Frankie Cosmos in Olympia
by Kate Hayes for OLY ARTS Frankie Cosmos is on her way to Olympia! Next Wednesday night (April 18), Frankie will headline a collaborative show at the Olympia Film...
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Saint Martin’s presents Urinetown, the Musical
by Tom Simpson for OLY ARTS Urinetown – the ribald and uproarious musical with the bizarre name – is coming back to Olympia. Produced by the theater department of...
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Center Salon To Welcome Jess Walter
by Bryan Willis for OLY ARTS Two of the Northwest’s most well-known novelists will be featured in events April 12 and 13 in Olympia. Jess Walter, the National Book...
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Stephen Petronio Post-Modern Dance Master at the Washington Center
by Yvonne Joyce for OLY ARTS Stephen Petronio is a name — and dance company — well known to audiences in New York City, but less well known on the West...
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Olympia Peace Choir Spring Concert
by Tom Simpson for OLY ARTS The Olympia Peace Choir will hold its annual spring concert this coming Saturday. The concert has become an annual event for this choir of...
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Harlequin Productions apologizes for past missteps, promises a safer environment
* This story has been updated on March 21 with a new statement from Harlequin Productions Board of Directors. Click here to go directly to that statement * by Karen...
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Woman’s Club of Olympia celebrates 135th anniversary with special event
by Alec Clayton for OLY ARTS The Woman’s Club of Olympia is holding its 135th Anniversary celebration March 24, from 6 to 9 p.m., at the Abigail Stuart House. There...
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The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane comes to Olympia Family Theater
by Alec Clayton for OLY ARTS The story of a china doll, a rabbit, is the next offering of the ever-entertaining Olympia Family Theater. Edward Tulane is a toy rabbit...
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VISUAL ART REVIEW: Jean Mandeberg at Bar Francis
VISUAL ART REVIEW by Alec Clayton for OLY ARTS Bar Francis is a tiny coffee shop on Franklin Street nestled between Dumpster Values and Old School Pizza. It’s a place...
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THEATER REVIEW: The Art of Racing in the Rain at Harlequin Productions
THEATER REVIEW by Alec Clayton for OLY ARTS Harlequin Productions’ “The Art of Racing in the Rain” is a triumph of humor and humanity, guaranteed to make...
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Drop-Dead Comedy at Standing Room Only
by Christian Carvajal for OLY ARTS When writer Joseph Kesselring commenced work on his most famous of a dozen plays, he intended it as serious drama. Its setup may even...
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Olympia Little Theatre: Butterflies are Free
by Alec Clayton for OLY ARTS Next up at Olympia Little Theatre is the comedy with a message, Butterflies are Free, by Leonard Gershe, winner of two Tony Awards. Unusual...
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God is a Scottish Drag Queen
by Jonah Barrett for OLY ARTS Not today, Satan! God is coming to Olympia, and she is looking fabulous. In early March, the Washington Center will host Mike Delamont’s...
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Ethnic Celebration Returns to Lacey
by Adam McKinney for OLY ARTS The Lacey Ethnic Celebration returns in 2018 with a bevy of exciting performances, food, music and community-oriented activities. This is a...
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ART REVIEW: World famous photographers shown at Evergreen Andy Warhol, Dorothea Lange, Diane Arbus and more
ART REVIEW: by Alec Clayton for OLY ARTS There are two major, world-class photography exhibitions in the main art gallery at The Evergreen State College and the smaller...
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Get Your Pitch On: Harmony Sweepstakes at the Washington Center
by Jonah Barrett for OLY ARTS Prepare yourself for Pitch Perfect, West Coast Style. The Harmony Sweepstakes acapella competition is coming back to the Washington...
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The Art of Racing in the Rain at Harlequin Productions
by Ned Hayes for OLY ARTS In March, Harlequin Productions will bring to the stage “The Art of Racing in the Rain,” a play based on Garth Stein’s New...
