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OLy ArtsIssue No. 23 | Holiday 2019

OLY ARTS celebrates the HolidaysLook inside for seasonal coverage

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Holiday 2019

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oly arts6-10

THEATER

Dickens Meets Doyle

Jane Austen for the Holidays

12-17Hummingbird Studio

Profile: Susan Aurand

PARC Foundation

10-11The Wind in the Willows

Charlie Brown

VISUAL ARTS

MUSIC

VARIETY

DANCE

FOOD

24-25

18 - 19

Tammie Brown

Ballet Northwest

Hawley’s Gelato

26-27


14

1810

18

24


Dickens, Meet DoyleThere’s mystery and magic afoot

at Harlequin Productions this season. The company’s Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Christmas Carol, opening November 29, is a mashup that finds Arthur Conan Doyle’s beloved detective receiving a series of ghostly visitors, as Scrooge does in Charles Dickens’ Christmas classic.

The combination of two of Victorian literature’s greatest hits — including visits from a number of spirits, beginning with the ghost of Holmes’s nemesis, Moriarty — is a natural for getting audiences into the holiday spirit, said John Longenbaugh of Portland, Oregon, the writer behind the show. The show’s premiere, at Seattle’s Taproot Theatre Co. in 2010, sold out its run, as did the first production at Portland’s Chapel Theatre, Longenbaugh said. The show has since been reprised at both theaters and produced a couple of dozen times elsewhere, including in Australia, Canada and England.

The Harlequin production, helmed by artistic director Aaron Lamb, stars Terry Edward Moore of Seattle, who played the brilliant detective at Taproot in 2010 and

again in 2012. Longenbaugh has said he wrote the show with Moore in mind. “He’s one of my favorite Holmeses,” Longenbaugh said. The cast also includes oft-seen Olympia talents Russ Holm as Dr. Watson, Xander Layden as the young Sherlock and Eleise Moore as Inspector Lestrade.

As the story begins, the brilliant detective, in a misanthropic mode, is confronted by the ghost of his nemesis, Moriarty. Other ghosts soon follow, each bearing clues. “You could imagine that the spirits of Dickens’s original had been sort of sitting in a green room for 40 or 50 years waiting for a new client,” Longenbaugh said. “The ghosts of past, present and future take on different forms, but they try the same sort of routine on him that they used on Scrooge, and it turns out that Holmes is a much tougher customer.”

Longenbaugh — who’s an arts journalist, novelist and director as well as a playwright — has clearly given some thought to the ingredients needed for a holiday play, and he considers Christmas Carol to be the model of one, as well as “one of the few perfect

novels ever written.” When he decided to write his own version, he landed on the idea of paying homage to Holmes as well and started studying all things Sherlock, consulting with dedicated Doyle fans to make sure his detective remained true to form.

Lamb, who acted in both Taproot productions of Case, is also clearly a Christmas Carol fan — and as those who’ve seen his take on such classics as Man of La Mancha and Hedda Gabler can attest, he relishes turning something old into something new. “Familiarity breeds complacence,” he wrote in his director’s notes for Case. “What better way to revisit (and hopefully rediscover) this most famous of redemption stories than to replace one famous curmudgeon with another?” O

By MOLLY GILMORE

THEATER

WHATSherlock Holmes and the Case of the Christmas Carol

WHEN7:30 p.m. Nov. 27, 29 and 30 and Dec. 4-7, 12-14, 19-21 and 26-28;2 p.m. Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 24, 28 and 29;7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31

WHEREHarlequin Productions’ State Theater,202 Fourth Ave. E, Olympia

HOW MUCH$20-$50

LEARN MOREharlequinproductions.org360-786-0151


oly arts

Olympia Little Theatre Celebrates Jane Austen for the Holidays

Over Christmas week, many families will reconnect and rediscover both our connections and our buried

animosities. This year, a literary family will also re-assemble in Olympia – the Darcy family from Jane Austen’s classic novel Pride and Prejudice will re-convene on stage in a production at Olympia Little Theatre. It’s been two years since the seminal events of Pride and Prejudice, and the Darcy family is coming together for Christmas in a play that is set over the three days between the 22nd and the 25th of December in 1815.

“Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley is a lovely non-traditional Christmas show that is true to Austen’s Pride and Prejudice characters,” explains director Kathy Dorgan. “The story basically continues the story of the Bennet sisters but this one focuses on Mary Bennet, the oft-overlooked middle sister.”

In this sequel to Pride and Prejudice, Mary finds unforeseen romance with an unexpected houseguest who matches her intellectual aptitude. “The story is lovely and light and heartwarming without overt sentimentality. Audiences will be charmed,” says Dorgan.

