Ex-Spokane actor to play the King

BACK IN 1996, when Cheyenne Jackson was playing the role of Magaldi in the Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre’s production of “Evita,” The Spokesman-Review’s play review contained this line: “He looks like a young Elvis.” Boy, did we get that right. Eight years later, Jackson has been cast on Broadway in the lead role in the upcoming Elvis musical, “All Shook Up.”

In other words, this former Whitworth College student will be headlining in one of Broadway’s biggest and most anticipated musicals.

It’s based on the music of Elvis Presley, and while it is not strictly a biographical revue of Elvis’ life, it features a “guitar-playing stranger” – clearly meant to evoke Elvis – who brings “romance, rebellion and rock ‘n’ roll” into the life of a small-town girl in 1955.

Jackson is well-known to Spokane-area theatergoers. He appeared in many shows at the Spokane Civic Theatre, including “Kismet” and “Strangers on Earth” in 1996 and “Kiss Me Kate” in 1995.

He was a familiar presence at the Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre from 1995 through 1997, appearing in “South Pacific,” “How to Succeed In Business (Without Really Trying),” “Evita,” “The Unsinkable Molly Brown” and “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.”

He also played the lead role of Billy Bigelow in the Spokane Theatrical Group’s “Carousel” in 1997.

Even then it was clear he had the tools to go far. In our review of his “Kiss Me Kate” performance in 1995 (while still a Whitworth sophomore), we wrote: “He has leading man looks and the talent to match.”

He departed for Seattle a few years later and landed major roles in “Hair,” “Most Happy Fella” and “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” at the 5th Avenue Theatre.

Then he took off for New York and earned an ensemble spot in 2002 in the Broadway musical “Thoroughly Modern Millie.” He was also understudy to one of the leads, and got to show off his leading-man talents for weeks at a time.

Playbill magazine reports that Tony-winning actor Jarrod Emick was first cast as the lead in “All Shook Up” and Jackson was merely his understudy. But on Oct. 29, the producers announced that they couldn’t come to contract terms with Emick and named Jackson to take over the lead. Playbill quoted the producers as calling him “a star on the rise.”

“All Shook Up” will open a pre-Broadway engagement in Chicago in December and then start Broadway previews on Feb. 20, followed by an official opening on March 24.

The age of Elegance

Christmas Tree Elegance, the ever-popular holiday celebration and fund-raiser, begins its 22nd year on Friday with a tree lighting ceremony at 5 p.m. and continues through the Gala Dinner Dance on Dec. 4.

This event, at the Davenport Hotel, is essentially a raffle of 14 spectacularly decorated Christmas trees (up from the usual 10), all with such extras as trips to Hawaii, Ireland and Alaska, to name just a few.

However, it goes beyond just a raffle. Most days there are special events such as fashion shows, holiday luncheons and dances. Keep an eye out for a complete schedule.

The trees will be available for viewing from Friday through Dec. 4 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on the hotel mezzanine. Raffle tickets will be available for each tree, at a cost of $1 each.

This event is put on by the Spokane Symphony Associates to benefit the symphony. For more info, call 458-TREE.

Bing restaurant news

In our capacity as a hometown repository of all things Bing, we have news out of Walnut Creek, Calif., of the opening of Bing Crosby’s, a hip new restaurant.

The place is loaded with Bing paraphernalia. Gonzaga University is even temporarily loaning a gold record or two from its Crosbyana collection.

The food does not sound exactly Bing-like: The owners describe it as “California-French with retro tones,” according to the Contra Costa Times.

However, the bar might be more to his liking. It boasts a menu of 74 martinis.

This brings up one burning question: Shouldn’t Spokane be the proper place to have a Bing-themed restaurant?

A new Interplayers title

The Interplayers Ensemble has announced its selection for the “wild card” slot at the end of the season: “You Say Tomatoes,” by Bernard Slade, May 26-June 18.

This is a 1994 romantic comedy about a trans-Atlantic relationship between a curmudgeonly British writer and an American TV producer. It’s about the culture clash between America and Britain.

Slade is neither British or American: He’s the Canadian author of the hit play “Same Time, Next Year.”

By the way, this announcement puts an end to Interplayers’ brief experiment with doing one musical a season. “You Say Tomatoes” is no musical, nor is anything else on the schedule.

‘American Carols,’ here and everywhere

Spokane composer William Berry’s Christmas music and arrangements have been heard all over the world. The latest orchestra to program a Berry piece: The Los Angeles Philharmonic on Dec. 12 at Walt Disney Concert Hall.

Meanwhile, you can hear Berry’s “American Carols” in a free concert in Spokane on Dec. 5 at 4 and 7 p.m. at St. John’s Cathedral, 12th Avenue and Grand. The Spokane Youth Orchestra and the Spokane Area Children’s Chorus will perform these arrangements of 13 old American melodies.

Meanwhile, Berry will speak at Auntie’s Bookstore on Nov. 29 at 7:30 p.m. about the making of the “American Carols” CD, which is now on sale.