Best of Broadway beefs up for Spokane
The Best of Broadway subscription season is back up to five shows this year – and two of those are big, splashy tours of recent Broadway smashes: “Hairspray” and “Aida.”
The series has consisted of four shows for the past two seasons, so this constitutes a net Broadway bonus. This season, you might even call the total eight, if you count the three optional add-on shows.
Here’s what’s on the way:
“ “Chicago,” the Bob Fosse musical of gunplay and razzle-dazzle, Sept. 19-24.
“ “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” Andrew Lloyd Webber’s colorful biblical fable, Nov. 30-Dec. 3.
“”Hairspray,” the campy pop musical set in 1962 Baltimore, Jan. 2-7.
“”Annie,” featuring those singin’ and dancin’ orphans, Feb. 15-18.
“”Aida,” the Elton John-Tim Rice musical based loosely on the Verdi opera, March 29-April 1.
The three nonsubscription “extra” shows will be: The Capitol Steps, Nov. 19; “Little Shop of Horrors,” March 13-14; and “Cats,” April 24-26, 2007.
Series subscriptions ranging from $150 to $247.50 are available by calling TicketsWest outlets (325-SEAT, 800-325-SEAT, www.ticketswest.com) beginning at 9 a.m. today.
Single show ticket sales will be announced later.
Interplayers schedules a ‘Bus Stop’
Wednesday’s big announcement from Spokane Interplayers Theatre: The 2006-2007 season will kick off in September with “Bus Stop,” featuring Ellen Travolta and Jack Bannon.
Travolta said that the director of this classic 1955 William Inge play – as well as some of the other cast members – will be drawn from among her “friends from L.A.,” to be announced later.
Executive director Mary Ann McCurdy also announced that some of the other plays in consideration for the 2006-2007 season include “The Woman in Black,” a ghost story; “Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks,” a dance comedy; and “Ruthless,” a musical to be directed by Troy Nickerson.
McCurdy said the theater will go back to a seven-play season, after a lesser season this year. The rest of the lineup will be announced later; even the above titles (except “Bus Stop”) are pending acquisition of the rights. Dates are not yet specified.
Interplayers also announced the appointment of Wes Deitrick as interim artistic director. He’s a well-known Spokane director and actor.
Local news ratings
On the surface, the Nielsen ratings for the February sweeps don’t show much change in local news races.
In the rankings for all households, KREM-2 leads at 5 p.m. and KHQ-6 leads at 6 and 11 p.m. KXLY-4 still finishes third in all three.
Yet the interesting thing is that KXLY is showing significant growth in the key demographic of 25-54.
“We just literally catapulted,” said Kirstin Votava of KXLY. “We’re pretty darn excited.”
She attributed the increase to cross-promotion of the TV station, radio stations and Web site, and “having the product to back it up.”
Even if it doesn’t change the household rankings, it does indicate that the race is tightening up.
By the way, in the morning news, KHQ is on top, followed by KXLY in second and KREM in third.
Jazz notables
Here’s a reminder about some jazz notables coming to the region:
Jeff Coffin: He’s a Grammy-winning saxophonist who has toured with Bela Fleck and the Flecktones. He performs with the Washington State University Jazz Big Band and vocal jazz ensemble on Tuesday at 8 p.m. in Bryan Hall on the WSU campus in Pullman. The concert is free.
John Clayton: He’s a double-bassist, composer and arranger who has worked with Diana Krall, Milt Jackson and Quincy Jones. He’ll appear with the Gonzaga University Big Band, along with Brent Edstrom and Dan Cox, on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at The Met. Tickets are $10 in advance (through the Gonzaga Music Department at 323-6733 or through TicketsWest outlets) or $12 at the door.
A bluegrass hero
Speaking of Grammy-winning notables, bluegrass and acoustic multi-instrumentalist Tim O’Brien is coming to the Panida Theater in Sandpoint on Friday at 8 p.m.
O’Brien was a founding member of Hot Rize and has gone on to lead his own band.
Tickets are $18 in advance at Monarch Mountain Coffee, Eichardt’s Pub and Grill and F.C. Weskils in Sandpoint, at The Long Ear in Coeur d’Alene and at 4,000 Holes in Spokane, and $21 at the door.
‘Dead Famous’ deadly dull
Well, I watched the Spokane-filmed episode of “Dead Famous: Ghostly Encounters” that aired on the Biography Channel on Tuesday.
The verdict: This is one idiotic show.
The hosts ran around the basements of the Davenport Hotel, The Met and the Fox Theater and tried to conjure Bing Crosby’s spirit. They acted like 11-year-olds trying to scare each other. And they didn’t even have a sense of humor about it.
Full disclosure: I am interviewed on the show. I still think it was idiotic.