2020 Holiday Picks — Culturyst

It’s been a while since we’ve written one of our monthly “What to See” posts. While arts organizations have worked hard to shift to virtual seasons and digital content, for us at Culturyst, one of the main things we’ve always loved about the arts is experiencing it with others. Discussing a painting with a friend. Being part of a buzzing crowd at intermission. Applauding together after a performance.

So, just as everyone else is adjusting to a new normal, so are we. We admit it’s taken us some time to warm up to all the new digital offerings. Ultimately, we have come to appreciate how virtual content has democratized arts and culture and broadened our access — enabling us to see art produced in other cities, letting us purchase tickets to shows that were regularly sold out, giving us increased access to works by a more representative and diverse set of artists, and showing us artists in their homes.

This holiday season, we hope you’ll join us in embracing this digital arts and culture world. May you enjoy the events below on the couch wearing your most comfortable sweatpants and eating take out from your favorite restaurant.

Happy holidays!

Dragon Mama
American Repertory Theatre (ART) (Cambridge, MA)
On Demand through December 10
$30 or Pay-What-You-Can

Dragon Mama, written and performed by Seattle theater powerhouse, Sara Porkalob, is the second play in Porkalob’s family trilogy, Dragon Cycle. Dragon Mama traverses 25 years in the life of Porkalob’s mother, as she struggles between the demands of caring for her family in Bremerton, WA and her yearning for a gayer, more POC-filled life. Told in the form of a musical-cabaret, the show features Filipino gangsters, family ghosts and a 90s R&B soundtrack.

The recording of this show is from the 2019 performance at the ART, which followed a sold-out run at Seattle’s Intiman Theatre in 2017. Keep an eye on Porkalob – the ART has already commissioned the third play in her trilogy, Dragon Baby, and Porkalob is making her Broadway debut in 2021 (fingers crossed!) in the revival of the musical 1776.

Taylor Mac’s Holiday Sauce…Pandemic!
Seattle Theatre Group and On the Boards
Live-streaming December 12, 7:30pm
$15-55 (pay what you will)

If you’re looking for something that will turn the holidays upside down, check out Holiday Sauce…Pandemic!, 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 outrageous costumes, music, film and burlesque. Taylor Mac’s shows are edgy and in your face, but will make you reconsider the way you think about music and your place in the world.

Donald Byrd’s The Harlem Nutcracker
Spectrum Dance Theater
On Demand December 11-13
$20

Celebrated local choreographer Donald Byrd created an adaptation of the traditional ballet for African American culture, featuring a jazz version of the original Tchaikovsky score. The Harlem Nutcrackerpremiered in 1996, but will be having a new main stage production in Seattle in 2021 to celebrate its 25th anniversary. Leading up to that 2021 production, Spectrum has been presenting workshop performances of the production. Following last year’s sold-out run of Phase 1 of the workshop, this year Spectrum will present Phase 2 of the workshop, which focuses on the second act called “Time Travel” where Death manifests flashbacks of Clara’s early years and chronicles the Black struggle for justice and equality from the 1920s to the death of George Floyd.

George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker
Pacific Northwest Ballet
On Demand December 18-26
$39-55

If you’re looking for a more traditional Nutcracker, check out PNB’s classic version. This archival performance features unique-to-Seattle costumes and scenery with the story, music and beautiful PNB dancing we know and love. And during the show, instead of just watching the candy come to life on stage, you can also eat it from the comfort of your own couch!

A Very Merry Kraken Tea Party
ArtsWest
On Demand November 27-January 31
$10-100 (pay what you will)

This new holiday “mini-musical” features a sneak preview of five new songs from award-winning Seattle composer Justin Huertas. The show follows the characters from Huertas’s previous musical, The Last World Octopus Wrestling Champion, as they try to figure out how to celebrate holiday love with each other while they remain apart – something we can all understand. And don't worry if you missed The Last World Octopus Wrestling Champion – you can watch Huertas give a recap here.