Spotlight : ‘Culdesac’ waits for midseason

The Luke Barats-Joe Bereta pilot, “This is Culdesac,” was not on the list of NBC’s new shows for the fall season, announced on Monday.

The Spokane duo, in a posting on their Web site, said it “wasn’t a huge surprise,” but being on the list would have been “amazingly awesome.”

Barats and Bereta, who gained fame with their YouTube videos, are still waiting to see if their comedy sketch show might be chosen on NBC’s list of possible midseason replacements.

They said on their Web site, www.baratsandbereta.com, that “we still haven’t been told ‘no’ like some pilots have been told.” They may not find out for certain for another month.

Barats and Bereta signed a one-year contract with NBC last fall, with an option for a second year.

‘Brave’ not boffo at box office

“Home of the Brave,” the Spokane-filmed Iraq war movie, is sticking around for a second week in Spokane, which is excellent news for the many local actors and extras who are in the film.

The news is not-so-excellent about the movie’s national box office performance. The movie finished in 60th place last weekend, with a gross of only $25,261. It was only in 44 theaters, but it’s per-screen average was also low, at $574. It has been cut back to only 23 theaters this week.

At least this means it should come out on DVD sooner rather than later.

Summer Theatre return

The Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre’s first show of the season is right around the corner and it will feature the return of an all-time CDA Summer Theatre favorite.

Bobbi Kotula will play the role of Mrs. Meers in the season’s first show, “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” opening June 9.

Kotula starred at the CDA Summer Theatre from 1994-1999, playing the title roles in “Hello Dolly!” “The Unsinkable Molly Brown” and “Peter Pan.” She has been living and performing in Seattle since then.

Also arriving for “Thoroughly Modern Millie” is the singularly named N’Kenge, playing the role of Muzzy Van Hossmere. She’s not known to CDA Summer Theatre audiences, but she’s well-known around the larger theater and opera worlds. She was recently nominated for a Helen Hayes Award for her performance in “3 Mo’ Divas” at Arena Stage in Washington, D.C., and she recently debuted on the West End in London.

The CDA Summer Theatre holds auditions in New York and Seattle (as well as locally), drawing talent from all around the country. It’s the region’s major summer-stock theater company.

The rest of the summer lineup includes “The Full Monty,” “Putting it Together” and “Kiss Me Kate.”

Call (800) 4-CDA-TIX or (208) 769-7856 for season tickets.

The Ignite! season

Ignite! Community Theatre, which operates out of Riverwalk, 1003 E. Trent (just off Hamilton) has announced its third season.

Here’s the lineup:

“ “The Streets of New York,” by Barry Grael, July.

“ “Steel Magnolias,” by Robert Harling, September.

“ “The Dining Room,” by A.R. Gurney, December.

“ “Murder Once Removed,” by Irving Gaynor Neiman, February.

“ “The Imaginary Invalid,” by Moliere, April.

For season ticket information, call Rebecca Cook at (509) 993-6540 or go to www.ignitetheatre.org.

Civic update

Here are a few Spokane Civic Theatre notes:

“ The building has finally installed proper air-conditioning after functioning for decades with what executive artistic director Yvonne A.K. Johnson called a “swamp-cooler.”

This should solve the over-heating problems which have plagued both the summer shows and the summer theater camps. A May 30 performance of “The Sound of Music,” will be a benefit to help pay for the cost of the air conditioner. Call the box office at (509) 325-2507.

“ The Civic has raised about half the cost of sending “Assassins” to the national competition. A benefit cabaret show featuring Abbey Crawford titled “Food, Glorious Food!” is scheduled for two performances, June 3, 7 p.m. and 9 p.m., at the Firth Chew Studio Theatre. Call (509) 325-2507 for tickets and details. Crawford, besides being a nationally recognized cabaret artist, is also in the cast of “Assassins.”

“ The Box-n-Hat players, the Civic’s youth performance group, will stage their senior showcase May 20 at 7 p.m. on the Civic’s Main Stage, 1020 N. Howard. No tickets are required, but donations are encouraged.

Youth symphony finale

The various groups of the Spokane Youth Symphony play two concerts at the Masonic Center’s Commandery Room, 1108 W. Riverside, today and Monday.

Today’s concert, at 4 p.m., will include musicians in the Spokane Youth Orchestra performing several chamber pieces and a violin concerto.

Monday’s performance, at 7:30 p.m., will feature the Spokane Youth Orchestra in its annual spring concert.

Admission is $5 at the door, $10 for families, children 12 and under free.

Circle Moon Theater

Early warning for Broadway fans up north:

Northwoods Performing Arts, based in Newport, has scheduled “Tonight We Sing (The Giants of Broadway)” on June 8, 9, 12, 15, 16, 19, 22 and 23 at the Circle Moon Theater, on Highway 211 off of Highway 2.

For dinner theater tickets, call (208) 437-0179.

ArtFest volunteers

Want to be a volunteer at the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture’s ArtFest Celebration, June 1-3?

Call David Brum at (509) 363-5324. More volunteers are needed.