‘Winn-Dixie’ director shooting in Spokane
Acclaimed director Wayne Wang (“The Joy Luck Club,” “Because of Winn-Dixie,” “Maid in Manhattan”)has begun filming his new movie in Spokane.
“A Thousand Years of Good Prayer” is a multicultural family saga based on the stories by Yiyun Li. This is an intimate, low-budget film about a Chinese father who visits his daughter in the United States.
The daughter has been in the U.S. for a number of years and works at a university. The cultural divide between them is vast. While in the U.S., he also befriends an elderly woman from Iran. The story explores the complications of navigating between two profoundly different cultures.
The movie has no name stars. Local extras will be hired for some scenes.
This is another project involving Spokane’s North by Northwest production company. Filming is expected to continue through mid-November.
The Patty Duke play
Patty Duke is still scheduled to appear on the Actor’s Repertory Theatre stage – but in a different play, at the end of the season.
Instead of “Together Again for the First Time,” Duke will appear in “Humble Boy,” the 2001 London hit by Charlotte Jones.
This is a comedy-drama about an overbearing mother, her shy physicist son and the events that occur at the father’s funeral. Duke will play the role originated by Diana Rigg in London.
This play will fill the April 6 through 21 slot.
“Moonlight and Magnolias,” previously scheduled for then, will move to Nov. 24 through Dec. 9. This is a comedy about 1939 Hollywood and the making of “Gone With the Wind.”
“Together Again for the First Time,” an original comedy by local playwright Reed McColm, is now tentatively slated for next season.
One other change: ARt will move “Long Day’s Journey Into Night” to next season because David Ogden Stiers (“M*A*S*H”) has agreed to appear in the lead.
He is not available for the original Jan. 12 through 27 slot, so artistic director Michael Weaver said he is working on acquiring another, unspecified, American classic for those dates.
Questions? Call ARt at (509) 838-4013.
‘Inconvenient Truths’
A nonprofit film and music festival titled “Inconvenient Truths” will fill The Met, 901 W. Sprague, on Wednesday through Friday.
The event features three movies – “Who Killed the Electric Car?” “Nobelity” and Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth” – each of which will be shown each day. Each day will also include music by Myles Kennedy and Danny McCollim as well as question-and-answer panel discussions.
Doors open at 3 p.m. each day, continuing until 11 p.m. Tickets are $14 per day or $33 for all three days, available through TicketsWest outlets (509-325-SEAT, 800-325-SEAT, www.ticketswest.com). Profits will be donated to groups including the Sierra Club, the Lands Council and Conservation Northwest.
Organizer Ron Reed said the goal is to inaugurate a community discussion of issues raised in the movies. For schedule information, call (509) 326-7789.
And the winner is …
This year, the Spokane City Arts Awards will feature an element of suspense.
Winners will not be announced in advance. They will be announced at the Spokane City Council meeting on Nov. 6 at 6 p.m.
A reception will follow at the Kress Gallery in River Park Square.
An operatic victory
Heidi Melton, a 2000 Ferris High School grad, has just signed a contract with the San Francisco Opera Company.
A graduate of the Eastman School of Music, she won the district and regional Metropolitan Opera tryouts in 2005. She has also been, naturally, a multiple winner in Greater Spokane Music and Allied Arts Festival competitions (now MusicFest Northwest).
Spokane’s strong track record of producing national-class opera singers continues.
Celtic Music Spokane
The first concert in the new Celtic Music Spokane series takes place Saturday at 7 p.m. at Westminster Congregational Church, 411 S. Washington.
The show, titled “Bountiful Harvest,” features the Celtic Nots, Nancy Davis and Brian MacLeod. Tickets are $12 at the door.
Children’s Chorus opener
The Spokane Area Children’s Chorus kicks off its 20th season today at 4 p.m. at Westminster Congregational Church.
Five choirs, under the umbrella of the SACC, will present music from a variety of cultures.
Tickets are available at the door for $7 and $8.
Carillon collaboration
A world premiere event will take place at the Cathedral of Saint John the Evangelist on Oct. 22 at 9:30 a.m.
Carillonneur Andrea McCrady will perform a new carillon work, “Out of the Sky,” by Spokane composer William Berry. It was commissioned specially for the cathedral’s carillon in honor of the retirement of Rev. Mart Craft.
The best listening will be outdoors on the cathedral grounds, but the composition will also be heard inside via microphone.