‘Romeo’ Meets Beverly Hills

Thu., Sept. 24, 1998

By Jim Kershner jimkershner@comcast.net

Chewelah’s Amayan Acting Troupe opens Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” tonight for a two-week run.

In this version, the action moves to the un-Verona-like setting of Venice Beach and Beverly Hills.

“We’ve really shaken things up,” said director Laura Thain. “If you think you’ve read ‘Romeo and Juliet’ before, you’ll still have to check out what’s going on in Chewelah.”

Thain also said the rehearsal time for this show was double the usual rehearsal time for an Amayan production. She said she wanted to explore the language in depth and work on the best ways to communicate the meaning.

Ben Evans and Kristin Laitinen have the lead roles.

The show opens tonight at 8 p.m. and Friday at 8 p.m. at the Chewelah Civic Center, 301 E. Clay. Then it moves to the Gess Elementary School gymnasium, 405 E. Lincoln St., for two shows, Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 7 p.m.

The show moves back to the Chewelah Civic Center for shows on Oct. 1-3 at 8 p.m. and Oct. 4 at 2 p.m.

Advance tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and students, available at Talk-n-Coffee in Colville, Akers GoWest in Chewelah or by calling (509) 935-6968.

Tickets at the door are $10.

‘Grease’

The touring company of “Grease” moves down to Pullman’s Beasley Performing Arts Coliseum for one show only, Monday at 8 p.m.

This doo-wop phenomenon has been a huge hit since the 1970s. This touring company recently played two dates in Spokane.

Tickets are $32.50 and $25, available at the Beasley box office, G&B Select-a-Seat outlets or call 325-SEAT or (800) 325-SEAT.

‘La Traviata’

The Western Opera Theater brings Verdi’s classic opera “La Traviata” to Pullman’s Beasley Performing Arts Coliseum on Friday at 8 p.m.

This traveling arm of the San Francisco Opera offers performances in English throughout the West. Verdi’s 1853 opera is about a tragic romance between Violetta Valery, a Parisian courtesan, and Alfredo Germont, a poetic man of respectable family.

Tickets are $25, $20 and $10 for adults; $25, $7 and $5 for students; and $25, $18 and $8 for seniors, available at the Beasley box office, G&B Select-a-Seat outlets or call 325-SEAT or (800) 325-SEAT.

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