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Folk Musical Legend John McCutcheon at Traditions
by Adam McKinney for OLY ARTS Since his emergence on the folk scene in the ’70s, John McCutcheon has not only been one of the most respected songwriters and...
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VISUAL ART REVIEW: CJ Swanson paintings at Batdorf and Bronson
VISUAL ART REVIEW by Alec Clayton FOR OLY ARTS Years ago, CJ Swanson and her husband, the painter David Noah Giles, opened the now defunct Art on Center Gallery in...
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A Really Big Shoe 12: Folk Music of America Benefits Homeless Kids
by Karen Lunde for OLY ARTS Each year for the past 11, members of the Olympia musical group Entertainment Explosion have put on a show to benefit homeless children in...
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Theater Review: 3 Impossible Questions at Olympia Family Theater
THEATER REVIEW by Alec Clayton for OLY ARTS “3 Impossible Questions” at Olympia Family Theater is a world premiere play based on beloved Islamic folk tales...
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Winter Movies at Olympia Film Society
by Jonah Barrett for OLY ARTS Winter is in full swing in Olympia, so this is the best time of year to enjoy a warm theater, a big screen and a tub of popcorn at Olympia...
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Olympia Symphony Orchestra: Closing Remarks
by Karen Lunde for OLY ARTS When an orchestra covers a beloved composer, it must take care to play his music with precision. “No piece of music is easy,” said Huw...
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Emerald City Music: Spiritual Journey
by Karen Lunde for OLY ARTS In mid-February, Emerald City Music will take Olympia South Sound music lovers on a spiritual journey through classical music. This is the...
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Three Impossible Questions at Olympia Family Theater
by Alec Clayton for OLY ARTS Olympia Family Theater premieres a new play by local actor, director and playwright Christian Carvajal based on ancient Muslim...
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Burlesque in Olympia: A Special Valentine’s Weekend Hint!
by Tom Simpson for OLY ARTS Olympia’s own resident burlesque cooperative, TUSH! Burlesque, will be on stage this weekend with a titillating romp that celebrates...
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Old Time Festival: Sabra Guzmán Returns to Her Old Time Roots
by Karen Lunde for OLY ARTS Old-time music is perhaps the oldest form of North American folk music, pre-dating Bluegrass. Vocalist, guitarist and bassist Sabra Guzmán...
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2018: Oly Old Time Festival Schedule
Concerts, Shows, and DancesSouth Bay Grange Thursday Night Kick-off Dance (2/15) 7pm – 10pm ...
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Old Time Festival: Brograss
by Adam McKinney and Tom Simpson for OLY ARTS Our music has a grand tradition of passing the love of music on from generation to generation. Brograss is a great example...
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Miracle Worker On Stage in Olympia
by Tom Simpson for OLY ARTS The classic play about the life of Helen Keller and her faithful educator, Annie Sullivan, is brought to life this month on stage at Olympia...
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Old Time Festival: Hawk Proof Rooster
by Adam McKinney for OLY ARTS Old-time string music, with origins dating back to the late 19th century, never really went away. More accurately, it fell out of popular...
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Old Time Festival: Spencer & Rains
by Adam McKinney for OLY ARTS When we talk about old-time music, there’s an implicit promise in that description. We’re discussing music that carries forward...
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Old Time Festival: Riley Baugus with Clawhammer Banjo and Appalachian Song
by Alec Clayton for OLY ARTS Banjo player and singer Riley Baugus will perform with Sabra Guzman at the Oly Old Time Festival main concert Feb. 2. Baugus plays and sings...
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Oly Old Time Festival: Locations
The Oly Old Time Festival is taking place in three locations around Olympia in 2018. – First Christian Church 701 Franklin St. SE, Olympia – South Bay...
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Old Time Festival: High Waisted Ramblers
by Tom Simpson for OLY ARTS The Oly Old Time Festival is not only a musical showcase for new, emerging and established musical artists. It’s also an experiential...
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Brian Reed, Award-Winning This American Life Voice, Speaks Live at The Washington Center
By Christian Caravajal and Ned Hayes for OLY ARTS For over 20 years, “This American Life” has given public-radio airwaves an unusual perspective on current...
