Spo-cain makes the monologues
Well, Spokane has certainly made the late-night TV talk shows. Here are a couple of Mayor Jim West-related excerpts from recent shows:
• Jay Leno (“The Tonight Show”): “In Spokane, Washington, the mayor, Jim West, who is publicly anti-gay, has taken a leave of absence from his job after allegations that he offered city jobs to men he met on a gay Web site. It’s part of the mayor’s new program: give a job, get a job.”
• Jon Stewart (“The Daily Show”): “The mayor called it a ‘brutal outing’ while everyone else called it ‘perfect irony.’ “
• Bill Maher (“Real Time,” on the subject of gay Republicans): “Is it like gay men go into the priesthood because they figure, ‘Well, this’ll solve my problem. I can’t be a homosexual in the priesthood; it’ll just go away. Maybe I’ll try it with the Republican Party.’ “
We should further note that both Leno and Stewart pronounced the name of the city as “Spo-cain.”
Our local soap star
Trevor St. John, a 1989 West Valley High School graduate and 1993 Whitworth College grad, has made quite a name for himself in the daytime soap “One Life to Live.”
He has played the dual role of Walker Laurence and Todd Manning on that series since 2003.
St. John was a familiar actor on local stages while he was in school. He got his first movie break as a stand-in in the Spokane-filmed Johnny Depp movie, “Benny & Joon.”
Since moving on to Hollywood, he has had roles in a number of major movies, including “Crimson Tide,” “Payback” and “Bio-Dome.”
Trevor’s father is Mark St. John, a retired TV news reporter for KREM and KXLY in Spokane.
The new Interplayers head
Mary Ann McCurdy, a familiar name in local government and politics, has been named executive director of the Interplayers Ensemble, Spokane’s longtime professional theater.
McCurdy was recently the Eastern Washington office representative for Gov. Gary Locke. She left that job shortly after the change of administrations and is running the business side of Interplayers. Artistic director Nike Imoru continues to handle the artistic side of the organization.
Early theatrical warning
Here are a few upcoming theater events of note:
• “Legendary Ladies at the Mansion,” June 10 and 11, 7:30 p.m. cocktails, show at 8, E.J. Roberts Mansion, 1923 W. First Ave. – This fund-raiser for the Spokane Civic Theatre presents Jean Hardie, Melody Deatherage, Kathie Doyle-Lipe, Marianne McLaughlin, Tammy Knoell and Courtney Parks in a concert-style performance. Tickets are $75, available by calling 325-2507.
• “Suds, the Musical,” June 30 through Aug. 26, CenterStage, 1017 W. First Ave. – A squeaky-clean musical set in a laundromat, featuring classic hits such as “Please Mr. Postman,” “Locomotion” and “Chapel of Love.” Dinner and show tickets are $35, available by calling 747-8243.
• “Tim’s Favorite Pat McManus Stories,” June 16-19, CenterStage – A collection of stories from Pat McManus’ one-man plays starring Tim Behrens, just in time for Father’s Day. Dinner and show tickets are $35, available by calling 747-8243.
Not that Weaver
Speaking of local theater, was I the only one who wondered if the Michael Weaver who spoke at the Spokane City Council meeting on Monday was the same Michael Weaver who is the artistic director at the Actor’s Repertory Theatre?
The answer is no. It was not the same Weaver.
Steel-guitar hotbed
Spokane, in case you did not know, is a steel guitar hotbed.
Steel guitar, aka pedal steel, is the instrument responsible for a lot of that yearning, high lonesome sound in country music, Western swing and other genres.
Spokane, home of the Northwest Steel Guitar Association, has spawned a number of legendary pedal-steel players over the years, including Lee Lessig and Dean Simmons. Both have been playing locally, regionally and nationally since the 1950s.
Simmons is one of the players you can see at the Steel Guitar Jamboree, June 5 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Inland Northwest Wildlife Council Building auditorium, 6116 N. Market St.
The event, sponsored by the Northwest Steel Guitar Association, is open to the public ($10 general admission). Go to www.nwsteelguitar.com for more information.
Hawaiian sounds
Speaking of steel guitar, or at least slack-key guitar, the Hawaiian Music Masters will be returning to The Met on June 10 at 7:30 p.m.
The masters include Cyril Pahinui, Dennis Kamakahi and Patrick Landeza. Similar shows have routinely sold out in previous Spokane visits.
Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and students, through TicketsWest outlets (325-SEAT, 800-325-SEAT, www.ticketswest.com).
Clark Howard coming to town
Clark Howard, nationally syndicated KXLY-AM (NewsRadio 920) talk show host, is coming to Spokane for an appearance on June 1.
Howard, who is promoting a new book, “Clark Smart Parents, Clark Smart Kids,” will sign the book at a tickets-only event from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Ridpath Hotel’s Empire Ballroom.
Fans can win tickets by listening to Bud Nameck and Deb Wilde on KXLY-AM in the mornings.