Jane Austen is well known as a writer whose work embraced and subverted the conventions of class and gender that constricted the roles of women in the Regency era. Her 11 novels included four published in her lifetime, among them the well-known Sense and Sensibility and Pride and Prejudice, both of which have been produced in multiple film adaptations.

Dorgan has long been entranced by Austen’s work, and was intrigued to discover that OLT was producing a new Austen-inspired play co-written by Margot Melcon and Lauren Gunderson, America’s most produced

living playwright. Gunderson’s nationally renowned plays include I and You, Émilie: La Marquise Du Châtelet Defends Her Life Tonight, Parts They Call Deep and Background. Miss Bennet is a newer Gunderson play written in 2016, and this is first production of this play in the Olympia area.

“Austen’s social satire has wit and charm, and empowers women by poking fun at the societal conventions which often render them powerless,” explained Dorgan. “Austen’s women are strong characters who manage their own destinies.” O

By NED HAYES

WHATMiss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley

WHEREOlympia Little Theatre,1925 Miller Ave. NE, Olympia

WHEN7:25 p.m. Thursdays – Saturdays, 1:55 p.m.;Sundays, Dec. 6-22

HOW MUCH$11-$15

LEARN MOREolympialittletheatre.com360-786-9484

THEATER


When It’s Okay

By MELINDA MINTON

Something many of us could use in our lives right now is a stage full of talent and a guaranteed belly laugh. Director Steven Wells

explains why You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown is so timely.

“Charlie Brown shows us that the best person you can be is yourself,” says Wells. “As we fight with who we are, and anxiety and depression, this performance shows us that we don’t need to try and be anyone other than who we are. We are good just the way we are. We may not be sports stars or famous or great at music. We are all different and, in that way, we are all the same. The best version of your self is your true self and that makes you special.”

Richelle Hoosier, who plays Charlie Brown, says, “I feel like this show is perfect for our time in history because it is really a very simple, sweet, and pure show. There is so much going on in the world and in our own lives that is heavy or negative and Charlie Brown allows the audience to take an innocent break into a stress-free time.”

The Peanuts characters are an innocent age frozen in time that most remember like the smell of fresh chocolate cookies coming out of the oven – pure pleasure and fond memories of one’s own childhood’s ups and downs. “I think the take away of the show is that, no matter how bad a situation or a day feels, there is always a hope for a better tomorrow. And that happiness really does lie in the smallest things and we shouldn’t forget that,” says Hoosier.

“For me, the biggest things that stand out are me being a full-time college student, and this being my

first lead role in a show, says in a ‘pinch me’ kind of grateful way,” Hoosier adds. “This is probably going to sound cliché, but I feel like all my cast mates are gifts to this particular stage. With such a small ensemble cast every single person is invaluable and the show just couldn’t be the same without them.”

Cass Gatan, who plays Linus Van Pelt in the production, says, “I think the most important thing about Charlie Brown is the fact that it talks about things that we as adults are still so scared to talk about. There aren’t a lot of shows that want to talk about depression, not feeling good enough and relationships how Charlie Brown does because it’s hard to make those things entertaining, let alone funny.”

Brown discusses genuine, real-life issues through the innocent eyes of a child, and that’s what makes it compelling and funny. In society, the mental health discussion is one that is constantly circulating. “As someone who has struggled with mental health issues, the show presents these topics in a way that makes you feel things,” notes Gatan. “There’s a scene where Charlie Brown and Lucy are talking about how Charlie is really upset because no one likes him, and Lucy agrees with him. But she reminds him that at the end of the day, he’s the only Charlie Brown in the world and that’s enough.”

Funny, cute and a real message in this day of the world attempting to understand and not condemn mental health issues—the production reminds us that it’s okay not to be okay. Happiness is how the play ends, in fact, with a loud, cheerful finale. O

THEATER

to Not Be OK


oly arts

WhatYou’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown

When7:30p.m. Thursday - Saturday November 21-23

WhereKreielsheimer Hall Room 105,Saint Martin’s University,5000 Abbey Way SE, Lacey

How Much$6.24-$1149

Learn MoreBrownpapertickets.com360-438-4506

THEATER

BROWN

SAINT MARTIN'S DEPARTMENTS OF THEATER AND MUSIC PRESENT:

CHARLIEBROWNnovember 15 - 17 & november 21 - 23

Questions: contact Darre� Born at [email protected]

At 7:30 p.m. & 4 p.m. Matinee on sunday 17Saint Martin’s Kreielsheimer, Rm 105

you’re a gd man

Presentation made possible by special arrangement with Tams-Whitmark. All performance materials are provided by Tams-Whitmark, 560 Lexington Avenue New York, New York 10022. www.Tams-Whitmark.com, Phone (212)688-2525

Based on the Comic Strip “Peanuts” by Charles M. SchulzBk Music and lyrics by Clark M. Gesner

Ticket Costs: General Admission $10. SMU Students, Staff and Faculty $5 SPACE Limited!!! Get your Tickets now @ Brown Paper Tickets.

