Ignite Community Theatre

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2023/mar/30/ignite-community-theater/

Great article Scott and Dan! Let's hope someone comes forward with a new place we can call home...it takes a community to Ignite! a theatre!

Ignite Community Theater searching for its next stage home The days of Ignite Community Theatre may be numbered if the nonprofit organization cannot find a new home quickly.

A plea to the community from our Board of Directors!

"The Book Club Play" opens tonight at 7:30 and continues on Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 this week-end only. Tickets only available at the door and parking is free! See this hilarious readers theatre production directed by Kim Roberts! Break legs to the stellar group of players!

Ignite's Booklight Readers Theatre returns after a 2-year pandemic break with Agatha Christie's "The Unexpected Guest." 3 performances...tonight (March 11) at 7:30, tomorrow at 7:30, and Sunday at 2:00. Location is Project ID 4209 E. Pacific Ave. in Spokane Valley. Free of charge! It feels so good to be back!

We love this theater. So much charm.

Look! Another great production being put together by EWU Theater! Things are starting to open up again. I bet it makes you wonder how much longer it will be before Ignite comes out with a production...?

Well...funny you should ask...

EWU Theatre presents Pride and Prejudice, coming this April!

Ticket sales start Friday, April 15th.

EXCITING!!!!

The Civic is resuming live theater with The Play That Goes Wrong, a show about the pitfalls (and pratfalls) of live theater After a nearly two-year hiatus brought on by the pandemic, Spokane Civic Theatre is resuming live productions with the regional premiere of The Play That...

ICYMI: Here's some exciting local theater news!

COEUR d’ALENE – Four years after being cast in a small character role with Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre, Chuck Ethridge has landed the lead.

The theater’s board of directors has hired Ethridge as the Executive Artistic Director.

The announcement comes as the theater gears up for its first full season since the stage went dark due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Ethridge served as the Associate Artistic Director beginning in late 2018, and was moved to the Executive Director role during the latter part of the theater’s two-year hiatus. Much of the work he performed was on a volunteer basis.

In his new paid, full-time position, Ethridge is tasked with fundraising, managing the theater’s business operations and overseeing the artistic direction and production. Ethridge has been a lifelong performer and had his first role in a professional musical at the age of 19.

He studied vocal performance at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego and did graduate studies in voice at the University of Idaho. He has worked as a performer, music director, conductor and private voice teacher.

A Coeur d’Alene resident since 1994, Ethridge said he loves the community of artists and culture in North Idaho and is excited for his new role with Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre.

“Producing and managing a theater is an enormous amount of work,” he said, “but it is one of the most joyful experiences there is, collaborating with artistic professionals, performers and technical crews.”

Like many arts organizations, Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre was hit hard by the pandemic. The board of directors furloughed all the theater staff and had to cancel the 2020 and 2021 summer seasons.

Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre Board President LaDonna Beaumont said the theater has a history of talented, passionate leadership and the board is excited to see Ethridge carry on that legacy of excellence.

“As our new Executive Artistic Director, Chuck has the experience and enthusiasm to put the dark years behind us, and help CST step back into the light,” Beaumont said. “We could not be more confident that we have some amazing years ahead with him at the helm.”

While furloughed, Ethridge studied grant writing and began submitting grants to help the theater recoup the losses of two canceled summer seasons. In 2020 he landed grants totaling around $65,000 and last year helped the theater get a
sizable $276,000 Shuttered Venue Operators Grant from the Small Business Administration for venues impacted by COVID-19.

The grant writing process entailed hundreds of hours of work combing through financial statements, reviewing ledgers, and compiling information, Ethridge said. That work paid off, and the theater is headed into the 2022 summer season in the
black.

“I feel like the tide is turning and we are back,” Ethridge said. “Because of the quick actions of the board in 2020 shutting us down and the grant money that has come in, we have been able to survive.”

Now, Ethridge wants the theater to thrive.

For the first time since 2014, the productions will be held at the Schuler Performing Arts Center at North Idaho College in Coeur d’Alene. Being back in the larger venue provides the opportunity to make theater more accessible to underserved members of the community.

Season ticket sales kicked off in November and are selling at a pace that hasn’t been seen in a decade. The professional theater’s summer season begins July 1 with “Mamma Mia!,” followed by “Little Women, The Broadway Musical,” and
“Nunsense.”

Auditions for the summer season are set for January 22 and 23 in Coeur d’Alene. Virtual auditions are also being accepted. Ethridge said historically 75 percent or more of the actors that come to audition for Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre have been women, so the theater decided to celebrate the performers in our region by
choosing musicals that heavily focused on female characters.

