January 2006
Calendar Highlights
Sleeping Beauty
Currently playing at Seattle Children's Theatre is the classic fairy tale Sleeping Beauty. While staying true to the original story of Briar Rose, Welsh playwright Charles Way has added touches of humor and clever plot twists, creating a play that has as much appeal for adults as it has for children. The script is aided by the musical score of SCT favorite Chad Henry.
Two sisters with magical powers - good sister Branwen (Julie Briskman) and malevolent sister Modron (Anne Allgood), quarrel over a baby found in the woods. Branwen wins the argument and, aided by her irreverent but faithful servant - half man/half dragon Gryff (Allen Galli), presents the babe to the childless King Peredur (Kevin C. Loomis) and Queen Guinevere (Bobbi Kotula) to raise as their own. As we see her grow up, Briar Rose (Khanh Doan) is a bit headstrong, and is no shrinking violet - she's able to best her friend Prince Owain (MJ Sieber) in an uproarious swordfight. Prince Owain is described as an "utterly useless prince," and has a hard time living down that reputation. When he tries to solve a riddle at one point, the strain is all too apparent on his face. The big question is whether he will be able to gain enough strength and courage to be able to rescue the princess from her 100-year sleep.
The production is noteworthy for its intricately decorated sets, atmospheric lighting and inventive, sumptuous costumes. Worth mentioning is the truly nasty Spider King ... his head is played by Loomis, while three other people are needed to operate the legs and body. An audible gasp went through the audience when he first appeared on opening night. Kudos also are due to Kotula and Doan, who take a turn as a couple of daft but wily fairies.
Recommended for ages 5 and older. 7pm Fridays, 2 and 5:30pm Saturdays and Sundays through Feb. 4 (ASL performance 2pm Jan. 14). $15 to $30. Seattle Children's Theatre, 201 Thomas St., Seattle. 206-441-3322. www.sct.org.
Suitcase Sightings
Suitcases - 125 of them - were decorated by individual artists and distributed to businesses in and around Tacoma this past fall. Since October, nearly 30 of those suitcases have been "borrowed" by The Museum of Flight and will be on display until Feb. 4. These Suitcase Sightings, curated by Northwest artist Lynn DiNino, are a whimsical take on modern travel, and include a plaid suit-wrapped case, a time traveler piece and an eight-foot-tall giraffe satchel. 10am-5pm daily through Feb. 4. Included with admission. $14, $13 seniors, $7.50 ages 5 to 17, free younger than age 5. 9404 E Marginal Way S, Seattle. 206-764-5720. www.museumofflight.org.
Calendar Hot Tips
New Exhibits at Reopened Art Museum
When Seattle Asian Art Museum reopens Jan. 14, two new exhibits will greet visitors. The Orchid Pavilion Gathering features Chinese paintings from the mid-fourteenth through early twentieth centuries, and is the first exhibition of Chinese painting at the museum in 15 years. Fragrance of the Past focuses on the life and art of Chinese calligrapher and painter Ch'ung-ho Frankel and friends. Both exhibits run through April 2. 1400 E Prospect St., Volunteer Park, Seattle. 206-654-3100. www.seattleartmuseum.org.
Making Visible the Invisible
Seattle Public Library, already known as a piece of art, debuted a new art installation this past fall. Making Visible the Invisible, by George Legrady, consists of six plasma panels which show what library patrons have checked out within the past hour. Four different visualizations float across the panels. The first, Statistics, shows the number of items checked out within the past hour and past day. Floating Titles gives the titles of materials checked out within the past hour. The third visualization is Dewey Dot Matrix, and shows the titles divided into Dewey classifications. Keyword Map displays keywords for materials patrons have checked out. Each visualization lasts between one and six minutes. The panels are located behind the librarians' reference desk on Level 5. 10am-8pm Mondays through Wednesdays, 10am-6pm Thursdays through Saturdays, 1-5pm Sundays. FREE. Central Library, 1000 Fourth Ave., Seattle. 206-386-4636. www.spl.org.
Winter Farmers Markets
Seattle shoppers now have year-round access to fresh local farm products at two neighborhood markets. The U-District Winter Farmers Market takes place 10am-12:30pm Saturdays through Feb. 25. University Way NE and NE 50th Ave., Seattle. The West Seattle Winter Farmers Market is open 10am-noon Sundays Jan. 8 through Feb. 26. SW Alaska St. and California Ave. SW, Seattle. Both markets take place rain, snow or shine. 206-632-5234. www.seattlefarmersmarkets.org.
A handful of Seattle-area Farmers Markets have already been open year-round. Ballard Farmers Market, 10am-4pm Sundays year-round. 5300 Ballard Ave. NW, Seattle. Madison/Capitol Hill Farmers Market, 3-7pm Fridays year-round. Mount Zion Baptist Church, 20th and E Madison, Seattle. Pike Place Market, 9am-6pm Mondays through Saturdays, 10am-5pm Sundays year-round. Pike St. and Pike Place, Seattle. http://dnr.metrokc.gov/wlr/farms/farmers_markets.htm.
Wired to Win at IMAX
Wired to Win: Surviving the Tour de France is currently showing at Pacific
Science Center's IMAX Theater. The film follows two participants in the
legendary bicycle ride, exploring how their brains cope with pain, emotions
and motivation. Created in part by Partners Healthcare, Wired to Win is
an attempt to address the concern that fewer United States students are
choosing to study science. Experience it on the six-story high screen
at Pacific Science Center’s Boeing IMAX Theater. Various times daily.
Call for cost. Pacific Science Center, 200 Second Ave. N, Seattle. 206-443-2001.
www.pacsci.org.
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