Arts talks about Rivera
Art historian Rebecca Albiani will discuss the life and work of Mexican artist Diego Rivera at 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 18, at the Vashon High School theater.
Rivera, husband of artist Frida Kahlo, was a painter and muralist and is best known for his large wall frescos and communist politics.
Bill Brown and the Kingbees play the Bike
The Bill Brown & The Kingbees band will bring its exuberant and infectious sound to the Red Bike at 8:30 p.m. Friday.
The band plays several times every year at the Red Bike and at the Strawberry Festival.
The group includes Steve Minzel (keyboard), who has played all over the Northwest; Leslie Shelton (bass guitar and vocals), who toured for 10 years with Bo Diddly; Tony Handy (drums), who has his own jazz group, HD Fusion; John Gaborit (guitar), whose finesse and style is likened to Eric Clapton; and Bill Brown (harmonica and vocals), who is known for his engaging spirit on stage.
Pete Welch calls Brown “a classy guy who plays a lot of cool covers.”
“I love it when he does Joe Cocker’s ‘You Can Leave Your Hat On,’” Welch said. “It’ll be a nice show to come in out of the weather and enjoy.”
This is a free, all-ages show until 11 p.m., then 21 and older. ID is required.
Tales of Love on Sunday
The Lit Lounge returns with tales of love at 4 p.m. Sunday, Valentine’s Day, at the Open Space for Arts & Community.
Gather your stories about what love means to you — the humorous, the poignant, the mundane or the sublime — then drop your name in a hat at the door. If your name is pulled, be prepared to tell your story about love in a small, intimate setting.
Lit Lounge is the brainchild of Cara Briskman, who, with the help of Maria Glanz at Open Space, crafted the new program, which was inspired by programs like the “Moth Radio Hour.”
Doors open at 3:30 p.m. and stories begin at 4 p.m. Tickets are $10 at brownpapertickets.com, Vashon Bookshop or at the door.
The Science of Octopuses
Have you ever wondered how and why octopuses can change their appearance in a millisecond?
Coming to Vashon with the answer and more is Dr. Jennifer Mather, who will give a talk about octopuses as part of Vashon Allied Arts’ Science Series at 4 p.m. Sunday at the Blue Heron.
Octopuses are very smart animals that can manipulate the pattern, color and texture of their skin to look like different backgrounds, to startle predators or to signal their sex to another octopus — despite the fact that the animal cannot see color. These facts and much more will be discussed on Sunday by Mather.
Mather, who grew up in Victoria and spent her spare time on the shore or in the water peering into tide pools and collecting shells, is currently a professor at the University of Lethbridge in Alberta, Canada. Her research interests include the behavior of squid and both the behavior and cognitive abilities of the octopus.
Tickets are $16 for VAA members and students, $18 for seniors and $20 for general admission and are available at vashonalliedarts.org or the Blue Heron.
Auditions for “Chicago”
Auditions for actors, dancers, singers and musicians will be held for Drama Dock’s summer musical and Broadway hit, “Chicago,” on Feb. 17, 18 and 19.
The musical, which will open on July 21 and run through July 24, will be Drama Dock’s first production performed on the new stage at Vashon Center for the Arts.
The Tony award-winning musical includes seven principal roles — Roxie Hart, Velma Kelly, Billy Flynn, Matron Mama Morton, Amos Kelly, Mary Sunshine and the emcee — and a large acting and singing ensemble of seven women and seven men. The age of the characters runs from 18 to 60.
Acting auditions will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday Feb. 17, 18 and 19, at McMurray Middle School cafeteria. Actors should be ready to read a scene from the script and to sing, if auditioning for a principal role.
Dance auditions will be from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 20, also at McMurray Middle School cafeteria.
All potential principal actors and chorus members need to participate in the dance auditions.
Orchestra auditions will be held from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 24 ,in the McMurray band room. A band of 10 to 12 instrumentalists will be on stage for the entire production. Contact Gaye Detzer at gaye@dramadock.org or Sue Wiley at sue@dramadock.org to set up an appointment.
