2019 Holiday Picks
Welcome to the Holiday Season! Next to spending time with family and friends, eating is my favorite part of the holidays. Stuffing, cranberry sauce, holiday cookies. More holiday cookies. Just one more holiday cookie…
Lucky for the similarly hungry among us, Seattle offers a veritable cultural feast this time of year! The tried and true stalwarts of the menu, like Pacific Northwest Ballet's Nutcracker or A Christmas Carol at ACT Theatre, are well-known to many and always a crowd-pleaser (kind of like the ubiquitous molten chocolate cake: delicious and a safe choice). But if it’s something different you’re after this holiday season – whether it’s just a nibble or a full course meal – here are the cultural treats I’m most excited about.
~ DESSERT~
Mrs. Doubtfire
The 5th Avenue Theatre
Nov 26 - Dec 29
Tix: $29 - $149
Run time: 2 hours, 40 minutes
Yes, I’m starting with dessert—it’s my favorite course! And nothing could be sweeter than Mrs. Doubtfire, the new musical at The 5th Avenue Theatre, which is headed straight to Broadway in March! The story of a father who disguises himself as a British housekeeper in order to spend more time with his kids after losing a custody battle is bound to warm even the Scrooge-iest heart this holiday season. And the cherry on top? It features multiple Tony Award winners and nominees, including lead actor Rob McClure, director Jerry Zaks and lead producer Kevin McCollum (aka our Founder Carrie's former boss!). As this is a pre-run of the New York production, we’re fortunate to get the full marquis Broadway cast rather than a touring company.
~NIBBLES~
If too much fruitcake has left you with room for only a small taste of holiday culture, check out these bite-sized morsels. You can come and go as you please and they’re free!
Sheraton Grand Seattle Gingerbread Village
Sheraton Grand Hotel
Nov 23 - Jan 1
If The Great British Bake Off and Legos are your jam, head Downtown to check out this giant gingerbread village made up of homes designed and crafted by local architecture firms. A Seattle favorite for 27 years running, the village comprises 1,850 pounds of gingerbread, 150,000 pieces of candy, 350 pounds of fondant, and 15 gallons of egg whites. Sorry, no tastes allowed!
SAM Lights
Olympic Sculpture Park
Dec 5, 6-9pm
Go here to RSVP for your free ticket.
Join the Seattle Art Museum as they light up the sculptures in the Olympic Sculpture Park and give you a whole new perspective on the park we love to picnic in during the warmer months. They bring the art, lights, music, food and drink. You bring a warm coat.
~APPETIZER~
If you’re looking for a more substantive bite, check out this event. Just like happy hour, it won’t break the bank or take up the whole day.
SAM: Flesh and Blood
Seattle Art Museum
Oct 17 - Jan 26
Feeling burnt out on holiday music and lights? Here’s your palette cleanser.
Though it features works from the Pope’s backyard, there’s nothing Christmas-themed about this exhibit at the Seattle Art Museum, comprised of 40 Renaissance and Baroque works from the Capodimonte Museum (one of Italy's largest). Featuring works from masters, such as Titian and Raphael, the exhibit raises questions about the beauty and power of the human body. You won’t want to miss the startling painting of Judith beheading Holofernes by female artist Artemisia Gentileschi.
~MAIN DISH~
If, like me, you’re hungry for hearty cultural satisfaction this holiday season, these full-scale shows are sure to fill you up! Make an outing of them with a pre-show dinner or round out the evening with a round of spiked eggnog to go home feeling extra cheery and warm. (Check out Belltown bars Rob Roy and Vinnie’s Raw Bar for their special holiday themed drinks!)
Taylor Mac – Holiday Sauce
The Moore Theatre
Dec 19 - 20
Tix: $47 - $87
Run time: 2 hours
If you’re looking for something that will turn the holidays upside down, check out Holiday Sauce, with drag artist and 2017 MacArthur Genius grant winner, Taylor Mac. Exploring Christmas as calamity, Taylor Mac reframes the songs you love and the holidays you hate, complete with a live band and outrageous costumes. Taylor Mac’s shows are edgy and in your face (warning: there might be some audience participation!), but will make you reconsider the way you think about music and your place in the world. They’re a Culturyst favorite! Check out the video above for a taste...
Susan
On the Boards
Dec 5 - 8
Tix: $10 - $75
Run time: 90 minutes
Following up on his successful jazz musical memoir, Now I’m Fine, author Ahamefule J. Oluo returns with a new show about his mother, Susan, a white Midwestern woman who married a Nigerian chief, only to be left a destitute single mother with two children to raise. Combining jazz music and self-deprecating stand-up comedy, Now I’m Fine was praised by the New York Times as "dizzying," "engaging," and "grand." Oluo has a knack for compelling and deeply personal storytelling that illuminates universal themes and we’re excited to see what this new piece has to offer.
Donald Byrd's The Harlem Nutcracker
On the Boards
Dec 12 - 15
Tix: Free - $50
Celebrated local choreographer Donald Byrd (the Frye Museum has a whole exhibit devoted to him!) created an adaptation of the traditional ballet for African American culture, featuring a jazz version of the original Tchaikovsky score. The Harlem Nutcracker premiered in 1996, but will be having a new main stage production in Seattle in 2021 to celebrate its 25th anniversary. See it here first in a workshop performance, which includes Act 1, “Party Scene” and Act 2, “Club Sweets.” “Pay what you can” tickets available at all performances.
Pro Tip: Want to know more about Donald Byrd? Visit the Frye Museum or read this New York Times article written about him last week.