Dempsey’s Cabaret Spices Up The Night

Here’s an idea that should add a little sophistication to Spokane’s night life: A regular series of cabarets at Dempsey’s Brass Rail, 909 W. First.

A cabaret, for those of you who don’t hang out at the Algonquin Hotel in Manhattan, is a nightclub performance usually featuring a song stylist, a grand piano and a whole lot of torch songs and show tunes. It is essentially a showcase for a singer, as well as an excuse for the audience to dress nicely and sip martinis or Perrier.

Dempsey’s has held a few cabarets in years past, usually as AIDS benefits. Now, Dempsey’s Brass Rail is reviving the tradition on a regular basis by converting its dance floor to Dempsey’s Brass Rail Cabaret several nights a month.

Audience members will be greeted at the door and escorted to a candlelit table, facing a microphone and a white grand piano.

The first shows, Sept. 24-26 at 8 p.m., will feature Cheryl-Ann Rossi, a former Broadway singer-dancer-actress who now lives and works in Coeur d’Alene. Her show is titled “Stuffed In My Closet,” featuring the music of Sondheim, Hamlisch, Rodgers, Kander and Ebb. She’ll also be telling some true tales of New York.

She’ll be followed Oct. 22-23 by Susannah Mars, who is a regular cabaret performer in New York and Seattle.

Tickets for these shows are $10 in advance by calling Dempsey’s at 747-5362, or $12 at the door. The cabaret seats only 85-90 people, so don’t wait too long. These may sell out.

Julie Andrews postponed

“Victor/Victoria,” starring Julie Andrews, which was scheduled for October at the 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle, has been postponed until Feb. 3-March 8.

Andrews had minor throat surgery in June, and doctors recommended that this mini-tour (Houston and Seattle are the only stops) be postponed a few months.

Single tickets go on sale Dec. 7. Call (206) 625-1900 for subscriber information.

Randy Brecker’s trumpet

Randy Brecker is coming to town, and let me tell you, that’s big jazz news indeed.

Brecker is one of the top trumpeters in the world, having achieved jazz superstar status both on his own and as one of the Brecker Brothers (his brother is sax-man Michael Brecker).

The Whitworth College Jazz Band has landed Randy as the guest artist for its annual showcase concert this year, Nov. 22 at 8 p.m. at the Cowles Auditorium on the Whitworth campus. Keep an eye out for details.

Fly the friendly ‘Sky’

The Spokane Airport has a new art display space, “Art in the Airport,” at the spot near the baggage claim where the rental car agencies once were. This $98,368 project features Inland Northwest photos by regional photographers, satellite images of Spokane and Coeur d’Alene, and two large art display cases, featuring rotating exhibits.

The inaugural exhibit will be objects from the Cheney Cowles Museum’s upcoming fall exhibit, “From Earth & Sky: Indian Art of the Americas,” which opens Sept. 28.

This should be an excellent way to introduce travelers to this area.

Lunch-N-Learn series

The Spokane Symphony and the Spokane Public Library are sponsoring a series of music-related lunchtime programs called “Lunch-N-Learn” every Wednesday at noon in Meeting Room I-A of the downtown library.

These sessions will include lectures and demonstrations by some of the symphony’s guest artists, such as Horacio Gutierrez (Jan. 21) as well as music director Fabio Mechetti (March 25 and April 29).

This Wednesday’s opener features Tamaki Kawakubo, who is already an international violin star at age 17.

All programs are free, and coffee and soft drinks will be provided. However, you can order a sandwich for $3 from Bickel’s Cafe at the Flour Mill by placing an order at least two days early. Call 326-3136 and ask for Anne Anderson.

‘West Side’ charity

Would you like to see the national touring company of “West Side Story” and help out a charity at the same time?

Catholic Charities has reserved a block of prime orchestra seats for the Nov. 2 matinee at 2 p.m. at the Spokane Opera House.

Tickets for these seats will be $75, of which $41 is a tax-deductible donation. They are available only by calling 358-4250. (These are not part of the regular on-sale tickets now available through G&B Select-a-Seat.)

Radio conglomerate

Radio consolidation is an old story in Spokane, where three companies own most of the stations. But here’s a little bit of a twist. Four of the remaining independently owned stations are banding together in a new company called the Washington Broadcasting Corp.

Al Hochstadt, owner of KNJY-FM (Z-Rock, 103.9), will be the chairman, and John Rook, owner of KCDA-FM (103.1) will be president. They are now in the process of purchasing KEZE-FM (96.9) from MeLinda Read and KTSL-FM (101.9) from Salem Communications.

Festival Dance schedule

Six big events have been booked for the Festival Dance Great Performances Series at Beasley Coliseum in Pullman. This group routinely brings the finest international dance groups into the Palouse, and this year will be no exception. Here’s the lineup:

Clarita and the Arte Flamenco Dance Theatre - Dance and music of Spain, Oct. 3.

Caucasus Folk Dance Ensemble - Dance and music of the Caucasus region of Russia, Oct. 20.

The Elisa Monte Dance Company - A modern dance ensemble from New York, Nov. 16.

“The Nutcracker” - The Eugene Ballet presents this Christmas classic Dec. 8 in Lewiston and Dec. 9 in Pullman.

“The Secret Garden” - A ballet version of this classic story, presented by the Oakland Ballet, Jan. 26.

“Bye Bye Birdie” - A touring production of the Broadway hit, April 19.

Season ticket brochures are available by calling the Festival Dance office, (208) 883-DANS. Single tickets are available through the UI Ticket office in Moscow and all G&B Select-a-Seat outlets.

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MEMO: Spotlight is 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.