Announcing the cast of ROMEO & JULIET. Thank you to all who auditioned! Verona’s Montague and Capulet families have been feuding for ages and whenever they meet, violence breaks out. But when Romeo glimpses Juliet across a crowded dance floor, something different happens. Can star-crossed love survive in a world of rivalry and rage? With
If you’re lucky, co-workers can turn into true friends. These are the people you work alongside day in and day out, celebrating the highs and commiserating over the lows that life throws your way. These are the people you collaborate with, take lunch breaks with and complain about seemingly endless meetings with. Sometimes, it feels
Dancers can, of course, dance without choreography, allowing the music or their own intuition to guide their moves. And choreographers can, of course, choreograph without a group of dancers, planning elaborate routines in their heads. But the real magic of dance happens when both sides come together, as dancers expertly execute the complex choreography presented
Announcing the cast of THE WOLVES. Thank you to all who auditioned! In this contemporary slice-of-life play, The Wolves, a girls’ indoor soccer team, practice drills as they prepare for a succession of games. As they warm up and talk about life, the girls navigate the politics of their personal lives as well as the
Announcing the cast of LEND ME A SOPRANO. Thank you to all who auditioned!It’s 1934, and the clever and combustible Lucille Wiley, Manager of the Cleveland Grand Opera Company, is ready to welcome world-class soprano Elena Firenzi for her one-night-only starring role in Carmen. Alas, Elena arrives late, her impassioned husband Pasquale has a fit
LISTEN TO THE RADIO INTERVIEW HERE Co-Directors Jonah Taylor and Jake Schaefer join Henry McNulty to discuss Spokane Civic Theatre's production of A Christmas Carol, opening November 29, 2024. "In Charles Dickens’ beloved classic, three spirits show Scrooge happy memories from his past, difficult realities from the present and a grim future, should he continue
Just like seeing “A Christmas Carol” is a holiday tradition for many, producing the Charles Dickens novella in some form has become a holiday tradition for Spokane Civic Theatre. A look at the theater’s online archive reveals 15 productions of “A Christmas Carol,” be it the stage play, musical, radio play or spins on the
This weekend, as in many years past, A Christmas Carol opens on the main stage of the Spokane Civic Theatre. This production makes use of the popular adaptation by Barbara Field, which has been the theater's preferred version of Charles Dickens' classic holiday tale for more than 40 years. "Civic has done all the musical
Spokane Civic Theatre has recently been nominated for the 2024 BroadwayWorld Seattle Awards with 4 of their productions; She Loves Me, The Comedy of Errors, CATS, and Heathers: The Musical. Voting ends December 31st, 2024. Vote here! She Loves Me nominations include: Best Scenic Design Of A Play Or Musical, and Favorite Local Theatre. Performed December
Announcing the cast of SWEAT. Thank you to all who auditioned!Filled with warm humor and tremendous heart, SWEAT tells the story of a group of friends who have spent their lives sharing drinks, secrets, and laughs while working together on the factory floor. But when layoffs and picket lines begin to chip away at their
Announcing the cast of EVERY CHRISTMAS STORY EVER TOLD (AND THEN SOME!). Thank you to all who auditioned! When three actors decide to perform every Christmas story ever told, Christmas traditions from around the world, seasonal icons from ancient times to contemporary pop-culture, and every carol ever sung come together to create this madcap romp
Arthur Miller’s adaptation of Henrik Ibsen’s “An Enemy of the People” is a dramatic historical play following one man, Dr. Thomas Stockmann, and his transformation from a beloved figure of his community to a so-called enemy as he attempts to expose the poison within the town springs’ water supply. The Spokane Civic Theatre’s production opened
Announcing the cast of A CHRISTMAS CAROL. Thank you to all who auditioned!A miserly and miserable man, Ebenezer Scrooge greets each Christmas with “Bah! Humbug!” until he is visited one Christmas Eve by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present and Christmas Future. In Charles Dickens’ beloved classic, the three spirits show Scrooge happy memories
It only takes one voice to spark a change, but being the one to speak out can be daunting when facing a system built to protect itself, not the people it serves. In “An Enemy of the People,” that one voice belongs to Dr. Thomas Stockmann. Stockmann (Thor Edgell), the medical officer of a new
For a musical full of frothy numbers about New England steamed clams, the springtime mating habits of livestock and humans alike, and the comic perils of falling for a man who persistently reeks of herring, “Carousel” also doesn’t shy away from some serious darkness. Written in the first part of the 20th century by iconic
