The End of an Era at The Evergreen State College

by Christian Carvajal for OLY ARTS The Evergreen State College is known for a liberal-arts environment that encourages free artistic expression. However, this spring Evergreen will cut heavily into the budget for staff and facilities that nurture theatrical expression. This year, the last seven shows at TESC will be especially fraught but meaningful, as they …

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Theater Review: Three Days of Rain at Harlequin

THEATER REVIEW by Alec Clayton for OLY ARTS Harlequin Productions’ latest offering is Three Days of Rain, the Pulitzer Prize-nominated drama by Richard Greenberg, author of Take Me Out. Without a clear picture of who’s who, this play can be confusing. Here’s a brief overview of the plot: In act one, 1995, Walker Janeway (Fox …

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Past and Present Come to Life in Three Days of Rain at Harlequin

by Molly Gilmore for OLY ARTS   Harlequin Productions’ “Three Days of Rain,” opening May 3, is a subtle mystery — not a whodunit, but rather a “what happened and why.” Richard Greenberg’s Pulitzer-nominated 1998 drama begins with a sister (Alyssa Kay) and brother (Fox Rain Matthews) and one of their childhood friends gathering to …

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Costumer Extraordinaire – Welcome to Mishka’s Playground

by Bryan Willis for OLY ARTS If Einstein were a costume designer, his shop would look like the interior of Olympia’s own costume shop downtown: Costume Atelier Masque & Pettycote. Owner and costumer Mishka Navarre enjoys watching the expression on the face of a first-time customer: “If they haven’t been here before, I can always …

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Harlequin Productions Turns a Corner, Creates a Brighter Future

New updates to the Harlequin story include a public statement from Harlequin Productions Board of Directors,  the appointment of new leadership, and the announcement of a new artistic season for 2018-2019. by KAREN LUNDE and NED HAYES In the winter of 2018, Olympia’s own theatrical powerhouse, Harlequin Productions, weathered a significant storm. The theater’s Board …

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Harlequin Productions Apologizes for Past Missteps

New updates to the Harlequin story include a public statement from Harlequin Productions Board of Directors,  the appointment of new leadership, and the announcement of a new artistic season for 2018-2019.  by Karen Lunde and Ned Hayes for OLY ARTS In October, 2017, The New York Times published a report detailing decades of sexual harassment …

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The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane Comes to Olympia Family Theater

by Alec Clayton for OLY ARTS The story of a china doll, a rabbit, is the next offering of the ever-entertaining Olympia Family Theater. Edward Tulane is a toy rabbit made from china who was tossed away and is picked up by different people during a 20-year life journey through which he learns to love, …

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Director Nancy Tribush Hillman

Drop-Dead Comedy at Standing Room Only

by Christian Carvajal for OLY ARTS When writer Joseph Kesselring commenced work on his most famous of a dozen plays, he intended it as serious drama. Its setup may even have been inspired by grisly murders in Connecticut. Now, over 75 years later, the Broadway draft of Arsenic and Old Lace is one of America’s …

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Olympia Little Theatre: Butterflies Are Free

by Alec Clayton for OLY ARTS Next up at Olympia Little Theatre is the comedy with a message, Butterflies are Free, by Leonard Gershe, winner of two Tony Awards. Unusual for any play, this one has two directors: Barb Matthews and Allison Gerst. Gerst says. “Many times we casually said, ‘We work well together, maybe …

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God Is a Scottish Drag Queen

by Jonah Barrett for OLY ARTS Not today, Satan! God is coming to Olympia, and she is looking fabulous. In early March, the Washington Center will host Mike Delamont’s award-winning, one-queen show, God Is a Scottish Drag Queen. “I’m very excited for the show to play in Olympia,” said Delamont. “Sometimes the title scares folks …

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