For some, it could be a big ‘Deal’
Have we got a “Deal” for you.
The NBC game show “Deal or No Deal” is coming to Spokane to hold an open casting call for contestants, April 1, from noon to 4 p.m., at the Northern Quest Casino.
We don’t know for certain how many people will show up, but let’s put it this way: In some cities, they have had 12,000.
Here, they’re expecting a crowd of at least 5,000. Apparently, the prospect of becoming a millionaire has mass appeal.
Nobody can predict how many people here will be picked as actual contestants, but the average per city is about four or five, said Aaron Simnowitz, a casting associate for the show. Out of 44 cities where auditions have taken place, only one has failed to produce a contestant.
Here’s all you have to do: Show up and wait in line. If you are in line by 4 p.m., you are guaranteed an audition.
Actually, the word “audition” might be slightly misleading. Everybody will get 30 seconds, with one of several casting directors, to demonstrate that you are “energetic, fun, enthusiastic and excitable,” said Simnowitz.
Mike Jackson of KHQ-6, the local NBC affiliate, said it’s a good idea to “have a game plan going in.” But don’t over-rehearse it either.
“You need to feel genuine and extemporaneous,” said Jackson.
Jackson also assured us: This is no April Fool’s trick. It really will happen.
It’s Cuba Gooding Jr.
Yes, that is Cuba GoodingJr., you’ve been seeing around town. He has a role in “Alicia’s Book,” also starring Christian Slater, which is being filmed by North by Northwest this month.
Gooding plays the role that was originally supposed to be filled by Ving Rhames. Rhames may be still be in the next movie to be filmed here this summer.
A familiar ‘Mamma Mia!’ face
When the touring production of “Mamma Mia!” shows up at the INB Performing Arts Center beginning Tuesday, Spokane theatergoers with good memories may recognize one face in this national touring cast.
That would be Kittra Wynn Coomer, the Seattle actress who played Patsy Cline in the Interplayers production of “Always” in the spring of 2003. She did an excellent job of channeling Cline in that show, although she had to leave the show a couple of weeks early because of strep throat.
In “Mamma Mia!” she plays Rosie, the fun-loving friend of Donna, the main character.
‘Menopause’ cast
While we’re on the subject of national touring casts, the cast of “Menopause, The Musical” looks pretty impressive on paper.
Two of the cast members have extensive Broadway credits. Orgena Rose was in “Ragtime” on Broadway and Christopher Callen has been in 12 Broadway shows, including “Fiddler on the Roof” and “1776.” Callen also played Dr. Gail Dexter in the TV soap “One Life to Live.”
Megan Cavanagh played Marla Hooch in the movie “A League of Their Own,” and has been in 54 other movies and TV shows.
Roberta Wall spent three years in the national tour of “Beauty and the Beast.”
In other words, this is a cast of pros.
“Menopause, The Musical” runs April 2 through 6 at the Bing Crosby Theater. Tickets are available through TicketsWest outlets (509-325-SEAT, 800-325-SEAT, www.ticketswest.com).
The Moldenhauer Lecture
The annual Hans Moldenhauer Memorial Lecture will be delivered at Whitworth University’s Music Recital Hall on April 7, 7:30 p.m., by Donivan Johnson.
Johnson’s lecture will be titled “The Tragic Art of Hugo Distler,” 20th century German composer and organist.
This annual lecture honors Hans Moldenhauer, the late music archivist and musicologist who settled in Spokane in the 1940s.
The first CompFest
Whitworth University will also host the first CompFest 2008, a two-day music composition festival focusing on film scoring, April 4 and 5, at Whitworth campus.
Guest artist Bruce Frazier, an Emmy-nominated composer and conductor, will deliver a series of lectures, recitals and classes. Admission to all events is free. For more information, call (509) 777-3280.
A plethora of music festival events
The Eastern Washington Music Educators Association has a full schedule of student music festivals lined up this week, all of which are free and open to the public.
Here’s the list:
•The EWMEA Choral Large Group Festival, Monday through Thursday, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the Spokane Falls Community College Recital Hall.
•The EWMEA Large Group Band Festival, Tuesday and Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Ferris High School.
•The EWMEA Invitational Wind Ensemble Festival, Tuesday, 7 to 9 p.m., Ferris High School.
•The EWMEA Large Group Orchestra Festival, Wednesday and Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Eastern Washington University Music Hall.
An Alvin Ailey connection
Spokane dancer Ingelise Kozora, a student at Lewis and Clark High School, will perform with the world-renowned Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle next Sunday, 2 p.m.
This legendary dance troupe is celebrating its 50th anniversary on this tour. The troupe will perform “Memoria” along with 23 dancers from the region – one of whom will be Kozora.
Kozora has been with the Theatre Ballet of Spokane and the Ballet Arts Academy for many years and has attended the Pacific Northwest Ballet’s summer program.
For tickets, call Ticketmaster at (866) 448-7849, (509) 735-0500 or go to www.ticketmaster.com.