Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo
7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 21, Mount Baker Theatre, 104 N Commercial St.
Whether you’re a hardcore “Swan Lake” or “Drag Race” fan, you might want to take note of Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo’s show at Mount Baker Theatre. Lovingly known as the “Trocks,” the all-male comedic ballet troupe has gone from “late-late shows in off-off Broadway lofts” to become a “global touring sensation.” And while a drag-based ballet troupe feels particularly “of-the-moment,” the Trocks aren’t exactly a new phenomenon: This year marks their 50th season in action.
With figures like RuPaul and Chappell Roan dominating the cultural zeitgeist, the art of drag is more mainstream than ever. But while ballet has a storied history, drag culture isn’t exactly a new art form. The culture as we know it now has been around since the late 19th century — yes, even in Bellingham. (Per the Good Time Girls’ “BellingQueer History” tour, the first drag queen in Bellingham was documented in the 1890s). Info: mountbakertheatre.com.
Robbie Burns Night at Hotel Leo
5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25, Hotel Leo, 1224 Cornwall Ave.
I don’t often include dinners on event roundups, but this one looks too fun not to mention. If you’ve never heard of Robbie Burns, well, he’s a big deal in the U.K. The 18th-century poet and lyricist is regarded as the national poet of Scotland, and he even has his own holiday on Jan. 25.
To commemorate the occasion, Hotel Leo is hosting a special Robbie Burns-themed dinner. Diners can expect everything from live music to a plated feast, Scottish country dancing and even a ceremonial presenting of the Haggis. (Burns himself wrote a poem about this Scottish delicacy, entitled “Address to Haggis”: “But, if ye wish her gratefu’ prayer / Gie her a haggis!”) Tickets are $55 per person, and make sure to reserve a table ahead of time. Info: celticarts.org.
Baba the Storyteller
6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 21, Bellingham High School, 2020 Cornwall Ave.
For countless years, humans have relied on storytelling as a form of entertainment when the weather gets cold. This weekend’s Fire & Story Festival is an excellent example of that tradition — but it’s not the only folklore-focused event in town.
In honor of both Martin Luther King Day and Treaty Day, Whatcom Hills Waldorf School is hosting a visit with Baba the Storyteller. Baba is one of the few recognized U.S.-born practitioners of Jaliyaa, an ancient West African storytelling craft. He’s garnered multiple awards for his work as a folklorist as well as a musician, storyteller and community leader.
While Baba is in town for sessions with Waldorf’s students and faculty, the community is invited to join him for a special performance on Tuesday, Jan. 21 at Bellingham High School. The event itself is free, but a $5 donation is suggested to help cover venue costs. Info: whws.org.
‘Bellingham Symphony Orchestra: Rising Up’
3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 26, Mount Baker Theatre, 104 N. Commercial St.
For the Bellingham Symphony Orchestra’s first concert of 2025, Concertmaster Dawn Posey will be joined by guest conductor David A. Rahbee. Their program explores the relationship between two iconic composers: Franz Joseph Haydn and Maurice Ravel orch by Rahbee. Haydn, born in 1732, is nicknamed the “father of the symphony” and taught the likes of Beethoven and Mozart. Ravel was born in 1875 and is remembered for his orchestral and piano works.
The program for “Rising Up” is subject to change, but as things currently stand, the show includes two works by Haydn — “Il Mondo Della Luna (The World on the Moon)” and “Symphony No. 104 (London)” — as well as a violin concerto from Chevalier de Saint-Georges. The performance closes with Ravel’s “Menuet sur le nom d’Haydn,” written to commemorate the 100-year anniversary of Haydn’s death. Info: bellinghamsymphony.org.
‘Miss Behaved: True Tales of Women Behaving Badly and Living Boldly’
7–9:30 p.m. Jan. 24–26, WinkWink Boutique, 1302 Commercial St.
There’s a monologue from the “Barbie” movie that’s stuck with me, even a year after seeing the film. It’s the one about how society makes it impossible to be a woman: “You have to never get old, never be rude, never show off, never be selfish, never fall down, never fail, never show fear, never get out of line.” In other words, the goalposts for women are contradictory — and living up to those standards is a doomed game.
Enter “Miss Behaved,” a comedic theatrical storytelling performance “celebrating the wild women who behave badly and make waves, in a world that has one, or few, scripts for how we are allowed to be, live and love.” Presented in WinkWink Boutique’s performance venue, Sidepiece Studio, it’s bound to be a cathartic — and hilarious — experience for anyone who’s dealt with the impossible pressures of being a woman. Note that the show does contain sensitive themes; make sure to check content warnings online before booking tickets. Info: sidepiece.events.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
The following is a selection of events submitted by CDN readers. Click here to add yours.
For questions, ideas and feedback, email cocoalaney@cascadiadaily.com.
Before heading out to attend in-person happenings, check with individual venues to make sure the event is still taking place as scheduled.
The A-List appears weekly. To submit an event for consideration, email calendar@cascadiadaily.com.
Cocoa Laney is CDN’s lifestyle editor; reach her at cocoalaney@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 128.
