Civic board gets earful at meeting
ABOUT 40 PEOPLE showed up at the Spokane Civic Theatre’s board meeting on Wednesday and many of them administered what can only be described as a public tongue-lashing.
The words “ashamed,’” “disgraced,” “betrayed” and “appalled” were bandied about freely.
Almost all of the speakers were upset about the dismissal two weeks ago of longtime artistic director Jack Phillips, office administrator Shirley Deranleau, and costumer and theater school director Lisa Caryl. The board had earlier called it a “downsizing and reorganization.”
“I thought better of you,” John Dorwin, a veteran actor, told the board. “It was done in such a sneaky, underhanded way.”
“The theater was my sanctuary, and my sanctuary has been bulldozed,” said Jean Hardie, a well-known Civic actress.
“I have no intention of darkening the door again, as long as this regime is still running it,” said Sarah Keller, another veteran actress.
“I was an honest, loyal, dedicated employee,” said Caryl, who said she was fired and escorted from the building with her daughter present. “And that’s how I was paid. By traumatizing my children, destroying my faith in the theater and breaking my heart.”
Only one person spoke in favor of the board. Michelle Holland thanked the board for taking on a difficult task and not passing off its responsibility. She said there were many others, not present at the meeting, who felt the same way.
The board members mostly just listened in silence.
Later in the meeting, however, board treasurer Denny Lordan said that members felt they had to take action for financial reasons.
“We were informed by the endowment committee that we had five years left before the lights went out,” said Lordan. “We were given a very stern warning.”
The board said it would issue a statement this week in response to the protests.
Meanwhile, Kathie Doyle-Lipe’s resignation from the board was accepted, and board secretary Matt Harget said he thought about resigning but was talked out of it.
No matter how strongly people feel about what happened, there was acknowledgement that reconciliation must be made.
William Marlowe, well-known director and actor and drama instructor at SFCC, put it this way: “We have to find some way to heal what has happened, because it is extremely sad.”
The Box ‘n’ Hat Players
One way to reconcile: Attend the Civic Theatre’s Box ‘n’ Hat Senior Showcase night, tonight at 7 on the Main Stage, 1020 N. Howard St.
This celebrates the graduating seniors from the Civic’s young-person’s performance group. Jean Hardie directs and Gary Laing musical directs. The theme is “A Film Noir Fairy Tale.”
And it’s free.
Wild about Harry
This just in: Harry Connick Jr. has been booked into the Spokane Opera House, July 31 at 8 p.m.
Tickets go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. Prices are $49.50 and $36, or $59.50 for “golden circle” seats, through TicketsWest outlets (325-SEAT, 800-325-SEAT, www.ticketswest.com).
Elvis sighting at NorthTown
A digitally remastered version of “Elvis ‘68: Comeback Special” will be presented one night only on the big screen at the NorthTown Regal Cinemas on June 21 at 7 p.m.
This special, originally aired on NBC, is considered by many Elvis aficionados to be the pinnacle of his career.
It caught him at the peak of his talents.
This 100-minute version will include previously unreleased footage.
Tickets are available for $12.50 online at www.regalcm.com, or on the day of the show for $15.
DIRECTV goes local
DIRECTV, a satellite TV system, activated all eight local channels in Spokane on Friday.
Customers with a multiple-satellite dish should already be getting these stations. Customers with an older, single-satellite dish may upgrade for free by calling (800) DIRECTV.
A Thin Air documentary
An NBC film crew is in Spokane filming a national documentary about the phenomenon of low-power FM radio.
Why here? Because KYRS-FM (95.3, Thin Air Radio) is one of the stations that the documentary intends to chronicle. The documentary is being shot by Verite Productions as part of “LPFM: The People’s Choice,” tentatively hosted by Susan Sarandon.
The crew filmed an interview at the studios and also shot some footage at a benefit concert this weekend.
Early Mozart warning
The name of Connoisseur Concerts’ annual “Mozart on a Summer’s Eve” concert has been changed to “Mozart at Manito” for good reason: to honor the 100th anniversary of Manito Park.
Still, it’s the same elegant event as ever. Connoisseur Concerts’ Wind Ensemble will play the music of Mozart on the lawn just east of Duncan Gardens. Other selections will honor music written over the centuries for parks and gardens.
It takes place on July 20 and again on July 21, both at 7 p.m.
Tickets are $25 per person for table seating, including dessert and coffee from Luna, or $10 for lawn seating, through TicketsWest.
Fuhrman takes on O.J., again
KGA-AM (1510, the Big Talker) radio host Mark Fuhrman, our own local player in the O.J. Simpson drama, will devote most of this week to a look back at the O.J. case.
The 10th anniversary of the murders of Nicole Simpson and Ron Goldman is Saturday, so Fuhrman has been busy working the O.J. nostalgia circuit. He just returned from filming a Fox special about the case.
He’ll be back, sharing his O.J. stories from 9 a.m. to noon weekdays. You might recall he had a somewhat … controversial role in that case.