It’s not uncommon for directors to have multiple experiences working with a particular show. Jean Hardie, who is directing “Carousel,” the musical, opening Spokane Civic Theatre’s 77th season, for example, choreographed the show when it was produced at Civic 40 years ago. Before that, she choreographed a production while working in Montana. During that production,
When the creative duo of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II had to follow the immense success of their first musical collaboration, Oklahoma!, they went with the obvious choice: a turn-of-the-century Hungarian play about an inarticulate, impetuous carnival barker who mistreats his girlfriend, commits suicide during a botched robbery and later makes a posthumous attempt at redemption
Announcing the cast of AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE. Thank you to all who auditioned!When Dr. Stockmann discovers that the water in the small Norwegian town in which he is the resident physician has been contaminated, he does what any responsible citizen would do: reports it to the authorities. But Stockmann’s good deed has the
Announcing the cast of CAROUSEL, Civic’s 77th season-opening production. Thank you to all who auditioned!In May 1873, a bustling carnival enlivens a small fishing village on the rocky New England coastline. Charming but troubled Billy Bigelow and Julie Jordan, a quiet girl who works in the mill, fall in love, marry and have a stormy
Eleven performers ages 12-19 are bringing a classic tale about childhood wonder to life at the Spokane Civic Theatre. “The Little Prince” follows the strange Little Prince telling the stories of his travels across planets to a crash-landed Aviator in the Sahara Desert. The show, adapted from the novel by Antoine de Saint-Exupery, explores themes
It’s not often that Spokane Civic Theatre has to list resources such as Child Protective Services, the National Domestic Violence Hotline and the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Hotline on its website, but it’s also not often that the theater produces a show like “Heathers.” Co-directors Heather McHenry-Kroetch and Troy Nickerson understand any hesitation people might
Introducing Season 77 production teams: MAIN STAGE CAROUSEL Last produced by Civic 40 years ago September 13 - October 13, 2024 Music by Richard Rodgers Book and Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II Based on the play “Liliom” by Ferenc Molnar as adapted by Benjamin F. Glazer Directed by Jean Hardie | Musical Staging by Kathie
Congratulations to the cast of XANADU JR. Thank you to all who auditioned! Xanadu JR. is inspired by the Tony Award-nominated Broadway musical and the Universal Pictures’ cult classic movie that starred Olivia Newton-John and Gene Kelly. Xanadu JR. is a moving, electrifying tale of endless fun that will keep audiences in stitches while the
Congratulations to the cast of THE LITTLE PRINCE. Thank you to all who auditioned! When a plane crashes in the Sahara Desert, the Aviator encounters a Little Prince from another planet who shares incredible tales of intergalactic travels. As the stories of the Rose, the Fox and the Snake unfold, the characters reveal invaluable insights
Nicole Ostlie as Sillabub in the Civic's production of Cats. Cats was an unlikely theatrical phenomenon. The musical's primary source material is Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, a collection of quirky children's poems by T.S. Eliot, the same literary figure who gave us ominous and melancholic works like The Waste Land and The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock. It indulges
When I spoke with director Jake Schaefer to preview Spokane Civic Theatre’s production of “Cats,” he said the musical is “a gigantic production.” Having never seen “Cats” before, I only had general information about the show, yet I still understood what he was talking about. The show features a large ensemble cast, most of whom
Congratulations to the cast of HEATHERS THE MUSICAL. Thank you to all who auditioned!This dark-comedy rock musical, based on the 1988 cult-classic movie, follows high school senior Veronica’s struggle to survive while navigating teenage life with the beautiful but cruel Heathers. Veronica Sawyer: Josian Brett Jason "J.D." Dean: Jameson Elton Heather Chandler: Karlin Marie Kahler Heather McNamara:
A group of cats, called the Jellicles, must come together to make the “Jellicle choice,” which involves deciding which of them will rise to the “Heaviside Layer” and be born anew. Huh? But thanks to music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, which was based on a book of poetry by T.S. Eliot called “Old Possum’s
Congratulations to the company of this year's Bryan Harnetiaux Playwrights' Forum Festival. Thank you to all who auditioned! Spokane Civic Theatre is proud to present its celebrated Playwrights’ Forum Festival, which, since 1983, has showcased new one-acts by playwrights from across the region. The festival is performed in two separate sets on alternating days.
