Will Lippman, Bruce Haasl, Christie Oldright and Carolyn Willems Van Dijk in First Date. Photo courtesy Harlequin Productions

REVIEW: First Date at Harlequin Productions

THEATER REVIEW by Alec Clayton for OLY ARTS Harlequin Productions’ First Date is a romantic comedy in the tradition of Hepburn and Tracy, Doris Day and Rock Hudson, Woody Allen and Diane Keaton, updated for the digital age. Updated how? For starters, the search engine Google appears in the guise of a woman, and there’s …

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Empowered Young Women: Lakefair’s Royal Court 2017

by Christina Butcher for OLY ARTS With a mission to build and celebrate community in Thurston County, Capital Lakefair awards scholarships to outstanding young women each year and inaugurates them into the Lakefair Royal Court. This year, five well-deserving, high-school juniors were awarded scholarships, and OLY ARTS spoke with them to learn how they plan …

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Weekend Preview: June 30, 2017

WEEKEND PREVIEW is your weekly guide to events in Thurston County. This week, there’s more outdoor theater, dance and music events than you can count. Just grab a blanket and head to the park for a healthy dose of arts and entertainment in Olympia.   Click here to listen to our podcast version of Weekend Preview, …

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Abbey Road Live

Abbey Road Live at Music in the Park

by Molly Gilmore for OLY ARTS Olympia Music in the Park concerts most often feature local and regional acts, but this year’s series opens with a performance by Beatles tribute act Abbey Road Live, all the way from Athens, Georgia. The band, which will be in the Northwest to play at the Oregon Country Fair, …

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Christian Doyle, photo by Scot Whitney

Christian Doyle: The Natural

by Alec Clayton for OLY ARTS “Christian Doyle is one of those rare actors who makes it look like anyone should be able to do what he does, it’s so effortless and natural,” says film and stage actor Scott C. Brown. Local theatergoers have seen Doyle in many shows, most likely singing and acting in …

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Rodney Crowell

A Music Fan’s Musician: Rodney Crowell

by Adam McKinney for OLY ARTS It’s not uncommon for certain members of musical genres to become cliquey, forbidding outside entrance from other genres. Of them all, country in particular has enjoyed its embrace of tradition, shunning any meddling from the greater musical world. This stereotype is certainly not without its exceptions, though, and country’s …

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South Sound BBQ Festival

Get Your Fingers Messy at the South Sound BBQ Festival

by Kelli Samson for OLY ARTS The Lacey Chamber of Commerce hosts the South Sound BBQ Festival as a finale to Lacey Days. This will culminate the celebration of the city’s 50th anniversary. For fans of traditional, slow-cooked barbecue or anyone who ever wanted to be in an eating contest, this event is not to …

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June and July film screenings at Olympia Film Society

Summer Screenings at Olympia Film Society

by Jonah Barrett for OLY ARTS This June and July, the Olympia Film Society has a number of fascinating films up their sleeve. Some of these screenings have multiple showings, while some are a one-night-only extravaganza. Happy watching! Hidden Figures with post-film Q&A 6:30 p.m. Saturday, June 24 For anyone who loves space, diversity or …

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Dana Winter, Heather Christopher, Meghan Goodman, Samantha Chandler and Katelyn Hoffman in 5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche

REVIEW: 5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche at TAO

THEATER REVIEW by Alec Clayton for OLY ARTS Theater Artists Olympia’s 5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche might be one of the most difficult reviews I’ve ever written, because I don’t want to give anything away, and this insanely funny romp is so full of surprises that I can hardly say anything without divulging something you …

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Weekend Preview: June 23, 2017

WEEKEND PREVIEW is your weekly guide to events in Thurston County. This week, we’ve got all the behind-the-scenes details you’ll need to plan an amazing weekend full of theater, author readings and music in Olympia!    Click here to listen to our podcast version of Weekend Preview, sponsored by Chehalis Centralia Railroad. Follow the links …

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