John Longenbaugh

John Longebaugh is a writer/director who’s been writing about the arts for the last three decades, including as the Theatre Critic for Seattle Weekly, the West Coast correspondent for Backstage, and a writer-at-large for Oregon Arts Watch, as well as various regional magazines. Now relocated to Olympia, he’s doubling down on his creative writing, and …

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Big New Digs for Arbutus Folk School

In December, Olympia’s Arbutus Folk School moved across 4th Avenue to a larger and better laid-out location that will give the school — and its mission — room to grow.

Danse Macabre

Theater Artists Olympia presents four dramatized tales of Edgar Allan Poe in “Poe Nocturne” at Oly Theater in the Capital Mall, January 12- 21, 2024.

Art in Storefronts: Light Up the Night – Winter Wonders

“Light Up the Night—Winter Wonders,” an Art in Storefronts exhibit produced by Olympia Artspace Alliance is on view through March 31, 2024 in the windows of The Goldberg Building on Capitol Way S in Olympia. It features artwork by students from four area schools.

Gilligan and Gang Make Merry at Mall

Olympia’s new WineBox Theatre — the grownup wing of Juice Box Theatre — is paying homage to the three-hour tour with “Island Castaway Christmas” at OlyTheater in Capital Mall this Friday and Saturday as a fundraiser for Juice Box, which creates monthly snack-size shows for children 6 and younger.

How The Drink Stole Christmas

The Seafarer at Lakewood Playhouse is a Christmas fable that mightily hoists up the light and the dark on either of its shoulders, resulting in a dark comedy and family drama that still, somehow, defies characterization.

The Capital City Chorus Returns With Annual “Christmas With the Chorus” Concert Series

The Capital City Chorus is back with the fifth annual “Christmas with the Chorus” concert series taking place December 8 and 9 at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church and December 10 at the Capital High School Performing Arts Center. “Folks who … like to take in music and folks who like Christmas music, but also like to broaden their horizons a little bit,” said Daniel Colgan, about who might enjoy the upcoming concerts.

A Tale of Two Nutcrackers

Both the Studio West Dance Theatre production, opening Nov. 24, and the Ballet Northwest version, opening Dec. 8, are beloved traditions. Studio West first performed the ballet in 2009, and the venerable Ballet Northwest premiered its version in 1983. “There’s always a buzz around The Nutcracker,” said Stephanie Wood-Ennett, the co-director of Studio West. “So many people feel that their holiday is not complete without it.”

Harlequin’s A Christmas Carol Is Evolving

It’s the third season for Harlequin’s Christmas Carol. Aaron Lamb’s adaptation of the redemption story is both familiar and fresh, and he plans to refine it each year. There’s a twist in casting in this production: The spirits of Christmas Past, Present and Future are all female.

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