While the seasons can be fairly inconsistent in the Inland Northwest, spring can usually be determined by the release of Spokane Civic Theatre's showings for the year. This year, the weather even played along. Civic's schedule for the 2024-25 — the nonprofit community theater's 77th season — came out last week and it's filled with
Main Stage Music by Richard Rodgers Book and Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II Based on the Play Liliom by Ferenc Molnar as adapted by Benjamin F. Glazer September 13 – October 13, 2024 In a Maine coastal village toward the end of the 19th century, a swaggering, carefree carnival barker, Billy Bigelow, captivates and marries
The art of making art Is putting it together, Bit by bit Beat by beat, Part by part -Stephen Sondheim For Spokane Civic Theatre’s this-weekend-only musical revue, Executive Director Jake Schaefer borrowed a phrase from Stephen Sondheim’s 1983 song about making art. “’Beat by Beat’ is from the song “Putting It Together” from the show
Best Local Play of the Past Year BRIGHT STAR, SPOKANE VALLEY SUMMER THEATRE 2nd PLACE: The Addams Family, Spokane Civic Theatre 3rd PLACE: Sweeney Todd, Stage Left Theater NORTH IDAHO'S BEST: Tommy, Aspire Community Theatre, Coeur d'Alene The Company of The Addams Family, 2023 Photograph by Marlee Melinda Andrews
Congratulations to the casts of Civic’s upcoming READERS THEATER series. Thank you to all who auditioned! COMPANY Danny Anderson, Joshua Baig, Alex Barclay, Lacey Bohnet-Olson, Barry K Brathovde, Lani Call, Trevor Caragan, Sallie Christensen, Abby Constable, Karla Dansereau-Avielle, Nathan Davies, Melody Deatherage, Chelsea DuVall, Jameson Elton, Shaune Gardner, Jean Hardie, Peter Hardie, Scarlett Hepworth, Nicole
Congratulations to the playwrights selected for the 34th Bryan Harnetiaux Playwrights' Forum Festival. Thank you to all who submitted! Ask. Tell. Barbara Lindsay Shoreline, WA Broken Siena Lotrario Youth Division Spokane, WA Damn Ye Jack Slade Paul Lewis Bainbridge Island, WA The Invention of Pickle Ball Rachael Carnes Eugene, OR Jack and Jorma (Yorma) John
Congratulations to the cast of BEAT BY BEAT. Thank you to all who auditioned! Join us March 29 and 30 on the Main Stage for the unveiling of Season 77 titles and a curated musical revue, highlighting our community’s boundless talent. Songs from THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, BE MORE CHILL, BEETLEJUICE, INTO
Spokane Civic Theatre’s skilled young cast of “The Comedy of Errors” proves that Shakespeare can still be funny, even in the 21st century. Following the stories of two sets of identical twins who are separated at birth, the action begins in the ancient Turkish city of Ephesus when the first set of twins arrive, now
Renowned architect Moritz Kundig, one of Spokane’s most prolific midcentury modern champions, died last Saturday at the age of 98. With a keen eye for form and light, and a knack for inviting the outdoors in, Kundig rose to prominence in the ’60s and ’70s as a versatile designer capable of taking on a wide
Acclaim was quickly bestowed upon “Amadeus” after the play opened at London’s Royal National Theater in 1979. The following year, the beloved musical debuted on Broadway and “Amadeus” won the Tony Award for Best Play in 1981. There’s no play quite like “Amadeus,” which will be performed Friday through Feb. 25 at the Spokane Civic Theatre.
