Seattle Blog

The lights dim and the story unfolds onto a grey void. Two figures walk out towards each other, meeting in the center. One of them, Marrick Smith, plays an eerily joyous tune on the accordion, and the other, Folami Williams, turns to confront the audience. Behind them, a series of photos flash over the grey screen: Germans in airy summer clothing, enjoying the beach, reveling in leisure activities, all while Williams continues throughout with her chipper narration describing life as a non-Jewish German to the audience.

In a sharp turn of events, the audience is presented with images of children wearing swastikas and hordes of people heiling Hitler, an extreme juxtaposition to the shallow but upbeat mood of the actors. Suddenly, a camera flashes, and the room goes dark. 

Have you ever felt transported back in time because of the detailed sets and convincing performances in a play? Directed by Sunam Ellis and starring Becca Q. Co and Seoyoung Park The Heart Sellers takes place in a mid-size city during Thanksgiving 1973. It follows the story of Luna (Co) and Jane (Park) in Luna’s apartment. Over the course of the show, the two become close as they bond over the struggles of being immigrants in an unfamiliar country after the passing of the Hart-Celler Act, a law passed in 1965 that changed U.S. immigration policy and allowed more immigrants from Asia, Africa, and Latin America to enter the country. Also, they discover similarities in each other’s lives as well as their longing to see their families in Korea and in the Philippines. Incorporating themes such as friendship, family, and courage, The Heart Sellers represents the transcending of cultural and linguistic barriers by creating marvelous set design, elaborate costumes, and showcasing fabulous performances by the leading actresses.

To begin with, the audience was transported into 1973 through Luna’s small apartment. Clothes were scattered across the floor and magazines piled in front of the retro 70s television. The outside of the apartment surrounded the central set, making it so the audience felt they had a snapshot into the setting’s inner workings. Throughout the show, the two women talked more about their lives and became friends. It provided the necessary space for the characters to develop and move through the plot. However, I felt my mind starting to drift due to the lack of set variety in each scene, causing me to miss pieces of dialogue or monologues.

It is rare to see the tremors from a passing memory fully reflected on someone's face. Rarer still to watch the memory play out in their mind. With a small but talented cast and a stage that lies amidst the audience in unique intimacy, Taproot Theater’s production of Till We Have Faces provides an opportunity to do both simultaneously.

This play is the premier adaptation of C.S. Lewis’s novel of the same name, which reimagines the myth of Psyche and Cupid. In the original myth, Psyche is sacrificed by her people and rescued by the god Cupid. She becomes his bride but is forbidden to see his face when he visits each night. Her sister, envious of Psyche, convinces Psyche to betray Cupid's trust by looking at him. This causes Psyche to be exiled, forced by Aphrodite to complete tasks in order to be reunited with Cupid. Written by Karen Lund and directed by Marianne Savell, the show not only captures the essence of Lewis’s story, which explores sisterhood, identity, and what it really means to love sacrificially, but also enriches it through visual metaphor and excellent acting. 

Arguably one of the most famous glassblowers in the world, Seattleite Dale Chihuly is known for pushing the boundaries of glass with his unique style and incredible skill. From intricate sculptures of sea life to grandiose chandeliers, Chihuly Garden and Glass invites the public into Chihuly's world of glassblowing artistry in a truly beautiful and unique way.  

The journey through the museum was truly an adventure, in the way that each turn brought something completely new. Each exhibit had its own unique atmosphere, showcasing the glass art in a different way. The Sealife room centered a huge sculpture representing the Puget sound surrounded by smaller pieces of different underwater elements. The Chandelier room showcased detailed colorful sculptures hanging from the ceiling, each one different from the next. Winter Brilliance highlighted clear, spiky pieces manipulated by colorful lights, conjuring the image of icicles in the winter sun. The variety shown throughout really highlighted Chihuly's versatility as an artist, as well as the versatility of the medium. Glass is essentially a clear, blank canvas, but he brought it to life through shapes and color, conveying complex meaning and sparking emotion in every piece. Winter Brilliance. Photo by Donovan Olsen.

Two men in black suits of different styles sit in plain chairs, small in the center of the stage. The first man wears a vest, the way his dark curly hair is styled is evocative of the pop star charm this classical tenor is famous for. The second man walks on with an acoustic guitar in his hands and a vestless suit vaguely reminiscent of 70s style clothing. The guitarist, Sean Shibe, begins to tune his instrument. The lights of the stage catch on the face of singer Karim Sulayman as he looks up. As Shibe’s playing began to fill the sparse stage, Sulayman’s bright smile lit up his face. There is a kind humanity that everyone in the audience can see. It makes the audience smile with him.  

