Arts Briefs | Oct. 23 edition | Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber

Bad Bad Hats

Local producer Tyrel Stendahl will bring house show vibes to uptown Vashon with a show by the Minnesota duo, Bad Bad Hats, at 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 23, at PopPop Bottle Shop. It’s a return to Vashon for the duo, whose music is highly recommended by Stendahl. Get tickets and find out more at tinyurl.com/mrxamnt2.

Rocky Horror

Vashon Repertory Theatre will present Richard O’Brien’s “The Rocky Horror Show” on Oct. 24, 25, 26, 30, 31 and Nov. 1, at Vashon Center for the Arts.

The raucous tribute to horror and sci-fi B movies has become a cult classic, telling the story of a newly engaged couple getting caught in a storm and arriving at the home of a mad scientist, Dr Frank-N-Furter, who unveils his creation, Rocky — a Frankenstein-style monster in the form of a fully grown, physically perfect muscle man.

Find out more about the production and get tickets only at vashoncenterforthearts.org — or in person at VCA or by calling the box office at 206-463-5131. The producers have warned that scam sites are also selling overpriced and possibly invalid tickets to the show online.

Lou’s Home Cookin’

Lou Mangione, longtime vocalist for the Portage Fill, will perform a menu of songs spanning decades and genres in various flavors, rhythms and languages at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, at Snapdragon’s Black Cat Cabaret.

His backing band for the show, Lou’s Home Cookin,’ includes well-known island players John Stanton, Gordy Ryan, Van Crozier, Richard Person and Tom Wilkins.

“Let good music light up your evening as you spend time with these incredible Vashon musicians,” Mangione said, adding that the evening will include both well-known songs and surprise choices.

Tickets are $20 at the door, or pay what you can.

Ukulele Jam

Chase away the dark days at upcoming ukulele jams for ages 9 and older. Jams are scheduled for 2 p.m. on the fourth Sunday of each month: Oct. 25, 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 Intrument Library. A limited amount of instruments will be available for checkout at the jams. Space is limited, so register at 1.kcls.org/VashonLibraryEvents.

Greeting card class

Ray Pfortner will present a class, “Tis the Season to Turn Your Art into Greeting Cards” from 1-4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1, at Swiftwater Gallery. Registration, at swiftwatergallery.com/classes, closes on Oct. 25.

The class is for artists working in all mediums including painting, drawing and photography to ceramics, woodworking and sculpture. Everyone will go away having made some sample cards from their own art. Pfortner will also focus on why cards are one of the best ways to get your art seen and sold. He will also share a large number of cards he has collected over the years as good and bad examples of greeting cards.

Everyone will go away having made some sample cards from their own art. Pfortner will also focus on why cards are one of the best ways to get your art seen and sold. He will also share a large number of cards he has collected over the years as good and bad examples of greeting cards.

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 birthed in 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.

Open call for theater makers

Sign up now for an open call to participate next year with six island theater companies, to be held from 10 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 22 and 23. Slots for this annual event fill up fast, said organizers.

Companies seeking theater-makers (including but not limited to actors, musicians, designers, stage managers, costumers, lighting and sound technicians) include UMO; Drama Dock; Vashon Repertory Theatre; Vashon’s newest company, Ghost Boat Theater; 14/48 Vashon; and VHS Theater productions.

Headshots and resumes are welcome, but not required. Theater companies also welcome performed monologues, song snippets or stories. Experience requirements range from zero to veteran and everything in between. Theater companies also welcome performed monologues, song snippets or stories. Experience requirements range from zero to veteran and everything in between. Go to vashonrepertorytheatre.org or ghostboattheater.org to find out more and sign up.

Author talk

Dr. Joe-Joe McManus, award-winning author of “A Brother’s Insight: Guidance on Defeating Racism and Advancing Freedom,” will speak from 4-6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 3, at Vashon Center for the Arts. The talk, presented in partnership with Indivisible Vashon, Backbone Campaign, Mukai Farm & Garden and Vashon SURJ (Showing Up for Racial Justice), will provide practical insights on how all individuals can contribute to ending racism and challenging oppression in their own distinctive and powerful ways. McManus brings more than 35 years of activism, advocacy, and professional experience as an anti-racist and inclusive excellence leader. McManus brings more than 35 years of activism, advocacy, and professional experience as an anti-racist and inclusive excellence leader. Find out more at vashoncenterforthearts.org.

Improv workshop

Sign up for comedy improv workshop taking place from 6:45-8:45 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays Nov. 3-19, at Open Space for Arts & Community.

Have some fun, connect with others and learn skills that apply to every human interaction.

Have some fun, connect with others and learn skills that apply to every human interaction. No prior performance experience required or expected, and all islanders 16 and older are welcome. Find out more and sign up at openspacevashon.com.

Stephanie Anne Johnson

Powerhouse singer Stephanie Anne Johnson, a Vashon favorite, 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.

Find out more and get tickets at openspacevashon.com.

Uptown

Back by popular demand, Uptown, a nationally-touring soul act, will perform at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, 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.

Call to honor Harris Levinson

Sharing the Stage, a nonprofit organization that has long paired student musicians and bands with mainstage headline acts, will honor the memory of its beloved co-founder, the late educator and performer Harris Levinson, in a special “Home for the Holidays” celebration concert on Dec. 21 at Open Space for Arts & Community. Organizers are seeking to include as many past Sharing the Stage performers as possible who have appeared as opening acts to main stage headliners in this tribute to Levinson in the Dec. 21 concert. Please contact vashonhomefortheholidays@gmail.com by Oct. 31 to find out more.