Spotlight : ‘Assassins’ takes second at national competition
The Spokane Civic Theatre’s “Assassins” finished second in the nation at the AACT/Fest national community theater competition in Charlotte, N.C.
The adjudicators had nothing but praise for the show, according to the Charlotte Observer.
“I just had a bunch of assassins point guns at me and make me love them,” one of the judges was quoted as saying.
Julie York Coppens, theater critic for the Observer, called “Assassins” “an explosive opening to this biennial gathering … and if all 12 competing shows are up to this caliber, theater lovers have an unforgettable few days in store.”
Apparently, at least one other show was up to that caliber. First place went to “Crowns,” a show exploring African American culture, produced by the Denton Community Theatre of Denton, Texas.
“Assassins” brought home a number of other awards:
“ Best Actor – Patrick McHenry-Kroetch as John Wilkes Booth.
“ Best Supporting Actress – Marianne McLaughlin as Sara Jane Moore.
“ Best Supporting Actor – George Green as Lee Harvey Oswald.
“ Best Hair and Makeup.
“ The Backstage Award – most professional theater, as recognized by the backstage crew.
While second place may seem disappointing, it’s hard to see this as anything other than more confirmation that the Civic is one of the best community theaters in the nation. It has won first place twice and second place twice in the last eight national competitions.
The Critic’s Awards
And, while it may not be much consolation, I can say that “Assassins” was without question the best show I saw in Spokane this year, and in the Top Five of the best shows I’ve seen in my 18 years as The Spokesman-Review’s theater critic.
Here are my choices for the best in local theater for the just-completed 2006-07 Spokane theater season:
“ Best Musical: “Assassins,” Spokane Civic Theatre. A top-quality ensemble cast directed by Troy Nickerson brought Stephen Sondheim’s dark and audacious vision to vastly entertaining – if sometimes disturbing – life. The show deserved every bit of its national recognition.
“ Best Play: “Humble Boy,” Actor’s Repertory Theatre. Patty Duke was the marquee name, but the entire Michael Weaver-directed ensemble made this Charlotte Jones play into an exhilarating combination of British comedy-of-manners, wicked family drama and intellectual puzzle.
“ Best Original Script: “Dusk” by Bryan Harnetiaux, Spokane Civic Theatre. Harnetiaux cemented his well-earned position as Spokane’s playwriting treasure with this thoughtful and well-crafted look at end-of-life issues.
“ Best Actor: Patrick McHenry-Kroetch, “Assassins.” I have to agree with the national judges on this one. McHenry-Kroetch was the perfect brooding, intense ringleader for this show.
“ Best Actress: Alice Kennedy, “Driving Miss Daisy,” Interplayers. Kennedy completely inhabited the role of Daisy, the irascible Southern widow. I’ve seen many versions of this play, but never a more unaffected, natural and completely believable Daisy.
“ Best Overall Season: Actor’s Repertory Theatre. With a season that ranged from “Greater Tuna” to “Agnes of God” to Neil LaBute’s “The Shape of Things,” ARt has become the place to go for consistently entertaining and intelligent professional theater.
No Deb Wilde?
You may have noticed a disconcerting gap in the Spokane airwaves for the past three weeks: no Debra Wilde on the air.
Wilde has been a Spokane broadcaster and journalist for nearly 27 years, but on June 6, she was let go from her job as the afternoon radio newscaster on KXLY-AM.
She said she wasn’t really given a reason for her dismissal.
“I’ve never been fired before,” said Wilde.
That, as she noted, made her part of an exclusive club in the high-turnover world of broadcasting. But it left her unprepared for a life of unemployment.
“I really don’t know what I’m going to do,” she said. “Hunker down and see what’s coming.”
She said she would like to return to broadcasting.
“I love telling stories,” she said.
Wilde was with KHQ-6 for 20 years and with KXLY for the past seven.
A Carillon we will go
The Summer Carillon series at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist kicks off on July 4 and continues through July 26.
The carillon is the sweetly ringing musical instrument in the cathedral’s steeple, consisting of bells played through use of keyboard. The best way to hear it is to sit on a blanket on the lawn below. All concerts are free.
Here’s the schedule:
“Wednesday, 9 p.m. – Cathedral carillonneur Andrea McCrady will be joined by Toru Takao for the traditional July 4 concert. You can enjoy a hilltop view of the fireworks that follow.
“Thursday, 7 p.m. – A concert by Takao, an internationally known carillonneur from Japan.
“July 12, 7 p.m. – A concert by carillonneur Lee Cobb from Florida.
“July 19, 7 p.m. – A concert by carillonneur Gijsbert Kok from the Netherlands.
“July 22, 7 p.m. – McCrady will provide “heavenly music” for participants walking the outdoor Labyrinth.
“July 26, 7 p.m. – A concert by Lisa Lonie, a carillonneur from Pennsylvania.