Theater, Ella’s may live on
CENTERSTAGE dinner theater and the affiliated Ella’s Supper Club may get a reprieve from their scheduled Aug. 21 demise. Or maybe not.
The CenterStage board decided last week to suspend “closeout procedures” until it can study a reorganization plan submitted by managing artistic director Tim Behrens. Another board meeting will be held Monday.
The board also will evaluate how much money has been raised in last-ditch donation appeals. Behrens said Thursday that he has collected pledges worth $26,500. While impressive, it still does not cover what CenterStage already owes to vendors.
Under Behrens’ reorganization proposal, Ella’s and the catering/reception/meeting business would remain. The dinner theater, however, would be moved out from under the CenterStage umbrella. A separate production company, associated with Behrens, would rent the theater for performances so that CenterStage would not shoulder the risk. The plan calls for four shows a year.
The dinner theater has been one of CenterStage’s main financial drains.
So the board still has a tough decision to make. The problem remains money – and lots of it. If you want to make a donation, send an e-mail to Connie@spokanecenterstage.com.
The Radio Men and Bob
The spring Arbitron ratings are out for local radio, and KKZX-FM (Classic Rock, 98.9) is back in a familiar position – at the top.
That ends a mini-slump for this usually strong station, which is anchored by The Radio Men (Jim Arnold and C. Foster Kane) in the mornings.
It was also a great book for two different kinds of oldies stations. One is the oldies standby KEYF-FM (Oldies 101.1) and the other is KBBD-FM (Bob, 103.9).
Bob’s format is officially ” ‘80s, ‘90s and Whatever,” but make no mistake about it – it’s an oldies station for the 30-something crowd, give or take a decade. It is modeled on successful stations which have popped up all over the U.S. under the moniker of either “Jack” or “Bob.”
Bob shot up to No. 6 overall in its first full ratings period, and was No. 1 or No. 2 in some of the key adult demographics.
Also of note: Most of the AM talk stations were down or holding steady, but KPTQ-AM (Air America, 1280) finally showed signs of life. This liberal talk alternative more than doubled its share – although it moved up to only No. 18.
Here are the spring 2005 rankings, based on quarter-hour share, copyright Arbitron 2005:
1. KKZX-FM, classic rock, 7.3.
2. KZZU-FM, contemporary hits, 6.8.
3. KEYF-FM, oldies, 6.3.
4. KHTQ-FM, active rock, 6.2.
5. KXLY-FM, adult contemporary, 5.2.
6. (tie) KBBD-FM, classic hits, 5.
6. (tie) KCDA-FM, hot adult contemporary, 5.
8. KXLY-AM, news-talk, 4.7.
9. KDRK-FM, country, 4.5.
10. KISC-FM, adult contemporary, 4.4.
11. KIXZ-FM, country, 4.2.
12. (tie) KQNT-AM, news-talk, 3.9.
12. (tie) KZBD-FM, classic rock, 3.9.
14. (tie) KGA-AM, news-talk, 3.1.
14. (tie) KTSL-FM, Christian music, 3.1.
16. KEZE-FM, hot adult contemporary, 2.9.
17. KEYF-AM, adult standards, 1.8.
18. (tie) KICR-FM, country, 1.3.
18. (tie) KJRB-AM, sports, 1.3.
18. (tie) KPTQ-AM, news-talk, 1.3.
21. KVNI-AM, oldies, 1.1,
22. (tie) KAZZ-FM, smooth jazz, .5.
22. (tie) KSPO-FM, Christian talk, .5.
22. (tie) KXLI-AM, sports, .5.
News director changes
Leona Wood, news director at KXLY-4 for the past three years, has moved on to KTVK-TV in Phoenix, Ariz., where she will be an executive producer. Jerry Post has moved up into the news director spot.
Also, Rich Lebenson, news director at KREM-2 for four years, is moving up to news director for a Belo Corp. sister station in Norfolk, Va. A search is underway for his replacement.