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The Rhythm and Romance of Rosanne Cash
by Christian Carvajal for OLY ARTS Being the daughter of a musical legend can open doors, to be sure, but it multiplies the difficulty of forging a career apart from his...
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Grammy Award Nominee Featured at Gayla Event
by Jonah Barrett for OLY ARTS Grammy award nominee Mary Lambert will be featured at this year’s Pizza Klatch “Gayla” celebration at Olympia’s Washington...
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Visual Art Review: The Personal is Political
Visual Art Review: the annual postcard show at South Puget Sound Community College ART REVIEW by Alec Clayton for OLY ARTS You’ll find the good, the bad and the...
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Visual Art Review: Jennifer Lauer at All Sorts Gallery
Visual Art Review by Alec Clayton for OLY ARTS Jennifer Lauer’s Color and Light at All Sorts Gallery is a little gem of a show of still life and landscape painting in...
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A Time-Traveling Comedy at Olympia Little Theatre
by Christian Carvajal for OLY ARTS Time is of the essence in English playwright Alan Ayckbourn’s 1995 thriller Communicating Doors, opening this weekend at Olympia...
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THEATER REVIEW: American Idiot at Lakewood Playhouse
THEATER REVIEW by Alec Clayton for OLY ARTS I carried delicious anticipation and a measure of trepidation to the opening of American Idiot at Lakewood Playhouse –...
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Ladysmith Black Mambazo
by Adam McKinney for OLY ARTS There aren’t many popular musical institutions more respected or longer lasting than Ladysmith Black Mambazo. They’d already...
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Lyle Lovett and Robert Earl Keen: An Intimate Evening of Songs and Stories at the Washington Center
by Karen Lunde for OLY ARTS Two accomplished musicians, their acoustic guitars, and some front-porch tales—that’s what audiences can expect during An Evening with...
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I Am My Own Wife at Harlequin Productions
by Alec Clayton for OLY ARTS Harlequin Productions will bring Doug Wright’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play I Am My Own Wife to Olympia for their first play of 2018....
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Theater Review: Stardust Christmas Fandango
THEATER REVIEW by Alec Clayton for OLY ARTS Harlequin Productions’ The Stardust Christmas Fandango is the 22nd show in the series of locally written and produced...
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Theater Review: Winnie the Pooh
THEATER REVIEW by Alec Clayton for OLY ARTS Olympia Family Theater has never done a bad play. Their performances are professionally produced with top-notch adult actors...
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Kathy Gore-Fuss: At Home in Nature
by Alec Clayton for OLY ARTS For nearly four decades, the art of Olympia artist Kathy Gore-Fuss has moved through a fascinating metamorphosis from multi-media,...
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Apple Tree Showcases Musical Annie
by Tom Simpson for OLY ARTS South Sound children’s theater group Apple Tree Productions will open Annie for a limited run in mid-December. Annie is the first...
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Christmas Carol on stage at Evergreen
by Jerry Berebitsky and Lori Lively Charles Dickens’ classic play, A Christmas Carol, will be performed by 8th grade students from the Olympia Waldorf School (OWS) on...
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Olympia Celebrates a Festival of Lights
by Christian Carvajal for OLY ARTS One of the joys of living in a broad, multicultural society is the resulting plethora of holiday celebrations. Hanukkah, the Jewish...
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The Glory of the Lord Shall Be Revealed – Messiah Sing-Along
by Adam McKinney for OLY ARTs As the winter months descend on the world, the cold and darkness is met with a combination of reverie and revelry. Nights get quieter, and...
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Masterworks Choral Ensemble Brings A Season of Light
by Karen Lunde for OLY ARTS The Masterworks Choral Ensemble will brighten the Washington Center Main Stage on Saturday, December 2, with its annual holiday concert. This...
