Fox Theater Spokane
Hot This Week!
Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Literally, literary genius will be on hand.

It's the time of year again when Spokane will Get Lit! Eastern Washington University's 12th annual Get Lit! Festival, a weeklong celebration of reading and writing, starts today, April 14, and runs through Wednesday, April 21. More than 50 workshops, readings and other events are planned, with the concentration of activities occurring this weekend in the downtown Spokane core. Pulitzer Prize-winning author Richard Russo and National Book Award finalist Jess Walter will speak at 8 p.m. Saturday, April 18, at the Bing Crosby Theatre, at 1001 W. Sprague. Other headliners include sustainability expert Anna Lappe, religious scholar Dr. Reza Aslan, children's author Janet Wong, novelist Victor Lodato, essayist Sallie Tisdale, best-selling author Janet Fitch, and performance poet Patricia Smith. More than 30 other authors will participate. Some events are free; others range in price from $10 to $20. Festival passes are available for $65 each. For a full calendar of events, go to www.ewu.edu/getlit. For tickets, go to www.ticketswest.com or 800-325-SEAT.

Something tells us traveling won't be a foul in this basketball game.

The Harlem Globetrotters' 2010 Magical Memories World Tour comes to Spokane at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 15, bringing their unforgettable basketball shenanigans to the Arena for four quarters of fun. This year, the team is reunited with two of its fan favorites, Flight Time Lang and Big Easy Lofton, who return to the team after having recently competed on the TV reality show, "The Amazing Race." Space is limited, but tickets are still available. They range in price from $20 to $90 and are available through the Spokane Arena box office, at 720 W. Mallon, and through Tickets West at www.ticketswest.com or 800-325-SEAT. A portion of ticket proceeds will go toward UNICEF's earthquake relief effort in Haiti.

This time, VADER is good to have around.

The Spokane Arena announced earlier this week that "Star Wars: In Concert" is coming to Spokane for two shows, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, June 19. The concert includes an 83-piece orchestra, a 30-person choir and is accompanied by specially edited footage from the "Star Wars" movies shown on a high-definition screen that stands three stories tall. A museum-like exhibit of costumes, artifacts, production artwork and behind-the-scenes videos will be on display the day of the concert as well. Tickets are $35, $49.50 or $65, with a $100 family four pack available. They go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, April 16, but you can buy them now through a special pre-sale at www.ticketswest.com. Just use the promotion code VADER to get your tickets before they are widely available. From Friday on, tickets will be available at the Spokane Arena box office and through the Tickets West at the Web site listed above and 800-325-SEAT.

If you hurry, you can get a good deal on a Bentley.

The 2010 CMT Music Award nominee Dierks Bentley brings his brand of country music to the Coeur d'Alene Casino Resort Hotel at 7 p.m. TONIGHT, April 14, as one stop in his Feel That Fire tour. Bentley has belted out a handful of No. 1 hits since bursting onto the country-music scene in the early 2000s. Last year, he was the co-winner of the CMT Performer of the Year. Tickets to the Coeur d'Alene Casino show are $50 each and are available at the casino or through Tickets West at www.ticketswest.com or 800-325-SEAT. Use the promotion code BENTLEY when ordering through Tickets West and get $10 off each ticket!

Always a babe, Ann Jillian comes to town.

Life-long entertainer Ann Jillian brings her cabaret act to the Northern Quest Casino for a one-night-only performance, at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 15. Jillian has been a fan favorite since first appearing on the silver screen at the age of 9 in the movie "Babes In Toyland." She went on to become a successful actress on the small screen in the long-running sitcom "It's a Living." More importantly, she is a breast cancer survivor and a passionate advocate of breast cancer awareness and research. Tickets to Thursday night's show are $40 each and are available through the Northern Quest box office at 509-481-6700 or through Tickets West at www.ticketswest.com or 800-325-SEAT.

Spring has sprung in a Symphony of Classics.

