All the Island’s a Stage as Vashon Theatre Fest Opens

Published 1:30 am Wednesday, July 28, 2021

Theater fans, rejoice: Vashon Theater Fest has now arrived on Vashon.

The homegrown theater festival, presented by Vashon Repertory Theatre, kicked off under blue skies last weekend with productions of “The Tempest,” “Woody Guthrie’s American Song,” numerous play-readings, and a one-weekend-only presentation of UMO Ensemble’s production of “Fail Better: Beckett Moves UMO.”

Happily, “The Tempest” and “Woody’s Guthrie’s American Song” — will be staged again this weekend. In a nod to projected higher temperatures this weekend, afternoon performances of “Woody Guthrie’s American Song” have been moved to later in the day; showtimes are now 6 p.m. Friday, July 30, 4 p.m. Saturday, July 31, and 6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 1, at Ober Park. Showtimes for “The Tempest” have not changed and will take place as planned at 6 p.m. Thursday through Sunday, July 29 to Aug. 1, at Open Space for Arts & Community.

Also coming this weekend are more play readings at Snapdragon, and the Vashon premiere of “Bo-Nita,” a critically acclaimed one-woman play by Seattle playwright Heffron and performed by New York actor Terri Weagant. “Bo-Nita” will be staged at 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, July 29 to 31, and 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 1, at Vashon Center for the Arts.

All patrons, whether they are vaccinated or not, are now requested to wear masks indoors at Vashon Center for the Arts and at the festival’s presentation of play-readings at Snapdragon.

For more information and tickets to the festival, visit vashonrepertorytheatre.com. See pages 8, 9 and 10 for reviews of shows that have already opened.