kids

Matilda the Musical at Tacoma Little Theatre

Given the flights of fancy of both the Roald Dahl novel and the Danny DeVito film of Matilda, it seemed only a matter of time for Matilda to get the musical treatment, which it did in 2010 with music and lyrics by Tim Minchin and book by Dennis Kelly. Now, Matilda the Musical is hitting Tacoma Little Theatre through December 28, directed by Jennifer York, with a sizable cast of child and adult actors, led by Hazel Barnett and Nell Edlund, trading off performances as Matilda.

Creative Theatre Experience Celebrates 45th Anniversary, New Leadership

In preparation for next year’s 45th anniversary season, the Creative Theatre Experience Board of Directors has announced the selection of Kristina Cummins as their new program director and Kyle Murphy as executive director. In addition to these staff leadership changes, the CTE Board of Directors has elected new officers to its executive team, with Nora Gant as president, Jerod Nace as vice president, and Louise Doran as treasurer/secretary. Together with Murphy’s new-fashioned thinking and old-fashioned commitment to community theatre arts, and Cummins’ long experience teaching and directing theatre with young people and actualizing in them her love for the craft, Creative Theatre Experience looks ready to go boldly into the future.

Studio West launches holidays with Nutcracker

Studio West Dance Theater kicks off Olympia’s holiday season with Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker on the weekend after Thanksgiving at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts. “The music is delicious,” said Studio West co-owner/co-director Stephanie Wood-Ennett. “People are drawn to it — the costumes, the dancing. The story is timeless. It’s a classic.” The Nutcracker cast includes about 200 people, mainly children. “There’s such a sense of community,” she said. “I think people end up loving the community as much as the dance itself.”

Oly Arts Fall Winter 2025 Print Edition

The Fall/Winter print edition of OLY ARTS N0. 34 is published! Here is a list of the articles and where in the Olympia area you can pick up your FREE copy. Enjoy!

Bear’s Souper Sunday Cookbook: Recipes for Hungry Animals

Bear’s Souper Sunday Cookbook: Recipes for Hungry Animals is a charming cookbook for the whole family with recipes and stories by Olympia author Chris Hyde and illustrations by Olympia artist Roxanna Groves. The Souper Sunday movement began with an idea that came to Hyde to foster community togetherness and feed his neighbors in a world isolated after the Covid pandemic. What started out as a Facebook group that offered free soup to community members flourished into something bigger including this book.

LoveOly SummerFest Brings Summer Fun

The purpose of LoveOly, in its third year, is to bring people together and promote downtown. “I love it that we bring the community together right when kids are fresh from the school year,” said Desiree Freeman, executive director of the Downtown Olympia Alliance, which organizes LoveOly. The family-friendly event comes to life June 20 to 22.

Check Out Special Events at Timberland Library This Spring

by Molly Walsh As the weather grows warmer and days grow longer, the Lacey Spring Fun Fair will celebrate the season with a weekend of entertainment for the whole family. The Lacey Spring Fun Fair takes place Saturday, May 17 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, May 18 from 11 a.m. to 5 …

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Timberland Library This Spring

by Molly Walsh As the pages turn from winter to spring, a series of special events from Olympia Timberland Library will allow attendees to discover regional bands, share their favorite stories, engage in meaningful philosophical discussion and reconnect with their inner child. Programming includes events for infants, toddlers, school-age children, teens, adults and families. According …

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The Lacey Cultural Celebration is Coming

There is a world of fun planned for this year’s Lacey Cultural Celebration, happening Saturday, Feb. 1 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at St. Martin’s University. There will be dance and music, activities for children and adults and food vendors from around the world. Jeanette Sieler at Lacey Parks, Culture & Recreation advises to “come early and plan to stay the whole day … don’t try to do it all in an hour.”

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