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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Jackson lands 9/11 film role

The Spokesman-Review

Yes, Cheyenne Jackson’s Broadway show “All Shook Up” closed in September, but don’t worry too much about his future.

Jackson, formerly of Newport, Wash., and Spokane, has already been cast in a major motion picture, “Flight 93,” according to the online publication BroadwayWorld.com. It’s based on the story of the terrorist-occupied flight that crashed in Pennsylvania on Sept. 11, 2001.

The movie will be filmed in London, directed by Paul Greengrass (“The Bourne Supremacy,” “Bloody Sunday”). It will last 90 minutes and the action will be presented in “real time”: i.e., viewers will see the last 90 minutes of the flight as it unfolds.

No word yet on which role Jackson will play.

The film is slated for release in 2006. No, it does not preclude Jackson from being in the proposed Broadway musical “A Tale of Two Cities,” to which his name has been connected.

Al Franken live

Sorry, but you’ve probably already missed your chance to see liberal commentator Al Franken live at the Big Easy Concert House on Tuesday from 9 a.m. to noon. Most of the free tickets already have been given away.

However, you certainly haven’t missed your chance to hear him live on KPTQ-AM (1280, Spokane’s Progressive Talk) during those same hours. He’ll be broadcasting his Air America show live from the Big Easy stage.

Spokane’s Catholic radio

The former KTRW-AM (970) has switched over to become KTTO-AM (970 Sacred Heart Radio), Spokane’s 24-hour Catholic radio station.

This station is operated by the Poor Clare Sisters of Spokane and is affiliated with the Eternal Word Television Network. It features a slate of national Catholic radio programs, along with several local programs hosted by priests, nuns and diocese members. It also carries daily Mass, rosary and divine office broadcasts.

Check out the lineup at www.spokanecatholicradio.com.

What’s the frequency, KTRW?

The KTTO-AM switch means that the KRTW call letters have migrated over to 630-AM. It is now called KTRW-AM (The Fabulous 630).

Tom Read, the Spokane broadcaster who owns it, said it’s a nostalgia station, with music most of the day and old-time radio programs daily from 6 to 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. to midnight, and all day Saturday and Sunday.

The station also airs the Michael Medved syndicated talk show, daily from 8 to 10 p.m., as well as local commentaries by Shaun Cross and Read. In other words, it’s a mix of music and talk.

“(We’re) programming for various interests in the community, just as local stations in the 1950s were programming,” Read said via e-mail. “Not a single format, but a variety.”

And those who are looking for ESPN sports radio, which had the 630-AM spot until September, can now find it at KXLX-AM (700).

Ready, set, make a movie

Get ready for a new local film event: The First Night 48-Hour Film Festival, sponsored by First Night Spokane and North by Northwest Productions.

“48-Hour” refers to the amount of time that budding filmmakers have to create a short film from concept to finished product. The fun begins the evening of Dec. 2 and ends the evening of Dec. 4.

And you can’t cheat, either, because every film must incorporate one specific line of dialogue and one specific prop – neither of which will be divulged until the start time. Finished films must be between three and five minutes.

A panel of judges will pick eight finalists that then will be edited together by North by Northwest and screened for audiences at First Night Spokane on Dec. 31. The audiences will vote on a People’s Choice Award.

Winners of the Jury’s Choice and People’s Choice Awards will be announced and screened again, just before midnight.

A registration form and the rules will be available soon on the First Night Spokane Web site, www.firstnightspokane.org.

A giant CenterFest

The salvation of CenterStage and Ella’s Supper Club, after it nearly went under this summer, was due largely to a tremendous outpouring of support from the region’s jazz and acoustic music community.

Now, that same community is banding together for an eight-hour festival called CenterFest, to raise money for the continuing support of CenterStage, 1017 W. First Ave.

On Nov. 6 from 3 to 11 p.m., you can catch music on two stages (the main stage and in Ella’s Supper Club), featuring Sidhe, Milonga, Cosmic Dust Fusion Band, Celtic Nots, Arnie Carruthers Trio, Night Bloomin’ JazzMen, Joe Kloess Quartet, Brent Edstrom Trio, Danny McCollim Group, Mike Frederick Band, Rico Son and the Bruce Davis Dance Band.

The cost is $25 for an all-day pass, $15 for students with ID. A half-day pass, after 7 p.m., is $15. Call 747-8243 to reserve tickets, or buy them at the door.