‘Badassdom’ set to film in Spokane
North by Northwest will begin filming a new movie in Spokane in July: “Knights of Badassdom.”
It’s a horror/comedy directed by Joe Lynch (“Wrong Turn 2: Dead End”) involving wizards and demons.
The wizards are of the play-acting variety. The plot is about a group of LARPers (live action role players) who like to dress up as wizards and elves and cavort about in the Eastern Washington woods.
But the demons will be real, or at least as real as CGI demons can be. Somehow, the LARPers summon some heavy metal demons into life. The gamers have to fend off these evil hordes.
The LARPers, with their costumes and fake swords, find themselves over-matched, to say the least.
The Internet Movie Database links Peter Dinklage (“30 Rock,” “The Station Agent”) and Douglas Tait (2009’s “Star Trek” film) to this project. We have no confirmation of that.
There’s also some online chatter about Summer Glau (“Terminator: The Sara Connor Chronicles”), Danny Pudi (“Community”), Ryan Kwanten (“True Blood”) and Steve Zahn (“Treme”).
The filming will also require lots of local extras, including as many LARPers (with or without costume) as producers can find.
If you’re interested, e-mail the area’s talent guru, Becky Reilly of Big Fish Northwest Talent, at becky@bigfishnw.com for details.
Travolta watch
Yes, we have confirmation: John Travolta will be coming to Coeur d’Alene to see his sisters, Ellen, Margaret and Annie, perform in “Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella.”
We can’t get anybody to tell us which day, however. The show runs July 3 through July 17 at the Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre.
Apparently, the Travolta clan will take advantage of this event – the first time all three sisters have been in a show together – to hold a big family reunion in Coeur d’Alene. About 35 people are expected, including the other two brothers, Sammy and Joey.
“Cinderella” was originally scheduled for a nine-performance run, but a special family matinee has been added on July 10 at 2 p.m.
For tickets, call (208) 769-7780.
The Interstate Fair lineup
Here’s the concert lineup for the Spokane County Interstate Fair:
• Clint Black, the country star, Sept. 13, 7 p.m.
• Bobby Vee, the early ’60s crooner who had hits with “Take Good Care of My Baby” and “The Night Has a Thousand Eyes,” Sept. 14, 7 p.m.
• “ABBA – The Music Concert,” an ABBA tribute act, Sept. 15, 7 p.m.
• Collective Soul , the rock band, Sept. 16, 7 p.m.
• Hinder, the rock band, with opening acts My Darkest Days and Bad City, Sept. 17, 7 p.m.
Tickets go on sale on July 6 through TicketsWest outlets (800-325-SEAT, www.ticketswest.com).
‘Blazing Guns’
Ignite Community Theatre will stage an outdoor play at Riverfront Park on the Fourth of July weekend this year: a Western melodrama titled “Blazing Guns at Roaring Gulch, or, The Perfumed Badge.”
Hero Harry Heartstone has to track down the villainous Snipe Vermin in this interactive (boo! hiss!) play.
Theresa Kappus directs. It’s on July 3 at 7:30 p.m. and admission is free.
Rockin’ B nights
The Rockin’ B Ranch – just off I-90 at exit 299 at Stateline – is more than just Cowboy Supper Shows.
It also has these other recurring events:
• Rockin’ B Jazz Nights on six upcoming Tuesdays, with the first this Tuesday at 7 p.m., featuring the jazz group 5MOR and a vocal trio. Tickets are $20 including dinner.
• Spaghetti Wednesday Westerns, featuring classic Western movies and an (optional) spaghetti dinner. Wednesday’s inaugural evening features “The Great Train Robbery” and “Stagecoach.”
Tickets for the movie are $5 for adults, $3 for children. Tickets for the spaghetti dinner are $7.50 for adults, $3 for kids 10 and younger.
• Rockin’ Bluegrass Nights, every third Tuesday, featuring top bluegrass bands. The next one will be July 20.
Call (509) 891-9016 for tickets, or just show up.
Originals in Newport
Newport, Wash., will be the place to be to see original theater in July.
The Pend Oreille Playhouse Community Theatre will stage original one-act plays from around the country in its First Annual One-Act Play Festival, July 9 and 10 at 7:30 p.m. and July 11 at 5 p.m.
Playwrights from as far away as California and Illinois submitted plays for the festival and six were chosen for performance. Three plays each will be staged on July 9 and 10 and the audience will vote for their favorites.
On July 11, the winners will be announced and the top two plays will be re-staged.
Tickets are $15 for a weekend pass or $8 ($5 for youth) for a single night, available at the box office of the Pend Oreille Playhouse, 240 N. Union, Newport, or online at www.pendoreilleplayers.org.