Our Town cast members Brian Tyrrell, Clarke Hallum and McKenna Soderberg

Our Town at Olympia High School

by Kelli Samson for OLY ARTS Thornton Wilder’s Our Town, long-heralded as the most American of plays, graces the stage at Olympia High School this winter under the talented direction of Kathy Dorgan. Wilder’s play is simple, focusing on the citizens of a small, 1900s American town over a 12-year period. “It’s always been on …

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Kira Batcheller in My Name Is Rachel Corrie

REVIEW: My Name Is Rachel Corrie

THEATER REVIEW by Alec Clayton for OLY ARTS At long last Rachel Corrie has come home to Olympia in the theatrical form of My Name is Rachel Corrie at Harlequin Productions. This is Olympia’s first-ever locally produced performance of the play, which is based on the life and writings of the Olympia native. Written completely …

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In Defense of the Arts

by Ned Hayes, publisher and Christian Carvajal, managing editor of OLY ARTS “The arts…are essential to the prosperity of the state and to the ornament and happiness of human life. They have a primary claim to the encouragement of every lover of his country and mankind.” —George Washington We stand for art. Our publication is …

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Polyrhythmics

Weekend Preview: Guide to Events in Thurston County (Jan. 20, 2017)

WEEKEND PREVIEW is your weekly guide to events in Thurston County. This week, Olympia artists are stretching their wings to bring you amazing crossover events in literature, music and dance. We’ll make sure you know exactly where to go to get your fix of excitement in the arts.   Click here to listen to our podcast …

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Women's March Washington State

Women’s March Washington State

by Nora Kovacs for OLY ARTS The Women’s March on Washington state takes place this Saturday in solidarity with the Women’s March on Washington, D.C. and other marches across the country and internationally. A day after the inauguration of the 45th president of the United States, hundreds of thousands of women and their allies will …

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The Ghostlight Project

Turn On Your Ghost Light

“In theater,” says Linda Whitney, Harlequin Productions’ artistic director, “it is a tradition to leave a ghost light on when the theater goes dark, illuminating a safe path through the space.” Harlequin is one of several area troupes participating in a national campaign called The Ghostlight Project. On Thursday, January 19, the eve of the …

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SINK

SINK Premiere

by Nora Kovacs for OLY ARTS For almost two years, members of South Puget Sound Community College’s film and production program have been hard at work on an intense feature film entitled SINK. Filmed and sourced entirely in Olympia, SINK will be presented to the public for the first time on January 28. Written by …

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The Time Jumpers

Weekend Preview: Guide to Events in Thurston County (Jan. 13, 2017)

WEEKEND PREVIEW is your weekly guide to events in Thurston County. This week, we’ll fill you in on all the live storytelling, toe-tapping music and student-led performances happening around town. Join Olympia’s arts and culture community and start the new year off with a bang. Click here to listen to our podcast version of Weekend …

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Postcard art by Jacci Butler

REVIEW: Wild Thing at South Puget Sound Community College

VISUAL ARTS REVIEW by Alec Clayton for OLY ARTS There are something like 360 art works by approximately 120 artists in the annual postcard show at South Puget Sound Community College. But who’s counting? Actually, I am. I counted 118 names on the announcement card, but I lost my place while counting and I multiplied …

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Starry Messenger, art by Nikki McClure

Starry Messenger at Olympia Family Theater

by Jonah Barrett for OLY ARTS Heliocentrism isn’t a radical idea anymore, but that wasn’t the case 400 years ago. Olympia Family Theater will premiere its production of Kari Margolis’s Starry Messenger, with Brian Tyrrell directing. Starry Messenger is a historically based play about imagination and discovery. It follows the life of Galileo Galilei as …

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