Spotlight: Thomas Hampson, opera star, gives his two cents on the Fox
The tall man with the deep, sonorous voice touring the Fox Theater on Monday morning was Thomas Hampson, a member of the Fox board of trustees and honorary co-chairman of its capital campaign.
He is also one of the most famous opera stars in the world. So when he ducked through the scaffolding and peered into the shells of the dressing rooms, he had his own unique perspective about what a state-of-the-art performing arts facility should have.
“Have you thought about wireless broadband in the dressing rooms?” said Hampson. “That way you’re not tied to a phone jack.”
Hampson, fresh from singing the title role in Verdi’s “Simon Boccanegra” at the Metropolitan Opera, was in Spokane to check out the Fox, visit relatives in the region and to reconnect with his artistic roots.
Spokane is where Hampson learned his art. He went to high school and college in this area and launched his career here.
He’s returning today to his other hometown: Vienna.
A new Fox manager
Patricia Iron, the director of the Portland Center for the Performing Arts for nine years, has been hired as general manager of the Fox Theater.
More recently, Iron served as the executive director of the Tower Theatre Foundation, overseeing the renovation of a historic movie house in Bend, Ore.
In other words, she has exceptionally good credentials for taking over this theater, a historic movie house undergoing a $31 million renovation. The Fox is scheduled to open in late fall of this year.
Iron has a degree in theater administration from Grand Valley State University in Michigan.
An ‘Assassins’ victory
The Spokane Civic Theatre’s production of Stephen Sondheim’s “Assassins” won the Best in State award at the 2007 Kaleidoscope State Community Theater Festival in Walla Walla last weekend.
This means the show will advance to the regional competition at the Tacoma Musical Playhouse on March 30 and 31.
Not only did the show win the big prize, it nearly swept all of the other categories, including:
“Best Director: Troy Nickerson.
“Best Set Design: David Baker.
“Best Costume Design: Jan Wanless.
“Best Actor: Patrick McHenry-Kroetch.
“Best Actress: Marianne McLaughlin.
“Best Supporting Actor: David Gigler.
All of the above awards were in the “musical or comedy” category.
If the Civic production wins the regionals, it will go to the national competition in Charlotte, N.C. in June. The Civic has finished first in the nation twice and was runner-up a third time.
Redbone redux
Leon Redbone, the white-fedora-wearing champion of America’s musical traditions, is returning to Spokane for a show on May 2 at the Bing Crosby Theater.
That location is fitting, since Redbone can croon a heck of a Crosby-style tune, as well as performing his ragtime and blues repertoire.
Tickets are $37, through TicketsWest outlets (325-SEAT, 800-325-SEAT, www.ticketswest.com).
Fine Prine
John Prine, another outstanding purveyor of American roots music, has been booked into the Bing Crosby Theater on May 21.
He’s one of the great singer-songwriters to emerge in the 1970s, with hit songs like “Sam Stone,” “Hello in There” and “Angel From Montgomery.”
Tickets are $51.50, through TicketsWest.
An ‘Aida’ primer
It has come to Spotlight’s attention that not everyone is familiar with the “Aida” tour that is arriving at the INB Performing Arts Center for seven performances March 29-April 1.
Here’s a brief “Aida” primer:
“”Aida” is not an opera, even though it is based on the Verdi opera of the same name, about the tragic love triangle involving a Nubian princess, an Egyptian princess and an Egyptian soldier.
“It’s a pop musical with music by Elton John and Tim Rice. The songs cover the gamut from “urban-based rhythm and blues, gospel-inspired songs, ballads and, of course, ‘Crocodile Rock’ songs,” according to Sir Elton himself.
“It is not sung-through – it includes plenty of spoken dialogue.