The ‘Assassins’ are back by popular demand

An extra performance has been added to the run of “Assassins,” the Stephen Sondheim musical at the Firth Chew Studio Theatre (part of the Spokane Civic Theatre).

The reason: popular demand.

The moral: Risky work can get rewarded in the marketplace.

This thought-provoking and intensely entertaining musical about presidential assassins has been playing to sold-out houses throughout its run.

“Things feel really good right now,” said Yvonne A.K. Johnson, the Civic’s executive artistic director.

The extra show will be added on Saturday at 2 p.m.

In addition, a one-hour version of the show will be presented March 4, 7:30 p.m. on the Main Stage. This will be the cut-down, competition version that the Civic will be taking to the Kaleidoscope community theater festival in Walla Walla.

Tickets for both of these performances are available by calling the theater box office at (509) 325-2507.

“Assassins” is one of the best productions I’ve seen at the Firth Chew Studio Theatre, a venue that has produced many of the most creative productions in Spokane.

Good Gershwin

Speaking of artistic achievement, the Spokane Symphony’s mostly-Gershwin concert on Feb. 3 was an unqualified success.

Jody Graves’ interpretation of “Rhapsody in Blue” was jaunty, swinging and full of jazzy surprises.

Add in “American In Paris,” “Summertime” and Ravel’s “Bolero” (on the bill because Gershwin once ran into Ravel on the street) and you have a completely satisfying concert.

This show, too, was sold out.

MyNetworkTV goes wide

MyNetworkTV, the KXLY Broadcast Group’s secondary station, is now available throughout most of the regional market.

The station can be seen on the following cable systems: Time-Warner, Coeur d’Alene, analog channel 9; Time-Warner, Pullman-Moscow, analog 17; Time-Warner, Bonners Ferry-Libby-Troy (coming soon), analog 12; Lewiston, Cable One, analog 11; Concept Cable, Newport-Priest River, analog 11; Northland Cable, Moses Lake, analog 18; Northland Cable, Ephrata, analog 15; Northland Cable, Sandpoint, analog 11; Troy (Idaho) TV Co., analog 11; Hope Cable, analog 11; and Community Cable, Liberty Lake, analog 11.

It also continues to be available over the air on KXMN-LP, channel 11 in Spokane; over the air in Spokane-Coeur d’Alene in high-def on digital channel 4.2; and on Comcast digital cable channel 114.

MyNetworkTV runs a prime-time lineup of telenovelas (evening soaps). It has also added “The International Fight League’s Total Impact” on Mondays and Saturdays, and “My Movie Night” on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Spangle to Carnegie Hall

The Upper Columbia Academy Choraliers, from the Seventh Day Adventist school in Spangle, have a big performance coming up: Carnegie Hall in New York on June 11.

They’ll join Nebraska’s Soli Deo Gloria Cantorum in performing the “South Dakota Shadows Suite.”

This is an impressive achievement for these 27 high-schoolers. It’s also worth pointing out that Carnegie Hall is accustomed to talent from Upper Columbia. Thomas Hampson, one of the world’s leading operatic baritones, is an Upper Columbia product.

Hampson made his Carnegie Hall debut in 1990 and has appeared there many times since, including a concert with Zubin Mehta on Feb. 1.

The Choraliers have been making fund-raising appearances at malls around the area. Call choral director Curtis Anderson at (509) 245-3663 if you want to help out with trip expenses.

Hampson for Grammy

Speaking of Hampson, his recording of Verdi’s “La Traviata” with the Vienna Philharmonic is up for a Grammy tonight for Best Opera Recording.

If this recording wins, it will be the second time Hampson has been part of a Best Opera Grammy winner.

Opera at the cineplex

On the subject of opera, another Metropolitan Opera broadcast has been added to the schedule at the Regal NorthTown Mall Stadium 12 cinema.

An encore of Bellini’s “Il Puritani” will be presented Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.

The next live HD broadcast will be Tchaikovsky’s “Eugene Onegin,” Feb. 24 at 10:30 a.m.

Tickets are $18 for adults, $15 for students.

Russian jazz

The Open World Russian Jazz All-Stars will perform a free concert Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture (MAC), 2316 W. First Ave.

These young musicians are in the area to perform in the Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival at the University of Idaho in Moscow, Feb. 21-24.

Get to this concert early; seating in the Eric A. Johnston Memorial Auditorium at the MAC is limited.