Renovation proposals for Fox nip, tucked
THE $28.6 MILLION Fox Theater renovation is now a $22 million renovation. That’s still enough to restore the Fox to its former glory and turn it into a modern performing arts facility.
Yet the plan no longer calls for expanding the building into the parking lot to the west and expanding the stage and backstage area. Instead, the Fox and its stage will remain its present size – still big enough to accommodate the entire Spokane Symphony and Chorale as well as most other performing arts groups, according to members of the Fox board.
The reason is simple: money.
The estimated cost of renovation and expansion was originally estimated at $24 million but rose to $28.6 million in 2003. Since then, estimates have continued to rise beyond what the Fox’s board felt the community could support.
By deleting the expansion work, the cost came down to a more manageable $22 million. About $12 million of that has already been raised. Of the remaining $10 million, the board hopes to get $4.5 million from the state Legislature this year and the remainder through grants and donations. (The board would also like raise another $3 to $6 million for an endowment, but $22 million is what it will take to do the construction work and open the doors.)
Board member Bill Simer said he was confident backers can raise the money this year. The capital campaign began in 2000, but was slowed by the same factors that hurt all nonprofit fund-raising in the ensuing years: a struggling economy and 9/11.
Even though the building itself will remain the same size, plans still call for the lobby to be expanded, said Fox board president Peter Moye. More lobby space will be added in what are now the final rows of the first floor.
The capacity of the Fox will be 1,700 seats, down from its original capacity of 2,300, but about the same as envisioned in the original renovation plans.
The board still hopes to someday expand the stage and backstage area to the west, but that will be left to a second, later, phase.
For more information or to donate to the fund, call 624-5992 or go to www.foxtheaterspokane.org.
CenterStage’s new lease on life
Just down the block, CenterStage, the area’s foremost dinner-theater venue, is ready once again to concentrate on its central mission: dinner and theater.
The theater’s legal dispute with its landlords was resolved last month – under terms favorable to the theater, according to artistic director Tim Behrens. The theater now has a secure 15-year lease in the former Odd Fellows building at 1017 W. First Ave.
The theater’s new musical, “Romance Romance,” opens Friday and continues through Feb. 5. This two-act romantic musical comedy has a first act which takes place in 19th-century Vienna and a second act which takes place in present-day New York. The settings are different, yet the themes of love are intertwined.
CenterStage can now return to its other mission as well: raising money for operating expenses. The plan has always been for CenterStage to depend on donor support for several years before it can become self-sufficient.
“We need to raise $60,000 in the next three months, and I think we can do it,” said Behrens.
He said it was difficult, to say the least, to run a fund-raising campaign while the theater was still involved in its lease dispute.
To help out, call CenterStage at 747-8243. For tickets to “Romance Romance,” call the same number.
Harnetiaux creates a new ‘York’
The Spokane Civic Theatre has announced its final play for the Firth Chew Studio Theatre season, and it’s a local product: “York,” by Bryan Harnetiaux.
This is a new play about York, the servant/slave of William Clark and the only black member of the Lewis & Clark expedition. Harnetiaux is a Spokane lawyer/playwright and the playwright-in-residence at the Civic.
The focus of the play will be on York’s spiritual journey as well as the expedition’s physical journey.
This will be a one-man play featuring David Casteal, a veteran of several Civic productions. Casteal, a teacher of African drumming, also provides the original drum score for the play.
“York” will open April 29 and continue through May 20.
Wild world of yodel
The hills will be alive with the sound of yodeling on Feb. 14 when a show called “Cowboy Love Songs” arrives at The Met.
Sourdough Slim, a cowboy singer-yodeler-accordionist from California, will headline this yodeling extravaganza.
His special guest will be the region’s own contribution to the yodeling universe, Wylie Gustafson. Wylie’s the guy who does the Yahoo! yodel on the TV ads.
Sourdough Slim has taken his comedy act-yodeling show to venues ranging from Carnegie Hall to the Pendleton Round-Up.
The show will be on Valentine’s Day, 7:30 p.m. at The Met. Tickets are $18 for adults, $13 for students and seniors, through TicketsWest outlets (325-SEAT, 800-325-SEAT, www.ticketswest.com).