Spotlight: Local actor shines in Broadway show
Cheyenne Jackson, the Newport, Wash.-Spokane product now on Broadway, is garnering glowing reviews for his lead performance as Sonny in the campy new musical “Xanadu,” based on the schlocky 1980 movie.
Here’s a sample:
“Joe Dziemianowicz, New York Daily News: “The hunky Cheyenne Jackson, last seen on Broadway’s ‘All Shook Up,’ pinch-hits for the injured James Carpinello as the dim-but-dreamy Sonny – and he’s excellent. Jackson’s relaxed easygoing performance nicely balances the extreme mugging by (several other actors).”
“Charles Isherwood, New York Times: “Cheyenne Jackson … plays him beautifully as a big slab of prime beefcake in tube socks and denim cutoffs. Sonny’s twinkling blue eyes have all the depth of a kiddie pool, his earnest effusions the hilarious aridity of soap-opera acting.”
“Clive Barnes, New York Post: “The performers – all having to keep their tongues in their cheeks for so long it must give them earaches – do well, particularly the ultra-charming Jackson.”
And Barnes (unlike the other two critics) didn’t even like the show. His review was headlined, “Xana-don’t.”
Jackson’s good notices all beg the question: Will he continue in the role once Carpinello (the original lead) recovers from a broken ankle?
The answer still appears to be no. Jackson will play the part into September, when Carpinello returns.
The Sweeney tag-team
Two of our local Sweeneys – Julia Sweeney of “Saturday Night Live” fame and her mother Jeri Sweeney – will be on Charles Osgood’s “CBS News Sunday Morning” on July 29.
The show is doing a series on atheism, which includes talking to Julia and Jeri about their vastly different feelings on the subject.
Julia has been performing her one-woman show “Letting Go of God” about her own loss of faith, while Jeri is a devout Roman Catholic. Part of the show deals with her mother’s reaction to Julia’s atheism.
CBS filmed an interview with them in Los Angeles. It will be part of a larger story about a recent spate of books and plays about atheism.
A movie version of “Letting Go of God” is in post-production.
‘Dinosaurs’ on PBS
If you haven’t had enough of the “Walking With Dinosaurs” event at the Spokane Arena, you can catch a televised show today that will explain the entire phenomenon.
“Walking With Dinosaurs: The Making of the Live Experience” airs at 3 p.m. on KSPS-7. It chronicles the creation of the live show.
A Civic costume sale
Now’s the time to pick up that Halloween costume. The Spokane Civic Theatre’s Costume Shop is trying to reduce volume after buying out the costume inventory of another rental shop, so they are having a one-day sale, Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Every item will be under $20. Cash is preferred.
The sale will be in the Firth J. Chew Studio Theatre at the Civic, 1020 N. Howard St., entrance off Dean Street.
Wanna be a sports-talk wingman?
KXLX-AM (700 ESPN, The Ticket) is holding auditions for anyone who has fantasized about being a sports-talk radio host.
The station is holding auditions for a “wingman” (co-host) for a new local talk show with Bud Nameck debuting this fall titled, “Bud, a Fan and The Wingman.”
To win this part-time gig, you must try out at one of the two remaining public auditions: Thursday at the Coeur d’Alene Brewing Co., 209 Lakeside Ave., Coeur d’Alene, or Aug. 2 at the Steam Plant Grill, 159 S. Lincoln St. Both run from 6 to 8 p.m. (two other auditions have already taken place).
The finalists will compete Aug. 13 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Hooters in the Spokane Valley, where the winner will be selected by a panel of judges, with audience input.
Early warning: Royal Fireworks
The annual Royal Fireworks Festival and Concert will take place next Sunday evening at Riverfront Park.
This is Spokane’s annual baroque festival and concert with fireworks, staged by Allegro Baroque and Beyond. It’s free.
New on the schedule
Here are two just-announced shows:
“George Jones: The country legend is coming to the INB Performing Arts Center on Oct. 5 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $48 and $38, through TicketsWest outlets (509-325-SEAT, 800-325-SEAT, www.ticketswest.com).
“Chelsea Handler: The comedian, seen on HBO, Comedy Central and “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” is booked into the INB Performing Arts Center for Nov. 17 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $28.75 through TicketsWest.