Spotlight: Olmsted work takes center stage

We’ll be having a veritable Olmsted-fest in Spokane in coming weeks.

The Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture will host “Olmsted Brothers: Designing Spokane Landscapes,” opening Oct. 6.

Not only that, Spokane itself will host the National Association for Olmsted Parks in a series of meetings.

The group is a coalition of design professionals, park managers, scholars, municipal officials and activists dedicated to the legacy of Frederick Law Olmsted and his firm. That firm was responsible for New York’s Central Park, the U.S. Capitol grounds and Spokane’s original park design, among many others.

The group will arrive Sept. 27 and tour Spokane’s parks the next day. They will also get a private, preview viewing of the MAC’s big new exhibit on Sept. 29.

Meanwhile, if you want to see the Olmsted vision at its finest in Spokane, check out Cannon Hill Park on the South Hill.

“Site: Unseen”

Washington State University photography professor Stephen Chalmers has curated an exhibition that opens this week at a prestigious location: the largest photography festival in China, the Pingyao International Photography Festival.

“Site: Unseen” features the work of six Northwest landscape photographers, ranging from Zach Mazur’s images of regional landmarks and roadside attractions in the Palouse, to Chalmers’ own survey of serial killers’ dumpsites.

The other artists are Jian Yang, Jonathan Long, Stephen John Ellis and Brian Goeltzenleuchter.

Be a Fox volunteer

The Fox Theater is recruiting volunteers for ticket takers, ushers, tour guides, office assistants, receptionists and similar positions.

If you’d like to play a part in one of the most significant downtown projects of the decade, here’s what to do: Download an application at www.foxtheaterspokane.com/ volunteer.aspx and return it by mail to P.O. Box 363, Spokane, WA 99210. Or call Jenifer Johnston at (509) 624-5992, ext. 16 and an application will be mailed to you.

Theatre Ballet of Spokane

Here’s what’s coming up for Theatre Ballet of Spokane’s 20th season:

“A collaboration with Allegro Baroque and Beyond on Oct. 26 at the Bing Crosby Theater, featuring baroque music and dancing in the French and Italian styles. Call Allegro at (509) 455-6865 for details.

“”Ballet and Bubbly” – The annual New Year’s Eve celebration at the Bing Crosby Theater will include new works by Charles Askegard, principal dancer with the New York City Ballet, and his sister, Theatre Ballet artistic director Dodie Askegard. Tickets will available soon through TicketsWest.

Theatre Ballet also will take part in the Fox Theater’s opening weekend Community Day on Nov. 18.

WSU theater lineup

Here’s a look at Washington State University’s fall theater lineup:

“A STAGE One production featuring four student-written and student-directed plays, Oct. 3-6, Wadleigh Theatre, Daggy Hall.

“”Titus Andronicus,” the bloody Shakespeare tragedy, Oct. 25-Nov. 3, Jones Theatre, Daggy Hall.

“ “Awakenings,” the college’s annual dance extravaganza, Nov. 30-Dec. 1, Jones Theatre.

Tickets will be available at the theater box office the week of the performances.

A children’s theater reminder

Here’s a reminder to get your season passes now to the Spokane Children’s Theatre, one of the region’s most venerable – and popular – theatrical institutions.

They’ll be leading with “Disney’s High School Musical,” Oct. 6-28, and continuing with big titles such as “The Velveteen Rabbit” and “Annie.”

Passes and individual tickets are available through TicketsWest outlets (509-325-SEAT, 800-325-SEAT, www.ticketswest.com).

Northwest Greenfest

Northwest Greenfest, promoting a community conversation on environmental issues, takes place this week.

The live events begin Wednesday at 7 p.m. with “Greenfest: Laughing Stock,” featuring nine Northwest comics at the Bing Crosby Theater.

“Greenfest: Songwriter’s Showcase,” featuring area songwriters, will take place Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Bing, followed by “Greenfest: Rock Gala,” featuring area bands, on Friday at 8 p.m.

Tickets for each of the above events are $12, in advance through TicketsWest outlets or at the door with two cans of food.

On Saturday and Sept. 23, the Northwest Green Festival will take place in Riverfront Park, featuring music, exhibits and vendors. Those events, beginning at 11 a.m., are free.

Meanwhile, “Northwest Green TV” will air every night this week beginning Monday at 6 p.m. on Comcast cable channel 12.

‘Secret Mission: Hanford’

KSPS-7 will explore one of the most fascinating stories in our region’s history: “Secret Mission: Hanford,” on Thursday at 7 p.m. and Sept. 23 at 7 p.m.

This documentary by the award-winning team of Mary DeCesare and Jim Zimmer examines the top-secret nuclear installation which sprang up in the desert near the Tri-Cities during World War II.

The producers call it the “project that changed the very course of the entire free world” – and that is no exaggeration.

Kate Moody’s piano

Pianist and composer Kate Moody will perform her original music tonight at 7 at the Unity Church of Truth, 2900 S. Bernard St.

Moody will play selections from her CDs “Grateful Heart,” “Welcome to Piania” and “Inscapes.”

Admission at the door will be $10 for adults, $7 for students and seniors, $25 for a family.