Sulayman and Shibe’s performance of their classical album Broken Branches at the Meany Center for the Performing Arts was a beautiful ode to the power music has to connect people. Through the album, the musicians aimed to explore their identities as Eastern musicians who grew up in the west. With classical music being historically perceived as a Western creation, these artists attempt to select songs that will reconcile this notion. As classical musicians, creating such music is the rebellious act of breaking down the false binary of East and West and connecting to the humanity in all of us.

On Saturday, January 17th members of the TeenTix New Guard went on their first Arts Outing of 2026: the 2025 Sundance Film Festival Short Film Tour at Northwest Film Forum.

About the show: The 2025 Sundance Film Festival Short Film Tour, presented by Vimeo, is a dynamic showcase of seven standout short films from this year’s Festival, including two Festival Award–winning titles. Curated for theatrical audiences nationwide, the 100-minute program offers an eclectic mix of storytelling that highlights bold voices and fresh perspectives.Still from Grandma Nai Who Played Favorites / Cambodia, France (Director and Screenwriter: Chheangkea, Producers: Daniel Mattes, Karen Madar)

Localities / An Odyssey Part 2 is a fascinating performance that revolutionized my understanding of the boundaries of dance. Localities was choreographed by Donald Byrd as the second part of his project based on his unpublished memoir. His art often focuses on themes of social justice, and this performance was no exception. 

The first thing I noticed was the venue. I had been expecting an ornate, traditional opera house. Instead, I saw the performance on closing night in the small, intimate setting of the Tricia Stromberg Studio Theater. Localities was an amazingly beautiful and personal experience.

Legendary Children are fearless—beaming endlessly with confidence and stride, shaping the conversation of art—while pioneering unflinching change. Legendary children rise under any circumstances.

As I entered the Seattle Art Museum, I was immediately enraptured by the garments surrounding me. Every attendee was adorned in eloquent, vibrant clothing. Beside them, I felt almost undressed, standing in quiet awe. I had never witnessed a crowd so effortlessly fashionable. Even before the night began, I knew the Legendary Children would be sensational—but once the music swelled and the crowd parted, anticipation gave way to reverence as the legendary performances unfolded before me.

The creature looks strange at first—its pink felt body stretches across the exhibition like a soft form from a fever dream. Although initially daunting, I take a seat on its back area and grip the rope; the creature begins to move back and forth. The room stays quiet but the mood changes as soon as the experience starts. This is Toxic Beauty: Okenia Rosacea Nudibranch at Cannonball Arts.

Cannonball Arts has an open layout. The bare walls, concrete floors, and expansive area makes the space feel easy to move through. There is no pressure to stay quiet or act formal. Visitors drift from piece to piece, as if they are swimming under the sea. The gallery gives room for curiosity without judgment through contemporary art.

The Nutcracker is one of the most notable holiday staples in all of ballet. Through its angelic symphony, classic choreography, and its magical touch of the Christmas spirit, the Nutcracker is a show you won’t want to miss during the winter season. 

But it’s not merely a Christmas tradition, it's a crucial aspect of the Seattle community. At the Vashon Center for the Arts, the performance was built on the extensive efforts from community members, truly supplying the foundations of the magical wonderland that makes the Nutcracker so special to so many families around the Seattle area. This beloved holiday tradition, due to its magical Christmas setting, its role in popularizing German nutcracker toys, and its function as a family tradition introducing generations to ballet and classical music, is regarded as a cultural fixture in the holiday season. It is beautiful and heartwarming to see parents who once attended the ballet as children now bringing their own, demonstrating just how vital this cultural cornerstone is to Seattle families.

Stepping into Benaroya Hall, home of the Seattle Symphony, at Christmastime has its own kind of magic. The warm glow of the lights, the hum of conversation, and everyone dressed in red and green create the sense that you’re about to witness something special. But instead of a traditional symphony performance, this particular night promised something different: a unique, immersive live-to-film concert accompanying The Muppet Christmas Carol. This 1992 film is a retelling of the classic Dickens holiday tale about miserable old Ebenezer Scrooge (Michael Caine), who is visited by three spirits on Christmas Eve—the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future—which causes him to see the error of his selfish ways and embrace the true meaning of Christmas with love and generosity. The film features beloved Muppet characters like Kermit the Frog as Bob Cratchit, Miss Piggy as Emily Cratchit, and Gonzo as narrator Charles Dickens, balancing the dark Victorian tale with humor and charm, making it endlessly re-watchable for kids and adults alike. 

As we took our seats in the middle of the main floor, the anticipation was palpable. It was such a special feeling to be surrounded by different people who were all connected by their love for this film, and it hadn’t even started yet. Finally, the lights began to dim, and the conductor, Thiago Tiberio, walked onstage. Tiberio specializes in live-to-film synchronization concerts all over the world and is widely praised for his advanced technique and musicianship. If I didn’t already feel confident that we were in for something special, I certainly did then.