Directed by Steven We�s & Music direction Nickolas Carlson 20192020A SEASON OF FIRSTS

Become a part of history as TLT enters into its 101st season with a selection of shows that have never been performed on the TLT Stage!

Season Ticket and FLEX Ticket packages are now available for Returning Subscribers and New Subscribers!

Season/FLEX Benefits include:~FREE ~FREE Parking in a nearby lot~FREE ticket exchanges with 24 hours notice.~Early Access to Special Events~Subscriber Bonus at each production~FREE admission to our “Off the Shelf” shows

Season Ticket Prices:$145.00 Adults | $135.00 Seniors/Milita$145.00 Adults | $135.00 Seniors/Military/-Students | $120.00 Youth

210 N I Street Tacoma, WA 98403 253.272.2281 ~ www.tacomalittletheatre.com

20192020

oly arts


The Wind in the Willows Returns to OlympiaBy TOM SIMPSON

MUSIC

An old tradition holds all animals can magically speak on Christmas Eve at midnight. This year, Olympia Family Theater (OFT) brings that legend to life in an enchanting production of Kenneth

Grahame’s The Wind in the Willows. It’s a classic tale of talking animals, featuring reclusive yet dapper Badger, good-natured Mole, aristocratic Toad and a Rat who messes about in boats.

The show is perfect for family entertainment over the holidays. “Wind in the Willows is a show about friendship and deep connection, which is welcome any time of year,” says director Andy Gordon. “This show also has a sprinkle of Dickens, which is about as Christmas as you can get … and this time around, we even incorporated a Christmas carol that Grahame wrote that wasn’t part of our first production.”

This musical version of Wind in the Willows is an Olympia original. Harlequin Productions mainstay Bruce Whitney composed all the music, accompanied by Daven Tillinghast’s lyrics (with some songs based on lyrics in Grahame’s own work). Gordon himself wrote the book. The show is a community collaboration, with contributions from Jenny Greenlee, local director of the original production; Kennedy Center playwrighting fellow Bryan Willis; Olympia Family Theater artistic director Jen Ryle and many other members of the Olympia Family Theater community.

“It’s always alchemy seeing how a show comes to very specific life with the performances, set, costumes and music,” says Gordon. “The cast, designers and crew continue to bring their own ideas and personalities to the show. I’m constantly surprised and delighted. Theater is the ultimate collaborative art form, and this production is a glorious example.” It’s been produced four times now, in places as far afield as Alaska and as near as Tumwater High School.

The Wind in the Willows debuted on the OFT stage in 2012, with Kate Arvin, Jason Haws and Ryan Holmberg in lead roles. It returns to OFT after a seven-year hiatus, updated with new musical numbers, a few new plot twists and, of course, an all-new cast who’ll sing and fill the stage with snappy dialogue and surprising humor. Jordan Richards plays incorrigible, motorcar-loving Toad. Hannah Eklund is his friend Mole, Mandy Ryle stars as Rat, and John Seremebe portrays dapper Badger. They’re joined by Olympia newcomer Kaiah Costa, fresh from directing in California, as Mirror Toad. Costa’s also part of the chorus alongside Zachary Clark, Layne Fry, Serean Kim, Chuck Meares (also Magistrate), Reva Rice and Yuri Serembe. They’ll create an alternate world of irrepressible, talking animals.

This winter production boasts a set by local artist Martin Lee, who found his inspiration in illustrations by Arthur Rackham; period-appropriate, Victorian costumes by Olympia’s own costuming magician, Mishka Navarre; and props by Becki Perez. O

WHATThe Wind in the Willows

WHEREOlympia Family Theater,612 Fourth Ave. E, Olympia

WHEN7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays;2 p.m. Sundays Nov. 29 - Dec. 22

HOW MUCH$15-$20

LEARN MOREolyft.org360-570-1638


oly arts MUSIC

Box Office: (360) 753-8586 • washingtoncenter.org • 512 Washington St. SE Olympia, WA 98501 •

WRAP UP YOUR HOLIDAY SHOPPINGGive the gift of live entertainment & create memories at the Washington Center, in the heart of downtown Olympia!

Li� Hearts with a gift

of the Arts!

WRAP UP YOUR HOLIDAY SHOPPINGWRAP UP YOUR HOLIDAY SHOPPINGGive the gift of live entertainment & create Give the gift of live entertainment & create memories at the Washington Center, in the memories at the Washington Center, in the heart of downtown Olympia!heart of downtown Olympia!heart of downtown Olympia!heart of downtown Olympia!heart of downtown Olympia!heart of downtown Olympia!

