Arts Briefs | Jan. 22 edition

Published 10:30 am Tuesday, January 20, 2026

Vashon Theatre

Check out what’s playing and coming up soon at Vashon’s historic movie house at vashontheatre.com.

Currently, the acclaimed film “Hamnet” is playing through Thursday, Jan. 22, with a run of “Marty Supreme” coming soon.

In between, there’s plenty to see, including “Sugarcane,” which has been Oscar-nominated for the Best Documentary Film of 2025.

The film — an investigation of the devastating legacy of Indian residential schools in Canada and the resilience of those who survived them — will be screened at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27. The screening — a benefit for the Seattle Indian Health Board and Thunderbird Treatment Center, soon to open on Vashon — is being presented by numerous faith groups on Vashon and the advocacy group Friends of Thunderbird.

Find out more about the film at sugarcanefilm.com.

Vashon Film Institute also boasts a regular series of independent and international films at the theater. Next up is Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi’s acclaimed new film “It Was Just an Accident,” to be shown at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 3. Find out more and get tickets for productions at vashonfilminstitute.com/vfipresents.

Prefer or need to watch your films with captions? Head to Vashon Theatre on Wednesdays, long designated as open-captions night at the theater, with dialogue and audio descriptions always displayed on the big screen.

Whim W’Him

The award-winning contemporary company Whim W’Him will soon return to Vashon with new creations by celebrated choreographers FLOCK (Florian Lochner and Alice Klock), Emilie Leriche and Olivier Wevers.

The show, “Winter ’26,” will take place at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 22, at Vashon Center for the Arts.

Expect breathtaking movement, poetic physicality and bold artistry in an evening that showcases the very best of contemporary dance. Reserve tickets — free for ages 18 and younger, although those 12 and younger must be accompanied by an adult — and find out more at vashoncenterforthearts.org.

The show is also part of a collaboration between VCA and Vashon Lodges, which is offering a package of discounts to those coming to Vashon for the show.

Join the madcap theater-makers of 14/48 Vashon as the annual festival returns for a thrill-packed two-night run, with performances at 7 and 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Jan. 23 and 24, at Open Space for Arts & Community.

The festival — whose company includes seven writers, seven directors, a gaggle of actors and designers, musicians and technical wizards — famously results in the creation of 14 new plays, from scratch, in only 48 hours.

Here’s how it works: On Thursday night before the first show, the theater-makers gather — some meeting for the first time — and throw themes into a hat. After a theme is drawn, the writers head home to write new 10-minute plays overnight. The next morning, directors draw the play they will direct, then draw their cast, and then get to work. The result? Seven new plays are rehearsed, designed and scored throughout the day and performed twice on Friday night. Then the whole process starts all over again. By the end of Saturday, 14 new plays have been born, produced and presented in just 48 hours.

Get tickets and find out more at openspacevashon.com.

Songwriter Sessions

VCA will present Rob and Ryan Hotchkiss and Jeff Kanzler in its free Songwriter Sessions series, from 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, in VCA’s Atrium.

Kanzler, who grew up in the Seattle area, eventually found his way to interior Alaska, where he lived and worked for a number of years. During that period, he released his album “Blacktop Road” in 2007. Kanzler is now based on Vashon.

Rob Hotchkiss won a Grammy Award (Best Rock Song) for five-time-nominated “Drops of Jupiter,” and founded the band Train. His solo album, “Midnight Ghost,” was likened to music of The Beatles, early Bowie and Neil Young. His son, Ryan, has been writing and playing music since he was a small child. They both currently live on the island and collaborate together on stage and in the studio.

Find out more at vashoncenterforthearts.org.

Colette Jones

Colette Jones, a singer, musician, writer, artist and scholar of American Roots music, will play an all-ages show with her band, The Rhodies, at 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, at The Rock Island Pizza, 17322 Vashon Hwy. SW. Her current catalog includes two full-length albums recorded during her years living in Nashville, Tennessee, with several new projects in the works. Her brand of Cosmic Americana music is billed as “ethereal and introspective, with a touch of outlaw country spirit.” For more info, visit colettejonesmusic.com.

Artists’ market and crafting

Attend a celebration of Imbolc — an ancient Celtic midwinter tradition marking the return of the light — where all are invited to honor the goddess and saint Brigid by making weavings called Brigid’s crosses to hang over doors.

The event, with an accompanying artists’ market, will take place from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31, at the artists’ studios in the Beall Greenhouses, 18531 Beall Road.

Participating artists include Dee Cherry, Robert Passig, Christina Nichols, Logan Price, Nadine Edelstein, Hope Black, Jon Haaland, Lee Cattarin, Brooke Osment, Mags McGinnis, Jennifer Hawke, Julie Shannon and Steve Rocketkar.

Find out more at tinyurl.com/58y8suk8.

Pink Martini

With its trademark “fizzy spirit and breezy sophistication” (Chicago Sun-Times), the “little orchestra” known as Pink Martini will return to Vashon Center for the Arts at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 1. The band and its chanteuse, Storm Large, are Vashon favorites for their mix of Brazilian samba, French café tunes, cabaret flair and timeless jazz. The show is currently sold out — but stop by VCA or call the box office at 206-259-3007 to see if any become available.

David Nihill

The well-traveled and celebrated Irish comedian David Nihill will bring his wit and stand-up skills to a show at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 5, at Vashon Center for the Arts. Nihill is the winner of the prestigious annual San Francisco Comedy Competition (previous finalists include Robin Williams, Ellen DeGeneres and Dana Carvey) and runner-up in the Moth’s largest U.S. Grandslam storytelling competition. Find out more at davidnihill.com and get tickets at vashoncenterforthearts.org.

Music at Moonwood

Join other music lovers at a house concert series, Music at Moonwood, for an intimate performance by NYC-based jazz pianist and composer Zander Knodt at 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7. Doors will open at 5 p.m. for drinks and hors d’oeuvres.

Zander, who grew up on Vashon and is renowned for blending jazz with classical and contemporary influences, will perform a captivating program ranging from beloved jazz standards to original compositions inspired by the works of Schumann and Mahler. His performance will be featured on a stunning 1905 7-foot grand piano.

Hosted in a private residence on Vashon, Music at Moonwood showcases a curated selection of local, national and international talent in a distinctly beautiful private setting.

Space is limited. Find out more and secure your seat via TicketStripe.com at tinyurl.com/2r4uzrv3. The address to the concert site will be provided upon registration.

Love Duets 7

A long-awaited continuation of six previous Love Duets showcases, presented by Vashon Events before COVID hit, will be presented at 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14, at The Station, 17816 Vashon Hwy. SW. The evening of duets is the perfect romantic date night for Valentine’s Day, said Pete Welch and Allison Jones, the co-directors of Vashon Events. Find out more at vashonevents.org.