LaVon Hardison

Jazz Cabaret Comes to St. John’s

by Molly Gilmore for OLY ARTS St. John’s Episcopal Church, long known for its classical-music series, is now a place for jazz. The church’s second jazz-cabaret dinner, set for Friday, features singer LaVon Hardison and flutist Nancy Curtis plus what the church is calling “a veritable jazz festival” of well-respected players from Olympia and beyond. …

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Hands On Children's Museum Summer Splash

Summer Splash at Hands On Children’s Museum

by Molly Gilmore for OLY ARTS This summer at the Hands On Children’s Museum, kids can fight fires, meet superheroes, climb a rock wall and explore the wonders of outer space. All this and more are part of the museum’s second-annual “Summer Splash,” a summer-long series of special events and activities that last year drew …

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Christie Murphy-Oldright and Bruce Haasl in First Date

First Date at Harlequin Productions

by Molly Gilmore for OLY ARTS This summer, Harlequin Productions is hoping audiences will fall in love with First Date. The musical, which premiered at Seattle’s A Contemporary Theatre in 2012 before heading to Broadway, opens June 22. The daters referred to in the title are Casey (Christie Murphy-Oldright) and Aaron (Bruce Haasl), and the …

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The Olympia Farmers Market

A Taste of The Olympia Farmers Market

by Molly Gilmore for OLY ARTS Looking for something to do this weekend — or any other weekend, for that matter? There’s a veritable festival happening year round at The Olympia Farmers Market, said Mary DiMatteo, the market’s community-outreach manager. “We have live music, food, ice cream, seven distinct restaurants and over 100 vendors from …

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Mary Cullen and Laura Andersen of Wrinkles of Washington

Gotta Sing, Gotta Dance With Wrinkles of Washington

by Molly Gilmore for OLY ARTS For the well-seasoned performers of Wrinkles of Washington, the show must go on. To quote the title of WOW’s new show, happening Saturday at the Olympia High School Performing Arts Center, they’ve Gotta Sing, Gotta Dance. About 25 performers ages 55 and older will be part of the show, …

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Steamboat Stringband Jamboree

Who’s Who at the Steamboat Stringband Jamboree

by Molly Gilmore for OLY ARTS The Steamboat Stringband Jamboree, happening Friday and Saturday at Prosperity Grange, features a who’s who of Pacific Northwest string bands, said co-organizer Tye Menser. Menser and the rest of the Oly Mountain Boys, along with the Pine Hearts, launched the jamboree in 2015 when a planned all-ages show got …

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Capital Indie Book Con

Capital Indie Book Con 2

by Molly Gilmore for OLY ARTS Inspired by the sci-fi and fantasy conventions where she promotes and sells her work, Olympia author Lee French started her own convention focused solely on books. “I go to a lot of science fiction and fantasy conventions because that’s what I write,” French said in a phone interview Monday. …

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Capital Indie Book Con

by Molly Gilmore for OLY ARTS Inspired by the sci-fi and fantasy conventions where she promotes and sells her work, Olympia author Lee French started her own convention — focused solely on books. “I go to a lot of science fiction and fantasy conventions because that’s what I write,” French said in a phone interview …

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Ballet Northwest's The Sleeping Beauty, photo by Jerome Tso

Into the Woods for Ballet Northwest’s The Sleeping Beauty

by Molly Gilmore for OLY ARTS For those familiar with the classic fairy tale — or Disney’s animated takes on it — Ballet Northwest’s The Sleeping Beauty has a few surprises. After the wicked fairy curses her, after she pricks her finger on a spindle, after a kiss ends her long sleep, the Aurora of …

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Lauren Fox

Lauren Fox at The Washington Center

by Molly Gilmore for OLY ARTS Singer and actress Lauren Fox, who’ll sing the songs of Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen on Friday, is 39. But musically, at least, she’s an old soul — obsessed, she says, with music made in the decades before she was born. “That’s the era I’m stuck with,” Fox said …

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