THE LOWDOWN ON WHAT'S UP THIS WEEKEND >>>
WEATHER REPORTFriday: Partly cloudy, hi 66, lo 43
Saturday: Mostly cloudy, hi 72, lo 46
Sunday: Sunny, hi 72, lo 48
Here we recommend seeing Olympia Family Theater's rendition of The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood. With an impressive cast of Olympia actors - our own Christian Carvajal plays Little John - and the talented direction of Tom Sanders, the show should entertain with it's twisted tale. Hype for the play reads, "The countryside remains under the greedy and corrupt control of Prince John and the Sheriff of Nottingham. It's up to (the-ever-so-modest) Robin and his (not-so-very-bright) Merry Men to free Maid Marian from her terrible fate...Come see what swashbuckling looks like when wooden spoons come in to play." This show runs Thursday-Sunday through April 13. - Nikki McCoy
Who doesn't love an awesome fundraiser? You get to rub elbows, participate in raffles and support your community. Get ready for the "Second Likely Only Annual Sami Awards" Friday night. Hosted by Erik Hill, Pug Bujeaud and Samantha Camp, this ridiculously fun music, dance and laughter-filled evening will benefit Lakewood Playhouse. This event is a smokin' deal, too. Tickets are only $20 and include snacks in the lobby at intermission and a digital copy of your red carpet affair. For information on performers currently scheduled to appear, awards to be presented, and to purchase tickets online, jump on Brown Paper Tickets. - NM
Coming off a smaller-scale, future-gen production, Next to Normal, the bombast of Oliver! represents a smart shift of programming for Capital Playhouse. We know what we want from a show like this, and thanks to director Colleen Powers and an obviously dedicated cast; we get almost all of it. The choreography is intricate and perfectly executed. The madrigal harmonies of "Who Will Buy?" come off beautifully. Sixth-grader Skyler Wyatt Zimmerman, last seen as, you guessed it, Gavroche, looks good in a newsboy cap. Bruce Haasl's set transforms quickly from a workhouse to a mansion to the heights of London Bridge. Read Christian Carvajal's full review of Oliver! in the Weekly Volcano's Arts section.
Egg-citing times at night: Certain traditions adapt themselves as time travels on. Take the Easter egg hunt. It was fun when you were a kid - watching your parents crawl around, trying to hide a bright pink egg behind a sprinkler head. And there was always the added joy of finding one (hopefully unbroken) three months later. But now you're a parent, and well, it's lost its charm. Or has it? The lovely folks at the Lacey Parks and Recreation host an Adult Flashlight Egg Hunt Friday night. You can now have an egg-ceptional (no, really, ceptions of eggs) time hunting for the eggs hidden on the Regional Atheltic Complex ball fields. Maybe someone will even paint your face. - Weekly Volcano
How about taking a nice stroll through a Washington State Park this Saturday when the weather is going to be super fine and the normal Discover Pass fee will be waived in honor of Washington State Park's 100th birthday. Check in with our Outdoor Addict Whitney Rhodes for some ideas on where to trek. Just make sure and bring sunscreen. There's nothing like a burnt Washingtonian the first weekend we break 65 degrees. - NM
The rites of spring are coming fast and furious these days. Valhalla will unfold on earth once again when the weekly Proctor Farmers Market opens for the season from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. While your best bets for fresh produce this time of year include asparagus, rhubarb, salad greens, edible flowers, fiddleheads, wild mushrooms and green onions, this popular farmers markets doesn't stop there: You'll also find meats and cheeses, fresh-cut flowers, garden gadgets, artisanal crafts and concessions, with plenty of free samples being doled out. New vendors include A&K Shellfish, Bluebeard Coffee, Cascadia Terrior, Loki Fish and Rising River Farms. The Pine Hearts and Mike Coucoules will entertain. Come see the farmers market the Weekly Volcano readers voted Super Best Farmers Market of 2011.
CHRISTIAN CARVAJAL Theater Critic
My wife and I and our respective colds are all in The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood, opening at the Washington Center.
REV. ADAM MCKINNEY Music Writer
Oh dear lord but I'm staying inside. You won't fool me this time, weekend. Fool me with your tawdry wares. Weekend, you're the only person I can afford to lose to anymore.
ALEC CLAYTON Arts Critic
Friday night I'll be a presenter at the Second Likely Only Annual Sami Awards at Lakewood Playhouse. Saturday I'm going to see Olympia Family Theater's The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood.
NIKKI MCCOY Feature Writer
Friday night I'm going to swing by the Oly Ballroom for some Hillstomp, then head over to The Royal for some Rock Candy Burlesque. Saturday is sun and no plans - just like every day should be. Sunday is Easter with the in-laws. Eggs + Ham + Candy + three boys = Stinky house and lots of giggles. Good times indeed.
JOSH RIZEBERG Music Columnist
Saturday the founding 15 and myself will be getting our Universal Zulu Nation orientation/training in Seattle all day. Sunday, I'm working on my wife's parent's farm all day, ugh!
JOANN VARNELL Theater Critic
Saturday is packed with a trip to Olympia Family Theater to review The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood and then back to Tacoma for a wedding. We'll head somewhere for an Easter service and then relax and then it's Spring Break!!
TIMOTHY GRISHAM Music Writer
Friday is the first day of the Skyline Drive-in in Taylor Town (Shelton), Wash. I love the place, I go every other week. This is the single biggest day of the month; I don't care about anything else. Seriously, so very excited. And while you read this, please take the time to donate to them upgrading their projection unit so they can stay in business. Please!
ADRIENNE KUEHL Food Writer
Definitely going to hit the Proctor Farmer's Market and embrace the bounty of our land. ... Seriously, though, it's awesome. Go there.
NIC LEANOARD Music Writer
Friday night I will be at the Urban Onion for Afrok's birthday celebration. Saturday, I will be shooting the new Free Whiskey video all day. Once the sun goes down I will be heading to the Track House for the Everybody Weekend show. Also included in my weekend will be whiskey and college basketball
JACKIE FENDER Food Writer
Slinging breakfast boozes and bites over the weekend as usual. I'm also looking forward to copious amounts of candy and playing the Easter Bunny on Sunday. A coffee date with a fellow scribe squeezed in there somewhere and some late night reading. Devouring Cinder by Marissa Meyer right now. Nothing too riveting.
LINK: Even more local events that we recommend
LINK: Comprehensive South Sound Arts & Entertainment Calendar