Playwright Rita Nachtmann. Photo by Dan Pelle/The Spokesman-Review

Sherman Alexie

The Lafayette String Quartet Time and location: Sunday, 3 p.m., The Met Tickets: $15 ($10 for students/seniors) at Hoffman Music and G&B; String players long to play "the perfect instrument." All too often, that instrument is a 17th- or 18thcentury Italian instrument commanding a price in the millions of dollars. Members of the Lafayette Quartet hit it lucky. In 1992, after playing together for eight years, the members of the group - violinists Ann ElliottGoldschmidt and Sharon Stanis, violist Joanna Hood and cellist Pamela Highbaugh-Aloni - were offered the opportunity to play four instruments made between 1606 and 1690 by members of the famous Amati family.

"Steel Magnolias" Time and location: Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., Feb. 9-25, Sixth Street Melodrama, Wallace Tickets: $9, $7 for seniors/students, call 752-3081 for reservations. Rehearsals are about the same as therapy sessions for the six women in the Sixth Street Melodrama's production of "Steel Magnolias."

The Spokane Symphony Orchestra Guests: conductor Kazuyoshi Akiyama and flute soloist Marina Piccinini Time and location: tonight, 8, Opera House Tickets: $11-$25, available at the symphony ticket office, 624-1200, and G&B; Kazuyoshi Akiyama is a conductor twice over. On stage, he ranks as one of the world's outstanding symphonic conductors. At home, he serves as conductor of a large and elaborate model railroad system with some 300 cars. "I collect them wherever I go to conduct," Akiyama says.

1. Norman hugs Ethel in a poignant scene. 2. Ethel and the mailman (Maryanne Revels and Doug Wolf) listen to Norman (Darrel Louks) grouse about old age. Photo by Jesse Tinsley/The Spokesman-Review

James Warwick plays King Arthur in "Camelot."

Season preview Ready or not, the athletes of the National Hockey League will buckle their chin straps and lace on their skates Friday night to finally begin the long-awaited season. With only a 48-game scramble for playoff positions, all games will be held within either the Eastern or Western Conferences. The daily divisional standings will be virtually meaningless.

OREGON AT WASHINGTON STATE Following a lost weekend in Los Angeles, the Cougars (2-2 in the Pacific-10 Conference and 6-5 overall) return to Friel Court to take on the surprising Ducks (3-0 and 11-1). Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. At a glance Oregon brings a decided experience edge to the table. The 17th-ranked Ducks, who lead the Pac-10, start four seniors - including guard Orlando Williams, a longrange bomber, who ranks 5th in the league in scoring with an average of 18.3 points per game. "Oregon is a very difficult team to play," WSU coach Kevin Eastman said. "They're experienced, they shoot the ball well, they shoot a lot of threes and they make a lot of threes." In addition, the Ducks go nine deep. Eastman hopes to counter with quickness on the perimeter. Sophomore point guard Donminic Ellison and backup forward Tavares Mack are back after serving a one-game suspension for breaking curfew. That should help Eastman keep his players more rested than they were in last Saturday's 91-78 loss at UCLA. Mark Hendrickson, who leads the Pac-10 in field-goal percentage (64.2) and ranks second in rebounding (10.1), is playing the best basketball of his career and will need another big showing on the front line against an Oregon team that ranks No. 2 in the league in rebounding. School is back in session at WSU, which should help pump up attendance figures and the crowd noise. The Cougars have won eight straight at home, including five this season.

An a cappella group, the Bobs formed in Berkley, Calif., 13 years ago and have six albums.

From left, Gretchen Oyster, Sara Edlin-Marlowe, Scott Dunckley and Brian Kitt in Civic Theater's "The Foreigner."

One of the best-known modern dance companies in America - the Alvin Ailey Repertory Ensemble - will perform tonight at North Idaho College's Boswell Auditorium in Coeur d'Alene. Choreographer Alvin Ailey created the performance company in 1974 to provide an opportunity for the most talented students at his American Dance Center in New York to perform.

1. Harpsocordist Ilton Wjuniski 2. Tindemans

The Sasquatch (1-0 Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges, 4-9 overall) entertain the Indians (0-1, 2-11) at 8 tonight at Spokane Community College in the nightcap of a doubleheader with the women. The CCS women (1-0, 9-4) and Yakima (1-1, 10-5), who meet at 6, are ranked fourth and sixth, respectively, in the NWAACC/Horizon Air Top 8 coaches poll. At a glance

Time: Tonight at 7 in the Coliseum. Records: Spokane (12-28-1), Portland (12-25-5). Radio:KGA-AM (1510), 6:50 p.m. pregame, 6:20 Mike Babcock show, 6 Chiefs Talk with Craig West.

The Spokane Symphony will observe two anniversaries with its performance at The Met Sunday: the 25th season of its concertmaster (a year late) and the tercentenary of the death of the English composer Henry Purcell. The concert, "A Midwinter Night's Dream," is a tribute to British music, with selections from "The Fairy Queen" by Purcell along with Gustav Holst's "St. Paul" Suite, William Walton's "Facade" Suite and Benjamin Britten's "Simple Symphony."

After the busiest concert year in rock 'n' roll history - during which a record for gate receipts was set by Pink Floyd and then broken by the Rolling Stones - it's hard to imagine what 1995 can offer for an encore. "We had everybody in 1994," says Cellar Door Productions' Rick Franks. "I hope my colleagues do income averaging, 'cause I don't know who's left." But Franks and other promoters will tell you that there will be plenty of live rock 'n' roll during 1995 as well. And if the new year isn't quite as jam-packed - probably a good thing for all concerned - it will be marked by a steady stream of major names that will keep concert sites filled throughout the year.

Samuel Toffler plays Jonathan, Mary Ann Seibert protrays Patricia, and Cheyenne Wilbur is Nick in "Sight Unseen." Photo by Colin Mulvany/The Spokesman-Review

Last year, the Spokane Jazz Society hit on a great way to start the New Year and hold a membership drive - all in one package. It worked so well, they're doing it again Sunday. First Jazz is a five-hour jazz bash held in the ballroom at Cavanaugh's Inn at the Park. It's a quality affair, with hot and cold buffets, a no-host bar and lots of elegant dancing and first-rate jazz.