"I am humbled and excited to take on this new role," Ethridge said. "The performing arts are a critical piece to any thriving community. My team's aim will be the highest quality live theater possible, bringing joy and entertainment to the region and creating great experiences for our performers and crews.”

Some cool things going on at the Magic Lantern.

The Magic Lantern Concert Series: Heat Speak, Rosie CQ The Magic Lantern Concert Series: Heat Speak, Rosie CQ When stages shut down in 2020, Live from Somewhere stepped up to give Spokane musicians a place to play. The group’s video series took local acts to atypical spots around town — from a record store to dusty back lots — to play their music ...

I'm excited to check this out this Thursday. Let's support the work of our young playwrights in the area.

Up next in the Lab - Spokane Playwrights Laboratory Mad Underground by Sandra Hosking Tickets Available Now Tickets are “pay what you think it’s worth”. At the event you will be given a link to donate to SPL. If you would like to donate before the event, please click the donate button. What you can expect at the lab. When you come to a Lab-Tim...

One more chance to audition for a role with this great theater. These folks do such great work with our tiny thespian community. Lol

Thank you to everyone who came out last night to auditions!

If you couldn't make it, you have one more chance to show Mallory (Director) and Danica (Choreographer) what you got!

Auditions tonight for A Year With Frog and Toad at 6pm!

Or friends at Stage Left continue to do amazing work!

A new production of Corpus Christi at Stage Left aims for compassion over controversy From the moment pen was put to paper, Terrence McNally's Corpus Christi was bound to ruffle feathers. The play transposes the biblical story of Jesus...

The Shape of Things by Neil LaBute The Shape of Things by Neil LaBute Catch the debut production of Neil LaBute’s The Shape of Things by the Upstart Players, a group of mostly Spokane-based theater artists so recently formed they don’t yet have an online presence. The dark romantic comedy follows four college students who “make...

Sokane Fall Folk Festival Spokane Fall Folk Festival - Celebrating our cultural diversity. Free, family-oriented music and dance event.

Boy that looks like a good spot for a theater. What do you folks think? Please share your thoughts.

Feel free to share this link for us with your friends or other groups that would be interested in what happens at this spot.

Thanks,
IGNITE!

As part of a comprehensive public engagement effort, Spokane City Council is looking for community input on the future use of the former Spokane Public Library at East Central via ThoughtExchange. Visit the link below to participate https://tejoin.com/scroll/418291364

We are sorry to have to announce that the theater community has lost a valuable, inspiring and dear friend recently.

Good-bye to our friend, Jerry Uppinghouse.

Jerry passed away unexpectantly on November 9th. He was an accomplished actor and a respected director among his many contributions. But most importantly, Jerry was our good friend. He was a long-time member of Spokane's theatre community and worked with us at Ignite on many occasions creating lasting memories.

Thank you for sharing yourself and your talents with us for so long Jerry. We will never forget you.

Our partners in performance continue to put out great work. We love the opportunities Stage Left provides for thespians to practice their passions.

Playwright's Playground Playwright's Playground Stage Left Theater is known for its innovation and creativity, and that continues with this year’s Playwright’s Playground, an evening of livestreamed original plays. Join the stream from the comfort of your own couch and catch this crowd-favorite production with new play...

Lots of things going on around town! Can't wait for the second chance to see this show

Auditions - Spokane Playwrights Laboratory We hope you can join the team as we workshop exciting new plays by some of Spokane's finest playwrights. We are hosting auditions for our 2021-2022 season. The general details and an audition request form are on this page.

We highly recommend checking out Dahveed Bullis' work out!

Welcome! You are invited to join a Gonzaga webinar: MWPAC Green Room Series – Dahveed Bullis. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar. Welcome! You are invited to join a Gonzaga webinar: MWPAC Green Room Series – Dahveed Bullis. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.

https://youtu.be/UnhBveLH81M

BachFest 2021 Promo V1

Water to a thirsty thespian

Coffee Shop Coffee Shop It’s not clear when live theater will return, but several local collectives have found workarounds with virtual productions and recordings. Sandpoint’s own Panida Theater has gotten into the spirit, and they’re now presenting theater via Zoom (or, as they’re describing it, Zoom R...

This looks like so much fun! January 16th, don't miss this chance .

Virtual Event - Northwest BachFest: The Singing Siren - Classical Cabaret > Fox Theater Shelly Watson, Juilliard graduate, opera singer and Met Opera outreach artist follows her love for comedy, improvisation, costume design, set design, event hosting as a “Femcee” and creates enthralling entertainment events encompassing these elements. This concert will be broadcast live on Sat...