When reviewing local or touring theatrical productions, I often bring my mom along as my plus one. At some point during each show, she’ll inevitably comment “I don’t know how you can see” when I’m taking notes in the dark. I keep a little notebook on me to write down plot points, standout moments, favorite

I have watched “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” (the claymation classic film) a lot. I was most looking forward to seeing my favorite character, the Abominable Snowman, on stage, and I was going to be disappointed if I didn’t see it. Boy, did I freak out when I saw it. The Abominable Snowman and Lion (puppets)

When a classic Christmas claymation film is remade into a stage musical, audience members probably expect to have a good time. But this audience member didn’t expect to feel a pang of nostalgia and emotion at the sight of one little puppet. Spokane Civic Theatre is in the middle of its production of “Rudolph the

There is something special about being part of an audience where it feels like everyone in the room is holding their breath, at least a little bit. I felt that from the moment the Creature (Rhead Shirley) burst – literally – from the stage in Spokane Civic Theatre’s production of “Frankenstein,” directed by Preston Loomer.

If you saw a sea of people wearing pink around Riverfront Park this weekend, I’ll answer your “What’s that about?” question: They were heading to Spokane Civic Theatre’s production of “Legally Blonde.” Walking into Saturday’s show, I saw a mix of people dressed nicely for an evening of theater and people whose outfits would’ve gotten

Nestled in the intimate setting of a black-box theater lined with green turf, Spokane Civic Theatre presented “The Wolves,” a play that explored the friendships and struggles of young women through the lens of a club soccer team in the middle of suburban America. Each scene in the show took place before and after games – the

Spokane Civic Theatre teamed up with Ignite! Community Theatre to bring a redesigned approach to a classic story. The local theater groups put their own spin on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic, “The Great Gatsby" through an in-concert style dramatic reading, held on Feb. 21. This production proved to be surprisingly funny and an exceptionally well-done

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

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

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

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

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

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

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