The Spokane Symphony celebrates spring with "Classics 9: Bursts of Nature" at 8 p.m. Saturday, April 17, and again at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 18. The concert includes performances of Hector Berlioz's "Overture Le Corsaire," selections from Joseph Canteloube's "Song of the Auvergne," and Johannes Brahms' Symphony No. 2. Tickets to the concert range in price from $22 to $44 and are available through the Martin Woldson Theatre at the Fox box office, at 1001 W. Sprague, and through Tickets West at www.ticketswest.com or 800-325-SEAT.

Eleemosynary: can you use it in a sentence?

"Eleemosynary," the family drama about a precocious spelling-bee champion, her eccentric grandmother, and her estranged mother, premiers at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 15, at Interplayers Professional Theatre, at 174 S. Howard. The play's first weekend includes performances at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, April 16 and 17, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 18.. The following two weeks, Interplayers will present the play Wednesday through Saturday nights, with Sunday matinees. Tickets range in price from $10 to $21. For tickets, go to the Interplayers box office between noon and 4 p.m. on weekdays or one hour before performances-of go through Tickets West at www.ticketswest.com or 800-325-SEAT.

This Opening--and its prizes--will be truly grand.

The Northern Quest Resort and Casino is hosting a community open house from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 17, and Sunday, April 18. Guests will get to sample food from the resort's many restaurants and compete to win some $5,000 in prizes. Guests will receive a map of the property at the front lobby. On the back of the map will be detailed information for each venue, as well as the rules for the giveaway. In order to enter the grand prize giveaway, guests must go to each venue listed on the map, get that area punched or stamped, and bring back their map to show they have it completed (must have all venues punched or stamped in order to qualify). Grand prize is a weekend getaway package at the Resort, with an assortment of other prizes. For more information, go to www.northernquestcasino.com.

Oh say, can you read by the dawn's early light?

Former U.S. Congressman George R. Nethercutt Jr. has written, with Tom McArthur, a book titled "In Tune With America: Our History In Song," which looks at how music tells the history of America, from the American Revolution to modern times. Nethercutt will have a series of book signings this week, starting at 7 p.m. tonight, April 14, at Auntie's Bookstore, at 402 W. Main in downtown Spokane. He also will appear at 2 p.m. Friday, April 16, at the Coeur d'Alene Press, at 201 N. Second in downtown Coeur d'Alene, and at 3 p.m. Saturday, April 17, in the River Park Square atrium, at 808 W. Main in downtown Spokane. For more information on the book, go to www.intunewithamerica.com.

The High Five from thesomshow.com by Isamu Jordan

Jonny Lang - Grammy award-winning blues-rock singer Jonny Lang is known for a high-intensity live show that oozes with rawness and spontaneity, using a plethora of instruments and jamming songs out to breathe new life into his many hits. Fans finally have a chance to take home a proper live recording as Lang releases his first live album, "Live at the Ryman," on the same day he appears in Spokane, at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, April 20, at The Knitting Factory Concert House, 919 W. Sprague Ave. Cost: $28 in advance, $30 day of show.

Minus the Bear - Seattle prog-pop rock quintet Minus the Bear has a new album on the way, and it's a bit of a departure from previous releases. On a number of tracks, the signature lead guitar tapping is replaced by a Japanese electric autoharp. The music is still a hybrid of intricate song structures and dancey grooves, but it's more synth-based, as fans will hear when Minus the Bear and support act Everest set up shop at 8 p.m. on Monday, April 19, at The Knitting Factory Concert House, 919 W. Sprague Ave. Cost: $16 in advance, $18 day of show.

Horse Feathers - Portland country-folk outfit Horse Feathers has expanded from a duo to a quartet - adding more strings to the country twang - for its forthcoming album, "Thistled Spring." As the title suggests, the record promises to be brighter and more hopeful than last year's dreary "House With No Home" record. Engage in an intimate evening of Americana and chamber pop at 10 p.m. on Saturday, April 17, at Empyrean Coffee House, 171 S. Washington St. Kevin Long will be the opening act. Cost: $9.

