‘Dragon Country’
Civic Rep, Vashon’s newest professional theater company, presents “Dragon Country: Four Short Plays by Tennesee Williams” to run from Nov. 9 through 18 at the Open Space for Arts & Community.
Williams, best known for masterpieces of American theater including “The Glass Managerie” and “A Streetcar Named Desire,” was also a prolific author of short plays, many of which were experimental in theme and style. Plays in “Dragon Country” are “The Lady of Larkspur Lotion,” “I Can’t Imagine Tomorrow,” “Something Unspoken” and “A Perfect Analysis Given by a Parrot.”
For Civic Rep, it’s a chance to delve deeper into the works of Williams.
“We value the artistic opportunity for depth and dimension that evolves when working with one writer,” Civic Rep’s artistic director L. Zane Jones said, adding that the “beauty and complexity of Williams’ work” made the work especially challenging and satisfying.
Performances will take place at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 8 (a preview with $10 tickets) and 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, Nov. 9, 10, 16 and 17; and 4 p.m. Sundays, Nov. 11 and 18, at Open Space.
Tickets, $25 for general admission and $20 for students and seniors, can be purchased at civicrep.org and at the door.
The Curvettes play the Bike
The Curvettes trio of seasoned Vashon and Seattle performers Arlette Moody, Elaine Ott-Rocheford and Stephanie Murray, will play a show at 8 p.m. this Friday at the Red Bike.
The Curvettes, a retro chic trio that puts its own curve into music nostalgia, are backed by The Straightaways — an acoustic swing combo that puts a nostalgic spin on even the most modern tunes but isn’t afraid to bust out a beat when members need to. Steve Meyer on upright bass and Marshall Murray on the cocktail drum kit are seasoned performers who provide the backbone. Andre Sapp adds mandolin, ukulele and guitar, depending on what and how many strings he can handle at any given time. Matthew Chaney brings a stunning array of piano chops, classical technique and avant-garde sensibilities to the mix. Gary Milligan on horn adds some sass and splash. This is a free cover, all-ages show until 11 p.m., then ages 21 and up only after that.
A Thousand Thanks: The Gift of Sadako and Her Cranes
This performance will begin at 10:30 a.m Saturday, Nov. 10, at VCA. Author, poet and magician Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma will use a confection of magic, story and song to explore “Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes.”
Sadako Sasaki was a Japanese girl who survived after the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima in 1945, but later died of cancer at age 12 as a result of radiation exposure. She is known for the paper cranes she folded while receiving treatment in the hospital, popularized in a 1977 novelized version about her life and her wish for peace.
“Her story made a deep impression on me as a child,” said Pruiksma. “In this show, I share how Sadako and the gift of her courage changed the little boy that I was. People knew me then as Tommy, and this is the story of both Tommy and Sadako and how the story of her life affected mine.”
Genius Handed Down
David Armstrong, artistic director of The 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle, will discuss the legacy and role of the Broadway musical in American culture, tracing the story of its entire 120-year history through the work and personal connections of three groundbreaking artists — Oscar Hammerstein (“Oklahoma!”, “The King and I,” “South Pacific,”), Steven Sondheim (“West Side Story,” “Follies,” “Into the Woods,”) and Lin Manuel Miranda (“In the Heights,” “Hamilton.”) The presentation, Genius Handed Down: The History of the American Musical in One Continuous Thread of Artistry, will feature special guest Albert Evans and is slated for 4 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 11, at VCA.
Kate Macleod & Friends
Musician Kate Macleod will play a Tip The Scales house concert at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16. For more information and location, RSVP to Kat Eggleston at kat@kateggleston.com. Admission is by a suggested donation of $20 at the door.
Mike Dumovich to play with Laura Veirs in Tacoma
Longtime islander Mike Dumovich will play a show with headliner Laura Veirs and area artist Whitney Ballen at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16, at the Alma Mater in Tacoma. Dumovich will play music from his new album, “The Copper Thieves.”
“Mike Dumovich sings pensive songs, delivering them in a matter-of-fact voice and radiant guitar plucking that can put you in a trance,” says Brian Barr of the Seattle Weekly.
Tickets cost $15 in advance (ticketf.ly/2PS2CiF) or $20 at the door
Art History: ‘Guernica’
Picasso’s “Guernica,” composed in two months in response to the bombing of the Spanish city, has become a potent symbol of the anti-war movement. Rebecca Albiani will guide a talk about Picasso’s creative process to consider how a work of art attains its iconic status from 11:30 a.m to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13, at VCA.
This year’s art history lecture series at VCA will take an up-close look at five icons of world art, from the ancient world to the 20th century. Albiani and her audience will delve into these works and the circumstances that produced them, exploring questions such as whether the British Museum should return the Parthenon marbles to Athens? Did the Night Watch really sink Rembrandt’s career? And what might constitute the Great American Picture?
Seattle International Comedy Competition
Billed as “America’s largest touring comedy festival,” the SICC sees comedians from around the globe competing every year. This year’s edition is no exception after 26 days, 22 shows and18 venues. 32 comedians from the U.S., Canada, UK and Japan have competed for over $15,000 in cash prizes. One winner will be crowned on Nov. 25 at Seattle’s Comedy Underground.
Come ready to laugh at this always popular “finals week” show at the Vashon Theatre. Due to mature content, the show is not recommended for children.
The show will be at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 21, at the Vashon Theatre. Tickets cost $25 and may be purchased in advance at vashontheatre.com.
