THE LOWDOWN ON WHAT'S UP THIS WEEKEND >>>

WEATHER REPORT

Friday: Partly sunny, hi 54, lo 37

Saturday: Cloudy, hi 55, lo 39

Sunday: Still cloudy, hi 52, lo 37

>>> MARCH 22-24: DAVE COULIER

Cut it out! No, seriously, cut it out with the Dave Coulier jokes. We know the former Full House comedic star will be in Grit City this weekend, holed up at the Tacoma Comedy Club for performances running Thursday through Saturday, but that doesn't mean it's open season on Olsen Twins and Surreal Life jokes. It's just not right! Think about all Coulier has done for hockey and punch lines involving hand signals. It's a lot. Sure, Coulier's Lifetime Network movie The Family Holiday wasn't great, but we've all made mistakes. Even Uncle Jessie would agree with that. Find some time for Coulier this weekend and be rewarded with equal doses of nostalgia and laughs.

• Tacoma Comedy Club, Thursday - Saturday 8 p.m., Friday - Saturday 10:30 p.m., $15-$20, 933 Market Street, Tacoma, 253.282.7203

>>> FRIDAY, MARCH 23: Reduced Shakespeare: The Complete World of Sports (Abridged)

The Reduced Shakespeare Company is a three-man comedy troupe headed to Tacoma this Friday - offering a show that promises to, "cover every sport from every continent ever played in 90 minutes." Pretty bold stuff, we know, but that's pretty much what you'd expect from an outfit like the Reduced Shakespeare Company - which touts on its resume, "seven stage shows, two television specials, several failed TV pilots, and numerous radio pieces."

• Rialto Theater, 7:30 p.m., $29-$39, 901 Broadway, Tacoma, 253.591.5890

>>> FRIDAY, MARCH 23: Frampton Comes Alive (Again)

Peter mother***ing Frampton and his talk box are headed to Tacoma this week, bringing the 35^th anniversary tour for Frampton Comes Alive to the Pantages Theater and delighting a whole generation of mid-70s kinda-sorta rockers. As part of the celebratory vibe for the 35^th anniversary of Frampton Comes Alive, the Grammy award-winning guitarist will bust out the entire album. Boom! It's talk box time.

• Pantages Theater, 7:30 p.m., $59-$119, 901 Broadway, Tacoma, 253.591.5894

>>>FRIDAY, MARCH 23: The Mitch Show

Dancer turned comedic filmmaker Mitchell Rose has plenty of notches on his belt. He's been awarded five fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, for example, and has seen his work grace the gigantic screen in Time Square. Dude's accomplished, in other words. Friday, Rose hits Olympia with The Mitch Show, billed as, "a fast-paced evening of comic films and audience-participation pieces," and "maniacally funny, often poignant, and always surprising." We'll get behind anything that's maniacally funny.

• Washington Center for the Performing Arts, 7:30 p.m., $13.50-$27, 512 Washington Street SE, Olympia, 360.753.8585

>>> MARCH 23 - APRIL 8: Animal Farm

George Orwell's Animal Farm is perfect for kids. Hit ‘em while they're young, that's what we always say. Don't want any little Stalin-ites running around out there on the playground, after all. This weekend Olympia Family Theater opens its run of the stage version of Animal Farm, which it says is best enjoyed by kids 10 and older. According to hype, "this dramatization remains faithful to the book's plot and intent and retains both its affection for the animals and the incisiveness of its message." In other words, watch out for the pigs.

• The Washington Center Black Box, Thursday - Friday 7 p.m., Saturday - Sunday 1 p.m., 512 Washington Street SE, Olympia, 360.753.8585

>>> SATURDAY, MARCH 24: Olympia Youth Chorus Everlasting Melodies 

According to the Olympia Youth Chorus website, the organization's mission is to, "nurture the appreciation of choral art and the shared experience of creating fine choral music for young singers in South Puget Sound." The Youth Chorus does this, at least in part, with help from presentations like Saturday's Everlasting Melodies, which according to billing will feature tunes familiar to fans of classical and also contemporary, ranging from "The Witches' Chorus" from MacBeth to the Beatles' "Hey Jude." The Olympia Youth Chorus will be joined by Western Washington University's Undefined, an a capella that will only add to the awesomeness.

