Spotlight : ‘High School Musical’ lands at INB
Attention, all ‘tweens: The touring version of Disney’s “High School Musical” has been booked in to the INB Performing Arts Center, April 29 through May 4.
If you don’t know what “High School Musical” is, chances are you don’t have young teens or pre-teens in your house.
“High School Musical” began in 2006 as a wildly popular movie on the Disney Channel about the kids at a high school kids putting on a musical. Now, Disney’s theater wing has turned it into a live, touring stage show.
Interested?
There’s a catch when it comes to tickets. Only those who already subscribe to WestCoast Entertainment’s Best of Broadway series can purchase tickets now. This show is considered an add-on show to the Best of Broadway series.
Also, you can now buy group tickets for 20 or more, by calling (509) 777-6253. Or, if you want to book a hotel-and-show package, you can do so now by calling (509) 325-4000.
Otherwise, tickets will go on sale to the public in early December, but the exact date has not been announced. Keep an eye out for details.
Singer exhibit snapped up
Rick Singer’s photo exhibit at the Chase Gallery, consisting of 159 photos of area artists and art benefactors, has been purchased en masse and donated to the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture.
Karen Mobley, Spokane city arts director, said that local gallery owner Lorinda Knight and Harry Silverstein purchased all 159 photos for an undisclosed sum in the five figures and donated them all to the MAC on Thursday, the same day the exhibit came down at the Chase Gallery,
“It’s really exciting,” said Mobley. “It’s the most complete body of portraits of artists and the arts community in Eastern Washington. It’s a wonderful resource for the community.”
On stage at the Bing
Speaking of stage shows, two intriguing ones have been booked into the Bing Crosby Theater. They are:
“ “The Great American Trailer Park Musical,” a musical comedy about life in Florida’s Armadillo Acres, Jan. 9-13.
“ “Defending the Caveman,” the one-man show written by Rob Becker about the ways men and women relate to one another. March 2008, exact dates still up in the air.
Watch for ticket announcements soon.
Blue Man Group
Meanwhile, the traveling show, “Blue Man Group Megastar 2.1,” has been booked into the Spokane Arena on Jan. 27. Look for an on-sale date soon.
Richard Brown resigns
One of Spokane’s best-known TV journalists is off the air.
Richard Brown, KXLY-4 anchor, resigned on Oct. 26 for personal reasons.
Contacted on Friday, Brown said he just “decided it was time to part ways” with KXLY. His contract did not expire until June. His last day on the air was Oct. 24.
“One of the difficult things about this is you don’t get to say goodbye to the people who have watched over the years,” said Brown.
“I’d like to say to those people, thank you. It’s been an honor.”
Brown arrived at KXLY in 1998 and has been one of the station’s main anchors ever since.
Prior to arriving in Spokane he was an anchor for seven years at KGO in San Francisco. He has also worked at CNN in Atlanta and WCBS in New York. He has won a passel of news awards.
In a posting on the KXLY Web site, news executive producer Melissa Luck said Brown “has the rare gift of presenting both gravitas and humor” and that he will be missed.
What’s in store for Brown? He’s not certain.
“Right now, I’m going out in the yard and finish picking up leaves,” he said.
“I’d love to stay in Spokane. This is home for us now.”
A new Thum’ spot
The Gallery of Thum’, an art gallery formerly in the Otis Hotel building, has opened in a new location: The Steam Plant Building, 159 S. Lincoln, Suite 151.
The gallery has a new show this month showcasing the works of Molly Sims, Dee Gumenberg and Nienke Crick.
‘Infrared’ images and lecture
Artist Scott Bailey, who produces intriguing works of art based on aerial surveillance images, will present a free lecture on Thursday, noon, in the Eastern Washington University Art Auditorium in Cheney.
Bailey’s paintings turn “detached, high-tech surveillance images into a series of visceral, formally elegant objects of art.” His exhibit, titled “Scott Bailey: Infrared,” will run Thursday through Dec. 7 in the EWU Gallery of Art, in the Art Building on the Cheney campus. It’s open Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and admission is free.
Early Bach warning
The Northwest Bach Festival will return for its 30th year, Feb. 16-24 at various venues throughout the area.
Once again, the artistic director will be Pulitzer-winner Gunther Schuller. One of the big events of the festival will be a concert at the newly renovated Fox Theater on Feb. 24, featuring Schuller conducting Bach’s “St. Matthew’s Passion.”
Other events include “Bach With a Twist,” which will combine Bach with jazz, Feb. 16 at 4 and 7 p.m. at the Spokane Athletic Club. It will feature Richard Todd and the Brent Edstrom Trio.
For details, go to www.nwbachfest.com.