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SOGO HoHo Holiday Variety Show
by Jonah Barrett for OLY ARTS The holidays kick off with a roar at the 2017 Student Orchestras of Greater Olympia (SOGO) holiday show, sponsored by Tumwater Eye Center,...
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South Sound Sacred Celebrations
by Ned Hayes for OLY ARTS Winter is a time for family and for fun. Christmas is often celebrated as a single day during which the birth of Jesus Christ is remembered,...
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Olympia Family Theater Becomes the Hundred Acre Wood
by Jonah Barrett for OLY ARTS Olympia meets the Hundred Acre Wood this fall season at Olympia Family Theater. The family production company will perform a theatrical...
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The Stardust Christmas Fandango at Harlequin Productions
by Alec Clayton for OLY ARTS This season’s The Stardust Christmas Fandango at Harlequin Productions is a Christmas card of comedy, nostalgia and great ’60s music....
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Ballet Northwest brings the Nutcracker back to the Washington Center
by Jennifer Crain for OLY ARTS Once again, the stage at the Washington Center will be filled with mice, soldiers and snowflakes in Ballet Northwest’s 34th annual...
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Studio West’s Nutcracker Brings Ballet to Life
by Christina Butcher for OLY ARTS No holiday season is complete without settling into a soft, cozy theater seat to watch Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker ballet. Studio...
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Embellishing Ballet: The Nutcracker’s Dazzling Costumes
by Christina Butcher for OLY ARTS The ways in which The Nutcracker delivers beauty, grace and whimsy to audiences isn’t limited to just dancing (as mesmerizing as...
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Olympia Downtown for the Holidays
by Tom Simpson for OLY ARTS Olympia always welcomes in the new holiday season in style with a joyous celebration full of music, lights and much more. “Downtown for...
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A Stroll through Providence Christmas Forest
by Molly Gilmore for OLY ARTS In its 30th year, Providence Christmas Forest is a different kind of winter wonderland — a forest of trees and wreaths decorated in...
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Kenny G Headlines the Washington Center
(Update: Kenny G show is now sold out) by Karen Lunde for OLY ARTS Kenny G will ring in a joyful holiday season at The Washington Center for the Performing Arts on...
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Governor’s Arts Award for Terry Shaw
by Molly Gilmore for OLY ARTS Choir director, composer, and teacher Terry Shaw has won a Governor’s Arts Award, to be presented Nov. 14. Shaw was named a Young Arts...
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Man Forever: Percussive Art in Olympia
by Adam McKinney for OLY ARTS Man Forever represents something of a music nerd’s platonic ideal. Led by John Colpitts (aka Kid Millions), the vocalist, drummer,...
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Three New Stage Productions at SPSCC
by Christina Butcher for OLY ARTS The number 3 is auspicious, whether we’re talking about the holy trinity, the mind-body-spirit triad or the “lucky number 3.”...
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The Fall Cookbook Club at Browsers Bookshop
by Christina Butcher for OLY ARTS Few people associate bookstores with intimate potluck dinners, food blogging or local food critics. Yet Browsers Bookshop has been...
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Jeffree Stewart’s Breath and Bone Songs
by Alec Clayton for OLY ARTS Jeffree Stewart has been making art in the Olympia area since the 1970s. Just off a month-long solo show at the Pierce College Steilacoom...
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Four Shows From Saint Martin’s University
by Jonah Barrett for OLY ARTS Saint Martin’s University’s theater department usually produces shows twice a year, once per semester. This year, things are a bit...
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Goodnight Desdemona (Hello, Comedy)
by Alec Clayton for OLY ARTS Practically everything William Shakespeare wrote has been subject to parody. Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet) by Ann Marie...
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Expect the Unexpected From Olympia Chamber Orchestra
by Rosemary Ponnekanti for OLY ARTS Improvisation isn’t usually a thing for classical orchestras, so this year’s season for the Olympia Chamber Orchestra shows just...
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Olympia Film Festival: A New Perspective
(photo by: Jaima Sadira) by Jonah Barrett for OLY ARTS It’s no secret the filmmaking world is male-dominated. With every straight, white, college boy setting out to...
