THE LOWDOWN ON WHAT'S UP THIS WEEKEND >>>
WEATHER REPORTFriday: Partly sunny, hi 46, lo 30
Saturday: Cloudy, hi 46, lo 39
Sunday: Rain, hi 48, lo 41
>>> JAN. 26-28: NEAL BRENNAN
One thing you've got to credit comedians for is their work ethic. No, seriously, hear us out on this one. While it's true that plenty of well-known comedians over the years have made the job synonymous with debauchery, partying, reckless excess, chain smoking and basic, unabashed indulgence of all kinds, the fact is most serious comedians work their asses off - touring from town to town (often to unglamorous locales like Tacoma), and getting up on stage night after night. Comedian Neal Brennan - who most folks at this point associate with the bullet on his resume that says "co-creator of Chappelle's Show" - returns to Tacoma and the Tacoma Comedy Club this week. Basically six months after his last stop in Tacoma, Brennan is obviously a hard worker. He's also hella funny. We know because we YouTubed a bunch of his s*** prior to his July swing through T-Town. And we wouldn't use a word like "hella" if we weren't serious.
>>> JAN. 27-28: BIG MINI GOLF CLASSIC
Nothing quite supports the arts like mini golf. Or putt-putt golf. Or whatever you call it. Yes, it's true. While smacking the ball through the windmill and past the sand trap might not seem like it has anything at all to do with helping bring the fine arts to the stage in Olympia, quite the opposite is true. The proof: This week sees the return of the Washington Center for the Performing Arts' Big Mini Golf Classic, which invites patrons of all ages a chance to play a mini-golf course that winds throughout the building. Friday a 21+ mini-golf party invites foursomes to play through various snack bars and "watering holes," while also enjoying a chipping contest on the main stage. Saturday, the whole family is invited to enjoy a day of putt-putt, face painting and hot dogs. As mentioned, it's all presented by the Washington Center.
>>> JAN. 27-29: LATE NIGHT CATECHISM:‘TIL DEATH DO US PART
I'm not Catholic, but my dad was. Or at least he grew up Catholic. From what I understand it involved a lot of guilt. And nuns. At any rate, one year, back in the day, he and my mom went to see some version of Late Night Catechism in Tacoma - likely at the Broadway Center, though I can't be certain of that. It sounded racy at the time, but I was, like, 12. He seemed to enjoy it. As did my mom - who wasn't even close to Catholic. But that's only kind of important. What does this have to do with anything? Not much, other than Late Night Catechism: "Til Death Do Us Part will be at the Broadway Center this weekend and next, delivering the latest installment in the "sinfully funny series." This time Sister tackles relationships - with plenty of audience participation, naturally. - Matt Driscoll
>>> ALL WEEKEND: TACOMA HOME & GARDEN SHOW
Surely you have a few home improvements you've been meaning to make. Maybe, for instance, a gigantic, icy tree limb recent crashed through your mudroom. Need some inspiration to get the job started? This week the annual Tacoma Home & Garden Show returns to the Tacoma Dome, running Wednesday through Sunday and bringing more garden demonstrations, bathroom renovation tips, vinyl siding samples, shag carpet displays, mulching systems and kitchen cabinet seminars than you'll find just about anywhere. This marks the 29th year of the Tacoma Home & Garden Show.
>>> FRIDAY, JAN. 27: THE FOLK INSPIRED CELLO
While we totally had to Google him, it's no lie when the University of Puget Sound website touts David Requiro as a prize-winning cellist. Requiro is also an artist in residence at UPS, who Friday will bust out The Folk Inspired Cello along with violinist Maria Sampen and pianist Tanya Stambuk as part of the Jacobsen Series of concerts. According to pre-event hype, "Long before the cello was a member of symphony orchestras, its voice was often heard with that of the fiddle, in folk music played from Scotland to Hungary. That tradition ended about 150 years ago. Yet some modern classical composers, whose work is inspired by folk music, have called upon the cello again to create the uniquely wistful and blithe tones of folk melodies." Requiro and his presentation of The Folk Inspired Cello fit this mold. "What makes this program so special are the distinctive musical languages of the composers we chose," says Requiro of the show on the UPS website. Hear for yourself.
>>> JAN. 27-28: THE RIGHTEOUS MOTHERS & SHACK
As part of a benefit for Olympia's PFLAG - a very worthy organization that describes itself as, "the nation's foremost family-based organization committed to the civil rights of gays, lesbians, bisexual and transgender persons" - Steve Schalchlin and the Righteous Mothers will take to the stage this weekend at Traditions Café. With shows on Friday and Saturday night, the show is going by the billing of "Peace with Justice Concert." Schalchlin is known as the composer, lyricists and performer of off-Broadway shows like New World Waking: A Musical Insurrection for Peace. The Righteous Mothers are known for humorous little feminist folk ditties like "Old Fat Naked Women for Peace," "Lesbian Honeymoon Holiday" and "60,000 Naked Hoosiers." There's no way this show won't be great.
