This Week in Arts: Wednesday Roundup (10/2)
October slows down a bit from the September rush of shows, but offers some great picks nonetheless. Highlights this week include shows oriented around food, and a few intriguing openings.
Have Your Cake
NWT believes pretty much everything is best with food, and the arts are no exception. This week, you’ve got several choices to get your fill.
In the Sunday Dinner series, the Central District Forum for Arts & Ideas puts on a spread from a local Black chef or Black-owned restaurant, while the multi-talented artist (choreographer, dancer, teacher, curator) Dani Tirrell interviews a great local Black artist. The food is hearty, the location (Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute) is historic, and the stories and knowledge shared are rich. This Sunday’s features dancer/choreographer Markeith Wiley; find info and tickets here. (The next Sunday Dinner, in December, features choreographer/dancer Donald Byrd. Past Dinner guests include Valerie Curtis-Newton, Ms. Briq House, and more.) Usually, there’s even cake (often from Bessie’s Cakes, the creations of Marlon Brown, Tirrell’s husband).
While you’re pining for cakes, watch Anne Allgood make a mess while trying to bake one, in Bon Appétit!: The Julia Child Operetta. Billed as An Evening with Julia Child with Chocolate Gateau and Anecdotal Icing, the hour-long show features storytelling from the original celebrity chef’s grand-niece, Julia Child Prud’homme, the comedic operetta from Allgood, and accompaniment by Mark Anders. Never one to short on the butter, Child sends her guests off with a big slice of butter-rich chocolate cake (from her classic recipe) at the end. Plays tomorrow night, plus a few more shows through the month and into November, at The Rendezvous in Belltown. Read NWT’s review here.
There’s a nice selection of longer runs accompanied by tasty dining coming up, too.
Now until early February, acclaimed culinary circus Teatro ZinZanni puts on its last show for the moment, as it prepares for its permanent home in Woodinville. Their newest show, A Night Like This — themed around travel, love and magic — features acclaimed artists in song, trapeze, acrobatics, and more. That, and a sumptuous-looking fall-inspired menu (view it here). You can read NWT’s review of ZinZanni’s previous show here.
And two shows this month meld food with a little Halloween creepiness. On now at Café Nordo, Violet’s Attic: A Grand Ball for Wicked Dolls brings a dollhouse to creepy life, accompanied by some mind-bending dinner courses. It runs through November 23. And later this month, the Can Can Culinary Cabaret heads to the Triple Door with This Is Halloween, a “dark fantasy musical” inspired by The Nightmare Before Christmas. Its cast includes local musical theatre favorites Jasmine Jean Sim and Nik Hagen, both of whom are nominated for Gregory Awards this year. It runs October 18-31.
Openings
Following up on the great September rush, some more exciting openings are coming this week.
We’re intrigued by the latest from Pony World Theatre, a show called The Christians, which takes place in three church sanctuaries around town. The play is about doubt, interpretation and disagreement, specifically in a church family; and this production stars the Gregory-nominated Sunam Ellis, among other local favorites. It opens Friday and runs through October 26. The second weekend, which supports Lambert House, includes all pay-what-you-can tickets; see show info here.
Another production that’s nomadic by design is the latest in Mirror Stage’s new play series, Expand Upon: Homelessness. The series is meant to dive deeply into social justice issues, and features one-act plays by local playwrights Holly Arsenault and Tré Calhoun, along with a pre-show lecture on two of the show dates. It runs the next two weekends at two locations; info here.
And from the new north-end company, As If Theatre, is Kimberly Akimbo, a curious-sounding play about people who don’t fit in finding support in each other. It opens Friday and runs through October 20; info here. (Pro tip: their Kenmore Community Club location is within a block of some fun breweries, so you might head up an hour earlier than you need.)
Also opening this weekend are ACTLab’s recurring Halloween show, Beware the Terror of Gaylor Manor; The Hound of the Baskervilles at CenterStage Theatre in Federal Way; and The Women from Harlequin Theatre in Olympia. And entering previews is Austen’s Pride at The 5th Avenue Theatre.
Last Call
Running only this weekend (tomorrow and Saturday) is Tagalog sa King Street, a production of new work by Filipino artists presented all in Tagalog, with English subtitles. Shows are free and held at King Street Station’s new gallery on the top floor. Info and RSVP here. And Friday through Saturday are A Preview of New Works from Continuum Dance Project at Yaw Theater (info here); and She Is Fierce: Good Mourning at Arcaro Boxing (info here).
Closing this weekend is Blood Water Paint, a production from Macha Theatre Works. It’s highly recommended; see NWT’s review here. Also closing this weekend are We Go Mad, a new work from Amy Escobar at 18th & Union (run is totally sold out); Everything Is Illuminated from Book-It Repertory Theatre; and, in the south end, Biloxi Blues at Lakewood Playhouse.
Wednesday Roundup is a weekly (ish) feature, with NWT’s picks for the upcoming week and recaps around town.
Want to plan your show schedule further out? See what’s happening on NWT’s Calendar page, which aims to list just about every theatre show in town. And for news on all the openings each month see Miryam Gordon’s openings coverage (October’s can be found here).