Olympia’s oldest live theater continues its tradition of offering diverse, theatrical experiences that appeal to both actors and patrons. Its 79th season offers what artistic director Kendra Malm describes as a “balance between drama and comedy, new and classic, and conventional and off-beat.” Play suggestions are submitted by a group of local and South Sound area artists, based on what they would most like to direct. “That way, we have [directors] who are passionate about the shows they’re doing and we get good plays that we might not have thought of or even known about,” explains Malm. This season features the directorial talents of Pug Bujeaud, Toni Holm, Hannah Eklund, Robert McConkey, Jim Patrick, Bob Yount and Malm.
“We’ve got a very strong list of shows this upcoming season, so it’s hard to pick one or two that I’m most excited about,” Malm admits. The 2018-19 season begins with the dramatic piece, Red, a “two-character study on the meaning of art & mentorship,” by American playwright John Logan. Those looking for a little farcical murder mystery will enjoy Clockwork, a twisted tale about the Dunwoody family and its penchant for oddly hilarious deaths. The holiday season will offer a live radio-play adaptation of A Christmas Story, followed by what Malm describes as OLT’s “most unconventional” season offering, Men On Boats.
Boats is a historical play about the “first expedition down the Colorado river, performed entirely by women” as instructed by the playwright Jaclyn Backhaus. Rounding out the season is Tom Jacobson’s Bunbury, for those yearning for a tongue-twisting mash-up between Shakespeare and Edward Albee; Driving Miss Daisy, the iconic story of a 25-year friendship that defies race, class, and culture and Daphne’s Dive, a modern piece on family and relationships written by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Quiara Alegría Hudes.
Auditions for OLT’s upcoming season will be announced on its website later this summer.
WHEN: Red – September 20 – 30, 2018
Clockwork – October 26 – November 11, 2018
A Christmas Story – December 7 – 23, 2018
Men on Boats – January 31 – February 10, 2019
Bunbury – March 8 – 24, 2019
Driving Miss Daisy – April 26 – May 12, 2019
Daphne’s Dive – June 7 – 23, 2019
WHERE: Olympia Little Theater
1925 Miller Avenue NE, Olympia
(off Bethel on the Eastside)
360-786-9484
HOW MUCH:$11 – $13 for opening weekend and $15 for remaining performances; OLT members receive a $2 discount. More information available at available at www.olympialittletheatre.org