‘Beyond Oz’ exhibition on display at GU library

All of you “Wizard of Oz” fans have a local exhibition to look forward to: “Beyond Oz: Highlights from the L. Frank Baum Collection of Currie Corbin.”

This exhibit will be on display April 10 through June 30 in the Rare Book Reading Room at Gonzaga University’s Foley Center Library. It’s timed to coincide with Baum’s 150th birthday on May 15.

The exhibit will include an array of first-edition “Oz” books as well as a 1913 lithograph poster from Baum’s 1913 stage production, “The Tik Tok Man of Oz.” The exhibit will include more than 100 items.

Corbin is a Spokane resident who has been a serious collector of Baum’s work since his childhood in eastern Montana. He will give a free public lecture about his collection on April 27, 7 p.m., in the Foley Center Teleconference Room.

Exhibit hours will be Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturdays, noon to 4 p.m. The exhibit is free.

Happy ‘Brave’ actors

Plenty of people were happy when “Home of the Brave,” the movie starring Samuel L. Jackson, 50 Cent and Christina Ricci, did a complete 180 and returned to Spokane last week after departing for Vancouver two days earlier.

We’d bet that few were happier than the 25 local actors who had been cast for speaking roles. Here are a few names you might recognize from other local theatrical ventures: Niké Imoru, Joyce Cameron, Tony Anthony, Kate Vita and Jerry Sciarrio. Also of note: Kiara Johnson, age 8, who has an important role as a young daughter.

ARt season

The Actor’s Repertory Theatre announced its 2006-07 season, anchored by “Together Again for the First Time,” starring Patty Duke.

Here’s the full lineup:

“ “Tour de Farce,” by Philip LaZebnik and Kingsley Day, Aug. 25-Sept. 9 – A two-person, 10-character farce about a famous author, a senator, a tabloid TV reporter and a disgruntled wife, all in the same hotel room on the same night.

“ “The Shape of Things,” by Neil LaBute, Sept. 22-Oct. 7 – This controversial playwright, with Spokane roots, investigates the difficult relationships between men and women.

“ “Together Again for the First Time,” by Reed McColm, Nov. 24-Dec. 17 – Patty Duke stars in local playwright McColm’s warm family comedy about a Spokane mother who invites her new extended family over for a “perfect Christmas.”

“ “Long Day’s Journey Into Night,” by Eugene O’Neill, Jan. 12-Jan. 27 – The American masterpiece about the haunted Tyrone family and their demons.

“ “Moonlight and Magnolias,” by Ron Hutchinson, April 6-21, 2007 – A new off-Broadway comedy about the inner workings of 1939 Hollywood.

Call 838-4013 for season ticket information.

By the way, the final production of the current season, “Born Yesterday,” opens for previews on Friday at ARt’s home in the Spartan Theatre at Spokane Falls Community College.

Spokane Civic season

The Spokane Civic Theatre announced its 2006-2007 season on Thursday. Here’s the Main Stage lineup:

“ “Singin’ in the Rain,” by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, Sept. 29-Oct. 28 – The stage version of the classic MGM musical.

“ “Mame,” by Jerry Herman, Nov. 17-Dec. 17 – The classic musical about the flamboyant society hostess.

“ “Barefoot in the Park,” by Neil Simon, Jan. 12-Feb. 3 –Simon’s 1963 comedy about honeymooners.

“ “All My Sons,” by Arthur Miller, Feb. 23-March 10 – The searing 1947 classic about responsibility and guilt.

“ “The Nerd,” by Larry Shue, March 30-April 22, 2007 – A 1987 comedy about an oddball character.

“ “The Sound of Music,” by Rodgers and Hammerstein, May 18-June 17, 2007 – The all-time favorite musical about the Von Trapp family.

Here’s the Studio Theatre lineup:

“ “Isn’t It Romantic?” by Wendy Wasserstein, Oct. 20-Nov. 19.

“ “Assassins,” by Stephen Sondheim, Jan. 26-Feb.18.

“ “The Cover of Life,” by RT Robinson, March 9-31.

“ “Dusk,” by Bryan Harnetiaux, April 27-May 18, 2007.

“ “24th Annual Playwrights Forum Festival,” June 7-10, 2007.

Call 325-2507 for season ticket information.

Interplayers announcement

Spokane Interplayers Theatre has scheduled an event on Wednesday to announce its 2006-2007 season – and also to announce a surprise or two.

We don’t know what the surprise is yet, but this might be a hint – Jack Bannon and Ellen Travolta will also be on hand for this announcement.

All we can say right now is: We’re pleased to see that Interplayers is going ahead with a 2006-2007 season.

Baylon and baby

Susanna Baylon, KXLY-4 morning co-anchor, has decided to become a stay-at-home mom with her new baby, Noelle.

She will continue to work on occasional freelance stories.

“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed 18 years as a broadcast journalist, and now I’m thrilled to get into my new career,” said Baylon. “… I don’t want to miss a moment of her growing up.”

Baylon will be replaced by Kalae Chock, who joined the station last year from her previous job in Missoula.

“Dead Famous” goes Bing

The Bing Crosby episode of “Dead Famous: Ghostly Encounters,” airs 11 p.m. on Tuesday on the Biography Channel.

A British crew came through Spokane last fall to film this show, which seeks to commune with the spirits of dead celebrities.

The Biography Channel is available on Comcast digital.

Peace through music

Internationally known pianist Marvin Goldstein will appear in concert Friday, 7:30 p.m. at The Met, with guest vocalist Andrea Louise Birch.

Goldstein won a music scholarship to Tel Aviv University School of Music at age 18 and has been performing all over the world since then. He has started a Peace With Music Foundation to promote world peace through music.

According to his Web site, MarvinGoldstein.com, he is currently working with President George W. Bush and his staff on a musical peace concert at the White House for Middle East peace with Israeli and Palestinian singers.

Tickets for the concert at The Met are $12 each, available by calling 928-3190, or by e-mail at andilou@comcast.net.

An astronaut at the MAC

International Space Station astronaut John Phillips will visit the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture (MAC) on Monday to make a special presentation to local author Jack Nisbet (“Sources of the River”).

Phillips plans to give Nisbet his copy of “Sources of the River” – a copy that has traveled 56 million miles. Phillips took it with him on the space station.

Phillips read the book in orbit and was especially struck by the parallels between the manned space program and early explorer David Thompson, the subject of “Sources of the River.”

Phillips will then tour the MAC exhibit, “The Mapmakers’s Eye: David Thompson on the Columbia Plateau.”

Since the MAC is closed on Mondays, this will be a private presentation.