Spotlight: Minnelli film could be made in Spokane
A gay-themed feature film?
Starring Lainie Kazan, Jason Alexander, Liza Minnelli and Paul Sorvino?
Filmed in Spokane?
It just might happen. Producer-director Evgeny Afineevsky said Thursday that he is bringing his feature film project – tentatively titled “Oy Vey, My Son is Gay” – to shoot in Spokane in mid-July.
It’s a family comedy about an upper-middle-class Jewish family on Long Island whose son has a long-term gay relationship with the son of a working-class Italian family. Afineevsky compared it to “The Birdcage.”
This project is not yet a certainty. Afineevsky said he chose Spokane because of North By Northwest, the local production company which has made several movies with his co-producers. A North By Northwest representative said they have not yet signed a contract, but the movie is a “possibility” this summer.
Meanwhile, Afineevsky plans to meet with Spokane’s gay community this week to talk about the project.
Afineevsky’s most recent films were “The Return From India” and a 2002 version of “Crime and Punishment” starring Crispin Glover, Vanessa Redgrave and John Hurt.
Country comeback
Country music made a comeback in Arbitron’s recently released winter radio ratings.
KIXZ-FM (96.1), better known as “Better Country,” landed in first place in the rankings, up from sixth place the previous quarter.
Here’s the Top 10, copyright Arbitron Inc., based on quarter-hour share:
1. KIXZ-FM (96.1, country), 6.8
2. (tie) KHTQ-FM (94.5, rock), 5.8
2. KISC-FM (98.1. adult contemporary), 5.8
4. KKZX-FM (98.9, classic rock), 5.1
5. (tie) KDRK-FM (93.7, country), 4.1
5. (tie) KXLY-AM (920, news-talk), 4.1
5. (tie) KZZU-FM (92.9, hot adult contemporary), 4.1
8. KEYF-FM (101.1, oldies), 4.0
9. KQNT-AM (590, news-talk), 3.8
10. KEZE-FM (96.9, rhythmic), 3.5
Farther down the list, KXLY-FM (99.9, The River), finished in 12th place with its relatively new Triple-A format (adult album alternative).
Showing healthy increases were KTSL-FM (Spirit 101.9, Christian) and KQQB-FM (104.5, Top 40).
Django time
Pearl Django, a Seattle-based jazz group inspired by the Hot Club jazz of the late, great Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli, will play two concerts in Spokane and Sandpoint this week.
Both events are thank-you concerts for Spokane Public Radio volunteers, yet the public is invited as well.
The Spokane show is Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. at the Bing Crosby Theater, 901 W. Sprague.
The Sandpoint show is Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. at the Panida Theater.
Tickets for either show are $12, through TicketsWest outlets (509-325-SEAT, 800-325-SEAT, www.ticketswest.com). All proceeds benefit Spokane Public Radio.
Abbey’s cabaret
Don’t forget Abbey Crawford’s cabaret show, “Food Glorious Food,” tonight at 7 and 9 at the Spokane Civic Theatre’s Firth Chew Studio Theatre, 1020 N. Howard St.
This is a fundraiser to help send the Civic’s production of “Assassins” to the national competition in Charlotte, N.C.
Tickets are $20 at the door. Dessert is included.
Early warning
Here’s a great concert for celebrating the Fourth.
Marcia Ball and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band have been booked to perform outdoors at Liberty Lake’s Pavillion Park on the evening of July 4, in advance of the big fireworks display.
Both Ball and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band are well-known New Orleans-style acts. The concert is free.