Chicago theater hires Phillips
FORMER SPOKANE CIVIC THEATRE director John G. “Jack” Phillips was hired last week as the artistic director of the Theatre of Western Springs, a large, 75-year-old community theater in a suburb of Chicago.
“We are thrilled beyond words,” said Ginny Richardson, secretary of the board of governors at the Theatre of Western Springs. “We think the world of him. … We recognized his talent right away.”
She called his hiring “Spokane’s loss and our gain.”
The Theatre of Western Springs, in the Illinois town of the same name, has its own 420-seat theater, a smaller “black box” performance space, an active children’s theater program and a large budget by community theater standards.
In other words, it is similar to the Civic, which Phillips headed for 14 years before he was asked to resign by the board three weeks ago.
Phillips said he was delighted with the new job, partly because of its location.
“I have Chicago roots,” said Phillips. “My son and daughter-in-law and my only grandchild live on the north side.”
Phillips said he will stay in Spokane through late July to direct the Shakespeare-in-the-park production of “The Tempest” for the annual baroque-themed Royal Fireworks Concert and Festival in Riverfront Park.
Meanwhile, the Civic’s board has formed an Artistic Transition Team to search for a new artistic director. This committee will also help with other artistic decisions, such as choosing directors for next season’s plays, said chair Bryan Harnetiaux.
The Interplayers season
Meanwhile, over at the Interplayers Ensemble, new artistic director Nike Imoru has settled in and announced the theater’s 2004-05 season.
Not surprisingly, it includes a Shakespearean tragedy, “Othello.” Imoru has plenty of Shakespearean credentials from her native England.
Yet the season also includes some lighter fare, including a reprise of a 1993 Christmas comedy smash for Interplayers, “Inspecting Carol.”
Here’s the lineup:
“ “Same Time Next Year,” by Bernard Slade — The popular romantic comedy about a love affair between two people who rendezvous once a year for 25 years. It chronicles a changing America as well as a changing relationship. Sept. 2-25
“ “Dracula,” by Hamilton Deane and John L. Balderstone — The 1927 adaptation of the vampire tale. Will good triumph over evil? Oct. 14-Nov. 6
“ “Inspecting Carol,” by Daniel Sullivan and the Seattle Rep — A wild backstage farce about a community theater attempting to do “A Christmas Carol.” Everything goes wrong. Nov. 18-Dec. 18
“ “True West,” by Sam Shepard — Two brothers fight in the mythic West of the imagination. Jan. 20-Feb. 12
“ “Othello,” by William Shakespeare — The bard’s tragedy of love, jealousy and betrayal. March 3-26
“ “A Coupla White Chicks Sitting Around Talking,” by John Ford Noonan — Two suburban housewives join forces against their errant husbands. April 14-May 7
A seventh slot, May 26-June 18, will be held open for a later acquisition.
Season tickets range from $70 to $126 and can be purchased by calling 455-PLAY.
‘Riverdance’ tickets on sale
Individual tickets for the upcoming visit of “Riverdance” go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. through TicketsWest outlets (325-SEAT, 800-325-SEAT, www.ticketswest.com).
“Riverdance” is the Irish step-dancing extravaganza that will be making its third visit to the Spokane Opera House, Oct. 26-31.
A Hoopfest documentary
When Hoopfest rolls into Spokane on June 26-27, the action will be in the big screen as well as on the courts.
The film documentary “3 on 3,” made at last year’s Hoopfest, will be making its theatrical debut.
Producers Dave Tanner and Andrea Palpant of North by Northwest followed three teams — “We Got Game,” “Fab 4” and “Team Atlanta” — as they made their way through the brackets.
The result is an 82-minute documentary that will be shown at the AMC 20 at River Park Square from June 25 through July 1.
“We wanted to make our first documentary feature a Spokane story that would resonate with the local community,” said Tanner. ” ‘3 on 3’ seemed like the perfect opportunity since Hoopfest is such a major event and people are so passionate about it.”
So you can catch screenings between games. Or you can purchase the DVD at Hoopfest booths throughout the tournament.
“3 on 3” will have a life beyond Hoopfest as well. North by Northwest plans to market it to cable and broadcast stations.
Juggling brothers
Here’s advance notice of something a bit different: a comedy juggling act called Brothers from Different Mothers, visiting the ComedySportz Theater, 227 W. Riverside Ave., on June 25 at 8 p.m.
This pair from Olympia will chop vegetables in midair and juggle machetes, among other amazements. Tickets are $8 for adults, $5 for students, seniors and children, through TicketsWest.