A groundbreaking musician from The Gambia performs
Sona Jobarteh, who is renowned as the world’s first female kora virtuoso from a traditional West African griot family, will make her Pacific Northwest debut at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 27, at Open Space for Arts & Community. The show, said Open Space co-founder David Godsey, will be a must-see island occasion. Jobarteh has performed at major festivals all over the world and lectured at universities in the U.S., the U.K. and Germany. In addition to her mastery of the kora, a 21-stringed African harp that is capable of producing rich melodies and vibrant tones, she is acclaimed as a vocalist and also plays ngoni, flute, guitar, bass and percussion instruments. Tickets are $20 in advance, at openspacevashon.com, or $25 at the door. Those 18 and younger will be admitted free.
Drama Dock tackles ‘Tommy’
Drama Dock will go glam with a production of The Who’s “Tommy,” slated to begin a run on Thursday, June 27, at Vashon Center for the Arts. Based on The Who’s iconic 1969 rock opera “Tommy,” the show has music and lyrics by Pete Townshend and tells the story of a troubled boy who triumphs over trauma through his pinball-playing wizardry. The production is helmed by production director Elise Morrill, musical director Christopher Overstreet and choreographer Hallie Aldrich. The talented cast includes Allison Shirk, Tony Mann, Hailey Quackenbush, Gabriel Dawson, Phoebe Ray, Elise Ericksen and Sarah Howard, among others. Dates and times for “Tommy” are 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, June 27, 28 and 29; 2 p.m. Sunday, June 30; 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, July 5 and 6 and 2 p.m. Sunday, July 7. Tickets, $25 general, $22 seniors, students, VCA and Drama Dock members, are on sale now at vashoncenterforthearts.org.
Pat Reardon Band grooves on at the Bike
The Pat Reardon Band will play a free show at 8 p.m. Friday, June 28, at Red Bicycle Bistro & Sushi. The event is for all ages until 11 p.m. and audience members 21 and older after that. The band is made up of musicians who became friends and roommates in West Seattle in the 1990s. They have jammed and played Reardon’s original songs together for 20 years. Expect a blend of rock, folk, country, jazz, funk and bluegrass, with clever lyrics, said Pete Welch of Vashon Events, which is presenting the show.
Island artist is honored
Artwork by Vashon Artist Ilse Reimnitz has been selected for the 2019 Northwest Watercolor Society Signature Membership Exhibition at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center in Seattle, WA. Exhibit dates are July 11 to October 6. Works by Reimnitz accepted to the show include her watercolor paintings “Below the Surface” and “ Sea Ledge,” which received an award.
Hip-hop luminary plays at Black Cat
Seattle hip-hop luminary Onry Ozzborn, of Grayskul and the Oldominion collective, will play an all-ages show at 7 p.m. Sunday, July 7, at Snapdragon’s Black Cat Cabaret. Tyler Stendahl, who is producing the event, said he especially hopes island teens will show up for the show. Ozzborn recently took a short hiatus from his career to focus on his daughter, who was diagnosed with cancer. Now that his daughter is in remission, he’s playing his first shows since March, and debuting new music about the experience, Stendahl said. The show’s opening act will be Araless, from Black Magic Noiz. Doors open at 6 p.m. for the show; get tickets, $15, in advance online.
Seattle Dance Collective at VCA
Seattle Dance Collective, under the direction of Pacific Northwest Ballet (PNB) principal dancers Noelani Pantastico and James Yoichi Moore, will present works by five choreographers from three continents for the company’s debut performances at 7 p.m. Friday, July 12 and Saturday, July 13, and 1 p.m. Saturday, July 13 and Sunday, July 14, at Vashon Center for the Arts (VCA). The featured choreographers represent both established and emerging voices in the world of modern ballet and contemporary dance. Additionally, SDC’s Dance Immersion Workshop will take place from 9 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, July 9 and 10, at VCA.
James Yoichi Moore is a principal dancer with Seattle Dance Collective, which will be in perform and teach workshops at Vashon Center for the Arts (Angela Sterling Photo).
Each day will begin with a one-hour Pilates class taught by former Pittsburgh Ballet Theater dancer and PNB conditioning coach Kristen Moore, followed by a 90-minute ballet technique class taught by James Yoichi Moore (July 9) or Noelani Pantastico (July 10). Choreographer Bruno Roque will conclude each day with a contemporary improvisation class. For more information, and to buy tickets for performances and sign up for workshops, visit vashoncenterforthearts.org. The 1 p.m. Saturday, July 13 performance is for families and has lower ticket prices.
Volunteer docents sought
Vashon Center for the Arts has launched a volunteer docent program for its gallery exhibitions. The program will start with this year’s Summer Arts Fest, a two-month festival that will exhibit work by more than 100 local artists. An introductory meeting about the program will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 27, at the arts center. No experience is required, only an enthusiasm for art, artists and the artistic process, said Lynann Politte, VCA gallery manager. Docents will provide information and guidance to VCA gallery visitors. For more information about the docent program, come to the July 27 meeting or contact lynann@vashoncenter forthearts.org.