LISTEN TO THE RADIO INTERVIEW HERE Director and cast perform scenes from and discuss the Mozart–Salieri rivalry play Dan Bisbee, Melody Deatherage and Mitch Heid came into the KPBX studio to speak with E.J. Iannelli on behalf of the Spokane Civic Theatre new main stage production of Amadeus. The 1979 play, written by Peter Shaffer, imagines
Outside the Firth J. Chew Studio Theatre was a snowy Spokane, but inside was a window into South Boston. It was opening night at the Spokane Civic Theatre for “Good People,” a play by David Lindsay-Abaire. A gritty, real exploration into class relationships, identity, luck and even a little bit of bingo. From the action
As a professional voiceover actor, Deborah Marlowe has a leg up when it comes to mimicking regional accents. Her soothing, trusted tones can be heard nationwide, portraying dramatic characters in video games, selling breath fresheners and house cleansers in commercials, and narrating art museum tours and nature films, just to name some of her professional
LISTEN TO THE RADIO INTERVIEW HERE Cast members and director discuss a play about "Southie" and class identity Scarlett Hepworth, Pam Kingsley, Deborah Marlowe and Marianne McLaughlin entered the KPBX studio to talk with E.J. Iannelli about the Spokane Civic Theatre's new production of Good People. The plays opens this weekend in the theater's studio space.
Congratulations to the cast of Civic Academy's THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. Thank you all who auditioned! Get ready for rip-roaring fun in Shakespeare’s madcap comedy about long-lost siblings and mistaken identities. Shakespeare bases his story on Plautus’s MENAECHMI, a play about identical twins who accidentally meet after a lifetime apart. He borrows from another Plautus
The cast of "Merrily We Roll Along," a Spokane Civic Theatre production, will take the stage this weekend. When “Merrily We Roll Along,” debuted in 1934 and hit Broadway in 1981, the play, which is an inspired story about the lives and friendships of three friends over a 20-year period, flopped. A number of critics
LISTEN TO THE RADIO INTERVIEW HERE Directors and cast discuss the challenging Sondheim musical and perform two songs Joel Cummings, David Hardie, Jean Hardie, Henry McNulty and Kalla Mort joined E.J. Iannelli in the KPBX studio to talk about the Spokane Civic Theatre's new production of the Stephen Sondheim–George Furth musical Merrily We Roll Along, which
School May Be Out For Summer But Class Is In Session This July! Welcome to 1989. Westerberg High is terrorized by a shoulder-padded, scrunchie-wearing junta: Heather, Heather and Heather, the hottest and cruelest girls in all of Ohio. But misfit Veronica Sawyer rejects their evil regime for a new boyfriend, the dark sexy stranger J.D.,
Congratulations to the cast of AMADEUS. Thank you all who auditioned! It’s 1823, and a cacophony of scandalous whispers echo through the streets of Vienna. Renowned Italian composer Antonio Salieri flees from claims of murder but has nowhere to hide. While chasing fame and fortune, we learn how Salieri becomes obsessed with the rowdy young
LISTEN TO THE RADIO INTERVIEW HERE The director, music director and leads talk about the studio-sized holiday musical Kathie Doyle-Lipe, Henry McNulty, David Olson and Taylor Wenglikowski joined E.J. Iannelli in the KPBX studio to fill listeners in on the Spokane Civic Theatre's new production of She Loves Me. The musical opens in the theater's Firth
Congratulations to the cast of GOOD PEOPLE. Thank you all who auditioned! Welcome to Southie, a Boston neighborhood where a night on the town means a few rounds of bingo, where this month’s paycheck covers last month’s bills, and where Margaret Walsh has just been let go from yet another job. Facing eviction and scrambling
