Owners Redesign, Light The Lantern

The Magic Lantern Cinema and Pub has re-opened — quietly.

Cary Craig, one of the new owners, said they didn’t want to make a big splash about last weekend’s opening for two reasons. First, the infamous Magic Lantern projectors were still acting flaky. Second, the films — “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert,” “Deja Vu” and “Wilde” — were a bit older than he would prefer.

But now the projectors are fixed, and Craig said they hope to have a true grand opening later this week, after the Norwegian art-house thriller “Insomnia” arrives, probably on Wednesday or Thursday.

Craig and his partners, Michael and Sarah Michalko (who own the Kempis Suites luxury hotel), have done an outstanding job of redesigning the interior, artistically draping fabrics around columns and installing original paintings by local artist Richard Twedt. The pub is up and functioning, and food is available from the Europa restaurant downstairs.

As for the name “Magic Lantern,” which the former owners also claim as their own, Craig said that’s not his dispute. That’s an issue between the former owners and the owner of the building. He said he’ll use the name until somebody tells him to quit.

Now comes the real challenge: Booking movies that are new, provocative, artistic and will get people into the seats.

Here comes ‘Catechism’

Sit up straight and quit chewing that gum. The one-woman play “Late Nite Catechism,” which has been knocking ‘em dead in Chicago and Seattle, is coming to Spokane for one show only, Nov. 3 at 7:30 p.m. at The Met.

This is the same production that has been running in Seattle since April, starring co-writer Maripat Donovan. Catholic Charities is bringing it to Spokane as a benefit for the local Catholic Charities Senior Services program.

The Seattle Times calls it a “terrific one-nun show.” Donovan plays “Sister,” and you, the audience, play her Catholic education class.

Trust me on this one. Don’t wait too long to get tickets. This thing will sell out fast. Tickets are on sale now through G&B Select-a-Seat (325-SEAT).

Arts awardees

Let’s hear it for the following, who are winners of the Seventh Annual City of Spokane Arts Awards:

Individual Artist: Linda Siverts.

Arts Organization: Spokane Art School.

Individual Benefactor: Kop and Maxine Kopczynski.

Business Benefactor: Spokane Federal Credit Union.

Arts in Education: Holy Names Music Center.

Arts Community Leadership Award: Beth Moore.

They were nominated by community members and then chosen by the Spokane Arts Commission’s Awards Committee.

The awards will be presented at the Spokane City Council meeting on Oct. 5 at 6 p.m. Congratulations to them all.

Another opera star

Does the ponderosa pine give off some vapor that turns people into opera singers?

I don’t know, but the Inland Northwest certainly produces more than its share of outstanding voices.

The latest evidence: The Western Opera Theater’s touring production of “La Traviata” features Cheney High School and Whitworth College graduate Suzanne Ramo in the lead role of Violetta.

The Western Opera Theater is the touring branch of the San Francisco Opera Center. The opera played Moses Lake and Pullman last week.

Ramo also participated in the San Francisco Opera’s prestigious Merola training program. In a review of the Merola Grand Finale Concert, the San Francisco Chronicle pronounced Ramo “dazzling.”

Billy Tipton on TV

The E! cable channel will air “Mysteries & Scandals: Billy Tipton” on Monday at 7:30 p.m.

This weekly half-hour series will rehash the story of Spokane jazz musician Dorothy Tipton, who changed her name to Billy Tipton and lived 50 years as a man.

Debut Performing Arts

The Debut Performing Arts Series, Spokane’s most international and eclectic concert series, has announced its full season, which begins next week:

Hangzhou Chinese Acrobats - Oct. 6, 7:30 p.m. North Idaho College and Oct. 7-8, 7:30 p.m. at The Met.

Tears of Joy Puppet Theater’s “The Jungle Book” - Dec. 9, 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. at The Met.

Tingstad and Rumbel - Narada recording artists, Jan. 22, 7:30 p.m. at The Met.

Obo Addy and Okropong - African drum master and storyteller, March 4, 7:30 p.m. at The Met.

Leon Redbone - Folk-blues legend, April 8, 7:30 p.m. at The Met.

Saffire, The Uppity Blues Women - April 11, 7:30 p.m. at The Met.

Ballet Folklorico “Quetzall” de Veracruz - April 22, 7:30 p.m. at The Met.

Season tickets and individual tickets are now on sale through G&B Select-a-Seat.

A hat for Harrington

The folks out in Harrington are making good progress in revamping the grand old 1904 Harrington Opera House. A new roof should be installed by January, reports the Harrington Opera House Society.

This downtown auditorium was once a major social and cultural landmark in Lincoln County. With a great deal of work, it will be once again.