Jackson’s homecoming around the corner

This Sunday in the Today section, we'll have an interview with Cheyenne Jackson, the actor from Newport who graduated from the stages of Spokane to the Great White Way, with leading roles in "All Shook Up," "Finian's Rainbow" and "Xanadu." Jackson will be performing a homecoming concert at the Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox on Tuesday night - his first show in the area in more than 15 years. Here's one little tidbit from the Cheyenne Jackson interview that didn’t make the story, but is fun to share.

Not too long ago, Jackson was performing at Birdland, the famous New York City jazz club. He told the audience about growing up in
the Inland Northwest and mentioned Coeur d’Alene.

“I heard this laugh that was familiar, and I looked over and it was Roger Welch,” Jackson said.

Welch, the former Coeur d'Alene Summer Theatre artistic director fired last year after 20 years, has relocated to New York and had gone to see Jackson perform.

“I hadn’t seen him for so long,” Jackson said. “So I called him out and thanked him for hiring me for ‘Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.' ”

Jackson will be performing songs from the Great American Songbook this week with the Spokane Symphony Orchestra. Tickets to Jackson's show are on sale through the Fox box office, the Spokane Symphony website  or through any TicketsWest outlets. Prices are $35 and $48.

In the meantime, check out this clip of Jackson singing "What'll I Do?"