Deviating from standard holiday fare, the Spokane Civic Theatre will serve up a holiday mashup of merriment and murder when it presents the regional premiere of “A Sherlock Carol” on Friday. Civic is betting the play that mixes “A Christmas Carol” with “Sherlock Holmes” will be a winning recipe for audiences hungry for a new
If the title of A Sherlock Carol seems at once familiar yet uncanny, that might be intentional. The play by Mark Shanahan takes two of the most popular characters of Victorian fiction, Sherlock Holmes and Ebenezer Scrooge, and creates a Christmas mash-up that riffs on both of their literary origins. Following its well-received off-Broadway premiere in 2021,
LISTEN TO THE RADIO INTERVIEW HERE Actors playing Tiny Tim and Sherlock join their director to preview a holiday mystery On this day before Thanksgiving, Mathias Oliver, Jerry Sciarrio and Dallan Starks sat down in the KPBX studio with E.J. Iannelli to discuss the Spokane Civic Theatre’s new production of A Sherlock Carol. The holiday murder
Congratulations to the cast of MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG. Thank you all who auditioned! MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG is a musical about 20 years in the lives of three old friends: Broadway composer-turned-film producer Franklin Shepard, playwright and lyricist Charley Kringas, and theatre critic Mary Flynn. The show charts how their friendship devolves and fractures
Spokane Civic Theatre, in partnership with Gonzaga University’s Dance Department, is proud to present the record-breaking, genre-defying musical CATS, by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of The Really Useful Group, on the Margot & Robert Ogden Main Stage spring 2024. CATS is set amongst a larger-than-life junkyard playground and is alive with purr-fect
Congratulations to the cast of SHE LOVES ME. Thank you all who auditioned! Meet Amalia and Georg — two parfumerie clerks who aren’t quite the best of friends. Constantly bumping heads while on the job, the sparring coworkers can’t seem to find common ground. But little do they know the anonymous pen pals they have
LISTEN TO THE RADIO INTERVIEW HERE The director and a cast member offer insight into a feminist take on a classic horror tale Chelsea DuVall and Dawn Taylor-Reinhardt of the Spokane Civic Theatre’s new production of Dracula sat down in the KPBX studio with E.J. Iannelli to discuss this feminist reframing of Bram Stoker's Gothic horror novel.
Ethan Williams as Dracula fights with Bridget Pretz as Doctor Van Helsing in Spokane Civic Theatre's production of "Dracula," opening this weekend in the Firth J. Chew Studio Theatre. In the background are Shakyla Garcia Davidson as Mina Harker and Nicholas Roy Morgan III playing Doctor George Seward. Nothing is sweeter than revenge. Just ask playwright
Congratulations to the cast of A SHERLOCK CAROL. Thank you to all who auditioned! Spokane Civic Theatre is proud to present the Pacific Northwest premiere of this play, which debuted at New World Stages in 2021, through special arrangement with Broadway Licensing. Reunite with the characters you love from Charles Dickens and Sir Arthur
Few sitcoms from the 1960s resonate today. Such hits from yesteryear as “Gilligan’s Island” and “The Munsters” are dated and predictable. The Addams Family, a fictional family created by American cartoonist Charles Addams, is an exception. The delightfully quirky, old money clan who revel in the macabre lasted only two seasons, 1964-66 on ABC. “The
LISTEN TO THE RADIO INTERVIEW HERE Creatives and cast discuss and perform songs from the Broadway black comedy Jayce Fortin, Mathias Oliver, Henry McNulty and Jake Schaefer joined E.J. Iannelli in the KPBX studio to talk about the Spokane Civic Theatre's upcoming season and its opening show, The Addams Family. The Broadway musical about the famously
Congratulations to the cast of DRACULA, Spokane Civic Theatre's 76th Studio Theatre Season-opening production. Thank you to all who auditioned! In this thrilling new adaptation that bounces between horror and humor, from Transylvania to England and then back again, playwright Kate Hamill boldly reimagines Bram Stoker’s classic tale of vampires and finds new monsters just
