Steven Seagal set to test his chops at the Big Easy
Steven Seagal? At the Big Easy?
Yeah, the formerly ponytailed Hollywood actor is also a guitarist and musician.
He and his band Thunderbox have been booked into the Big Easy on May 24, with special guest JJ Gilmour.
Seagal says he has been inspired by Curtis Mayfield, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Jimi Hendrix, B.B. King and Robert Johnson. He plays what he calls “blues world” music.
Tickets are $21, general admission, all ages, through TicketsWest outlets (325-SEAT, 800-325-SEAT, www.ticketswest.com).
The ‘Mozart’ box office
The Spokane-filmed “Mozart and the Whale” finished at No. 69 in the movie box office rankings last week, with a total gross of only $19,600 (the big releases are measured in the multimillions). This doesn’t sound good, but “Mozart” was only in five theaters, all in our region.
The movie’s per-screen average was a far more respectable $3,920, which was higher than all but three movies in the Top 10. That probably won’t be enough to earn a wider release, however.
A ‘Tuna’ sandwich
The Actor’s Repertory Theatre has announced a change to its 2006-07 season that should make a lot of people happy: Instead of opening with “Tour de Farce” in August, ARt has acquired the rights to what it’s calling “The Tuna Project.”
That would be “Greater Tuna” and “A Tuna Christmas,” performed in repertory. Michael Weaver, ARt’s artistic director, said you can catch both of these quick-change, two-person Texas redneck comedies on successive evenings. And on Saturdays you can go to one show in the afternoon and the other in the evening.
This run will feature the same two actors who made “A Tuna Christmas” a hit for Interplayers in 1997: Weaver and William Marlowe.
To accommodate the expected demand, “The Tuna Project” will move from the Spartan Theatre on the Spokane Falls Community College campus to the Music Building auditorium one building over.
“The Tuna Project” will run from Aug. 25 to Sept. 9. Call ARt at 838-4013 for ticket information.
The CYT season
The Christian Youth Theater-Spokane has a full slate of family-friendly productions lined up for its 2006-07 season.
Here’s the lineup:
“ Disney’s “Aladdin” – scheduled for fall.
“ “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” – fall.
“ “Pirates of Penzance” – winter.
“ “Anne of Avonlea” – winter.
“ “Once Upon a Mattress” – spring.
“ “Holes” – spring.
To find out more about these shows, or any other information about the CYT’s theater training programs, call 487-6540 or visit www.cytspokane.org.
Jim Boyd nominations
Local musician Jim Boyd always seems to be on the Native American Music Award (Nammy) nominee list – and this year is no different.
Boyd’s latest CD, “Them Old Guitars,” is nominated in four categories: artist of the year, record of the year, best pop/rock recording, and songwriter of the year.
The awards will be announced June 8 in Hollywood, Fla. Boyd is a multiple Nammy winner in years past.
MusicFest on the way
MusicFest Northwest (formerly the Greater Spokane Music and Allied Arts Festival) is right around the corner, May 14-19.
Hundreds of students from the elementary to post-graduate level will perform; a select few will be chosen to perform in the Young Artist Concert with the Spokane Symphony on May 17 at The Met. The Festival Highlights Concert will be May 19 at The Met.
Most of the classes and competitions will be on the Gonzaga University campus, and are open to the public. For more information, visit www.musicfestnorthwest.org.
Mideast piano tour
Eastern Washington University music professor and concert pianist Jody Graves will head out to the Mideast on May 10 for 12 concerts in 14 days at embassies, consulates and schools in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain and other countries in the region.
Graves’ concerts will be part of a U.S. State Department cultural exchange program.
Peter Ostroushko concert
Fiddler-mandolin player Peter Ostroushko, of “A Prairie Home Companion” fame, will perform May 7 at 7:30 p.m. in the Lair Auditorium at Spokane Community College, 1810 N. Greene St.
Tickets are $18 ($14 for Spokane Folklore Society members), available at Auntie’s Bookstore, 402 W. Main Ave., or The Shop, 924 S. Perry St. For information call 747-2640 or go to www.spokanefolklore.org.
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