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
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
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.
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
Spokane Civic Theatre’s production of “The Wizard of Oz” opened Friday to an enthusiastic audience. It was community theater in all the best ways. Based on L. Frank Baum’s classic tale, “The Wizard of Oz” features iconic music from the 1939 film of the same name. Directed by Kathie Doyle-Lipe with music director Henry McNulty,
Spokane Civic Theatre’s production of “Murder on the Orient Express” is the kind of show you’ll want to see twice and then run back to the Agatha Christie novel for more. Caught in a snowstorm, the Orient Express – unusually crowded for the time of year – slides to an abrupt halt just minutes past
How do you tell the truth? Can cold hard facts really tell a story in a meaningful way? Spokane Civic Theatre’s production of “The Lifespan of a Fact,” a one-act play by Jeremy Kareken, David Murrell and Gordon Farrell, asks exactly that. Based on a true story, the play follows Jim Fingal (Nicholas Griep), a
Spokane Civic Theatre’s opening night of “Plaza Suite” was a success, to say the least. Directed by Civic veteran Troy Nickerson, the play is funny, sad and often borders on uncomfortable to watch, but considering the material, it’s supposed to be. Written by four-time Tony Award winner Neil Simon, “Plaza Suite” follows a trio of
Off to the races before the lights have even dimmed, Spokane Civic Theatre’s “The Play That Goes Wrong” is hilarious, charming and absurd from start to finish. Directed by Jean Hardie and written by Henry Lewis, Henry Shields and Jonathan Sayer, “The Play That Goes Wrong” follows a group of actors from the fictitious Cornley
A wacky ensemble, stellar musical numbers and one man playing eight characters throughout the show. Those are a few of my many takeaways from Spokane Civic Theatre’s production of “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder.” This is the regional premiere of the Tony award- winning musical, which won best musical in 2013 and is
Andrew Start is no stranger to working in minimalism. Having previously directed “The Flick” for Spokane Civic Theatre, Start again brings his audience an intimate portrayal of humanity, this time marked with a tense and resolute realism. “This Is Our Youth,” written by Kenneth Lonergan, is sodden with nostalgia, but with the kind that’s heavier
If you’re interested in seeing the rising stars of local theater, those who will be gracing stages for years to come, Spokane Civic Theatre’s production of “Matilda: The Musical” is a great place to start. Young performers stole the show, which has all the charm of the Roald Dahl novel on which it’s based and
The Spokane Civic Theatre is known for its phenomenal production. It has this innate ability to create shows with a completely local cast and crew that mesmerize audiences and create a sense of professional theater similar to the shows that come to the First Interstate Center for the Arts. “Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical” is
“Young Frankenstein,” the musical, is based on the movie of the same name, which was directed by Mel Brooks and written by Brooks and Gene Wilder, who starred in the film. A parody of horror films, it’s no surprise that the film is quite silly and over the top. Luckily for fans, and for those
It’s an interesting experience to, while watching a play, enjoy the actors but dislike the characters they play. While watching Spokane Civic Theatre’s production of John Guare’s “The House of Blue Leaves,” directed by Heather McHenry-Kroetch, I had one of of those experiences. “The House of Blue Leaves” takes place over the course of a
For the most part, to see live theater is, by nature, to be a fly on the wall. Save for the rare times when actors address the crowd, members of the audience are observers watching a story unfold. But that fly-on-the-wall feeling is amplified during Spokane Civic Theatre’s production of Annie Baker’s “The Flick.” “The
You can’t deny the appeal of Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman’s “You Can’t Take It With You,” a play with the perfect balance of humor, drama and feel-good moments. The play, which premiered on Broadway in 1936 and won the Pulitzer Prize for drama the next year, is the story of the eccentric Sycamore-Vanderhof-Carmichael
There's no doubting the timeless appeal of You Can't Take It With You, the farcical family comedy that's been produced — somewhere — pretty much constantly since it debuted on Broadway in 1936, winning the Pulitzer for drama the following year. For theater companies large and small, the play penned by George S. Kaufman and
Yes, there’s a narwhal. There’s snow and elves and Santa, too. There’s a bewildered mom, a frustrated son and a very, very grinchy father. But mostly there’s Buddy, a guy so sweet, as one elf quipped, “If he were any sweeter, we’d be diabetic.” The guy who loves Christmas with all his heart and soul.
Lovers and madmen have such seething brains, such shaping fantasies, that apprehend more than cool reason ever comprehends," says Theseus in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. The madman, he claims, "sees more devils than vast hell can hold," whereas the lover sees beauty where none is evident. And what about when lovers also happen to be madmen?
Wood-paneled walls, a stained carpet that had seen better days, an unreliable AC unit, a nondescript painting above the bed, lamps with retro (but not in a cool way) lampshades on matching bedside tables, old paper plates and cups strewn across nearly every available surface. The set of “Bug” alone, designed by David Baker, was
Preview of Psycho Beach Party by Azaria Podplesky of The Spokesman Review
Preview of Psycho Beach Party by Azaria Podplesky of The Spokesman Review
Preview of Psycho Beach Party by Azaria Podplesky of The Spokesman Review
Preview of Psycho Beach Party by Azaria Podplesky of The Spokesman Review
Preview of Psycho Beach Party by Azaria Podplesky of The Spokesman Review
Preview of Psycho Beach Party by Azaria Podplesky of The Spokesman Review
Preview of Psycho Beach Party by Azaria Podplesky of The Spokesman Review
Preview of Psycho Beach Party by Azaria Podplesky of The Spokesman Review
Preview of Psycho Beach Party by Azaria Podplesky of The Spokesman Review
Preview of Psycho Beach Party by Azaria Podplesky of The Spokesman Review
Looks like Spokane likes The Producers Photo credit to Chris Wooley Civic's production of The Producers is getting it's fair share of press action. It's always a bit of a gamble to open a season with a show that pokes fun at well, exactly what we do. And to take on something as
The View on War Horse from Yvonne AK Johnson's view War Horse Redux Yvonne AK Johnson, Spokane Civic Theatre Executive Artistic Director, has seen War Horse on Broadway not once, but twice (uh, War Horse redux)! She says that it remains the best play she has seen in the past 10 years and that War Horse is stronger