Warning: this review contains light spoilers.

Is a story about 9/11 still meaningful to people who weren’t alive when it happened?

No one wants to work for a sleazy boss and have to argue for equal pay, but if I ever do, I'd want the smart, funny women in 9 to 5 as my colleagues. The Village Theatre’s production of 9 to 5 is a comedic, women-led effort to take on workplace inequality. Well known as a film, the musical features a book by Patricia Resnick, with music and lyrics by renowned country singer Dolly Parton. Although the story was first written in 1980, it still resonates today.

Set in 1979, 9 to 5 follows three secretaries—Violet, Doralee, and Judy—as they sing and dance their way through revenge against their sexist, egotistical boss, challenging the cultural norms that limit their professional opportunities. Initially, their workplace life at Consolidated Industries is bleak. For women, there is no hope for a raise or promotion and no sense of camaraderie. But when Violet, Doralee, and Judy realize they have a common enemy in their boss, they unite to improve the workplace.

What could be more perfect to kick off the holiday season than the nostalgic tale of Cinderella at the Wade James Theater? The Edmonds Driftwood Players delivers a delightful performance of the Broadway version of Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Cinderella, emphasizing the importance of generosity and coming together despite differences to make a better world. There’s no wrong place or time of year for these messages, but they really resonated at a little community theater around the holidays. The lobby was elaborately decorated with wintery themes, pictures of the cast, and a Cinderella photoshoot. All of the ushers, and many of the younger audience members, were wearing tiaras, showing the production team’s excitement to be putting on this musical.

This more contemporary rendering keeps the classic tale of Cinderella while introducing dragon-slaying, the creation of a representative government, the power of kindness over ridicule, and an array of energetic, catchy songs. In this version, Cinderella meets Prince Topher for the first time after he gets back from a mission to kill a dragon that has been terrorizing the kingdom. Topher, under his advisor Sebastian’s influence, decides to host a ball to find a bride. Meanwhile, a revolutionary named Jean-Michael attempts to convince the citizens that they need reform because the people’s land was unjustly taken, but his message is diminished by the announcement of the prince throwing a ball to find his new bride. Cinderella longs to go to this ball, but her stepmother refuses to let her go, similar to the classic Cinderella story. After they leave, Cinderella comes across Crazy Marie, a vagrant woman who Cinderella has always been kind to. Crazy Marie turns out to be a fairy godmother and she helps get Cinderella to the ball. Once there, in addition to falling in love with the prince, Cinderella begins to tell him about the wrongdoings occurring in the kingdom that he hadn’t noticed, leading to reform and a happy ending all around. These twists on the classic tale offer just a little more magic to make all of Cinderella’s fresh and relatable dreams come true.Tamara C. Ford (Madame), Lydia Salita (Charlotte), Jessica Hamilton (Gabrielle), Miki Murray (Ella). Photo by Dale Sutton.

As I made my way across the Museum of Flight aircraft pavilion, I couldn't help but be awestruck by the vibrant, kaleidoscopic plane standing among the Boeing 727, fighter jets, and various other aircrafts. In front of me was an MiG-21—but not the typical supersonic jet you would expect to see. This one was covered in intricate, colorful beadwork with a story behind it that transcends the mere history of the plane. The jet shimmered as if lit from within, its surface catching every stray beam of light and casting it into something soft and captivating. Its unique form of art repurposes violence into representations of peace by drawing from recurring icons of history and militarization, and through this process, his art becomes both a confrontation with collective memory and a call for cultural healing.

On show now through January 26, 2026, the MiG-21 Project is the culmination of South African artist Ralf Ziman’s 3-part series called Weapons of Mass Production. To understand how a fighter jet can become a monumental beadwork sculpture, we have to understand the evolution of the trilogy itself: first came the AK-47 project and then the Casspir project. Ziman grew up in South Africa during the dark days of Apartheid, a period marked by state-enforced racial divide and an increased militarized police force. His work emerges from witnessing the government's use of violence as means to control, exploit, and separate communities.Photo courtesy of The Museum of Flight.

The first time I heard Fleetwood Mac, I must have been seven years old. I wasn’t expecting to connect with music that had been made, in my eyes, so long ago. Yet, when I heard Fleetwood Mac’s music - songs like "Landslide", "Dreams", and my absolute favorite, "Everywhere" - effortlessly made their way into my playlists. I’m not alone, many other young listeners have been drawn to Fleetwood; but why? 

It is likely Fleetwood Mac still resonates with audiences today because their music has familiar themes of love and resilience which are timeless, and universal. Adding to their appeal is Fleetwood Mac’s modernity in sound. Their clean production and poignant harmonies have come to be one of the trademarks of their style. Alongside this, is Fleetwood Mac’s introspective lyricism, a style that has since become a popular approach to songwriting. 

