Arts Briefs | Nov. 6 edition | Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber

Steffon Moody

Join singer-songwriter Steffon Moody for songs, stories and surprises at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, at Vashon Center for the Arts.

In the concert, “From the Ashes, We Will Rise,” Moody will weave together three decades of self-forged, folk-Americana music into a single rousing evening of song, story and surprise. Sharing the stage with island stalwarts Andre Sapp (mandolin, guitar) and Bill Moyer (tablas, trap set), plus Northwest legend Mark Graham (harmonica, clarinet), Moody will reimagine songs first performed with bands including Good Dog, Rumpus, United Sheep, The Nilbillies and Dark Carny.

The concert, he promises, will be “a night of rousing redemption, raucous irreverence and soulful melody.”

Find out more and get tickets at vashoncenterforthearts.org.

Stephanie Anne Johnson

Powerhouse R&B artist and Vashon favorite Stephanie Anne Johnson will return to the island to celebrate the release of her new album, “Sing, Baby!,” at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, at Open Space for Arts & Community.

Johnson’s star has continued to rise nationally since her appearance as a finalist on “The Voice” more than a decade ago. Last month, she was the opening act for Mavis Staples in Arizona. Over the years, she has also shared stages with Indigo Girls, Macy Gray, Taj Mahal, Robert Cray, the Blind Boys of Alabama, Steve Earle, Shemekia Copeland, Ruthie Foster, Mason Jennings, Durand Jones, Cedric Burnside — and even Bernie Sanders at the Tacoma Dome.

Her 2023 album, “Jewels,” rose to No. 6 on the Roots Music Report’s Top 50 Americana Country Album Chart.

Find out more about “Sing, Baby!” at stephanieannejohnsonmusic.com. Get tickets for her Nov. 8 show at openspacevashon.com.

Uptown returns to Vashon

Back by popular demand, Uptown, a nationally touring soul act, will perform at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 9, at Vashon Center for the Arts.

The group — all powerhouse soloists and incredible dancers — brings the soul of Motown and the hits of today together in their show. Expect hits from Stevie Wonder to Bruno Mars and the urge to get up and dance.

Find out more and get tickets at vashoncenterforthearts.org.

Poetry reading

Hear three esteemed local poets read from their work at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, at Vashon Island Coffee Roasterie.

The event will feature two Vashon poets, Ann Spiers and Katy E. Ellis, along with one off-island poet, Susan Landgraf. All three poets have published poetry collections in 2025 and will read from their new work. Books will be available for purchase and signing.

Ann Spiers was Vashon Island’s inaugural Poet Laureate and stewards the Poetry Pole in Vashon’s Town Square. Her writing includes poetry, prose and essay. Her most recent book is “Wild Cucumber” (Empty Bowl Press).

Katy E. Ellis is the author of “Forty Bouts in the Wilderness,” first runner-up for the 2024 MoonPath Press Sally Albiso Award. Her other books include the prose-poetry novel “Home Water, Home Land” (Tolsun Books) and the chapbook “Night Watch” (Floating Bridge Press). Learn more at katyeellis.com.

Susan Landgraf’s “Out of a Land of Alkali and Chromate” was published this spring by MoonPath Press. She’s published more than 400 poems in Nimrod, Prairie Schooner, Rattle, Poet Lore and others. She served as Poet Laureate of Auburn, Washington, from 2018 to 2020.

New Alchemysts Theatre

“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, 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 by clicking on the “donate” button. Find out more about the production at alchemysts.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.

Ukulele Jam

Chase away the dark days at upcoming ukulele jams for ages 9 and older. Jams are scheduled for 2 p.m. on 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 amount of instruments will be available for checkout at the jams. Space is limited, so register at 1.kcls.org/VashonLibraryEvents.