View Met Opera on the big screen
Local opera fans have a new way to experience the Metropolitan Opera – live on the big screen, in high definition, right here at Spokane’s NorthTown 12 Cinema.
The first broadcast took place on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. (if all went according to schedule). It was the matinee performance of Tan Dun’s “The First Emperor” with Placido Domingo.
The Met began these live broadcasts nationwide this season as a way to broaden the opera audience. The broadcasts also include backstage interviews and behind-the-scenes extras.
The series will continue with three more live Saturday morning matinees over the spring season, plus one Tuesday evening repeat broadcast:
“ “The Magic Flute,” by Mozart (rebroadcast), Jan. 23, 7:30 p.m.
“ “Eugene Onegin,” by Tchaikovsky, Feb. 24, 10:30 a.m.
“ “The Barber of Seville,” by Rossini, March 24, 10:30 a.m.
“ “Il Trittico,” by Puccini, April 28, 10:30 a.m.
Tickets are $18 for adults and $15 for children. That’s a little steep by movie standards, but dirt-cheap by opera standards. Tickets can be purchased at www.metoperafamily.org or through the movie ticket service Fandango.com.
A Maxey benefit
Interplayers Theatre will present a Martin Luther King Day benefit performance of “Driving Miss Daisy” Monday at 2 p.m., to raise money for the Carl Maxey Scholarship at Gonzaga Law School.
This scholarship benefits minority law students. Maxey was Spokane’s first black attorney and one of the state’s leading civil rights leaders until his death in 1997.
One unusual thing about this benefit: It takes place a few days before the play’s official opening, which isn’t until Friday.
Tickets to the benefit are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and military and $10 for students, available by calling (509) 455-PLAY. Interplayers is at 174 S. Howard St.
A new CenterStage ‘Road’
CenterStage, 1017 W. First Ave., is reviving its long-dormant dinner theater, with a few new twists.
First of all, it will feature the world premiere of a comedy by local playwright Reed McColm, titled “The Road to Diddlysquat.” It’s a comedy about a man with Alzheimer’s who suddenly remembers something terrible he did long ago. He and his buddy embark on a quest to make things right.
It features McColm and Tim Behrens.
Also, dinner will now be served buffet style, although salad, dessert and drinks will still be served at the table.
“Road to Diddlysquat” runs Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Jan. 25 and 26, dinner at 6:15 p.m., show at 8. Tickets are available by calling (509) 747-8243.
CenterStage plans a series of dinner theater shows featuring local playwrights.
Spokane Civic season
The Spokane Civic Theatre has announced its lineup for the 2007-08:
“ “South Pacific,” the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic, Sept. 28-Oct. 28.
“ “The Christmas Schooner,” a holiday musical, Nov. 16-Dec. 16.
“ “Laughing Stock,” a farce, Jan. 11-Feb. 2, 2008.
“ “The Night of the Iguana,” the Tennessee Williams drama, Feb. 22-March 8, 2008.
“ “The Foreigner,” the Larry Shue comedy, March 28-April 19, 2008.
“ “Man of La Mancha,” the musical, May 16-June 15, 2008.
In addition, two of the four Firth Chew Studio Theatre selections have been announced:
“ “The Last Five Years,” a musical, Jan. 25-Feb. 17, 2008.
“ “Hollywood Arms,” based on Carol Burnett’s memoirs, April 25-May 18, 2008.
An in-concert version of Stephen Sondheim’s “Into the Woods” is also slated on the Main Stage for Oct. 21.
Subscriptions and memberships will be available in March.
‘Assassins’ will compete
Meanwhile, the Spokane Civic’s next Studio Theatre production, Stephen Sondheim’s “Assassins” (Jan. 26-Feb. 18), has been chosen as the Civic’s entry into the 2007 Kaleidoscope State Community Theatre Festival in Walla Walla in March.
Walla Walla may not be the end of the road for this show, either. In the past, Spokane Civic entries have made it all the way to the national festival several times, winning first place in the nation twice and second once.
A festival fund has been set up to pay for travel. Make donations to the Spokane Civic Theatre, Festival Fund, 1020 N. Howard St., Spokane, WA 99201.
Remembering Kaul
Alan Styles Kaul, a Spokane native whose career went from KREM-2 to the highest levels of NBC News, died of cancer Dec. 22 in Los Angeles.
Kaul was born and raised in Spokane, graduated from Whitworth College, and got his first job in the 1960s at KREM-2, where he was a writer, editor and anchor. He moved on after a few years to KING in Seattle and then to KNBC in Los Angeles. He also served as technical advisor on the film “The China Syndrome” and appeared onscreen as a TV director.
In 1980 he became the West Coast producer for “The NBC Nightly News.” He was NBC’s Middle East bureau chief from 1985 to 1990. He went on to produce hundreds of stories for “NBC Nightly News,” “The Today Show” and the MSNBC network.
He is survived by his wife, four children and four grandchildren.