As I stood in Priscilla Dobler Dzul’s exhibition “Water Carries the Stories of Our Stars” at the Frye Art Museum, a memory rose to my mind: “I don’t want to do this anymore. I’m going to watch TV instead,” I said as I abandoned my cloth napkin, with a few threads poorly placed in an effort to form a flower. Sitting beside me, my grandmother only laughed as she adjusted her needle and re-pierced the delicate fabric, decorating her napkin with strands of vibrant blue and neon pink. With no thimble, her calloused hands worked for hours to create the intricately designed napkins, which would hold the fresh tortillas we ate with every meal. Bright flower bouquets and groups of butterflies adorned her napkin by the end, while I was never able to finish a single napkin. Embroidery is one of many fading practices that have fallen victim to the passage of time–something that Dobler Dzul uses art to actively fight against.Priscilla Dobler Dzul. The guardians remind us of what we have forgotten, 2025. Oregon red clay with grog. Dimensions variable. Courtesy of the artist. Photo: Jueqian Fang

In “Water Carries the Stories of Our Stars”, Dobler Dzul presents the viewer with stunning multi-media pieces that bridge the gap between time, nature, and humans, all while telling the story of water loss and environmental injustice that has persisted for generations. Dobler Dzul is an artist from Yucatan, Mexico, and Tacoma, Washington, who uses passed-down techniques to create art that shares her experiences and struggles as a cultural activist. Retaining cultural knowledge is difficult for those who are multicultural, as they are commonly left feeling as if they are “neither from here nor from there”. However, Dobler Dzul manages to maintain a deep connection to her Maya roots. Concentrating on the exploitation of living waters, Dobler Dzul’s art educates the viewer on the abuse faced by both the Maya people and land, while calling attention to the environmental discrimination and ecological crises occurring in both Yucatan and Tacoma. Her work is not limited to a place or style, as she presents the viewer with pieces made from various art mediums, including handblown glass vessels, ceramic sculptures, fiber art, and backstrap weaving, all executed in a way that honors traditional Maya culture. 

Stepping into the Bellevue Botanical Garden in the fall, visitors are instantly met with a burst of vibrant colors. Orange, yellow, and red leaves are scattered across the landscaped gravel path. Further down that path, a variety of breathtaking flowers spread throughout the garden, which consists of several smaller, distinct gardens that showcase different types of flowers and plants. Among the beauty, The Lost Bird Project exhibit blends art, nature, and environmental awareness, creating a powerful and reflective experience that honors extinct North American birds.

Winding along the brightly colored garden path, visitors come upon a clearing with five black bronze bird statues, each four to six feet tall, arranged in a semicircle along the edge of the space. The stark contrast of the gigantic black birds against the lush greenery is powerful, due to the simplicity of their forms, their size, and their blackness, which contrasts with the rest of the garden. These larger-than-life statues rest upon a patch of bright green grass surrounded by enchanting flowers and a colorful backdrop of trees and bushes. Within the exhibit, birds chirp and hop around in the nearby foliage, as if enjoying the company of the sculptures.

A gasp, deep and shaky, filled the silent room. Again, a rasp of a sharp inhale into the microphone. Over the next hour, these grasping breaths served as the only indication of time passing within the walls of the Rainier Arts Center in Southeast Seattle. 

Award-winning poet Li-Young Lee was reading his work. But more than that, he was searching, searching for a sound his mother made when he was nine years old. Searching, as we all are, for the meaning of memory, death, and love.

Berberio Bash, a centennial tribute celebrating the birthdays of Italian composer Luciano Berio and vocalist Cathy Berberian, hosted by the Seattle Chamber Orchestra (SCO), transcended all my expectations of chamber music. The concert took place at the Good Shepard’s Center in a small, intimate, chapel-like setting, which allowed everyone in the audience to get a close view of the ensemble’s intentional movements and expressions as they carefully performed the music. 

Luciano Berio and Cathy Berberian were an artistic duo who redefined what it meant to compose and perform music in the 20th century. Berio, one of Italy's most influential avant-garde composers, was particularly known for his experimental approach to music and sound. His ability to weave together fragments of musical history - ranging from folk songs, classicals, operas, and many more - to create a coherent piece of music was astounding. Berberian, his muse and collaborator, was also known for her voice, which was breathtaking in the sense that it could evoke emotions of laughter, whispers, and shock with her audience. Together, Berberian and Berio blurred the boundaries between the composer and the performer, inspiring musicians today. It's no surprise that the SCO chose to pay tribute to them in memory of their centennial, as both artists embodied the spirit of innovation that drives the force behind chamber music.