Chelsea Baker at Olympia Zine Fest 2015, photo by Emily McHugh

Olympia Zine Fest 2016

by Jonah Barrett for OLY ARTS Olympia Zine Fest (OZF) makes its second annual appearance this fall. The fun begins Sept. 30 with a pre-fest celebration with special New Orleans guest Osa Atoe. The main event, the tabling expo, takes place Oct. 1, and a number of workshops begin the following day. There will also …

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Kathryn Beall (director), Tom Lockhart and John Pratt of An Act of the Imagination

OLT’s Act of the Imagination

by Kristopher Stewart for OLY ARTS An Act of the Imagination combines the thrills and twists of Agatha Christie mysteries with the intimacy of small-scale theater. The play, opening Oct. 14 at Olympia Little Theatre (OLT), depicts the tumultuous experience of a well-to-do novelist who falls victim to a convoluted blackmail plot–or so it seems. …

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Ms. Hattie Hotpants and Bettie Beelzebub, performing as The Red Rockets

Falling for Tush! Burlesque

by Christian Carvajal for OLY ARTS For most of us, the arrival of autumn means breaking out hoodies and knitted sweaters. It’s quite the opposite, however, for “Olympia’s Own” TUSH! Burlesque, performing its latest extravaganza Falling for Tush! in the Capitol Theater Sept. 24. “The entire troupe is performing in the show. It’s our first …

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Ryan Holmberg

A Pirate Play by Bryan Willis

by Molly Gilmore for OLY ARTS Bryan Willis’ I Love You, Flavilla–playing for one night only Sept. 19, International Talk Like a Pirate Day–might sound a bit over the top. “It’s a story about the meanest pirate in the history of the world,” the Olympia playwright said. “It’s about a bully who meets his match …

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Brad Upton

The Dream Team of Stand-up Comedy

by Christian Carvajal for OLY ARTS Comedian Brad Upton writes about everyday life, a 28-year marriage and anything else that pops into his head. He’s a past winner of the Las Vegas Comedy Festival. His ease and likeability on stage have made him popular with corporate clients and the cruise ship industry, for which he’s …

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An Improbable Peck of Plays

An Improbable Peck of Plays 5

by Jonah Barrett for OLY ARTS An Improbable Peck of Plays turns five this year, presented by Theater Artists Olympia (TAO) and the Northwest Playwrights Alliance in the Midnight Sun. Created in 2012, this annual event offers a series of locally written and produced short plays. This fall’s lineup includes eight productions, helmed by directors …

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Poppet

Poppet Stands Out

by Adam McKinney for OLY ARTS In an indie music culture which, in the past decade or so, favors stripped-down bands that offer no-frills music and disaffected live shows, Molly Raney’s Poppet project is thrilling in its efforts to craft a performance that truly leaves an impression. That the music stands on its own is …

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Poet Eva Donjacour, photo by Ryan Harris

Olympia People’s Mic

by Jonah Barrett for OLY ARTS As the seasons change from green to orange, Old Growth Poetry Collective continues to bring poetry events to Olympia. The collective’s weekly poetry show, “Olympia People’s Mic,” takes place every Thursday evening at Ben Moore’s Restaurant. Every first and third Thursday event will take the form of Olympia’s only …

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Frank Kohel and Micheal O'Hara in The Story of My Life

The Story of Two Entwined Lives

by Christian Carvajal for OLY ARTS Actors Frank Kohel and Micheal O’Hara are household names in Tacoma theatrical circles. They’ve already performed two-man musical The Story of My Life at two Gritty City venues, and now Olympia Little Theatre (OLT) audiences get a chance to enjoy the show. Kohel cast O’Hara, whom he’d known for …

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