Congratulations to the cast of THE ADDAMS FAMILY, Spokane Civic Theatre's 76th Main Stage Season opening production. Thank you to all who auditioned! That lovable family of creepy kooks is alive and well and living in their super-spooky mansion in Central Park. The Addams family, led by the elegantly gaunt and seemingly undead Morticia
Duncan Sheik never envisioned writing music for theater. That was so even after befriending playwright Steven Sater a quarter century ago. “I was anti-musical theater at that point,” Sheik said while calling from his Manhattan apartment. “The process of developing shows takes forever. I didn’t want to be part of that.” After achieving commercial success
LISTEN TO THE RADIO INTERVIEW HERE Cast members perform songs from the Alice in Wonderland-inspired musical Sarah Junette Dahmen, Henry McNulty, Jake Schaefer, Jonah Taylor and Taylor Wenglikowski joined E.J. Iannelli in the KPBX studio to talk about the Spokane Civic Theatre's new production of Alice by Heart ahead of its opening this weekend. Schaefer and Dahmen are
If "summer theater" conjures images of actors holding skulls aloft and waxing existential in a park, you're in luck. Because this summer's offerings both meet and defy those expectations. You can certainly catch Hamlet or Measure for Measure performed en plein air by Shakespeare pros, but you also have the option of kicking back in an air-conditioned theater and watching
Grab a D-I-C-T-I-O-N-A-R-Y and welcome to the spelling bee. This heartfelt musical comedy follows an eclectic group of tweens who compete for the spelling championship of a lifetime. While candidly disclosing hilarious and touching stories from their home lives, the tweens spell their way through a series of (potentially made-up) words, hoping never to hear
Sixteen-year-old Jim Hawkins’ adventure begins when Billy Bones, the old sea-dog captain, appears one morning in the Admiral Benbow Inn. Billy Bones admits to Jim he was Flint the pirate’s first mate and that he holds Flint’s map that shows where his treasure is hidden. Bill’s got the shakes because the rest of Flint’s crew
This thrilling and heartwarming coming-of-age story follows the strong-willed Moana as she sets sail across the Pacific to save her village from an ancient curse and discover the truth about her heritage. Moana and the legendary demigod Maui embark on an epic journey of self-discovery and camaraderie as both learn to harness the power that lies
Spokane Civic Theatre is proud to present the Pacific Northwest premiere of ALICE BY HEART, through special arrangement with Music Theatre International. From the Tony and Grammy award-winning creators of SPRING AWAKENING, Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik, and co-written by Jessie Nelson (WAITRESS), ALICE BY HEART is a touching musical inspired by Alice’s madcap
TA(P) this week profiles the making of the Civic's Charlie & the Chocolate Factory This week we at Spokane Public Radio are excited to present a special episode of the Thursday Arts (P)review. Instead of our usual multi-segment format featuring artists, authors, musicians and other creatives from across the Inland Northwest, we've teamed up with the Inlander to take
(Jerrod Phelps as Willy Wonka on the cover for the Inlander) Everyone knows the story of Charlie, the Golden Ticket and his fateful visit to Willy Wonka's chocolate factory. And if you don't, well, I'm sorry. It's a great story. Good news is the Spokane Civic Theatre has the play on its main stage through June
When Connie Mack Overstreet’s pals are playing under the harsh sunlight on a baseball diamond, the child actor is on a different type of platform. Overstreet, 13, who was named after the legendary baseball manager with the most wins and losses in major league baseball history, is at home under the lights of a stage.