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Tales Told in Ten: A Theater Festival
by Molly Gilmore for OLY ARTS Gather three dozen creative people. Give them a prompt and some help with props. The following day, they’ll serve six fresh bite-size...
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A Change in the Air for SOGO
by Christina Butcher for OLY ARTS Student Orchestras of Greater Olympia is starting its 2017–2018 season with exciting, notable changes. Some, like the addition of...
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The Pumpkin House
by Ned Hayes for OLY ARTS Pumpkin carving is an annual tradition at the Halloween season. In Olympia, the act of pumpkin carving has become a refined art form for one...
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Poet Nikkita Oliver Returns to Olympia for 2017 Women of Achievement Celebration
by Christina Butcher for OLY ARTS In November, YWCA Olympia is welcoming back nationally known slam poet Nikkita Oliver to Olympia. Last spring, Oliver was keynote...
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New Drama at Olympia High School
by Tom Simpson for OLY ARTS Kathy Dorgan, Olympia High School’s Julliard-fellow drama teacher, is bringing to the South Sound a four-act drama that opens next...
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THEATER REVIEW: Young Frankenstein
THEATER REVIEW by Alec Clayton for OLY ARTS Now Extended thru End of November Anyone who enjoys comedy and horror has seen the classic Mel Brooks movie Young...
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REVIEW: Susan Christian’s Long Journey
VISUAL ARTS REVIEW by Alec Clayton for OLY ARTS Susan Christian’s paintings at Stable Studios are the real deal. They are painting as painting is meant to be: simple,...
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John Welsh’s Grand Finale
by Molly Gilmore for OLY ARTS After 18 years as music director of Student Orchestras of Greater Olympia, John Welsh will retire at the end of this season. Welsh, who has...
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Nathan Rødahl Conducts Olympia Chamber Orchestra
by Kelli Samson for OLY ARTS Native Olympian Nathan Rødahl will conduct the Olympia Chamber Orchestra’s fall concert, where Arriaga’s Symphony in D, Janacek’s...
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“It’s the Art” of Olympia Beer Advertising
by Alec Clayton for OLY ARTS “It’s the water” is the slogan that put Olympia on the map — even though Olympia Beer was brewed in Tumwater. Now the Olympia...
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Return of Night of the Living Tribute Bands
by Jennifer Crain for OLY ARTS It’s another night of rockin’ recollection. On October 28, the Capitol Theater will host the 14th-annual Night of the Living Tribute...
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REVIEW: Cymbeline at Harlequin Productions
THEATER REVIEW by Alec Clayton for OLY ARTS Few community theaters, or for that matter few theaters of any kind anywhere, are willing to tackle William Shakespeare’s...
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REVIEW: Marilyn Frasca at Childhood’s End
VISUAL ARTS REVIEW by Alec Clayton for OLY ARTS Marilyn Frasca is a marvel. If there was ever such a thing as a must-see show, it’s Frasca’s show of some 56...
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OLY ARTS Editorial Change
OLY ARTS announces the departure of long-term managing editor Christian “Carv” Carvajal, who served as the publication’s founding editor. Carvajal...
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Emerald City Music Grooves With Andy Akiho
by Adam McKinney for OLY ARTS Emerald City Music has recently started its second season. Just about everything about ECM’s shows strays from the highfalutin norm...
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Young Frankenstein Comes Alive
by Alec Clayton for OLY ARTS NOW EXTENDED THRU NOV 26 Standing Room Only in Yelm, the same outfit that brought last season’s hilarious Spamalot, taps into the same...
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A Farewell to the Sun
by Molly Gilmore for OLY ARTS After 24 years filled with performances of all kinds — from original plays to a concert by Modest Mouse — The Midnight Sun is slated to...
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REVIEW: Dr. Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat at OFT
THEATER REVIEW by Alec Clayton for OLY ARTS Dr. Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat at Olympia Family Theater is a fun play that breezes nonstop through almost-constant...
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