by Christian Carvajal for OLY ARTS Theater Artists Olympia (TAO) has announced its fall 2016 stage offerings exclusively to OLY ARTS. As it has for the past four years, the end of summer will bring An Improbable Peck of Plays to the Midnight Sun Performance Space, TAO’s home since April 2014. This evening of short, …
by Molly Gilmore for OLY ARTS The Last Five Years, opening Aug. 18 at Harlequin Productions’ State Theater, tells the story of a relationship told from beginning to end—and from end to beginning. The Jason Robert Brown musical opens with Cathy (Katherine Strohmaier) singing about the end of her marriage. Then Jamie (Aaron Lamb) sings …
Theater Artists Olympia (TAO) presents The Midnight Sun’s semi-monthly aural celebration, Words, Words, Words, in August. The August installment highlights “Contemporary Horror: The Darkest Minds of the 20th Century.” The aim of the Words, Words, Words series, according to TAO, is to “share and give voice to exciting pieces of literature by the writers who’ve had an …
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 …
by Molly Gilmore for OLY ARTS Apple Tree Productions’ summer season offers two musicals that aim to create a professional-theater experience for young actors and audiences alike. Seussical, based on the works of Dr. Seuss and starring youth aged 5-18, is the season’s big offering. “It’s really bright and fun,” said Apple Tree founder Heidi …
by Alec Clayton for OLY ARTS This summer marks the 36th season of children’s theater programs and performances by Creative Theatre Experience at Olympia High School. The program is run by Kathy Dorgan, drama director at OHS. Classes are offered in art, drama, music and other aspects of the performing arts. “CTE’s mission,” said Dorgan, …
by Molly Gilmore for OLY ARTS Music lovers can get an earful of classical music at Emerald City Music’s new series of chamber concerts, starting July 14 in Olympia. The new series, founded by New York violinist Kristin Lee and arts administrator Andrew Goldstein of Seattle, aims to bring chamber music to a wider audience. …
by Alec Clayton for OLY ARTS Other Desert Cities, a family drama from Pulitzer-Prize-nominee Jon Robin Baitz, opens July 8 at Olympia Little Theatre. Other Desert Cities tells the story of Brooke Wyeth (played by Silva Goetz), whose conservative Hollywood family gathers for a Christmas reunion in Palm Springs with her father (a former Western …
by Alec Clayton for OLY ARTS Other Desert Cities, a family drama from Pulitzer-Prize-nominee Jon Robin Baitz, opens July 8 at Olympia Little Theatre. Other Desert Cities tells the story of Brooke Wyeth (played by Silva Goetz), whose conservative Hollywood family gathers for a Christmas reunion in Palm Springs with her father (a former Western …
by Molly Gilmore for OLY ARTS Audrey II, the people-eating plant protagonist of Harlequin Productions’ Little Shop of Horrors, is a role too big for one person. If the horror-comedy rock musical is Faust in a florist shop, Audrey II is Mephistopheles. Christian Doyle and Maggie Ferguson-Wagstaffe team up to play the vined villain, which …