GO Arts

University of Puget Sound Tacoma’s “Pirates of Penzance” is a riot – in the best possible way.

Rosemary Ponnekanti — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 06:33:49 +0000

There’s a lot on in Tacoma theaters this weekend – Tacoma Opera, the Northwest Sinfonietta, Les Ballets Trockadero – but if you want laughs, great singing and sheer value for money all in one show then head to the University of Puget Sound to hear the student production of “Pirates of Penzance,” with a last performance 2 p.m. Sunday afternoon.

Lovers of Gilbert and Sullivan’s hilarious 19^th-century operatic comedies will rejoice – at last, a local production! – and those who’ve never heard of these English gems with their ridiculously loquacious verbiage, completely silly antics and parody plots will …

Classical presenter Tacoma Philharmonic to merge with Broadway Center

Rosemary Ponnekanti — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 21:15:02 +0000

After 75 years of offering classical music in Tacoma, the Tacoma Philharmonic is merging into the Broadway Center for Performing Arts, the non-profit organization that manages Tacoma’s downtown theaters, which are owned by the City. The BCPA will now present the Philharmonic’s current classical series and educational programs under its own umbrella and management, manage the Philharmonic endowment and welcome Philharmonic trustees to the BCPA board.

The merger begins April 30, and follows a trial period of joint presentation after Tacoma Philharmonic executive director Andy Wood left early last year. Both boards voted unanimously on the move. …

Critic’s Picks: Canonici in Old Town Tacoma, Tacoma Opera at Theatre on the Square, Northwest Sinfonietta at the Rialto and Gauguin at Seattle Art Museum

Rosemary Ponnekanti — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:49:42 +0000

Canonici sings Renaissance love songs

Step back to Valentine’s Day in 1550 with a cappella group Canonici, who present “Plaisir d’Amour: The Pleasure of Love” as part of the free Classical Tuesdays in Old Town series. The program includes Renaissance love songs in English, French and Italian. 7 p.m. Feb. 14. Free, all ages. Slavonian Hall, 2306 N. 30^th St., Tacoma. 253-752-2135, classicaltuesdays.blogspot.com

Kurt Weill with Tacoma Opera

Tacoma Opera’s annual Young Artists’ performances this weekend offer a cabaret version of music by Kurt Weill, the 20^th-century German composer and enormous stage influence, with works like …

Tacoma’s Gritty City Sirens burlesque troupe take on the Pantages, along with Olympia’s Tush and other Valentine goodies next Tuesday.

Rosemary Ponnekanti — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:49:04 +0000

If you haven’t sorted out a Valentine’s date yet (and you know who you are, out there), this one’s for you. How about a luscious dessert, glass of wine, shopping op for the girls, a scantily-clad burlesque show and a live DJ’d dance party afterward, all in the one venue? Yep, it sounds good, and the good news is there are still tickets. It’s the “Sweet and Spicy Valentine’s Day Burlesque” show at the Pantages next Tuesday night, featuring Tacoma’s Gritty City Sirens and Olympia’s Tush.

Even better, the whole evening is a benefit for both the …

Galumpha rocks into Tacoma’s Pantages this weekend with acrobatics, physical comedy and more.

Rosemary Ponnekanti — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:27:19 +0000

Each year the Broadway Center for Performing Arts in Tacoma brings in a circus-based troupe, and they always pick a good one. This year it’s Galumpha, an East Coast trio of dancers who combine acrobatics, physical comedy and truly beautiful visuals in a Sunday afternoon show that will appeal to all ages.

Formed ten years ago, Galumpha’s success (including appearances on “The Late Show,” MTV, theaters and festivals around the world and plenty of awards) springs from a combination of inventive choreography and a light-hearted take on the world. Pieces like “Velcro” take an everyday item and explore …

Edgy humor and phenomenal juggling from the Flying Karamazov Brothers at ACT Theatre, Seattle

Rosemary Ponnekanti — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:09:42 +0000

It’s been nearly 40 years since the Flying Karamazov Brothers got their start touring small festivals during the original members’ college days – but some things never change for this master group of jugglers and comedians. The theater is still madcap-vaudeville, the humor is still college-level (some of it) and the juggling is still simply astounding. But if you head along to ACT Theatre in Seattle this weekend to see their latest incarnation, be prepared for quite a few gasps – and maybe a bit of red-faced explaining to any pre-teens you take with you.

Let’s start with …

Get trashy with Matter Gallery recycled art and Scrap Arts music at Olympia’s Washington Center this weekend

Rosemary Ponnekanti — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:43:46 +0000

One person’s trash is another’s art – or music – and Olympia’s Matter Gallery are collaborating with the Washington Center for Performing Arts and Vancouver, B.C.-based ScrapArtsMusic to show us exactly that, with an art opening tonight and music show tomorrow night, all based on trash.

Tonight’s art show in the WCPA lobby is a kind of celebration of everything Matter Gallery has done in Oly since it opened a few years ago: highlight local and regional artists using recycled and reclaimed materials to make art that ranges from serene to funky. Among the artists in tonight’s …

Critic’s Picks: “Pirates of Penzance” at UPS, Flying Karamazov Brothers in Seattle, Kittredge tempera show and piper in Old Town Tacoma

Rosemary Ponnekanti — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:46:05 +0000

Last week for Kittredge tempera show

It’s the last week to see works in tempera by Nathan DiPietro at UPS’ Kittredge Gallery. DiPietro paints a bleak Northwest where lush native forests are replaced with developments and greenbelts. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, noon-5 p.m. Saturday through Feb. 11. Free. Kittredge Gallery, University of Puget Sound, 1500 N. Lawrence St., Tacoma.www.pugetsound.edu/kittredge

“The Pirates of Penzance” at UPS

It is indeed a glorious thing to be a Pirate King, at least at the University of Puget Sound this week, where vocal music students are putting on a production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s …

Tacoma Art Museum gets $75,000 grant for 2014 show “Art, AIDS, America” from Paul Allen Foundation

Rosemary Ponnekanti — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:10:08 +0000

In an announcement this week, the Tacoma Art Museum was one of 58 cultural organizations in five states to receive 2012 grants from the Paul G. Allen Foundation, a non-profit granting organization founded in 1988 by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen and Jo Lynn Allen. This cycle of grants totals $6.6 million, focusing on Native American communities and innovative projects.

The Tacoma Art Museum received $75,000 to organize their 2014 exhibit “Art, AIDS, America,” a collaboration with curator Jonathan Katz at the Brooklyn Art Museum. The show is intended to travel around the country.

“It’s an early grant, but …

All-girl folk-bluegrass group The Good Lovelies play Fox Island’s Chapel on Echo Bay Friday night.

Rosemary Ponnekanti — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:54:27 +0000

Female folk-bluegrass group The Good Lovelies are making a stop at Fox Island on a U.S. tour that stretches from Minneapolis to Las Vegas. The five-year-old band has garnered a good rep in their native Canada, with spots at the Mariposa, Hillside and Montreal Jazz festivals, and are taking their third CD “Let The Rain Fall” on tour to the U.S., U.K. and Australia.

Swapping instruments and singing three-part harmony, band members Caroline Brooks, Kerri Ough and Sue Passmore blend roots, folk, bluegrass, Americana and swing with light-hearted lyrics. Their first album, “The Good Lovelies,” won them Best …