Arts Briefs | Nov. 13 edition
Published 10:20 am Wednesday, November 12, 2025
Tim Couldn’t Make It
A night of music, from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 14, will fill The Station, a new venue located at 17816 Vashon Hwy. SW. The evening is a send-off for island musician and award-winning photographer Rick Dahms, who is leaving Vashon for new adventures on the East Coast.
It’s also being billed as the last show, for the foreseeable future, for the much-loved island band Tim Couldn’t Make It, made up of Dahms, Doug Pine, Bruce Phares, Wes Peterson and Lonesome Mike Nichols.
The band’s name, referencing Rick Dahms’ older brother, Tim, a Maui musician who has repeatedly failed to play at his brother’s gigs, has been a staple of Vashon’s music scene for years. They’ll be joined on Friday by another band, Wild Blue Morning.
The night of music, previously publicized to take place at the Vashon Wine Shop, was moved to the new location last week. There is a $10 suggested cover charge for the night of music, memories and appreciation of Dahms.
The Lightning Thief
Students of Vashon Center for the Arts Youth Musical Theatre Program will present “The Lightning Thief” in three performances on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 14 and 15. Performances are at 7 p.m. both days, with a 2 p.m. “sensory-friendly” Saturday matinee.
The musical, with a book by Joe Tracz and music and lyrics by Rob Rokicki, tells the story of Percy Jackson, the half-blood son of a Greek god, who discovers that he has powers he can’t control, a destiny he doesn’t want and a host of monsters on his trail.
Adapted from the best-selling book “The Lightning Thief” by Rick Riordan, the action-packed show features an original rock score and plenty of adventure.
Find out more and reserve seats, which are free for ages 18 and younger, at vashoncenterforthearts.org. Children ages 12 and younger must be accompanied to the show by an adult.
Bruce Phares in Seattle
Island bassist Bruce Phares will be the headline performer at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, in the prestigious Seattle Jazz Fellowship concert series, held at 108 S. Main St, in Seattle. He will be joined in the concert by two other acclaimed Seattle players — pianist Randy Halberstadt and drummer John Bishop.
Visit seattlejazzfellowship.org for more information.
Tales of the Alchemyst
“Surviving Survival,” a touring production based on the works of renowned Polish-Yiddish writer Chava Rosenfarb, will be performed by Tales of the Alchemyst Theatre at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, at Vashon Havurah, located at 15401 Westside Hwy. SW.
The Seattle-based theater company creates staged readings and theatrical works incorporating live music that are based on Jewish literature and history.
“Surviving Survival” brings to life two short stories by Rosenfarb, who was herself a survivor of the Lodz ghetto. Evocative and unsettling, the stories explore the intricacies of memory, guilt and the delicate balancing act of moving through pain to achieve stability.
Tickets are $25 each, or pay what you can. Advance purchase is requested at vashonhavurah.org. Find out more about the production at alchemysts.org.
Nobuntu
Nobuntu, an internationally acclaimed female a cappella group, will present the rich harmonies and spirit of Zimbabwe in a performance at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 16, at Vashon Center for the Arts. The group’s repertoire blends traditional songs, Afro-jazz and gospel with authentic dance and percussion.
Nobuntu has been celebrated worldwide for their artistry and cultural storytelling, with World Listening Post calling the ensemble’s work “a distinctly feminine turn to the genre, honoring nature, work, civic engagement, faith and the transformative capacity of music.”
Get tickets and find out more at vashoncenterforthearts.org.
Ghost Boat Theater
Attend a launch party for Vashon’s newest performing arts company, Ghost Boat Theater, from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21, at Open Space for Arts & Community.
The party will include live music, refreshments, a no-host bar and a short reading from the company’s inaugural production, set to premiere next spring: “One Thing After Another,” a fast-paced and farcical take on Homer’s “The Odyssey.”
Ghost Boat Theater, founded by local theatermakers Jennifer Dice, Steven Sterne and Kat Eggleston, will bring area musicians, composers and performing artists together to present new works and reimagine classic stories.
A recent short play with mythic themes by Dice, “I Can’t Go Home,” which premiered last spring in Drama Dock’s Short Play Festival, served as a testing ground for the concept. The play required a talented group of folk musicians who were also able to step into key roles, and Eggleston played a key part in leading the band and appearing in the show.
“I loved the play,” said Eggleston. “The music and the folktale symbolism are right in my wheelhouse … and I’m excited to work on more shows that bring Vashon’s music and theater communities together like this.”
Ghost Boat’s plays will be performed in the small black box theater at Open Space — a space that Sterne said is “perfect for the intimate, experimental work we will present.”
Find out more at ghostboattheater.org and RSVP at openspacevashon.com to attend the free launch party on Nov. 21.
Native Heritage Month
Celebrate Native Heritage Month at a Seattle Indian Health Board Artist Showcase from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21, at Vashon Center for the Arts.
The fundraiser will showcase Indigenous creativity in works of print, paint and music. Guests will also partake in a meal prepared by a renowned Indigenous chef, blending culture and community.
Purchase tickets and find out more at tinyurl.com/2zt2tw8k.
Songwriter Sessions
Vashon Center for the Arts will present another round of its free Songwriter Sessions series from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22, featuring JD Hobson and his special guest — Ron Hook, a legendary figure in Vashon’s music scene. The pair will perform in VCA’s atrium.
Born and raised in Seattle but steeped in his Virginia roots, Hobson’s music is inspired by the fingerpicking finesse of Mississippi John Hurt, the lonesome spirit of Hank Williams Sr. and the poetic edge of early Bob Dylan — all mixed with the raw energy of Seattle’s grunge era.
Find out more at vashoncenterforthearts.org.
Ukulele Jam
Chase away the dark days at upcoming ukulele jams for ages 9 and older. Jams are scheduled for 2 p.m. Nov. 23 and Dec. 28 at Vashon Library. Both seasoned players and beginners are welcome to connect with others and learn new songs. Bring an instrument or check one out from the Vashon Music Instrument Library. A limited number of instruments will be available for checkout at the jams. Space is limited, so register at 1.kcls.org/VashonLibraryEvents.
