‘Free’ market no longer feasible for symphony
Here’s the stark and simple explanation behind the Spokane Symphony’s disheartening announcement Thursday that it was canceling its Labor Day concert at Comstock Park.
It’s a free concert. The Spokane Symphony can no longer afford to give a free concert. Not after the last two brutal Great Recession budget years.
It wasn’t too long ago that the Spokane Symphony was in the enviable position of being in the black for seven straight budget years. That changed two years ago, when both earned revenues (ticket sales) and contributed revenues (donations and sponsorships) turned south along with the economy.
Those disappearing donations are particularly significant when it comes to the Labor Day concert, since in the past it was fully underwritten by sponsors. This year, it would have cost the symphony $36,000 of its own money to stage the concert.
And here’s the equally simple explanation behind the postponement of the Oct. 2 SuperPops concert featuring Frank Sinatra Jr.: He was the most expensive guest artist of the season.
Subscribers can exchange the tickets for any other symphony concert, including “The Nutcracker.”
Sinatra and the symphony have agreed to postpone the concert until next season, which at least is a sign that the symphony hopes it has hit the economic bottom.
The musicians have already agreed to a pay freeze and the staff has already been slashed by four positions (20 percent). More cuts might be coming.
George Winston at the Kroc
George Winston, the solo piano phenomenon, has been booked into the Salvation Army Kroc Center, 1765 W. Golf Course Road, Coeur d’Alene, for a concert on Sept. 15, 7:30 p.m.
You probably know Winston’s music, whether you realize it or not. His ringing, ethereal Christmas music is a staple of the holidays.
He rode the first wave of the New Age music trend to stardom in the 1980s, but his talents extend into jazz, R&B and stride piano. His most recent CD is titled, “Love Will Come – The Music of Vince Guaraldi, Vol. 2.”
Tickets are $25, now on sale, available at the Kroc Center or over the phone at (208) 667-1865.
Cracker at the Empyrean
Here’s another just-announced show: Cracker at the Empyrean Coffee House, 171 S. Washington, on Aug. 15, 8 p.m.
That’s the alt-rock band formed in the 1990s by Johnny Hickman and David Lowery. They’ve recently enjoyed a revival in popularity, thanks to the song, “Turn On, Tune In, Drop Out With Me.”
For ticket info, go to www.crackersoul.com.
Ringo sold out
Sorry, fellow Beatlemaniacs.
Tickets are all sold out for Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band at the Northern Quest Casino and Resort on Friday night.
This will be Ringo’s second sold-out visit to the Northern Quest. The first was two years ago.
The Avetts impress
Speaking of sold-out shows, the Avett Brothers slayed a full house at the Bing Crosby Theater on Tuesday night.
The crowd was in raucous ecstasy over the Avetts’ distinctive and brilliant brand of bluegrass/alt-country/pop.
I didn’t get much use out of my seat. Barely anybody sat down for the entire two-hour set.
CDA Summer smash
“Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella” was a big winner for the Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre.
According to executive director Laura Little, the show sold 10,000 tickets over 10 performances.
It’s hard to say if that’s a record for the CDA Summer Theatre, since numbers for older shows are hard to come by. But it’s in the same ballpark as one of the theater’s all-time smashes, “Les Miserables” in 2008.
Best of Broadway tickets
Speaking of Broadway-style shows, individual tickets for some (but not all) of the 2010-2011 Best of Broadway shows go on sale Friday at 10 a.m., through TicketsWest outlets (800-325-SEAT, www.ticketswest.com).
Those shows include: “An Evening With Liza Minnelli” on Oct. 15, The Capitol Steps on Oct. 27, “Stomp” on Nov. 5-6, “Spring Awakening” on Jan. 19 and “Cats” on April 23-24.
You’ll have to wait a little longer for tickets to “Legally Blonde” (Feb. 10-13), and “9 to 5: The Musical” (March 24-27). Those tickets go on sale Aug. 13.
Tickets to “South Pacific” (Oct. 6-9) are already on sale.
Meanwhile, let’s talk about how to get tickets for “Wicked,” the season’s big attraction.
Right now, there are only two ways to do it: Buy a season subscription or buy group tickets (10 or more). Individual tickets for “Wicked” won’t go on sale until sometime after the first of the year. The show runs May 18-29.
Season tickets can be ordered at (800) 843-4667 and group tickets at (509) 777-6253. For more info, go to www.bestofbroadway spokane.com.
Singers at Singer’s
Rick Singer is well-known for hosting various national and regional acts of the acoustic/Americana/folk genre at his studio, Rick Singer Photography, 415 ½ W. Main.
“They’re like house concerts, only with better acoustics,” said Singer.
He has two such shows this week:
• Sierra Hull and Highway 111, Thursday, 7:30 p.m. – Up-and-coming bluegrass stars, $20
• Sam Baker, Friday, 7:30 – Singer-songwriter, $15.
Seating is, naturally, limited. For tickets call Singer at (509) 838-3333.
Go ask ‘Alice’
One of the big art events of the summer is coming up this week: The opening reception of the Alice in Wonderland Invitational, Friday, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Tinman Gallery, 811 W. Garland.
More than 40 local artists will exhibit works inspired by “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” and its various sequels and spinoffs.
Artists include Harold Balazs, Mel McCuddin, Tom Quinn, Kay O’Rourke and Kathleen Cavender. A band will play and refreshments will be provided.