Spokanite wins big on TV

Candy Chapman of Spokane thought she was darn lucky to just get into the audience of “The Price is Right” in Los Angeles on June 30. “We lined up at 4 a.m., and we were already 121st in line,” she said.

But hours later, she made it into the taping along with her sister Jenny Egly and her friend Idalia Apodoca.

Then Chapman thought she was extremely lucky to be chosen as one of only six people out of 325 to “come on down” to the stage.

“I freaked,” said Chapman, retired from Qwest Communications. “Usually I’m really calm, but I thought I’d need oxygen.”

She said she can’t even remember exactly what she did, but she does remember telling host Bob Barker he was “better-looking in person than on TV.” Then she kissed him.

And that’s when her luck really began.

She won a GPS navigation system, a crepe-maker and a radio.

“Then the doors opened and there was this red, shiny SUV,” said Chapman.

It was a Chevy Equinox. She had to play a game called “Pathfinder” which involved stepping on individual numbers and trying to guess the price of the vehicle.

She made it down to the last number. She had a choice between a zero and a three. Chapman was inclined to pick the three.

“But my sister and Idalia were yelling, ‘Zero, zero, zero!’ ” she said. “So I picked the zero.”

She won the vehicle, which means she ended up with a total of $24,000 worth of loot.

It all will be delivered after the show airs on Oct. 3.

A Spokane ‘Batman’ actor

When the SWAT team shows up on screen in “Batman Begins,” check out the faces.

You might recognize Dan Hammond, a Gonzaga Prep alumnus.

Hammond, an actor and graduate theater student at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, landed the part through auditions earlier this year.

His scenes were shot in Chicago. This was not exactly a featured role, but he did get to play some scenes with Katie Holmes.

Hammond is an actor from way back – back to his role as Danforth in “The Crucible” at Gonzaga Prep.

A Shambhalla benefit

Many of us have fond memories of Espresso Delizioso, a great little Italian restaurant and coffee bar on North Monroe which closed in 1997.

It closed because Robert Shambhalla, who ran the place with his wife Katherine Shambhalla, was diagnosed with sarcoidosis, a serious lung disease.

Now Shambhalla needs a lung transplant and a great deal of financial assistance. He and Katherine must move to Seattle to be within two hours of the hospital. Also, they need assistance on massive bills for medicine and doctors. They are trying to raise $100,000 to cover all of the costs.

The Shambhallas have been longtime supporters of the Interplayers Ensemble, so Interplayers will host a benefit event for Shambhalla on July 28 at 7 p.m. at the theater, 174 S. Howard St. It will feature food and drink and a variety of acts including the Celtic Nots and magician Matt Van Zee.

Tickets will be $10 at the door, cash or check only. For reservations or other information, call event organizer Lawra Gosselin-Harris at 251-1657.

Other donations can be made through any Washington Mutual branch. Ask for the Robert Shambhalla Benevolent Account. A Web site, www.helprobert.com, has more information.

An Interplayers change

The first show in the Interplayers Ensemble’s season has been changed to Frank McGuiness’ acclaimed hostage drama, “Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me,” Sept. 10 through Oct. 1.

This will replace “Lewis and Clark: Manifest Destiny,” which has been removed from the schedule. Artistic director Nike Imoru said that show is more appropriate for Gonzaga University, where she still plans to direct it this fall.

The rest of the Interplayers schedule looks like this: “The Mystery of Irma Vep,” Oct. 20-Nov. 12; “The Fantasticks,” Nov. 25-Dec. 17; “The Miss Firecracker Contest,” March 9-April 1; “Mozart and Salieri,” April 27-May 20; “Romeo and Juliet,” June 1-June 24.

Call 455-PLAY for season ticket info.

Fox Fridays

Two more dates have been added to Fox Fridays, the free Friday evening performance series at the Fox Theater, Riverside and Monroe:

“ July 29: Best of BOBfest (the annual high school battle of the bands in Riverfront Park), featuring No Such Luck opening for the Electrostatics. Two sets each beginning at 5:30 p.m.

“ Aug. 5: Ballet Arts Academy, two 45-minute shows featuring the entire company, beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Oh, yeah – don’t forget Windsong, Friday at 5:30 and 6:30 p.m.