OLY ARTS FANSYour Performing Arts Center

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©©©© Karl GiantKarl Giant©©©© Autumn de WildeAutumn de Wilde

Jordan Richards, who plays Toad in OFT’s The Wind in the Willows


VISUAL ARTS

On a Wednesday morning in November, 20-plus people gather around two long

tables in Hummingbird Studio in downtown Olympia. They are students at The Evergreen State College and from the Transitions Program of the Olympia School District, which provides opportunities for students to envision their potential for post-secondary education, “meaningful employment through volunteerism, independent living and community involvement.” (Quote from the Transitions Web site.)

Hummingbird staff Randi Miller and Evangelina Poulos welcome everyone. Poulous reminds them of the rules: 1. be kind in wants and actions, 2. respect others work. and personal space, 3. share and conserve Hummingbird materials and 4. have

fun. Next, she asks everyone to introduce themselves and say how they’re feeling, and she says today’s theme is the letter A. “Say something that starts with A.” Three or four say their mother’s name starts with A; one says apple, and another says, “a rhinoceros.”

A program of Kokuaservices, Hummingbird Studio is a free, inclusive community art program that welcomes artists of all ages and abilities. Participants include individuals with disabilities, seniors, college and high school students, professional artists, artists’ family members, and paid caregivers. “We provide the time, encouragement, and a safe space to foster the creative process and human connection,” Miller says. “We believe that everyone is an artist and that Hummingbird Studio contributes to Olympia’s thriving arts community.”

The studio does not instruct or criticize but provides space and art materials to create in a non-judgmental atmosphere. “We believe that art belongs to everyone and is essential to the health and vibrancy of the entire community,” Miller says.

Poulos says, “Hummingbird Studio has taught me the importance of community and the role art plays in bringing people together. Our studio hosts artists from all walks of life, and seeing relationships blossom over artistic collaboration is deeply inspiring. Watching artists express themselves and grow confident has also shown me the empowering nature of art. Each session teaches me something new and I’m honored to work in a space that values inclusion and judgement free self-expression.”

Paper, watercolors, markers, collage materials and other art supplies are donated. Participants are encouraged to donate a suggested $5 per session.

Hummingbird Studio was launched in September 2015 and moved to the location adjacent to Gallery Boom in January of this year. There are three 90-minute sessions every Tuesday and Wednesday, which supports between 80-100 artists each week. O

Inside

By ALEC CLAYTON

Hummingbird Studio


oly arts

WHATHummingbird Studio

WHEN10-11:30 a.m., 12:30-2 p.m., 2:30-4 p.m., Tuesday and Wednesday

WHERE514 Adams St. SE, adjacent to Boom Gallery

HOW MUCH$5 suggested donation

LEARN MOREkokuaservices.org/hummingbird360-705-4665 ext. 120

VISUAL ARTS


VISUAL ARTS

By ALEC CLAYTON

Pretty much everyone familiar with the Olympia art scene knows

Susan Aurand’s work. For many years, beginning in 1974, she taught at The Evergreen State College, and over the years she’s shown her art in such local venues as Childhood’s End Gallery and South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC). Aurand’s work is “realism meets experimentation meets mysterious,” according to Childhood’s End owner Richenda Richardson.

Typically, an Aurand painting is framed with a wooden structure like a small house, perhaps a birdhouse, with painted images inside and, often, small objects attached. The painted imagery is smoothly brushed, photorealistic in style and often depicts such natural objects as blades of grass, birds’ nests or clouds. Often there’s no connection between the images and objects, other than thematic: the objects generally relate to nature. Visually, they contrast with and are seen as adjacent, not continuous or connected, thereby giving her works a slightly surrealistic feel. They’re colorful and restful to the eye, and they’re often intriguing because the exact nature and meaning of the objects painted are left up to viewers’ interpretation.

Aurand was born in the Midwest and received her master’s in art from Ohio State University prior to moving to Olympia. She served as a tenured faculty member at Evergreen, teaching art history, ceramics, drawing, humanities, painting and sculpture until 2018. While there, she team-taught with teachers in many disciplines, including anthropology,

biology, chemistry, ecology, geology, philosophy and psychology. She claims these experiences deepened her knowledge of the natural world, and they significantly informed her artworks over the years. She’s worked in a variety of media, from sculpture and printmaking to painting. Having said that, her images consistently reflect her passion for nature and philosophical inquiry into consciousness, metaphor, symbols and the nature of perception.

“If you could have a soulmate in teaching, Susan would be mine,” said fellow artist and longtime Evergreen faculty member Marilyn Frasca. “At Evergreen we’ve taught many interdisciplinary programs together,” Frasca adds, “always focused on students building confidence and competence in doing their own work ... not our work. Now retired from teaching, we see and discuss each other’s drawings and paintings regularly and ponder the mysteries of being. She has an extraordinary eye for making an exhibition of images work and is admired by many for her ability to make and build almost everything. Her paintings are gorgeous and detail complex relationships between a soul and her environment. What else to say? ... I adore her.”

