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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Peak-turned-Buzzard- turned-Peak goes pop

Catch “An Intimate Conversation” with Patty Duke starting Thursday.  Courtesy of Patty Duke (Courtesy of Patty Duke)

The Peak has bitten the dust for the second time in seven years.

This week, KZBD-FM (105.7) switched to a pop hits format called Now 105.7 FM. Think Ludacris, Kelly Clarkson, Miley Cyrus, Lady Gaga and Usher.

This spells the end – again – for the alternative rock format called The Peak.

Its debuted in 1995 as Spokane’s first adult-alternative rock station. That lasted until 2003, when the station switched to a classic rock format called The Buzzard.

Then Mapleton Communication’s Radio Spokane group brought The Peak back in 2008, with some fanfare, saying its return was “long overdue.”

The Peak had a devoted following, but apparently not a large enough one. It was languishing in 14th place in the latest Arbitron rankings.

The Now 105.7 lineup features the syndicated Elvis Duran show in the morning and “On Air with Ryan Seacrest” from 2 to 6 p.m.

The syndicated Bob & Tom Show, by the way, has switched to a Mapleton sister station, KJRB-AM (790), from 7 to 11 a.m.

Symphony Best Fest

The details have been finalized for the Spokane Symphony’s Best Fest, a series of three summer concerts at the Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox, all featuring outdoors pre- and post-concert events:

The Best of the Classics, June 18, 7 p.m. – The public has voted for its favorites: Beethoven’s Fifth, Tchaikovsky’s Fourth, Dvorak’s New World Symphony, Mozart’s Eine Kleine Nachtmusik and Prokofiev’s First.

The orchestra, under the baton of music director Eckart Preu, will play those works (or at least excerpts). The wineries at the outdoor wine tasting will include Arbor Crest, Caterina, Latah Creek, Nodland, Robert Karl, Townshend and Whitestone.

The Best of Music from Stage and Screen, June 19, 7 p.m. – The music, conducted by Morihiko Nakahara, will include excerpts from “West Side Story,” “Superman,” “The Wizard of Oz,” “The Sound of Music,” “Titanic” and “Pirates of the Caribbean.”

The beer tasting will feature five selections from the Coeur d’Alene Brewing Co., including Maestro Brew and Papa’s Pale Ale.

A Patriotic Salute to the 100th Anniversary of Father’s Day, June 20, 4 p.m. – The music will include familiar marches like the “Colonel Bogey March” and plenty of stirring salutes to America.

The selections at the ice cream tasting will come from Brain Freeze Ice Cream, including a special flavor called Symphony Rush, with chocolate pieces in the shape of musical notes.

Want tickets? They range from $22 to $35 and are available by calling (509) 624-1200 or TicketsWest outlets (800-325-SEAT).

You can also order tickets to the various tastings, for an extra $15 (wine and beer) or $10 and $5 (ice cream).

The Patty Duke story

We asked Oscar and Emmy winner Patty Duke whether she was intimidated by the idea of filling up three entire shows with nothing but conversation in “An Intimate Conversation: Patty Duke” at Interplayers later this week.

“No!” she said, laughing. “You put three people in front of me and I don’t shut up.”

Few actresses have as much experience to draw upon. Duke has been a star since she was 12.

Interplayers artistic director Reed McColm will preside over an “Inside the Actor’s Studio”-style conversation with Duke about her career, her art and her life.

The event runs Thursday and Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m. The Thursday show includes a reception with a hummus bar from Victor’s Hummus.

Tickets are $20 in advance, by calling (509) 455-PLAY, or $30 at the door.

Movable ‘Spelling Bee’

The two major North Idaho summer theater institutions have come up with an innovative collaboration.

The Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre will do its usual nine performances of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” in Coeur d’Alene from June 12 to 26. Then the cast and crew will pack their bags and perform the same show at the Idaho Repertory Theatre in Moscow from June 28 to July 2.

It’s an elegant way to extend the reach of this show. Audiences in the Palouse won’t have to travel as far to see it, and both theaters share the production costs.

The Idaho Repertory Theater is the longtime professional summer repertory company at the University of Idaho. The Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre is one of the Northwest’s premier professional summer stock companies, operating from Schuler Auditorium at North Idaho College.

Tickets for the show in Coeur d’Alene are available by calling (208) 769-7780. Tickets for the Moscow run can be ordered at (208) 885-7212.

By the way, the rest of the Idaho Rep’s season includes “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” “The Dining Room” and Shakespeare’s “As You Like It.”

Clean comedy

A new all-local, all-clean comedy series launches next weekend: Squeaky’s Comedy at the Red Lion Barbecue, 126 N. Division St.

The first show is on Saturday at 9 p.m., featuring local comedians including Mark Easton, Darryl Burns, Lance Paullin, Kyle Wilson and Tom Meisfjord.

The series continues on June 12 at 9 p.m. with another slate of five local comics.

Cover charge is $5; drink and dinner specials will be available.

Hanneke Cassel Trio

The Celtic music group the Hanneke Cassel Trio will play the Rockin’ B Ranch, just off I-90’s exit 299 (Stateline), on Friday at 7:30 p.m.

The group consists of Cassel on fiddle, Natalie Haas on cello and Yann Falquet on guitar. The Boston Globe called Cassel a “rising star in the Celtic skies.”

Tickets are $17 for adults or $10 for kids 10 and younger. Call (509) 891-9016.