The Olympian’s picks for fun and culture this week
Feb. 21
‘Good Humor Men’ peddle jokes
Hearing the tinkling tunes of an ice cream truck in your mind? Sorry. Mouth-watering name aside, “The Good Humor Men” — performing Friday in Olympia — will deliver not chocolate-covered treats but family-friendly comedy. Late-night TV veterans Tony Deyo, Pat Hazell and Andy Hendrickson are bringing their acts (sans politics and religion) to town for a show at 7:30 p.m. at The Washington Center for the Performing Arts, 512 Washington St. SE, Olympia. Tickets are $25-$45. Get details and tickets at washingtoncenter.org, or call 360-753-8586.
Feb. 21, Feb. 26-March 21
‘Tide’ comes in
How excited are people at Harlequin Productions about their next show, the locally set coming-of-age tale “The Highest Tide”? They’re pulling up the curtain Friday for a sneak peek of the play, an adaptation of the best-selling novel by Olympia’s Jim Lynch. Lynch will speak at the fundraiser, which will also feature scenes from the show, appetizers, an auction and more. “Tide” officially opens Feb. 28, with previews Feb. 26 and 27. Tickets are $40 for the sneak peek and $20-$36 for the show. Find out more at harlequinproductions.org, or call 360-786-0151.
Feb. 22-23
Growing up in the shadow of ‘Tiger Lily’
“Looking for Tiger Lily” is a multimedia show about Portland performance artist Anthony Hudson’s coming of age as half-Native American, half-white and gay — and about such pop-culture icons as Pocahontas and “Peter Pan’s” blue-eyed “Indian princess.” Hudson (best known as drag clown Carla Rossi) will be in Olympia on Saturday to perform the show, a blend of spoken word, drag, dance, video and such songs as Cher’s “Half-Breed.” “It’s a remixed version of storytelling,” the artist told Oregon Public Broadcasting in 2016. “Tiger Lily” takes the stage at 7:30 p.m. at The Washington Center for the Performing Arts, 512 Washington St. SE, Olympia. Tickets are $15-$30. Hudson also will teach a free drag workshop, “Welcome to Clown Town,” at 11 a.m. Sunday at the center’s Black Box Theater. Get tickets, reservations and details at washingtoncenter.org, or call 360-753-8586.
Feb. 23
Ghost-Note plays that funky music
Dallas-based jazz-fusion outfit Ghost-Note, playing Sunday in Olympia, is all about the funk — and the rhythm. Founded by multi-Grammy-winning Snarky Puppy percussionists Robert ‘Sput’ Searight and Nate Werth, the band is named for a musical note with rhythm but no discernible pitch. Inspired by the likes of James Brown and Sly and the Family Stone, Ghost-Note is known for its improvisation and its danceable grooves. These guys have quite a resumé, too; band members have played with Herbie Hancock, Prince, Snoop Dogg and Toto. Ready to get down? The music begins at 8 p.m. Sunday (with doors open at 7) at the Capitol Theater, 206 Fifth Ave. SE, Olympia. Tickets are $22-$25. Find out more at olympiafilmsociety.org/ghost-note/, or call 360-754-6670.
Feb. 23
Student pianists in the spotlight
The Olympia Chamber Orchestra’s Sunday concert, “… Of Dance,” showcases 15-year-old pianists Gabriel Ong and Michael Zhao, the winners of the Olympia Music Teachers Association’s piano competition. Gabriel, a sophomore at Olympia High School, will play the first movement of Dmitri Shostakovich’s Second Piano Concerto, and Michael, also a sophomore at Olympia, will play “Rondo,” the third movement of Ludwig van Beethoven’s First Piano Concerto. Also on the program are dances by Carl Maria von Weber, Jean-Phillipe Rameau, Johann Strauss and Johannes Brahms. The music begins at 2:30 p.m. at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 114 20th Ave. SE, Olympia. Tickets are $10-$20. Find out more at olympiachamberorchestra.org.
Feb. 24
Local quartet joins ‘Beatles vs. Stones’ battle
In “Beatles vs. Stones: A Musical Showdown,” stopping in Olympia for a Monday performance, tribute acts Abbey Road and Satisfaction attempt to put a stop to the debate over which set of musical icons reigns supreme. A string quartet of student musicians will join the bands for the showdown, adding classical instrumentation to such songs as “Yesterday” and “Gimme Shelter.” So do the players — cellist Gwen Bayer, 17, a senior at Capital High School; violist Helen Hauschka, 17, and violinist Jenny Jang, 17, both juniors at Olympia; and violinist Camille McLean, 15 and a sophomore at Olympia — have any opinions on the British Invasion? Two of the four are fans, according to the show’s press release: Gwen loves both bands, and Helen favors The Beatles. The competition begins at 7:30 p.m. Monday at The Washington Center for the Performing Arts, 512 Washington St. SE, Olympia. Tickets are $38-$68. Get details and tickets at washingtoncenter.org, or call 360-753-8586.
Feb. 27
Story slam at the library
Olympia’s StoryOly is normally for adults only, but listeners and tellers of all ages have a chance to experience the super-popular story slam Thursday at the Olympia Timberland Library. “Trial and Error” is the theme for the slam, sponsored by StoryOly, The Evergreen State College, the South Sound Story Guild and the library. As always, stories must be true. The free slam happens from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the library, 313 Eighth Ave. SE, Olympia. Find out more at events.trl.org/events/story-slam-community-storytelling-event, or call 360-352-0595. And get more details on monthly StoryOly events, which happen from 7 to 9 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month at Rhythm & Rye, 311 Capitol Way, Olympia, at storyoly.com.