Richardson said of Aurand, “We never know which media Susan will focus on next. She can work in oils, pastels, acrylic, graphite, mixed media, wood constructions, prints, any media that interests her. That’s one reason that her nature-informed work is so vital, full of energy and thoughtful.”

Jonathan Happ, fellow artist and gallerist at Childhood’s End, said, “Susan has an innovative approach to drawing and painting — constantly defying expectations without sacrificing quality.”

Aurand’s most recent shows include a two-person exhibition with painter Mary McCann at Childhood’s End and inclusion in the juror’s invitational exhibition at the Minneart Art Gallery at SPSCC. She’s working on a public art project for an elementary school in Quincy, Washington. O

Profile: Artist Susan Aurand


oly arts VISUAL ARTS

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The wind in the willowsNov 29 - Dec 22


COMMUNITY

PARC FoundationPuts Its Money

Where the Arts Are

By CHRISTIAN CARVAJAL

It’s easy to find noteworthy talents in Thurston County. This publication relies on that. What’s harder to find

is someone willing to fund such talents until they can be showcased and, if possible, earn financial stability. Thankfully, the PARC Foundation has stepped up to that laudable task.

Inspired by the success of a foundation for parks in his former home, Spokane, Washington, James Reddick established PARC Foundation of Thurston County in 1995. (He remains the foundation’s vice-president.) “PARC” stands for parks, arts, recreation and culture. The foundation’s mission, then, is to promote donations for local, recreational facilities and programs. Its first project was the funding of Olympia Skate Court on Cooper Point Road. These days, PARC Foundation is a 501(c)(3) volunteer organization with a board of trustees that includes experts from all over Thurston County. It happily accepts cash donations, but also negotiates for free

professional services or other in-kind gifts.Over the last 15 years, PARC Foundation has donated

over $700,000 to worthy programs and projects. Last year, for example, it was instrumental in providing $10,000 to the City of Olympia for trail development in Priest Point Park. It gave four-digit grants to Capital City Chorus, the City of Lacey’s Summer Lunch and Playground Pals program, Lacey Loves to Read, City of Olympia’s Summer Teen Adventure Program, Tenino Oregon Trail Days, Tenino Quarry Pool, the City of Tumwater’s Summer Camp Cascadia, Tumwater School District’s Fresh Summer Youth Gardening program, Tumwater Senior Choir and several scholarship funds, in addition to numerous smaller grants. So far this year PARC Foundation has awarded $4,000 to Harlequin Productions, $5,000 to City of Lacey’s Replica Train Depot, $1,000 to Olympia Peace Choir, $9,000 to Tenino’s Quarry Swimming Pool, over $5,000 to Thurston County


oly arts COMMUNITY

Specialized Recreation Scholarship Support and at least $1,000 to Tumwater Senior Choir. That is, in fact, just a sampling from a very long list. Every one of those donations represents an evident asset to the lives of Thurston County residents, with no increase to the tax bills they’re expected to pay.

On November 2, OLY ARTS was honored to attend a “Brunch on the Water” at Tugboat Annie’s (2100 West Bay Dr. NW, Olympia), a launch celebration for the Art Resiliency Fund for Thurston County. “We work a lot with the cities,” said Reddick at the event. “We also work with a couple of groups down in Tenino. They don’t have a park department, so we work with them to help raise funds to support their community pool. … We know there’s a lot of needs in the arts.” Among the projects Reddick and the foundation are considering are new prop facilities for Harlequin Productions and adapting Olympia Armory for use as a multipurpose arts facility.

The featured speaker at the event was Danielle Westbrook, legislative assistant to Rep. Beth Doglio by day, trumpeter by calling, on the theme of “Art Saved Me.” “When people ask me, ‘What do you do,’ ” Westbrook began, “I say, ‘Oh, I’m a musician,’ because in my heart, that’s what I am. … I credit two things in my life that saved me. One is my child, and the second thing is music.” Westbrook’s father was a professional pianist and singer. She credits his musical influence and her love of performing for guiding her away from a life in abusive relationships. She served for eight years as the trumpet-teaching artist for Student Orchestras of Greater Olympia. “I think kids who start off in music — They just have a better chance at life,” she added. “There’s actually a lot of studies that prove that.” She cited a five-year, neuroscientific study at the University of Southern California, which found that “music instruction appears to accelerate brain development in young children, particularly in the areas of the brain responsible for processing sound, language development, speech perception and reading skills.” Add that to the towering stack of evidence that arts — and, by necessity, arts funding — are vital ingredients of both youth education and community development.

