With Symphony on board, Fox looks to fill other dates
The Fox Theater is the Spokane Symphony’s home, yet it will be more, much more – as long as everything goes according to plan.
The Fox’s goal is 100 events for 2008; 135 events for 2009; and 185 for 2010 and beyond, according to general manager Patricia Iron.
Since the symphony will fill only about 36 dates a year, the Fox will be working hard to book dozens of other concerts, plays and events.
A few of those events have already been nailed down, including:
“ The entire season of the Spokane Youth Symphony.
“ Two concerts of the Spokane Chamber Orchestra.
“ The Spokane Opera’s spring performance.
“ University High School’s prom.
“ A First Night event on New Year’s Eve, featuring the Spokane Symphony.
“ Two shows by the Dance Center of Spokane.
“ The closing event of the 2008 Northwest Bach Festival on Feb. 24.
Yet clearly, the Fox still has a long way to go to get to that 100-event goal in its first year. So Iron has a few other irons, pardon the expression, in the fire.
“We will launch a Fox Presents program next year, where the Fox brings in its own talent,” said Iron. “We expect to do five of those the first year and ramp up to 12 a year after several years.”
Iron said that no artists have been nailed down yet – the Fox management is still analyzing its potential audience and crunching the demographics. Yet she said that the series will not be classical, or at least not predominantly classical.
“We’ll be seeking a diverse offering,” she said.
Only one kind of show will be off limits – what she called “hard shows,” as in hard rock.
“We promised our generous donor (Myrtle Woldson) that we will not bring in ‘hard shows,’ ” said Iron.
That definition is fuzzy, yet it will certainly not rule out rock acts entirely. Expect to see plenty of rock and pop in the mix. Too Slim and the Taildraggers have already been booked for the gala opening week (see related story).
In fact, the Fox will also book touring acts. Iron said she has several “tentative holds” but can’t disclose the acts because contracts have not been signed. She said she expects the Fox to be in demand for such concerts because of its size: 1,636 seats (or 1,727, depending on stage configuration). It fills a niche between the INB Performing Arts Center at about 2,500 seats and the Bing Crosby Theater at about 760 seats.
Iron said the Fox will also book touring stage plays and small musicals. The Fox’s stage and wings are not big enough to handle most of the big Broadway extravaganzas, which will remain at the INB Performing Arts Center.
By the way, the Fox is also available for many other events that don’t fit into the “concert” or “play” categories: Weddings, receptions, conferences, fashion shows, private parties, bar mitzvahs and memorial services.
That’s right: You can even book your own goodbye at the Fox.