LISTEN TO THE RADIO INTERVIEW HERE Cast and creatives perform songs from the regional premiere and discuss its charms Jillian Kehne, Troy Nickerson, Connie Mack Overstreet and Jerrod Phelps joined E.J. Iannelli in the KPBX studio to give details on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The production, which is a regional premiere of the 2013 musical,
Spokane Civic Theatre is proud to present its celebrated Playwrights’ Forum Festival, which, since 1983, has showcased new one-acts by playwrights from across the region. The festival is performed in two separate sets on alternating days. In honor of his unflinching dedication and innumerable contributions, the festival has been named after Civic's Resident Playwright, Bryan
Glinda (Lacey Olson) and the Munchkins from a rehearsal for The Wizard of Oz, 2022 CIVIC ENGAGEMENTS Community theater is special, and in Spokane we're lucky to have multiple such establishments that produce consistently stellar shows, one of which is the SPOKANE CIVIC THEATRE. The Civic recently announced the first slate of shows for its fully loaded
Spokane Civic Theatre has renewed "National Pastime," a play from Spokane playwright Bryan Harnetiaux, which tells the story of Jackie Robinson, who made history as the first black athlete signed to a Major League Baseball team 75 years ago. Tickets are $10 for students, $25 for adults and can be purchased online at the Theatre's website! Spokane
Buck O’Neil nailed it while sitting in the KXLY studio in 2003 when he reminisced about Jackie Robinson breaking major league baseball’s color line in 1947. “When (Brooklyn Dodgers President) Branch (Rickey) signed Jackie to that contract, that was the beginning of the civil rights movement,” O’Neil said O’Neil, who became the first African-American coach
Spokane, Wash. - National Pastime, an award-winning play, is returning to Spokane this week for the 75th anniversary of Jackie Robinson's historic MLB debut. As a part of the newly introduced Major League Baseball campaign, "The Nine", meant to celebrate and honor the impact of black baseball pioneers and further diversify the business of baseball, the
The very first scene that playwright Bryan Harnetiaux wrote for his play National Pastime was also its most severe. Although it's often referred to in euphemistic shorthand as "the office scene," the first-act finale depicts the real-life episode in which Branch Rickey, then club president and general manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers, met with a 26-year-old Black baseball
LISTEN TO THE RADIO INTERVIEW HERE The director, playwright and cast members preview a play about Jackie Robinson Kimberly Ridgeway, Tré Terry and Bryan Harnetiaux entered the KPBX studio with E.J. Iannelli to talk about Harnetiaux's play National Pastime. The play recounts Jackie Robinson's historic breaking of the baseball color barrier and the toll that civil
Celebrate Spokane Civic Theatre's 75th Season with an evening of entertainment, dining, history, fundraising (live and silent auction), and community. SATURDAY, APRIL 29 NORTHERN QUEST CASINO DOORS OPEN AT 5:30 EVENT BEGINS AT 6:00 MENU OPTIONS 8oz Filet Mignon USDA Choice center cut tenderloin of beef with whiskey-sage gravy; medium-rare (can be gluten-free) Served with
Best Local Play of the Past Year NEWSIES, SPOKANE VALLEY SUMMER THEATRE "The dancing was phenomenal! So much energy from so many local young kids. Awesome!" (Jeanne F.); "It was a spectacular show with a killer Broadway set and fantastic dancing, singing and acting." (Erin W.) 2nd PLACE: The Rocky Horror Show, Stage Left Theater 3rd
Congratulations to the cast of CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, Spokane Civic Theatre's 75th Season closing production. Thank you to all who auditioned!The confectionary wizard, Willy Wonka, is opening the gates to his mysterious factory…but only to a lucky few. Young Charlie Bucket and four other golden ticket winners will embark on a life-changing journey
Jukebox musicals have a reputation for flimsy narratives but are often buoyed by a hit parade of songs. But “Jersey Boys,” which opens this weekend and runs through March 26 at the Spokane Civic Theatre, has the tunes and the story, albeit an unlikely tale. There were a myriad of lads singing on the street
It's been over 50 years since four boys from Jersey formed the hit 1960s band The Four Seasons, but their story continues inspiring audiences around the globe. That story is being told once again as the four-time Tony-Award winning musical from Broadway comes to the Spokane Civic Theatre's main stage. It's rare for a community theater
LISTEN TO THE RADIO INTERVIEW HERE Creatives and cast members discuss the jukebox musical about the Four Seasons Jake Schaefer, Henry McNulty, Jonah Taylor and Jameson Elton talked to E.J. Iannelli in the KPBX studio about a new production of Jersey Boys. The jukebox musical about the Four Seasons opens this Friday on the Spokane Civic
