Spotlight: ‘All is Calm’ hits Bing on Dec. 24

“All is Calm” is transferring – for one night, at least – from Coeur d’Alene to Spokane.

The dramatic musical, which focuses on the Christmas Eve truce of 1914, during World War I, will play on Christmas Eve at the Bing Crosby Theater – the 100th anniversary of the real-life event.

The play, being staged now at the Modern Theater Coeur d’Alene, features Daniel Bell, Jim Swoboda, Zach Baker and Henry McNulty among the nine-man cast. It’s performed a capella, with each actor playing multiple roles of Allied and German soldiers stationed along the Western Front. The story is told through their letters, journal entries and memories, with songs throughout.

The play will begin at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 24, and doors will open at 6 p.m. Tickets will range from $15 to $25 and will be available Monday through all TicketsWest outlets, by calling (800) 325-SEAT or online at www.ticketswest.com.

“All is Calm” will end its Coeur d’Alene run on Dec. 21. For Spokane theater fans who haven’t made the trek to Coeur d’Alene to see it, the Bing show is a last best chance. We caught “All is Calm” on opening weekend, and it’s worth seeing. It’s briskly paced – run time is about an hour – and beautifully sung. The stories retold by the actors are compelling and hang together well. And the rendition of “Stille Nacht” (“Silent Night”) is gorgeous.

For more information, visit www.themoderntheater.org.

Jazz tickets now on sale

Tickets for the 2015 Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival at the University of Idaho in Moscow are now on sale.

The festival, which runs Feb. 25-28, features nine concerts – including two by returning guest Dianne Reeves (a four-time Grammy winner).

The schedule follows:

Feb. 25

8 p.m., International Ballroom - Bruce M. Pitman Center: Stefon Harris, Jeff Coffin, Grace Kelly with the All-Star Quartet featuring Josh Nelson, Graham Dechter, Katie Thiroux and Kevin Kanner and the Lionel Hampton School of Music Jazz Band 1 directed by Vern Sielert

Feb. 26

7:30 p.m., Administration Building Auditorium: Holly Hofmann’s Flutology

8 p.m., Kibbie Activity Center: Airmen of Note with special guest Stefon Harris

8:30 p.m., Vandal Ballroom - Bruce M. Pitman Center: Bria Skonberg and the All-Star Quartet

9 p.m., International Ballroom - Bruce M. Pitman Center: Meschiya Lake & the Little Bighorns

Feb. 27

8:30 p.m., Kibbie Activity Center: The Jensen Sisters

10 p.m., Kibbie Activity Center: Dianne Reeves

Feb. 28

8:30 p.m., Kibbie Activity Center: Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival Big Band with special guest Stefon Harris

10:15 p.m., Kibbie Activity Center: Special Big Band Extravaganza with special guest Dianne Reeves

Ticket prices range from $20 to $50 per night. For a breakdown of tickets and pricing options, visit www.uidaho.edu/ jazzfest/tickets.

To buy tickets, call (888) 8-UIDAHO, or download a ticket order form from the online link listed above.