From the Studio

Spokane Civic Theatre's Kathie Doyle-Lipe, Director of "Matilda the Musical," visits the studio with actors Eleanor Weitz (Matilda), Shelby Freesmeyer (Miss Honey), and Doug Dawson (Miss Agatha Trunchbull), and the Civic's Music Director, Henry McNulty, with a preview of the production. "Matilda the Musical" has performances Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 PM, and Sundays at 2 PM, thought October 13. For tickets and more information, visit .

Members of Spokane Children's Theatre visit the studio to talk about their annual fundraiser, The Fantastical Family Fun Night. Young performers Madeline Brownlee and Zeyden Robbins and their parents (Tanya Brownlee and Chris Robbins, respectively), along with Managing Director Doug Beschta, give a preview of the evening's offerings and talk about what it means to support local theatre and young performers. The Fantastical Family Fun Night will take place Saturday, September 21, from 6 - 9 PM.

Red Bird Theatre is presenting "Into the "Woods," a musical for the whole family that puts a modern twist on the beloved Brothers Grimm fairy tales, beginning Thursday and continuing through September 29 at The Salvation Army Kroc Center in Coeur d'Alene. Principals involved in the production stopped by the studio for an interview with Verne. Listen to Kylee, as the Witch, sing "Stay With Me," and Kenzi, as Little Red, sing "I Know Things Now."

Inland Northwest Opera will present Madame Butterfly for two performances only: 7:30 PM Friday and 2 PM Sunday at the Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox. The opera is sung in Italian with English supertitles. Dawn Wolski, general director, and soprano Elizabeth Caballero stopped by the studio to talk with Verne about what the audience can expect, about bringing the lead role of Cio-Cio-San to life, and to share some of the music written by Puccini for the opera, which moves listeners from

Symphony Week wraps up with Spokane Symphony's Music Director, James Lowe, and Guest Pianist, William Wolfram, discussing American masterpieces and their approaches to interpretting and performing them. Spokane Symphony performs Masterworks 1: American Rhythms, including works by George Gershwin, John Adams, and Aaron Copland, Saturday, September 14 at 8 PM, and Sunday, September 15 at 3 PM. Doors open 90 minutes prior to the performance. For tickets and more information, visit .

Symphony Week continues with Spokane Symphony's Jeff vom Saal (Executive Director) and Janet Napoles (Manager of Education Programs), discussing educational outreach for students from kindergarten through 12th grades. Also in the studio is 2019-2020's Principal Trombonist, John Church, who talks about his musical education and career, and performs the first movement of Jacques Casterede's "Sonatine" with accompanist Tiffany Wang. For more information on Spokane Symphony's educational programs,

Day three of Symphony Week at Spokane Public Radio brings another conversation with James Lowe, Musical Director of the Spokane Symphony Orchestra, this time on the subject of music and health, with Dr. John J. Demakas, Chief Medical Officer of MultiCare Neuroscience Institute. Two Symphony musicians, Larry Jess (Principal Trumpet) and Patrick McNally (Principal Double Bass) join the program to discuss their work as musicians before and after health crises. For more information on James Lowe and

Verne has a conversation with Garrison Keillor in advance of his appearance with the Coeur d'Alene Symphony. See Garrison Keillor and the Coeur d'Alene Symphony 7:30 PM, Saturday, September 14. For tickets and more information, visit .

"Creative" doesn't begin to scratch the surface of the versatility of the Spokane Symphony Orchestra. In a studio interview, three musicians, joined by Dan Cotter, general manager, and Jake Ray, box office manager, described what it takes to create programs with themes of mayhem and mystery, the 50th anniversary of the moon landing, rock music and movies, and more. Listen and be inspired!

It's Symphony Week at Spokane Public Radio, and Jim Tevenan welcomes James Lowe for his first season as Music Director of the Spokane Symphony. Also in the studio, with an overview of the Symphony's 74th season, an update on the "State of the Symphony," and news of the Movies & Music programs are Jeff vom Saal (Executive Director), Bethany Schoeff-Cotter (Director of Artistic Administration & Orchestra Personnel Manager), and Brian Ritter (General Manager of the Martin Woldson Theater at