Spotlight: Doc set to make house call to the Fox
Plenty has been happening on the Fox Theater beat, the main news being: Doc Severinsen has been booked for concerts on March 29 and 30.
Doc is the perfect candidate for a Fox concert, since he performed on that stage way back in the 1940s.
“I was maybe 14 and it was the All-Northwest Concert Band, made up of students from about a half-dozen states,” said the former “Tonight Show” bandleader in a 2005 interview.
“Here I came, from this town of about 600 people (Arlington, Ore.), and it was a competition. You had to earn your chair in the band.
“All of the other kids were advanced high school players, and it put a lot of pressure on me. I just remember how frightening it was.”
Severinsen passed the audition, and went on to become one of the most famous trumpeters in the world.
He’ll be performing with the Spokane Symphony. Tickets are available by calling (509) 624-1200 or TicketsWest outlets (509-325-SEAT, 800-325-SEAT, www.ticketswest.com).
Other Fox concerts of the pop-rock variety are being finalized, said the symphony’s Annie Matlow.
Fox G.M. resigns
Meanwhile, Fox Theater general manager Patricia Iron resigned on Dec. 7 to “pursue other interests,” according to a Spokane Symphony statement.
Symphony executive director Brenda Nienhouse will “manage the transition period” during a search for a new G.M.
Iron was hired last March.
New nut to crack
In other symphony-related news, all four performances of “The Nutcracker” sold out at the INB Performing Arts Center last weekend, which has not always been the case in recent years.
By the way, the Alberta Ballet, the symphony’s partner in this endeavor, will bring an entirely new production next December: new sets, new costumes and new choreography.
Two big comedy shows
Two nationally known comedians have been booked into the INB Performing Arts Center:
“ Jeff Dunham, Feb. 8: Dunham is a gifted ventriloquist and stand-up comic who brings an array of characters to his show, including a grouchy dummy named Walter, who recently announced that he is running for president.
“ Brian Regan, Feb. 29: Regan is familiar to viewers of Comedy Central, MTV, “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno” and “The Late Show With David Letterman.” He won the 1996 American Comedy Award for Best Comedian.
Tickets are available through Ticketswest outlets.
Children’s Chorus
Your Spotlight correspondent attended the Spokane Area Children’s Chorus holiday concert, “Celebrate Peace,” on Dec. 7 at Westminster Congregational, and here’s my mini-review:
It was an exceptionally beautiful way to get into the Christmas spirit.
If you have never heard the SACC, you’re missing out on one of our region’s cultural treasures. The advanced choirs – the Concert Ensemble and Ensemble Choir – are polished and professional, with a sweet tone.
Some of the choirs with younger children might be more accurately called works-in-progress, yet they still are immensely entertaining.
And, after hearing “Old Fox Wassail,” “Apple Tree Wassail” and “Wassail Song,” I began to get thirsty for some medieval brew.
Calling local Zep fans
Were you present at the Vanilla Fudge-Led Zeppelin concert at Gonzaga’s John F. Kennedy Pavilion on Dec. 30, 1968?
I am preparing a feature story about that historic concert, which was one of Led Zeppelin’s earliest. Drop me an e-mail at jimk@spokesman.com.
A talent fundraiser
A benefit will be held today at 7 p.m. to raise money to send local talent to the World Championship of Performing Arts in Hollywood.
This Christmas show, presented by Nova Talent, will feature a number of local performers who have been selected to represent the U.S. in the championships, which have been likened to the Olympics for performing artists.
Being selected to compete “is a true honor as well as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said Tami Smith of Nova Talent.
Tickets are $20 at the door at the Bing Crosby Theater, 901 W. Sprague Ave.
Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for a silent and live auction, which will include artworks by Edward W. Gilmore. All proceeds benefit Team USA 2008.
The talented Mr. Russo
Gonzaga University theater professor Brian Russo has been busy recently.
He will soon be seen in two locally made films: “The Family Holiday,” which will air on the Lifetime Channel on Saturday at 9 p.m., and “The Golden Door,” the Snoop Dogg movie which should be released this summer.
Russo plays a loan shark in the former and a bickering father in the latter.
Not only that, but he’ll be traveling to India to perform “The Guys,” a 9/11 play, at a major Calcutta book fair. Previously, he spent a year in Calcutta as Fulbright Scholar.
Haugen off the air
Dick Haugen is another casualty of the recent downsizing at Mapleton Communications, formerly Citadel Broadcasting. He was one of a number of staffers let go during the changeover earlier this month.
Haugen is practically an institution in North Idaho, where he was an on-air personality for more than 16 years at KVNI-AM (1080). He had been at KGA-AM (1510) since March.
Haugen has been in broadcasting for 34 years, most of it in this region.
Operatic travel
Attention opera lovers: Reservations are being accepted for a coach trip to the Seattle Opera’s “Pagliacci.”
The trip, Jan. 19-21, includes lodging, some meals and the opera tickets. The price is $295 if paid in full by Dec. 31, $350 after that.
Call John Bouchard at (509) 624-6230 to reserve a spot.