This Week in Arts: Weekly Roundup (3/2)
Variety’s the theme this week, with dance festivals, comedic plays, touring musicals, and more opening up. Plus, a small-stage drama (closing this week) and a big-stage opera are both recommended viewing.
Ticketing links for most shows can be found on the Performance Calendar page here.
Openings & Short Runs
Base: 12 Minutes Max
A short run of short new works begins on Sunday
Runs 3/6-3/7. In Seattle (Georgetown – Equinox Studios).
In this long-running series (first at On the Boards, now at Base), eight artists present new works of dance and other media, each in 12 minutes or less. This installment is curated by Saira Barbaric (“a multidisciplinary, gender-blending hedonist creature in a thicc Black human suit”) and Libby King (“a maker of things, actor, writer, teacher and mom”) and, as always, brings together artists in a diverse bunch of art forms.
The roster of artists features Samantha Borje, Champi-yễn, marco farroni, Akoiya Harris (with Maven and Nile), NEVE, Andres Rodriguez, Em Wallace, and Bradley Wrenn — dancers, writers, choreographers, and performance artists.
With 12 Minutes Max, you never know what to expect. The pieces might connect in unexpected ways, or they might end up a far-flung mix. The best part is it’s like a sampler platter — the worst that can happen is you’ll be happy to move on to the next piece; the best is when you connect with an artist you hadn’t seen before, and the quick introduction leaves you seeking out their work to see more.
Tickets are $27 (or $11.50 for livestream – Sunday only), here.
As If Theatre Company: The Cake
It’s all fun and games ’til the wedding
Opens 3/3, closing 3/20. In Kenmore.
It seems like forever ago, but I apparently wrote a pretty good preview the last time As If was cooking up this show — almost exactly two years ago, another casualty of the ides of March 2020. And it’s pretty much all still true — so rather than me rewriting it, you can go read that here.
The bottom line is this is a great script by prolific playwright Bekah Brunstetter, which I assume will translate to a very funny play on stage; and if the company’s past work is any indicator, As If will do a stand-up job with it.
Tickets are $27.50, here.
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Village Theatre: The Book Club Play (previews 3/2-3, opens 3/4, closing 4/3 in Issaquah; runs 4/8-5/1 in Everett). In Issaquah & Everett.
600 HIGHWAYMEN @ On the Boards: A Thousand Ways (Part Three): An Assembly (runs 3/3-12). In Seattle (Lower Queen Anne).
Christine Deaver @ The Royal Room: Leave it to Deaver: A Christine Deaver Cabaret (runs 3/4-6). In Seattle (Rainier/Hillman City).
Seattle International Dance Festival @ Erickson Theatre: Winter Mini Fest (runs 3/4-12). In Seattle (Capitol Hill).
Edmonds Driftwood Players: Holmes and Watson (opens 3/4, closing 3/27). In Edmonds.
Lakewood Playhouse: Head Over Heels (opens 3/4, closing 3/27). In Lakewood.
Seattle Rep: Teenage Dick (previews 3/4-8, opens 3/9, closing 4/3). At the Seattle Center (Mercer St. side).
Paramount Theatre: The Band’s Visit (touring) (opens 3/8, closing 3/13). In Downtown Seattle.
Closing Soon
Valley Center Stage: Tiny Beautiful Things
Worth the trip. Valley’s intimate staging “brings to the surface what this story attempts to do: capture disparate lives interconnected, through this anonymous advice-giver, as they all try to get their houses in a bit more order.”
See NWT’s full review of ‘Tiny Beautiful Things’ here.
Closing 3/5, in North Bend. Tickets ($23) here, or pay what you choose for Thursday’s show.
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Taproot Theatre: See How They Run (closing 3/5). In Seattle (Greenwood). See NWT’s Quick Takes review of ‘See How They Run’ here.
University of Puget Sound Theatre Arts: Indecent (closing 3/5). In Tacoma.
Sara Porkalob @ Cafe Nordo: Dragon Lady (closing 3/6). See NWT’s review here.
Sara Porkalob @ Cafe Nordo: Dragon Mama (closing 3/6). See NWT’s Quick Takes review of ‘Dragon Mama’ here.
Seattle Children’s Theatre: Red Riding Hood (closing 3/6). At Seattle Center.
Tacoma Arts Live @ Theatre on the Square: Grounded (closing 3/6). In Tacoma.
Continuing Runs
Seattle Opera: Blue
West Coast premiere. “Seattle Opera’s staging gives Blue‘s story exactly the presentation it demands: engrossing, challenging, and beautiful.”
See NWT’s full review of ‘Blue’ here.
Runs through 3/12, at the Seattle Center (Mercer St. side). Tickets ($42-$206) here. Best pricing is available on Wednesdays.
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Seattle Shakespeare Company: Drum and Colors – As You Like It (closing 3/12). At the Seattle Center.
Seattle Shakespeare Company: Drum and Colors – Hamlet (closing 3/13). At the Seattle Center.
Seattle Rep: Freestyle Love Supreme (closing 3/13). At Seattle Center (Mercer St. side).
Twelfth Night Productions: A Year with Frog and Toad @ Youngstown Cultural Art Center (closing 3/13). In West Seattle (Delridge).
Village Theatre: Songs for a New World (closing 3/13). In Everett. See NWT’s review here.
Peter Antoniou: ‘Psychic’ Comedian – presented by ReAct Theatre @ Theatre Off Jackson (closing 3/15). In Seattle (International District).
Can Can Culinary Cabaret: Ooh La La (closing 5/1). In Seattle (Pike Place).
The Roundup is a weekly (ish) feature. Want to plan your show schedule further out? See NWT’s 2022 Shows list, which aims to list just about every theatre show in town. For shows by day and ticketing info, see the Performance Calendar.
Chase D. Anderson is Editor & Producer of NWTheatre.org.