Viper Creek Club - Featuring members of former Spokane indie-favorite Ambulance For Angeles, the Viper Creek Club comes to town to unveil its new sound at a show with locals The Toy Garden at 9 p.m. on Saturday, April 17, at The Blvd., 230 W. Riverside Ave. Cost: $7, 21-and-older only.

Bridget Vogel - Local soulful singer-songwriter Bridget Vogel is heading off to greener pastures, but not before headlining her farewell show with Shane Evans at 6 p.m. on Sunday, April 18, at Empyrean Coffee House, 171 S. Washington. Cost: $5.

For local music news, videos, mp3s, artist profiles and more, visit thesomshow.com.

JAZZ at the JACC

A musical journey around the world. Leslie Ann Grove and the Brent Edstrom quartet will perform at the Jaclin Arts and Cultural Center, 405 William Street, Post Falls on Sunday, April 25. Doors open at 6pm, concert begins at 6:30. The quartet features Brent Edstrom on piano, Eugene Jablonsky on bass, Rick Westrick on drums and David Fague on Sax. Tickets are $20 and on sale now. Call 208-457-8950.

Dancing with the Stars, Spokane Style.

Christian Youth Theater of Spokane will have their 3rd annual fundriser, "Dancing with the Celebrities", featuring local Spokane celebrites pairing with professional dance instructors. This event will raise funds for the CYT after school theater arts training program. The event will be at the Bing Crosby Theater, 901 W Sprague on Saturday, April 24 at 6pm, with doors opening at 5pm. Tickets are $15 for standard seating and $25 for premier seating and are available online at www.cytspokane.com. If you know a specific celebrity, make sure to note their name when you purchase tickets, because with every ticket sale the celebrity brings in, they receive one vote towards their winning. You may also purchase tickets by calling the CYT Box Office at 509-487-6540. So come support your favorite dancers while supporting CYT.

Talk about poetry in motion.

Poetry Live!, a poetry competition in which the winners' work will be acted on stage, is at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 17, at the Spokane Civic Theatre, at 1020 N. Howard. Suggested donations of $5 will be taken at the door, with proceeds going toward the Spokane Civic Theatre Academy.

SPORTS CORNER
The Battlewings will be battle tested in Spokane.

The Spokane Shock return to the Spokane Arena at 7 p.m. Saturday, April 17, to take on the Bossier-Shreveport Battlewings. This game is the first AFL meeting for the two former AFL2 division leaders. Spokane is 1-1 after a convincing win over the Utah Blaze last week and will try to hand the Battlewings (2-0) their first loss of the season. Tickets range in price $13 to $62 and are available through Tickets West at www.ticketswest.com or 800-325-SEAT.

NAME THAT FLICK.

"The name's Francis Soyer, but everybody calls me Psycho. Any of you guys call me Francis, and I'll kill you."

Name the movie that line appeared in to receive two tickets to the Spokane Home Builders Association's Premier Home Improvement Show April 16-18! Send your best guess and your phone number to info@entertainmentspokane.com. The winner will be selected at random from correct entries and will be announced in next week's e-newsletter. The deadline for entries is noon on Thursday, April 15.

Last Week's Winner: Bruce McEachran hits a home run with "Bull Durham!"

Last week's movie quote was "Good! That's good! When you get in a fight with a drunk, you don't hit him with your pitching hand." McEachran correctly guessed that it was from the 1988 sports comedy "Bull Durham" and won two tickets to the Spokane Home Builders Association's Premier Home Improvement Show April 16-18!

Send your entertainment news to info@entertainmentspokane.com

Spokane Public Radio

i Heart Radio

Cathay Inn

I Heart Radio

Contract Design Associates

ZZU-FM

Rock 94

Entertainment Spokane! is a weekly e-mail featuring all kinds of upcoming entertainment options throughout our area. Music. Stage. Theatre. Dance. Shows. Visual Arts. Clubs. Restaurants. Shopping. Community Events and more.

If it’s entertaining, you’ll see it in Entertainment Spokane!

Archives