July 15, 2026 — Catch song and dance men and jump into Lakefair
Molly Gilmore “Arts Aficionado” — July 15, 2026 — Port starts summer concerts — Elvis is still in the building — All’s fair in Oly
Molly Gilmore
posts by Molly Gilmore
Ashland, a Favorite Vacation Spot for Literary and Theatrical Types from Olympia
Ashland, Oregon — known and loved as the home of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival — is a favorite vacation spot for literary and theatrical types from Olympia. People’s willingness to make a six-hour drive each year, a testament to the popularity of Ashland and the festival, offers Shakespeare and more in repertory from March through October. While the plays are Ashland’s main draw, you don’t have to be a friend of Will to enjoy the festival. Of this year’s 10 shows, three — “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” “The Taming of the Shrew” and “Henry IV, Pt. One” — are by the bard.
Kitsap Forest Theater: Fabulous Travel Destination
A visit to the Kitsap Forest Theater, an hour from Olympia, is as much about the place as the plays. The productions, often old-fashioned musicals on a grand scale, boast strong production values, winning performers and well-played live music. But the theater itself is arguably the star of every show. “The space is magical,” said Gala Lindvall, a producer for the theater, owned by the Mountaineers. “As you walk down to it, it’s like it was 100 years ago. We take audiences on a journey away from regular life.” Next up at the outdoor theater, on a 466-acre nature preserve near Bremerton, is Oliver, opening July 25.
July 8, 2026 — Get thee to a gallery and take your pick of parks
Molly Gilmore “Arts Aficionado” — July 8, 2026 — Get thee to a gallery and take your pick of parks — SPSCC Regional Juried Exhibition returns — Music in the parks — Concerts at Tumwater Falls
Oly Arts Summer 2026 Print Edition — Issue No. 36
The summer print edition of Oly Arts magazine is published! Copies of the printed version are available free of charge throughout the area – find out where you can pick up a copy and see a list of articles in this issue.
July 1, 2026 — Revel in the weather or escape into air conditioning
Molly Gilmore “Arts Aficionado” — July 1, 2026 — Revel in the weather or escape into air conditioning:
Party with legends at Harlequin – “Million Dollar Quartet”
Shakespeare in the trees – Animal Fire Theatre’s “Love’s Labour’s Lost”
Semiquincentennial celebrations – Lacey and Tumwater 4th of July
Oly Arts Announces Molly Gilmore’s “Arts Aficionado” Weekly Column!
Molly Gilmore’s popular arts and entertainment column, is moving to “Oly Arts” beginning Wednesday, July 1st. She’ll keep readers in the know about much of what’s new and important in South Sound’s vibrant arts scene in her “Arts Aficionado.” Molly has been an excellent and consistent writer for Oly Arts since the very first edition of Oly Arts.
Animal Fire and String & Shadow Go Out to Play
At summer’s height, when many theaters are dark, two South Sound companies go out to play in picnic-perfect parks. Both Animal Fire Theatre and String & Shadow Puppet Theater stage major shows when the days are long and the skies most likely blue. Animal Fire is producing the seldom-staged and seriously silly Love’s Labour’s Lost, opening July 3, and String & Shadow. is producing a return of 2025’s Night at the Grand Opera. These outdoor productions will be performed in Olympia’s Decatur Woods Park and Wonderwood Park.
Authors Among the Highlights of Washington Center Season
The Washington Center for the Performing Arts’ 2026-27 season, announced Tuesday, June 17, features the center’s traditional mix of Broadway shows, comedy, music, dance and family — plus two leading lights of literature.
“We’re very excited to have Amy Tan and Tim Egan coming in this season.” said Jill Barnes, the center’s executive director. Also among the season’s big names are satirical singing sensation Randy Rainbow (Oct. 15), comedy icon Tig Notaro (Nov. 13) and gospel giants The Blind Boys of Alabama (April 1).
Love/Sick at OFT — Nine Quirky Vignettes
“In the play, Love/Sick by John Cariani, now playing at Olympia Little Theater, you’ll meet a bunch of what I call desperate optimists — people who believe in love but are terrified that it won’t last,” Cariani said in a 2013 interview with The Public Theatre of Lewiston, Maine, then producing the show. Love/Sick is a series of nine vignettes about love and relationships, adds fantastical details to relatable situations, said Kathryn Dorgan, who’s directing the OLT production which opened on April 24.