This Week in Arts: Weekly Roundup (11/29)
There’s a smorgasbord of Christmas shows and more going up this weekend, from classics like The Nutcracker and variations on A Christmas Carol to brand-new works. Also, Drop Dead Gorgeous. Here’s what’s on this week.
Ticketing links for most shows can be found on the Performance Calendar page.
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It’s a Christmas Miracle
“Name and spell all the United States in alphabetical order … “
In what’s perhaps the most exciting news ever, the legendary 1999 film Drop Dead Gorgeous gets its due with a three-night showing this week in Northwest Film Forum’s “Unstreamable” series.
This gut-busting, occasionally violent mockumentary — taking on beauty pageants, teenage angst, Midwest wholesomeness, small-town life, and more — is awkward and terrible and wonderful. Its sharp writing, tremendous casting (with the likes of Kirsten Dunst, Ellen Barkin, Allison Janney, Kirstie Alley, and Brittany Murphy), gratuitous rage, and timeless cringey humor combine for a true original. It’s perhaps my favorite film of all time.
“Unstreamable” series curators Jas Keimig and Chase Burns will introduce the opening night, 12/1; the film shows through the weekend. Tickets and info here.
Openings
The 5th Avenue Theatre: White Christmas (in previews, opens 12/1, closing 12/27). In Downtown Seattle. 🎅🏽🎄
ACT Contemporary Theatre: A Christmas Carol (in previews, opens 12/1, closing 12/24). In Downtown Seattle. 🎅🏽🎄
Bainbridge Performing Arts: Beauty and the Beast (opens 11/30, closing 12/17). On Bainbridge Island.
SecondStory Repertory Theatre: Miss Bennet – Christmas at Pemberley (preview 11/30, opens 12/1, closing 12/23). In Redmond. 🎅🏽🎄
Taproot Theatre: A Charlie Brown Christmas (preview 11/30, opens 12/1, closing 12/23). In Seattle (Greenwood). 🎅🏽🎄
ArtsWest: Snowed In (opens 12/1, closing 12/23). In West Seattle. 🎅🏽🎄
Lakewood Playhouse: The Seafarer (opens 12/1, closing 12/17). In Lakewood.
ManeStage Theatre: A Christmas Story The Musical (opens 12/1, closing 12/17). In Puyallup. 🎅🏽🎄
Olympia Little Theatre: It’s a Wonderful Life – A Live Radio Play (opens 12/1, closing 12/17). In Olympia. 🎅🏽🎄
Port Gamble Theater: A Charlie Brown Christmas (opens 12/1, closing 12/17). In Port Gamble. 🎅🏽🎄
Red Curtain Foundation for the Arts: A MidWinter Night’s Dream (opens 12/1, closing 12/17). In Marysville.
Strawberry Theatre Workshop: Fellow Passengers (opens 12/1, closing 12/23). 🎅🏽🎄
Triple Door: Land of the Sweets – The Nutcracker Burlesque (opens 12/1, closing 12/28). In Downtown Seattle. 🎅🏽🎄
Valley Center Stage: It’s a Wonderful Life – A Live Radio Play (opens 12/1, closing 12/17). In North Bend. 🎅🏽🎄
Stage West Community Theatre: One Christmas Eve at Evergreen Mall (opens 12/2, closing 12/10). In Ocean Shores. 🎅🏽🎄
Valley Center Stage: A Christmas Carol (staged reading) (opens 12/2, closing 12/22). In North Bend. 🎅🏽🎄
Short Runs
On the Boards: Anna Luisa Petrisko – All Time Stop Now (11/30-12/2). In Seattle (Lower Queen Anne).
Annex Theatre: Holidaze – Market & Variety Show (12/2). In Seattle (Capitol Hill). 🎅🏽🎄
Theatre33: Annual Winter Craft Fair (12/2). In Bellevue. 🎅🏽🎄
Yun Theatre: The Mulberry Tree (staged reading) @ Story Coffee Bellevue (12/2). In Bellevue.
Base: 12 Minutes Max (12/3-4). In Seattle (Georgetown).
University of Puget Sound Theatre Arts: Director’s Lab (12/4-6). In Tacoma.
Closing Soon
Pony World Theatre: Hotdish (closing 12/2). In Seattle (Capitol Hill).
Dunya Productions: The Return @ Cherry Street Village (closing 12/3). In Seattle (Central District).
Continuing Runs
Bellingham Theatre Guild: The Game’s Afoot (closing 12/10). In Bellingham.
Burien Actors Theatre: The Twelve Dates of Christmas (closing 12/17) 🎅🏽🎄
Centerstage Theatre: Sleeping Beauty – A Holiday Panto (closing 12/17). In Federal Way. 🎅🏽🎄
Edmonds Driftwood Players: Willy Wonka (closing 12/17). In Edmonds.
O Christmas Tea – A British Comedy (touring) (performs locally through 12/17). At various locations. 🎅🏽🎄
The Phoenix Theatre: A Nice Family Christmas (closing 12/17). In Edmonds. 🎅🏽🎄
Seattle Rep: Little Women (closing 12/17). At the Seattle Center.
Tacoma Musical Playhouse: Cats (closing 12/17). In Tacoma.
Village Theatre: Beautiful – The Carole King Musical (closing 12/17, followed by Everett run). In Issaquah.
Unexpected Productions: An Improvised Christmas Carol (closing 12/23). In Seattle (Pike Place Market). 🎅🏽🎄
Harlequin Productions: A Christmas Carol (closing 12/24). In Olympia. 🎅🏽🎄
Pacific Northwest Ballet: The Nutcracker (closing 12/27). At the Seattle Center. 🎅🏽🎄
Seattle Public Theater: A Very Die Hard Christmas (closing 12/28). In Seattle (Green Lake). 🎅🏽🎄
Taproot Theatre: Georgiana & Kitty – Christmas at Pemberley (closing 12/30). In Seattle (Greenwood). 🎅🏽🎄
Seattle Children’s Theatre: A Very Electric Christmas (closing 12/31). At the Seattle Center. 🎅🏽🎄
Can Can Culinary Cabaret: Wonderland (closing 1/7/2024). In Seattle (Pike Place Market). 🎅🏽🎄
Teatro ZinZanni: Residency @ Lotte Hotel (closing 3/31/2024). In Downtown Seattle.
The Roundup is a weekly (ish) feature. For this month’s shows by day, with ticketing info and links, see the Performance Calendar.
Want to plan your show schedule further out? See NWT’s list of 2023 shows (plus 2024 ones announced so far), which will be updated frequently as season lineups unfold.
Chase D. Anderson is Editor & Producer of NWTheatre.org.