It follows, then, that donations to PARC Foundation are always welcome. Reddick himself can be reached via [email protected]. O

WHATPARC Foundation “Brunch on the Water,” the launch of the Art Resiliency Fund.

WHERETugboat Annie’s, 2100 W Bay Dr NW, Olympia

WHEN10 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 2

HOW MUCH$25

LEARN MOREparcfoundation.org360-352-0980


DANCE

Out of the wings and onto center stage, Ballet Northwest will present its 35th annual production of The Nutcracker at the Washington Center for Performing Arts from December 13-

22. Illustrating the time-honored holiday story and score will be choreography by Ballet Northwest Co-Artistic Directors, Ken and Josie Johnson, who devised a show that would be both challenging for the production’s over 200 dancers, but also visually stunning for the audience.

Throughout its three-decade history, Ballet Northwest’s production of The Nutcracker has become an annual tradition for numerous Olympia area families, according to Ken and Josie Johnson. Because of that legacy, they take proactive steps as choreographers to maintain a sense of holiday whimsy, while also presenting fresh material for each production.

Dancers in this year’s rendition of The Nutcracker are comprised of local performers and guest artists from out of state. Of the over 200 cast members, there is a vast age range, with the youngest dancer eight-years-old and the oldest in their eighties, said Ken Johnson. This production will also include local familiar faces like Bud Johansen, former artistic director of Ballet Northwest who will assume the role as the grandfather.

Elina Brein and Nina Ivanenko, Ballet Northwest company dancers, will alternate in the leading role of the Sugar Plum Fairy. Professional guest dancers, Sanford Placide and Lucas Horns will both assume the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy’s Cavalier. Placide, from New York City, has danced with Dance Theatre of Harlem while Horns currently dances for Ballet West in Salt Lake City.

From September auditions on, preparations for the show are intense, including consistent weekend rehearsals on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Despite the time commitment and the sacrifices made by the dancers throughout the rehearsal process, Josie Johnson said that the bonding between the dancers and the experience of performing onstage is sentimental for many of Ballet Northwest’s current and former dancers.

“It’s a lot of hard work for all these kids, but at the same time, they’re forming these friendships and memories,” said Josie Johnson. “Now that we’re entering our 50th season, hearing from alumni that are older now, they still can carry these memories with them and their fond experiences from their time at Ballet Northwest.”

These memories are especially evident for Ken Johnson, whose dancing career began at Ballet Northwest at eight years old. “My very first experience with the ballet was being in The Nutcracker at the Washington Center,” said Johnson. “I was a party boy in the party scene and had a great time.”

As husband and wife team, Ken and Josie Johnson both have extensive histories as professional dancers and choreographers, and through their combined experience, they have developed similar values for how they operate Ballet Northwest.

“It’s a great culmination of being just a very positive, nurturing, open environment and there’s a great history of that here in Olympia,” said Ken Johnson. “There are generations of dancers and famlies who’ve experienced being part of The Nutcracker. So, that’s exciting that it’s such a positive thing in these dancers’ and families’ lives, but at the same time it’s also a very professional production.”

A hallmark for Ballet Northwest is to create a professional-quality ballet performance that doesn’t require travel outside of Olympia. As a part of maintaining that production value, Ballet Northwest replaced their sets for The Nutcracker in recent years. The new set pieces were designed by local artist, Jill Carter, who has created backdrops for multiple Olympia area theaters including the Olympia Family Theater and Harlequin Productions.

“She created our sets for all three scenes and they’re really beautiful, world class, nicer than many professional companies,” said Ken Johnson. “So, it really creates an impressive setting for the dancers and the choreography.”

Ken and Josie Johnson’s choreographic inspiration for The Nutcracker is drawn from their collective prior experience of both performing and watching productions

Ballet Northwest Brings a Holiday Classic to LifeBy MOLLY WALSH

The local dance company celebrates 35 years of The Nutcracker.


oly arts DANCE

WHATBallet Northwest’s The Nutcracker

WHEREThe Washington Center for the Performing Arts,512 Washington St. SE, Olympia

WHEN7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, Dec. 13 and 14, 20 and 21; 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, Dec. 14, 15, 21 and 22

HOW MUCH$14-$35

LEARN MOREwashingtoncenter.org360-753-8586

throughout the years. Josie Johnson said that preparation for each year’s production involves contemplating on how choreography can reflect the story line while also challenging the show’s dancers. Certain elements of the show are also revamped from year to year to create a unique experience for returning audience members.

As the oldest dance company in the State of Washington, Ken and Josie Johnson feel it is important for Ballet Northwest to continue the legacy of a positive, nurturing dance environment that still maintains a professional level of production quality. A part of that legacy is The Nutcracker, which has become an intergenerational tradition for many Olympia area families. Through the live ballet performance, Ken and Josie Johnson hope to capture a sense of holiday magic for audience members of all ages.

