Spotlight: Sendak exhibit promises wild time at EWU
Let the wild rumpus begin.
A national traveling exhibition, “In a Nutshell: The Worlds of Maurice Sendak,” arrives at Eastern Washington University on Thursday.
Sendak is the author-illustrator of “Where the Wild Things Are,” “In the Night Kitchen” and more than 100 other picture books.
This small-scale exhibit was organized by the Rosenbach Museum and Library in Philadelphia. It “explores the influence of the Old and New worlds” in Sendak’s work.
He was born to Polish immigrants in Brooklyn. Threads of “Jewish family, geography and culture” run throughout his works.
The exhibit runs Thursday through Dec. 15 at the John F. Kennedy Library on the Cheney campus, during the library’s normal operating hours. It’s free.
A number of events will be held in conjunction with the exhibit, including an opening reception Nov. 2, 6 to 8 p.m. at the library. The Kosher Red Hots, a local klezmer band, will perform.
A Cirque-load of trucks
The Spokane Arena has announced that the upcoming “ Michael Jackson: THE IMMORTAL World Tour,” Nov. 12 and 13, will be the largest event ever at the Spokane Arena – at least, as measured by semi-truck load.
This Cirque du Soleil production will arrive with 37 semis. The previous record-holder, “Walking with Dinosaurs,” had 28 trucks.
Yet I wondered: How does this compare with the big Broadway mega-musical tours which have played the INB Performing Arts Center?
I checked the numbers and found that “Phantom of the Opera” toured with 28 semi-trucks, “The Lion King” with 23 and “Miss Saigon” with 17.
“Les Miserables” toured with a surprisingly modest eight, which serves as a reminder that depth and quality, of course, are not easily measured by tractor-trailer.
‘Haunting’ Broadway
Here’s a musical Halloween event, for a good cause: “The Haunting Sounds of Broadway,” a benefit for ShowKidz, Oct. 30, 5 p.m. at the Steam Plant, 159 S. Lincoln St.
The event will include Halloween-themed show tunes from such eerie offerings as “Jekyll & Hyde” and “Phantom of the Opera,” along with a four-course dinner and prize drawings.
Local singers Kirk Mouser and Tamara Schupman will perform, accompanied by Carolyn Jes s.
Proceeds will benefit ShowKidz, a program that provides Broadway show experiences and education for at-risk youth.
Tickets are $95 per person, available through TicketsWest outlets (800-325-SEAT or www.ticketswest.com).
‘Tubaween’ of the Rings
And if you’re looking for a completely different Halloween event, look no further than “Tubaween: Lord of the Tuba,” on Halloween night at the University of Idaho in Moscow.
This is a high-spirited skewering of “The Lord of the Rings” featuring a bunch of burly tuba and euphonium players, all decked out in Middle Earth attire.
Every year, the UI Marching Band tuba section performs a special Halloween show in costume – a “low-budget, high-energy, all-student production.” This year, these outsized tuba-playing hobbits will act out the story in a comic skit.
It all takes place Oct. 31, 7:30 p.m. at the Lionel Hampton School of Music’s Haddock Hall. Everyone is welcome, and a $5 donation is suggested.
The Bing films
One of my all-time favorite comedy-romance-thrillers – 1963’s “Charade,” starring Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn – is next up in Bing Crosby Theater’s Fall Classic Film Series.
The famous Henry Mancini opening theme will start playing Tuesday at 7 p.m.
Meanwhile, don’t forget about the big Halloween spook-fest coming up next weekend. On Oct. 30, the series will feature three films:
• 6 p.m. – “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” the 34-minute animated Disney film narrated by Bing Crosby.
• 7 p.m. – “ Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy,” the 1955 comedy-horror movie starring the famous comedy duo.
• 9 p.m. – “Halloween,” the 1978 Jamie Lee Curtis screamfest (for adult audiences).
All will be shown at the Bing, 901 W. Sprague Ave. No tickets are required; a $5 donation is requested.
‘Jane Eyre’
There should be some Gothic chills in “Jane Eyre,” the Spokane Civic Theatre’s annual in-concert musical fundraiser, Friday and Saturday, 7:30 p.m.
This is not a fully staged production, yet don’t get the wrong idea. Musically, it will be bigger than a regular show, with 60 singers and orchestra members. They’ll perform the songs from Paul Gordon’s 2000 Broadway musical version.
Tickets are $30, available by calling (509) 325-2507 or through TicketsWest.
The Hampton jazz lineup
The University of Idaho unveiled the lineup for its 45th Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival, Feb. 22-25.
Here are some highlights:
• Clarinetist Paquito D’Rivera, Feb. 22
• Gospel legends the Blind Boys of Alabama, Feb. 24.
• Funk band Tower of Power, Feb. 25.
Tickets to the general public will go on sale Dec. 2.