Ok, Here’s The New Deal: Bob, Van And Joni

First, they said it would be Bob Dylan and Van Morrison at The Gorge.

Then they said, pardon us, it’s Bob Dylan alone at The Gorge (Van Morrison dropped out).

Now, the people at Universal Concerts are saying Bob Dylan, Van Morrison and Joni Mitchell at The Gorge on May 16 at 7 p.m. and May 17 at 6 p.m.

Yes, that’s right, Van Morrison has un-dropped-out and Joni Mitchell has dropped in. We certainly hope this is final.

This should be one smashing show, with all three of these icons together on the same stage.

Tickets go on sale April 4 at 10 a.m. through Ticketmaster outlets, which are the Rite-Aid stores in downtown Spokane, U-City, Northgate and Southgate; or call (206) 628-0888 or (509) 735-0500.

Craig T. on Broadway

The reviews are rolling in for Lewis and Clark High School grad Craig T. Nelson’s big Broadway stint.

Nelson, of “Coach” fame, opened Wednesday in Eugene O’Neill’s “Ah, Wilderness!” at the Lincoln Center Theatre. This is the great O’Neill’s only true comedy, and it has been awaited with considerable anticipation in New York.

“Nelson plays Richard’s worried father, a man who has trouble telling his son the facts of life,” wrote Michael Kuchwara of the Associated Press. “He doesn’t get much beyond consternation in the role of a straight man who reacts predictably to his son’s escapades.”

Peter Marks of the New York Times wrote that Nelson plays his part with “an affecting lack of fuss.”

Not the highest praise, certainly, but not exactly negative, either.

As for the production itself, Marks calls it “laid-back,” “a very mild brew” and “as smooth as a moonlit lake.”

Kuchwara called it “slow-paced.”

A Prairie Home sellout

Tickets to the June 27 live show of “A Prairie Home Companion” at the Spokane Opera House sold out in two hours on Monday, confirming what we always thought: Spokane is one huge Lake Wobegon town.

Most of Garrison Keillor’s road shows sell out, certainly, but in two or three days, not two or three hours.

Some small hope remains for tickets. A few dozen tickets may be released as the broadcast date approaches. Also, students with ID can get seats on the bleachers, up on the stage itself. We’ll let you know when those go on sale.

Also, KPBX-FM (91.1), the “Prairie Home Companion” station, will be giving away a few tickets during its pledge drive, March 28-29.

By the way, the guest lineup has yet to be announced for this broadcast. We still don’t know which, if any, local talent will be tapped.

The Peak morning team

KAEP-FM (105.7, The Peak) has a new morning show, called straightforwardly enough, The Peak Morning Show with Mike and Jen.

Jen is Jennifer Bell, who arrived a month ago from Colorado Springs. She has an unusual resume, having worked as a Ski Patrol person in Montana for several years and also as a standup comedian. She has played at the Comedy Store and the Improv in the L.A. area, among other places.

She says in her resume that she “brings a lunchtime of experience to her comedy act.”

She also has a lunchtime of experience in radio, most recently as a morning personality in Billings, Mont.

Her partner, Mike Stone, has been a familiar voice on The Peak since its inception. He was part of the original Peak morning show with Haley Jones, and then he moved to afternoons for about eight months. He said he thinks of himself as “Paul Harvey on Prozac.”

Now, he’s back in the mornings doing a show that they promise will be music-intensive and free of silly stunts.

Helter Shelter returns

KKZX-FM is in the midst of its annual Helter Shelter food and supply drive.

Listeners are urged to donate dog and cat food and other pet supplies for the animals housed at SpokAnimal C.A.R.E. Last year, the station raised 2,000 pounds of supplies, and over 30 animals were adopted.

Donations can be turned in at the Spokane locations of Petco and Northwest Seed & Pet.

This worthy drive will wrap up Saturday with a live broadcast at SpokAnimal C.A.R.E. featuring Shel Bailey.

Free country concert

KDRK-FM (93.7) will hold its annual Listener Appreciation Concert April 20 at 7 p.m. at the Spokane Arena.

The concert features country acts Toby Keith, Kevin Sharp and Jeff Carson. All of the tickets are free and will be given away during a series of on-air promotions until the concert.

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.

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