No one needs to explain to Melody Deatherage and Kathie Doyle-Lipe how much heavy lifting is required to pull off “Parallel Lives.” The Spokane Civic Theatre veterans, who are the only actors in the production, are well aware that they will portray a myriad of characters since they starred in “Parallel Lives” six years ago
For Kathie Doyle-Lipe and Melody Deatherage, there's a whiff of déjà vu to their upcoming performance of Parallel Lives, opening this weekend on the Spokane Civic Theatre's main stage for a limited run. "We actually put this up six years ago for Lake City Playhouse as they were getting restarted. And then Civic approached us later about maybe
LISTEN TO THE RADIO INTERVIEW HERE The director and cast members of a Bard showcase talk about its ASL component Kearney Jordan, director of the Spokane Civic Theatre Academy, came into the KPBX studio along with Audrey, Connie and Sadie Overstreet to talk with E.J. Iannelli about the academy's production of Shakespeare Beyond Words. More than
NATIONAL PASTIME follows the journeys of Jackie Robinson, the first black player in major league baseball, and Wesley Branch Rickey, the white President and General Manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers, as they shatter the color barrier in 1947. While offering insight into each man's personal struggles, the play traces the evolution of race relations leading
Versatility is the key to making the parody of the Alfred Hitchcock classic “The 39 Steps” work. There are just four actors in the cast of “The 39 Steps,” which runs from Friday to February 12 at the Spokane Civic Theatre, in a show featuring more than 50 characters. “It’s a challenge,” 39 Steps director
LISTEN TO THE RADIO INTERVIEW HERE The director and cast members discuss their reverent parody of Hitchcock's spy film Heather McHenry-Kroetch, Dana Sammond and Dallan Starks joined E.J. Iannelli in the KPBX studio to give listeners a taste of The 39 Steps, which opens at the Spokane Civic Theatre this Friday (Jan. 20). This 2005 adaptation
LISTEN TO THE FULL INTERVIEW HERE Talked to the director and some of the castmates of Photograph 51 – a humorous and moving portrait of Rosalind Franklin, one of the great female scientists of the twentieth century, and her fervid drive to map the contours of the DNA molecule. A chorus of physicists relives the
LISTEN TO THE RADIO INTERVIEW HERE Director Susan Hardie and her cast preview a play about an unsung science pioneer Susan Hardie, Joshua Baig, Ryan Wasson, Nicholas Roy Morgan III and Jeffrey Phillips Christiansen talked to E.J. Iannelli in the KPBX studio about Photograph 51, Anna Ziegler's semi-fictionalized play about the pioneering researcher Rosalind Franklin. Hardie
The story of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons unfolds in this behind-the-music story of four blue-collar kids who became one of the greatest successes in pop-music history will take you from the streets of Newark to the heights of stardom. Follow the incredible journey of four guys bound by one dream—to make it to
Improv was the key to the lock that helped Spokane’s Michael Glatzmaier move forward while attending Rogers High School. The 2009 alum languished in special education classes while passing up most opportunities. “When I discovered improv, everything changed for me,” Glatzmaier said. “My problem was that I said no to everything. I had no confidence.
It’s often hard to know what to say in a given situation in our day-to-day lives, so why not ratchet up the difficulty of dealing with that feeling on a stage? Florida-based MGTeams seeks to improve the way people communicate by using improvisational comedy. The squad of performers both teaches and entertains with a spontaneous
The Spokane Civic Theatre's production of THE 39 STEPS, opening Jan. 20, promises to carry audiences through a rollicking tale of romance, espionage and murder. With just a handful of actors tackling more than a hundred parts, the show, which originated in London in 2006 and became one of the West End's longest-running shows, has since delighted
LISTEN TO THE RADIO INTERVIEW HERE Cast members preview Karen Zacharías' play about neighborly disputes Marlee Andrews and Deborah Marlowe, both of whom are performing in a new production of Native Gardens at the Spokane Civic Theatre, joined E.J. Iannelli in the KPBX studio to talk about Karen Zacharías' play. The play hinges on a clash between
LISTEN TO THE RADIO INTERVIEW HERE Co-directors and cast members on what's familiar and unexpected about this show Kearney Jordan, Bryan Durbin, Ruby Krajic, Bill Marlowe and Gary Pierce entered the KPBX studio with E.J. Iannelli to provide details on the Spokane Civic Theatre's new production of the holiday classic A Christmas Carol, which opens this
