E
ventually as the computer age was
getting into gear and becoming more
accessible, theaters felt that there was
a need to incorporate this technology
into a streamlined ticket sales system.
Successful Spokane hotel owner and
businessman Don Barbieri also saw
promise in this ideology and wanted
to be a part of it. Aware of Jack’s
experience and theater knowhow, he
invited him to help establish a new
online ticketing business.
Reluctant at first, but then going with
his “nothing ventured” attitude, Jack
accepted the challenge and established
TicketsWest, developing it into a
business success story which lives on
right through to this very day.
In 1987 a new entertainment initiative
was introduced as an updated
incarnation of the former G&B (Goodale
& Barbieri) Presents agency and the new
name, which will be very familiar to
many, became WestCoast Entertainment.
Opportunity came knocking again
that same year when the immensely
successful Lloyd Webber Broadway
musical Cats was launched on a
nationwide tour of major U.S. cities,
and Don Barbieri, Heather Barbieri,
and Jack Lucas were approached to
entertain the possibility of bringing the
musical to Spokane for one week. The
touring company was looking for a third
stop on the northwest portion of their
tour besides Seattle and Portland, and
because of its conveniently centralized
location, Spokane became the ideal
solution. Indeed the Broadway agents
nicknamed Spokane “the little city that
can!” How right they are!
The decision of course was a no-brainer,
and because of their faith in the project
they gave it the go ahead and Cats
became a monumental success story
— having the very best of Broadway
playing right in our Lilac City.
48
ART CHOWDER MAGAZINE
Now there’s a catchy little title for you, the “Best of Broadway!”
That name struck a firm chord with Jack, and it became the permanent moniker for
this new division of WestCoast Entertainment. Now, quite literally, the stage was
set to bring the world’s greatest musicals, concerts and dramas to Spokane. Jack was
now ready to visit New York, the entire United States and often the entire globe to
research and negotiate contracts to bring, yes, the very Best of Broadway to eager
audiences in Spokane and the Northwest.
As the series progressively gained in both popularity and momentum, some of the
more ambitious productions such as Phantom of The Opera and Les Miserables
were requiring larger and more complex facilities. To accommodate those demands
WestCoast Entertainment has invested in several massive expansion programs, the
most recent of which is a 28 million dollar renovation program resulting in a large
world class staging area, with 2,600 capacity modern seating, new designer dressing
rooms and state of the art technical and backstage facilities. Jack is confident and
proud to boast that Spokane is more than capable of welcoming the largest and most
intricate of Broadway productions.
It’s no happenstance therefore that independent local businesses began approaching
Jack wishing to partner with WestCoast Entertainment to offer sponsorship support
to the Best of Broadway program. After considerable consideration, Jack selected
Spokane Teachers Credit Union (also known as STCU), to be the principal sponsor
and associate their name with the productions. Jack chose STCU because of their
dedication and enthusiastic support for the betterment of Spokane’s education
system, in tandem with their encouragement for our city’s performing arts. Jack
would also like to give thanks to many other local businesses and contributors who
are offering their support to the series.