Category Archives: Entertainment

Stories from Backstage – Sarah Brightman

Posted on September 23, 2012 by brucesmith49

by Bruce A. Smith  I’ve never heard Sarah Brightman speak with a Cockney accent.  Nor have I heard her sing with any proper British accent that would reflect her heritage as the original London lead in Phantom of the Opera, … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, Stories from Backstage, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Stories from Backstage – Remembering the ol’ Britney Spears

Posted on September 23, 2012 by brucesmith49

by Bruce A. Smith Key Arena, 2004  Several years ago I witnessed “Blonde Pride Night” at the Key as 10,000 of Seattle’s finest young cuties celebrated their Blondeness, and paid homage to their Golden Goddess, Britney Spears.  But, I didn’t … Continue reading →

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Stories from Backstage – The Dixie Chicks

Posted on September 23, 2012 by brucesmith49

 by Bruce A. Smith Editor’s Note:   This new column, “Stories from Backstage,” is the recounting of my experiences working in rock and roll and theater as a stagehand.  For several years I worked in Nashville and Seattle where I took … Continue reading →

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Mount Rainier National Park offers free admission this Saturday

Posted on June 7, 2012 by brucesmith49

Special to the Mountain News – The National Park Service has released the following announcement:  Ashford, WA:  Get a head start on your summer fun with free admission to Mount Rainier National Park this Saturday, June 9.  In celebration of … Continue reading →

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Stories from Backstage – Arlo Guthrie

Posted on March 24, 2012 by brucesmith49

by Bruce A. Smith  Today’s temperatures in the 60s, our first warm day of the year, brought out the motorcycles and as I rode home from Tacoma in my current mode of transport – as a passenger in a comfy Ford Taurus … Continue reading →

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Stories from Backstage – the Dixie Chicks, first memory

Posted on March 20, 2012 by brucesmith49

by Bruce A. Smith  Seattle’s Key Arena, Summer, 2003 – and the Tacoma Dome, November 2006 Seattle: Chicks Rule!  Yup, best concert I’ve ever seen, and I’m not alone in that assessment – the 12,000 screaming, mostly women in the Key … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Entertainment, Stories from Backstage | 1 Comment

Stories from Backstage – Neil Diamond

Posted on February 21, 2012 by brucesmith49

Note:  From 1999 until 2006 I was a theatrical stagehand in Nashville and Seattle.  I also went on a few brief tours with Cavalia, the Cirque Du Soleil spin-off that is currently performing in Marymoor Park.  Key Arena, Seattle – 2006 … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Entertainment, Events, Stories from Backstage | 2 Comments

Countdown to the Oscars includes unusual move to nominate an over-looked actor

Posted on February 18, 2012 by brucesmith49

by Bruce A. Smith  The 84th Academy Awards will be awarded on February 26, and there is a surprising campaign surging within the film industry to nominate an actor that has been overlooked heretofore.  The circumstances surrounding this omission are … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Entertainment, Events | 3 Comments

Chocolate Stroll a huge success in Orting

Posted on February 12, 2012 by brucesmith49

by Bruce A. Smith  Carrying goodie bags filled with chocolate candies, dozens of parents and kids – and a goodly gaggle of middle-aged women out for a lark – flooded the downtown core of Orting on Saturday afternoon for the … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Entertainment, Events, Orting | 10 Comments

Big crowd enjoys Sprinker ice rink’s opening day

Posted on January 30, 2012 by brucesmith49

 Special to the Mountain News More than 400 skaters of all ages and abilities tried out Sprinker Recreation Center’s new-and-improved ice rink on Jan. 28, which opened to the public after an eight-month renovation.

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