“We know a lot of times this is people’s first introduction to ballet,” said Ken Johnson. “Sometimes just live theater in general. So, we want to make it as interesting and fun and action packed as possible. We’re really utilizing all the music and the overtures to create as much fun and interesting dancing as possible.” O


JANUARY – MARCH

SATURDAY ONLY

APRIL – OCTOBER

THURSDAY - SUNDAY

NOVEMBER - DECEMBER

SATURDAY & SUNDAY

10am -3pm

November-December

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Year Round

December 23-24B o n u s H o l i d a y S h o p p i n g

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support local artists, crafters & Makers!HANDCRAFTED Gifts • Daily live entertainmentholiday wreaths & centerpieces • Restaurants

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Dec 12 • 7:00pmDec 12 • 7:00pmFantastic Fungi

Dec 13-19The Lighthouse

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Dec 20-26Judy

Dec 20, 21, 24All That Heaven Allows

JJan 14 • 8:00pmJay + Silent Bob Reboot

Jan 25 • 4:00pmLunafest


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22 olyarts.com | Holiday 2019 OlyOnIce.com

Join us for wintertime fun in Downtown Olympia!

November 22 - January 20

Isthmus Park 529 4th Ave W Olympia, WA 98501

General Admission + skates = $12

Youth + skates (ages 4-10) = $10

Toddler + skates (ages 3 & under) = $3

Foster, Military, 1st Responder = $10

Seniors = $10

Visit our website for hours, prices, and a full listing of speical events.

OlyOnIce.com


oly arts

OlyOnIce.com

Join us for wintertime fun in Downtown Olympia!

November 22 - January 20

Isthmus Park 529 4th Ave W Olympia, WA 98501

General Admission + skates = $12

Youth + skates (ages 4-10) = $10

Toddler + skates (ages 3 & under) = $3

Foster, Military, 1st Responder = $10

Seniors = $10

Visit our website for hours, prices, and a full listing of speical events.

OlyOnIce.com


Razzle Dazzle ‘Em!

“On December fifth, you’re going to be razzle dazzled,” exclaimed activist and drag

performer Tammie Brown. It’s true: Brown and a number of drag performers will grace the Octapas Café stage. Soon making her Olympia debut, Brown gained prominent notoriety in 2009 when she appeared on the first season of RuPaul’s Drag Race. She then appeared on RuPaul’s Drag Race: All Stars in 2012. She’s performed drag for 20 years now, so what better way to celebrate two decades of drag than with a show called Holiday Sparkle? “I’m excited to connect with everybody,” said Brown, “and entertain from my heart.”

Hosting the event is drag performer Clare Apparently, a Pacific Northwest queen from Portland, Oregon. She’s collaborated with Brown before, on the web series Camp Wannakiki. Longtime collaborator Michael Catti, Brown’s duet

partner for seven years, will join Apparently and Brown in the festivities.

Brown is a firm believer in bringing local performers into her shows. Olympia performers Dutchess Beck, Raquel Hunt and Gigi Kimochi will be incorporated into this event. Brown and producer Justin Buckles made it a point to include local performers in every city they tour.

This holiday show features original acts and songs written by Brown over the past decade. “I wanted to write some holiday songs that were multicultural,” she said. “We don’t just deal with Judeo-Christian Christmas or whatnot.” The songs she selected showcase elements of Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and even Inuit culture. Brown is expected to perform two new holiday numbers from her latest album, SCHUBERT, as well as a sing-along to her Christmas classic “Coal in Your Stocking.”

By JONAH BARRETT

VARIETY

Tammie Brown is Ready to


oly arts VARIETY

Brown explained how drag is beneficial to communities, noting its performers have always been pioneers. Brown herself weaves activist lyrics into her songs in hopes of making a change with her performances. “Since time and beginning,” she said, “drag has been around. It’s always been something fun for people. There’s talent in that, in drag. ‘Drag’ flares out to so many different things … We can bring nurturing and healing to the environment.”

She pointed to her hashtag #queenwithacause as an example. Brown songs “Queen Killer” and “Sexy Sexy Orangutan” are, respectively, about violence against transgender people and the deforestation of oil palms. Brown adds, “My favorite part of drag performance is being able to express what I wanted to do, to express myself fully in what I’ve been able to create and organically be.” O

WHATTammie Brown’s Holiday Sparkle

WHEN7 p.m. or 10 p.m. (21 and over), Thursday, Dec. 5

WHEREOctapas Café,414 Fourth Ave. E, Olympia

HOW MUCH$18-$27

LEARN MOREjustinbucklesproductions.com360-878-9333


By BILLY THOMAS

FOOD

There’s an old saying that goes, “The family that scoops gelato together

stays together.” Okay – maybe that’s not exactly how the original goes, but at Hawley’s Gelato and Coffee, the modified phrase rings true. The local, family-owned company that’s known for serving sweet treats in downtown Olympia opened its second storefront on November 15, inside Capital Mall.

