These Gifts Will Brighten Anyone’s Life

Sun., Dec. 14, 1997

By Jim Kershner jimkershner@comcast.net

Today’s Spotlight mission: To provide creative ideas for performing-arts-related Christmas presents:

Tickets to the Northwest Bach Festival, which runs from Jan. 30 to Feb. 8 in Spokane. Series tickets for all five concerts are surprisingly inexpensive ($40-$49), available by calling 325-7321. Or get individual tickets at that number or through G&B Select-a-Seat.

Tickets to one of the upcoming Broadway touring shows, such as “State Fair” starring boldfJohn Davidson boldf, Jan. 26-29; or “Smokey Joe’s Cafe,” Feb. 18-21; or boldf”Carousel,” boldf March 30-April 2. Call G&B Select-a-Seat.

A Zephyr T-shirt, featuring the logo of our favorite classical music series. At Street Music or call 235-4645.

Tickets to “Bring In ‘Da Noise, Bring in ‘Da Funk,” in Seattle at the Paramount Theatre, Feb 13-15. Call (206) 292-ARTS.

Or tickets to any of Spokane’s arts institutions, including the Spokane Symphony, Interplayers Ensemble or Spokane Civic Theatre.

Not to belabor the point, but tickets are an especially welcome gift, because many people consider them a luxury and won’t buy them for themselves.

A hip-hop Christmas

A huge hip-hop show starring Puff Daddy has been booked into the Spokane Arena, with barely a moment to spare.

The show takes place a week from today, Dec. 21, at 6:30 p.m., which is extremely short notice for a show of this magnitude. Tickets went on sale Saturday through G&B outlets. Tickets are $32.50 and $42.50.

This show not only features Puff Daddy (Sean “Puffy” Combs) but a parade of other stars: The Family, featuring Lil Kim, Mase, 112, Lil Cease and the Lox, Busta Rhymes, Usher and Kid Capri.

This will make for a crazy Christmas season for the Arena, coming one day after the NCAA Women’s Volleyball finals, and a few days before Disney On Ice (beginning Christmas Day).

New KXLY weather guy

KXLY-4’s new weathercaster, David Sweeney, will be making his local on-air debut on Monday.

Sweeney has been at KSHB in Kansas City for the past three years. But he’s originally a Northwest guy, having graduated from the University of Idaho and worked at stations in Lewiston and Eugene early in his 20-year career. He was anxious to return to the Northwest.

He holds certificates from the American Meteorological Society and the National Weather Association. He has been given the title of KXLY’s chief meteorologist and will be on the 5, 6 and 11 p.m. broadcasts weekdays.

Sweeney replaces Laura Ashley, who left for Sacramento on Nov. 28.

Gallagher again?

Be still my heart. Gallagher, the Sledge-o-Matic comedian, has been booked into the Spokane Opera House for Feb. 28.

I was surprised to hear this, because last time Gallagher came to town, in 1996, only 1,052 out of 6,000 tickets were sold. Spokane County lost $19,235 on that debacle, which was at the Fairgrounds as part of the Interstate Fair.

Gallagher has a considerably better record at the Opera House, according to Opera House manager boldfMike Kobluk boldf.

This doesn’t make any difference to the city, anyway. The city is only renting out the Opera House. Gallagher himself is the only one on the hook this time.

The big ‘Tuna’

“A Christmas Tuna,” the hilarious two-man small-town spoof, is shaping up as a huge box-office success for the Interplayers Ensemble.

That explains why they are adding an extra performance, today at 7 p.m.

Call 455-PLAY for tickets. Don’t wait too long - most of the performances through the end of the run on Dec. 20 are sold out.

Digital cable arrives

The age of digital cable arrives in Spokane on Thursday, when TCI Spokane unveils its new service.

This is a cable TV technology which allows TCI to cram 12 channels into one analog channel bandwidth.

The result is that many more channels are available for those who sign up. In addition to TCI’s regular 70-plus offerings, the digital cable service provides 28 new TV channels (the Game Show Network, anyone?) and 10 audio music channels.

It costs about $13.30 a month extra, plus franchise fees. Call TCI if you can’t live without it.

Spotlight is a weekly column of news and commentary on the arts and media. To leave a message on Jim Kershner’s voice-mail, call 459-5493. Or send e-mail to jimk@spokesman.com, or regular mail to Spokesman-Review, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210.

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