next Sunday – and the features staff at The Spokesman-Review is looking forward to getting outside and spending time with friends, family and the community.

Ned Beatty, the Oscar-nominated character actor who in half a century of American movies, including “Deliverance,” “Network” and “Superman,” was a booming, indelible presence in even the smallest parts, has died.

Ferris alum Alec Cutter's short film "Nando" premieres at New York's Tribeca Film Festival. The work, which is about a Brazilian boy who lives in a hardscrabble neighborhood across from Rio's soccer stadium, is a compelling, hopeful project.

“Blindspotting” – Inspired by the acclaimed 2018 indie film from Rafael Casal and Daveed Diggs, this new dramedy follows Ashley (“Hamilton” alum Jasmine Cephas Jones), whose life in Oakland, California, is thrown into disarray.

Like her Nina character in “In the Heights,” Leslie Grace says she's struggled to fit in as an Afro-Latino woman and artist. “All the time,” the 26-year-old singer said in an interview with the Associated Press.

Before his blockbuster Founding Fathers remix “Hamilton,” Lin-Manuel Miranda burst onto the scene with his Tony-winning ode to his hometown, the musical “In the Heights,” set in the gentrifying Manhattan neighborhood of Washington Heights.

In 2012, filmmaker Haifaa al-Mansour became the first woman to direct a feature film in Saudi Arabia when she made “Wadjda,” a terrifically entertaining movie about a girl who enters a Koran recitation competition to raise funds for a bicycle.

Butch Vig is one of the most humble icons in music. The drummer from Garbage, which is releasing its latest album, "No Gods, No Masters," on Friday, produced Nirvana's "Nevermind," which altered the musical and pop culture landscape.

The music and story of Sandpoint artist Queen Bonobo (Maya Goldblum) are characterized by frequent and significant change. On her latest EP, “Sail From This Life,” jazz and folk unite for a dynamic and diverse sound.

"The Are You for Real Tour," the moniker of Trey Kenney's 2020 tour, was torpedoed by COVID-19. The jaunt, which was slated to commence March 11, was iced, but Kennedy continued to rack up big social media numbers.

"Love in the Time of Covid" is one of the most compelling and inventive songs of the pandemic. The quirky tune is accompanied by a visually stimulating video, but that shouldn't be surprising since the song was crafted by Danny Elfman.

Northwest BachFest will celebrate the 30th anniversary of “Mozart on a Summer’s Eve” over the course of two “Magical Musical Evenings” beginning at 7 p.m. July 20 and with a repeat performance at 7 p.m. July 21. 

Before "Hamilton," Lin-Manuel Miranda created a Tony-winning stage musical set in the predominantly Latino Manhattan neighborhood of Washington Heights. "Crazy Rich Asians" director Jon M. Chu takes the helm for the big screen.

Local performers are returning to sidewalks for the 19th Spokane/Coeur d’Alene Street Music Week from next Monday through Friday, while the fundraiser for Second Harvest food bank will also continue online.

“RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 11 contestant Plastique Tiara is set to appear at the Globe Bar & Kitchen on Saturday evening in celebration of the month of Pride. Plastique Tiara is joining host Nova Kaine and the cast of “Runway.” 

When neither drama nor comedy can quite satisfy your entertainment needs, dramedies come rushing in to the rescue. Here are a few new (or newly renewed) shows to set the weekend off to a healthily “dramedic” start.

“A Call to Love” - Daily, online. Documentary shares the experiences of the LGBTQ+ community while aiming to bring hope and encouragement to those who have been deeply hurt by the church and its teachings.

When I first heard about “Minecraft” in 2009, it was still in its alpha development phase with just under 1 million registered players. The concept intrigued me, so I hopped on and enjoyed it greatly despite it being a fairly barebones experience.