>>> SATURDAY, JAN. 28: TACOMA URBAN ORCHESTRA
Saturday, the currently trending Tacoma Urban Orchestra will lay down 14 - XIV Underground, a dance opera by Benjamin Smith-Chenovick, at The Library at Sanford and Son Antiques. Event hype promises the premiere of Acts IV and V from the Tacoma Urban Orchestra's winter show of 2012, plus Colin Reynolds of I Low singing tenor, the dance and choreography of Karin Stevens and Katrina Ellison and the costume design of Lisa Fruichantie. Expect quintessential Tacoma at its most awesome.
>>> ALL WEEKEND: WASHINGTON SPORTSMEN'S SHOW
It's a busy week for O'Laughlin Trade Shows - the juggernaut behind this week's Tacoma Home & Garden Show at the Tacoma Dome, AND the 25th annual Washington Sportsmen's Show and Sport Fishing Boat Show at the Puyallup Fairgrounds. Wednesday through Sunday, the Washington Sportsmen's Show will offer the best in dudes wearing flannel and exaggerated fishing stories. But, best of all, check out what's billed as the "one-of-a-kind" indoor "Steelhead River." It's hard to go wrong with an indoor river. According to hype, other attractions include over 150 hours of how-to seminars, camp cooking demos and a free trout pond for the kids. Wait!?! Two indoor bodies of water? Just pinch us now.
>>> ALL WEEKEND: THE SEAFARER
Olympia's Harlequin Production's celebrates the opening of Conor McPherson's The Seafarer Thursday, a production running through Feb. 18 at Harleequin's home, The State Theater. According to hype, McPherson " has a stunning ability to remind us that logic and reason are but weak weapons against the myth and magic that permeate our lives," and The Seafarer, "is an incredibly beautiful and rewarding story of redemption that may put people off initially, because who wants to watch a bunch of alcoholic losers celebrating Christmas?" We do! We do!
>>> SUNDAY, JAN. 29: SOUTH SOUND WEDDING SHOW
A large percentage of people get married at some point during their lives. Some people, like Newt Gingrich for instance, do it several times. Hopefully soon it will be legal for gay folks to marry too. The fact is, weddings are a big part of our existence. All the more reason to check out the fifth annual South Sound Wedding Show Sunday at Centraila's Great Wolf Lodge. Expect everything from wedding gown and tuxedo models to dancing demonstrations. Pro Tip: If you're South Sound Wedding Show date ditches you for one of the Great Wolf water slides, he's probably not the one.
>>> SUNDAY, JAN. 29: OLY ROLLERS BOUT 1
The legendary Oly Rollers - former WFTDA National Champions -- open the 2012 season Sunday at Skateland in Olympia with double-header action that promises to be as exciting as it is captivating. Billed as "two full hours of women's flat track roller derby fun," the double-headers kicks off with when the Oly Rollers' Bella Donnas squad takes on Centralia's Rainy City Roller Dolls, and continues with the Oly Rollers' Dropkick Donnas battling the Sicktown Rollergirls of Corvallis, Ore. There's no way this isn't an epic throwdown.
>>> WHAT SOME OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS ARE UP TO
STEVE DUNKELBERGER Photographer
Hitting the Tacoma Urban Orchestra performance and then chilling with my ukulele and German Shepherd
JENNIFER JOHNSON Food & Lifestyles Writer
I will be doing homework all weekend. Oh, the thrilling life of a college student.
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CHRISTIAN CARVAJAL Theater Critic
This is a big theater weekend in Oly, so I'm seeing Hair at Capital Playhouse and The Seafarer at Harlequin. Also, it'll be good to have lights and cable TV again.
JOE IZENMAN Theater Critic
This weekend we're playing catchup for last week's cold and, well, cold. Seeing Play It Again, Sam at Lakewood Playhouse on Friday, taking a make-up dance lesson at Studio 6, and seeing some movies (The Artist and/or Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close). And then Sunday is of course the most exciting football game of the season: the Pro Bowl. (Guess which one of these things is a lie. Hint: the Pro Bowl blows.)
JOANN VARNELL Theater Critic
After last week's openings of California Suite at Tacoma Little Theatre and Xanadu at Tacoma Musical Playhouse, I decided this weekend needed another theatrical outing. Instead of reviewing a play for the Volcano, I will be attending a professional development workshop at The Broadway Center. I will take part in an improv workshop and then watch Late Nite Catechism: 'Til Death Do Us Part (well, providing the little son and husband can stay out of trouble). Other than that I may try and FINALLY finish making my sushi skirt. Seriously, how hard is it to pin and hem a skirt???
ALEC CLAYTON Visual Arts Critic
I'll be at the Steve Schalchlin and The Righteous Mothers concert, both nights, Friday and Sat.
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LINK: Even more local events that we recommend
LINK: Comprehensive South Sound Arts & Entertainment Calendar