• Washington Center, 7 p.m., $8-$20, 512 Washington Street SE, Olympia, 360.753.8585

>>> SUNDAY, MARCH 25: POPS: Hollywood's Greatest Melodies

Hollywood has been responsible for some classic songs over the years - the combination of cinema and soundtrack joining forces to create a truly indelible moment. Sunday, coloratura soprano Diane Penning will be welcomed to Tacoma by the Tacoma Symphony Orchestra for a presentation of POPS: Hollywood's Greatest Melodies - a show featuring songs from Hollywood classics like Mary Poppins, Phantom of the Opera, Papa's Delicate Condition, West Side Story, The King and I, Porgy and Bess and Victor Herbert's Enchantress. According to hype, "This will be a night to revel in romance and nostalgia with a charming and gracious performer." Who wouldn't want in on that action?

• Pantages Theater, 2:30 p.m., $24-$77, 901 Broadway, Tacoma, 253.591.5890

>>> SUNDAY, MARCH 25: SOGO Winter Concert

The Student Orchestras of Greater Olympia - or SOGO, as the kids say - presents its winter concert Sunday at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts. SOGO's Conservatory Orchestra will dive into Mozart's "Overture to the Magic Flute" and Sibelius' "Karelia Suite," while SOGO's Academy Orchestra -- featuring soloists Flora Espinoza and Mariya Sydorenko - will tackle Bach's "Concerto for Oboe and Violin." The winter concert offers a great chance to see why SOGO is so impressive - a student-led organization breathing serious life into the arts and music among young people. SOGO will also be collecting food and cash donations for the Thurston County Food Bank - with a goal of 300 pounds of food. Help out if you can.

• Washington Center, 4 p.m., $7-$17, 512 Washington Street SE, Olympia, 360.753.8585

>>> SUNDAY, MARCH 25: Tall Tales and Silly Songs

Entertainer and storyteller extraordinaire Elizabeth Lord returns to the stage this weekend in support of the venue she's been such a huge part of over the years - the Midnight Sun. Designed as an interactive variety show geared toward young audiences featuring the wit of Lord and the musical contributions of local favorites Scuff & Al, "Tall Tales and Silly Songs" is part of the "Save The Sun" benefit series, with proceeds going to Prodigal Sun Productions, the managing non-profit organization for The Midnight Sun Performance Space.

• The Midnight Sun Performance Space, 2 & 4 p.m., $5 youth, $10 adult, all ages, 113 N. Columbia Street, Olympia

WHAT SOME OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS ARE UP TO

CHRISTIAN CARVAJAL Theater Critic
Amanda and I are visiting my city of birth, Los Angeles. We're seeing The Hunger Games at the Arclight, followed by Disneyland on Saturday and Roscoe's House of Chicken and Waffles on Sunday. Tell me I didn't win at Weekend Hustle this time around.

REV. ADAM MCKINNEY Music Writer
It's my motherfucking BIRTHDAY on Friday, ya'll! My plans basically consist of gently suggesting people buy me drinks.

ALEC CLAYTON Arts Critic
I shall be going to see Olympia Family Theater's production of "Animal Farm" at The Washington Center black box.

JENNI PRANGE BORAN Arts and Feature Writer
Husband and I are hitting the first Cathedrals Series at Immanuel Presbyterian to rock with Pearly Gate Music, Maldives and Pickwick - Sunday I'll be catching up on the writing I won't be doing on Saturday.

NIKKI TALOTTA Music Writer
This gal is going to garden! I don't care if it's snowing and my fingers freeze, or if hail is bouncing off my rain jacket, I'm going to do some digging, damnit! Spring will come through the sheer will and determination of this rookie Northwest gardener! And if there is a gardening goddess to hear my prayers - the sun will shine all weekend long, and I will be in heaven.

JOANN VARNELL Theater Critic
Thursday evening, my brother-in-law gets into town. Friday night, we'll make homemade pizza and try a gluten free crust for me and my little son while the grown men get real crust. We'll head to Corina on Saturday for coffee and cupcakes and then probably do other stuff. We'll most likely go to church on Sunday before saying goodbye to our guest.

STEVE DUNKELBERGER Photographer
I am fighting a cold that would kill many African villages, but I will manage to get out to see the Hunger Games and hit the Beat Fetish gig tonight.

JENNIFER JOHNSON Food and Lifestyles Writer
Friday I will spend an exorbitant amount of time doing Science Theory homework. Saturday morning I will go get sweaty until I feel like puking at the gym as I continue training for the Tough Mudder event in May where I will most likely get scraped, bruised, muddy and bleed (can’t wait!) followed by a riveting laundry session and Mastering Excel homework. In the early evening I plan to go on a double date and stroll 6th Ave (please let it be a dry Saturday) and show friends the great shops and restaurants. Sunday is all about church and family.

LINK: Even more local events that we recommend

LINK: Comprehensive South Sound Arts & Entertainment Calendar