This Week in Arts: Wednesday Roundup (4/24)
NWT is on vacation! So we have nothing interesting to report. But from afar, here are some things we think you should see this week.
Tonight:
This is a good night to see Romeo & Jules (UW Drama), if you’re so inclined to fit another Shakespeare thing in your life. We really liked a couple unique aspects of the show.
The Joketellers Union, held every Wednesday, is a great place to get your late-night comedy, pizza, and alcohol fixes all in front of one shiny gold curtain. It’s held at an NWT-favorite venue, the Clock-Out Lounge, and hosted by Emmett Montgomery & Brett Hamil.
Daytime, any day through this weekend:
DITCH, by Cherdonna Shinatra and dance troupe DONNA, has been performing every day (except Mondays) at the Frye Art Museum since late January. If you haven’t seen it yet, you really should. In short, it’s about the redundancy of people-pleasing bullshit that women have to deal with, but it’s presented in such a way that it looks like a big happy carnival. Times vary by the day. It’s not on our Calendar page, so go here for the schedule. It’s free — but get there 20+ minutes early for a seat, as there will be other procrastinators trying to get this show in before it closes. If you happen to see it on Sunday afternoon, a panel discussion with Q&A follows (info here, free registration required).
Thursday:
The annual African American Film Festival opens at Langston Hughes, and there’s a great opening night of films plus a party. Films run through Sunday; full schedule is here.
Seattle Playwrights’ Salon brings staged readings of new work every 4th Thursday to the newly crafted Palace Theatre & Art Bar (formerly the Conservatory) in Georgetown. It’s a nice low-key way to see strong new material from local playwrights.
The Master & Margarita (from theatre simple) has a pay-what-you-can night tonight at Theatre Off Jackson. So if you’ve been wanting to see this devised “remix of Bulgakov” on a budget, now’s a good time. (See NWT’s interview here.)
Friday:
Kitchen Sessions, one of NWT’s very favorite programs, happens tonight in conjunction with the Seattle Art Museum’s Jeffrey Gibson: Like a Hammer exhibition. Hosted and curated by Imani Sims, five Black female and gender-nonconforming artists in different media (usually music, poetry, dance) will present works inspired by the linked exhibition. PLUS: private after-hours gallery admission; and craft cocktails, mocktails, and food (all included).
Recommended this weekend (and running ONLY this weekend):
Strange Fruit (premiere, Saturday is pay-what-you-can, Spectrum Dance Theatre) (see review of first in series here)
African American Film Festival (Langston)
Who Cares! (Woody Shticks/18th & Union) (see interview here)
She Is Fierce (Copious)
O! Fest: The 10-Minute Play Festival (Cornish)
Dance Theatre of Harlem (touring/Paramount)
Monday:
In SEAtu: Salmon (Marisol Makes/Capitol Cider) (see review of first in series here)
Seattle University Arts Leadership book club (see coverage here)
Suggested longer runs opening this week:
Nina Simone: Four Women (in previews this weekend, opens 5/1) (Seattle Rep)
Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons (Theater Schmeater @ Seattle Public Theater)
Small Mouth Sounds (Thalia’s Umbrella)
Singlet (WET/GUSH)
Devi (Pratidhwani/ACTLab)
BAT Playwrights Festival (Burien Actors Theatre)
Continuing recommended runs:
Queer, Mama. Crossroads (Annex) (see review here)
Language Rooms (Pony World)
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (Village Theatre Everett) (see review here)
Want to plan your show schedule further out? See what’s happening on NWT’s Calendar page. And for news on all the openings next month, look for Miryam Gordon’s May coverage soon, on her site here.