Elizabeth Alexander and Simon Tran in Alice in Wonderland

REVIEW: Alice in Wonderland at OFT

THEATER REVIEW by Alec Clayton for OLY ARTS Come out of the rain to kick off spring with Olympia Family Theater’s production of Alice in Wonderland—a lot of fun for kids from 3 to 73. Adapted from the book by Lewis Carroll by the multitalented writer, actor and director Kate Ayers and directed by OFT …

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The Multitalented Kate Ayers

by Christina Butcher for OLY ARTS The Olympia theater scene is no stranger to the idea of a performer who can seamlessly transition from actress to director to playwright without skipping a beat. One such performer is local actor, director and playwright Kate Ayers, who has over 20 years of experience in the world of …

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Elizabeth Alexander and Simon Tran in Alice in Wonderland

Olympia Family Theater Discovers the Wonder

by Kelli Samson for OLY ARTS Forget everything you know from Disney’s version of Alice in Wonderland. Olympia Family Theater is about to bring forth the world premiere of local thespian Kate Ayers’s original adaptation, and there will be nary a Tweedledee or -dum in sight. Things are about to get “curiouser and curiouser.” Ayers’s …

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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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Mia Learner in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

OFT Has The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

by Kelli Samson for OLY ARTS Two of the most treasured traditions at Olympia Family Theater (OFT) are the annual holiday show and the multigenerational cast show. This year, the two are brilliantly rolled together for a play that will surely get even the biggest Scrooge into the holiday spirit. Today’s parents may recall from …

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Amy Shephard in OFT's If You Give a Mouse a Cookie

A Double Shot of Overnight Plays

by Molly Gilmore for OLY ARTS Overnight theater festivals—for which playwrights, directors and actors create, put on and close a show in a single weekend—are popping up all over. This weekend, theater at light speed gets a twist when Northwest Playwrights Alliance (NPA) and Olympia Family Theater (OFT) team up to create children’s theater. “I …

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Isaac McKenziesullivan as Gerald the Elephant and Joanna Gibson as Piggie

REVIEW: Elephant & Piggie’s “We Are in a Play!”

THEATER REVIEW by Alec Clayton for OLY ARTS Now showing at Olympia Family Theater (OFT), Elephant & Piggie’s “We Are in a Play!” is a small play that packs a big wallop for kids. I was not familiar with Mo Willems’ series of Elephant & Piggy children’s books before reading about them in the program. …

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Kate Ayers

Let’s Play Daytime Shows at OFT

by Alec Clayton for OLY ARTS Olympia Family Theater’s “Let’s Play Daytime Shows” are interactive shows for young children, performed on the first Monday, Wednesday and Friday of every month. All shows this season are adapted and directed by Kate Ayers. They’re performed by local actors and are generally about 30 minutes long. “We have …

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Isaac McKenziesullivan as Gerald the Elephant and Joanna Gibson as Piggie

Elephant & Piggie Take the Stage

by Kelli Samson for OLY ARTS Opening the 2016-2017 season at Olympia Family Theater (OFT) is Elephant & Piggie’s “We Are in a Play!” Parents and young children will undoubtedly be familiar with Piggie and Gerald, the starring duo in author, illustrator and Caldecott Medal-winner Mo Willems’ easy-reader series. Stephanie Claire is the musical director. …

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Summer Youth Theater Programs

Olympia enjoys an embarrassment of riches when it comes to local acting talent, but every star owes his or her success to good teachers. Thus it’s no surprise Oly also has some of the best youth theater programs around. Get to know the companies that make this city a training ground for nationally lauded performers …

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