“This [location] has been the culmination of about a year of planning and hard work,” said LuWana Hawley, owner and family matriarch. “It’s been an exciting challenge, and we’re happy that today is finally here.”

The shop was abuzz with activity on opening night, with friends, families and hungry teenagers – would it be a mall spot without them? – eager to see the new space. Hawley was busy greeting customers and offering tours. Two of her daughters were throwing scoops behind the counter. Her husband was on hand for crowd control. The Hawley family embodies the entrepreneurial spirit.

Laney Hawley, one of Hawley’s daughters who’s a regular behind the counter downtown, said working in the family business is the best job she’s ever had. “I think my favorite part is the sense of ownership,” she says, “like, when a customer comes in I want to jump up and help them because this is my business. I want them to have a good experience.”

LuWana Hawley said she’s proud of her family for embracing her dream of a gelato shop. “Three years ago,” she exclaimed, “I never thought we would be here standing in the second location of our very own family business. It’s almost like an out-of-

body experience sometimes, watching us do what we do. And then I have to remind myself: Oh, wait. That’s us.”

When asked the secret recipe to the business’s success, Laney Hawley stressed it was the way everyone’s strengths are featured. “My mom does the books,” she explains, “so I can scoop.” Peyton, another Hawley daughter, scoops and decorates both locations with original artwork. And Ron, the Hawley dad? He’s the handyman, always making sure the gelato freezers are staying at their designated 10 degrees below zero.

Hawley’s at the Mall – the unofficial name for the new space – features 24 varieties of Italian gelatos and sorbettos. The flavors range from the familiar cherry, chocolate and pistachio to more exotic combinations like stracciatella, passion fruit and banana dulce de leche. Also available at the second location are handmade fudges, saltwater taffies, Batdorf & Bronson coffee and other sweet snacks. Coming soon to the space are additional signage, window clings and a gelato selfie station, where customers can pose and post their frozen treats.

Some may say gelato is a seasonal treat, mainly to be enjoyed in hot summer months. The Hawleys hope their second, indoor location will tempt customers year-round. The motto for the new space may be, “It’s always summer at Hawley’s,” but a picture hanging on the wall might say it better: “A family in harmony will prosper in everything.” O

Hawley’s Gelato and CoffeeNow Twice as Sweet

WHATHawley’s Gelato and Coffee

WHEN10 a.m. – 9 p.m. Mondays – Saturdays;11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Sundays

WHERECapital Mall across from Century Olympia,511 Washington St. SE, Olympia

HOW MUCHSingle scoops around $4

LEARN MOREhawleysgelato.com360-489-1801


oly arts

NOW ON VIEW

This edition of OLY ARTS is dedicated to Pip Stanfield-Lee.Pip le� this world on October 31, 2019. She was a wonderful companion and a beautiful soul. She will be missed greatly.

Here’s to Pip, the one-toothed wonder. You are gone from this Earth, but you will live on in our hearts.


Fridays at 7:30pm

Saturdays at 2pm & 7:30pm

Sundays at 2pm

TICKETS: Washington Center for the Performing Arts

512 Washington Street SE, Olympia, WA

Prices: $14 - $35(plus $4.00 service fee)

WASHINGTONCENTER.ORG/BNW360-753-8586

Student rush starts an hour before curtain.

ARTISTIC DIRECTORS KEN AND JOSIE JOHNSON | BALLETNORTHWEST.ORG

DECEMBER 13-22, 2019at the Washington Center

in downtown Olympia

ARTISTIC DIRECTORS KEN AND JOSIE JOHNSON | BALLETNORTHWEST.ORG

BALLET NORTHWESTʼS 35th ANNIVERSARY PRODUCTION OFBALLET NORTHWESTʼS 35th ANNIVERSARY PRODUCTION OF

DECEMBER 13-22, 2019at the Washington Center

in downtown Olympia

B A L L E T N O R T H W E S T5 0 T H A N N I V E R S A R Y G A L ASaturday, January 25, 2020 at 8pm at the Washington Center

Get your tickets now for this monumental celebration featuring professional dancers from American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Boston Ballet, and National Ballet of Cuba.

The event will feature memorabilia displays and video interview clips from throughout BNW’s 50 years. The evening will culminate with desserts and dancing in the black box for all attendees.

A limited number of VIP tickets are available which include a pre-show reception in the black box.

6:30pm VIP Pre-show reception with appetizers | 8:00pm Performance and fundraiserTICKETS: GALA-$45 VIP-$95 (plus $4.00 service fee) WASHINGTONCENTER.ORG/BNW | 360-753-8586

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