A farewell, a blood-thirsty plant, honoring Indigenous women, art for kids (and by kids!), an annual boat parade, a radio play from the past, music for Mother’s Day, cool jazz, and … Amy Tan! A wide variety of artistic endeavors awaits you this week.
To be, or not to be
“Hamleto,” the last full production by Glenn Hergenhahn-Zhao, originally produced as “Hamlet: the melancholy prince of iDi OM Theater,” this comic adaptation of the tragedy by Shakespeare is probably too loose to be properly called an adaptation. Those familiar with the play will find familiar events, but no knowledge of Shakespeare is needed to enjoy the dark comedy about revenge and forgiveness (and falling light fixtures). Shows are at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, May 5 to 14; 9:30 p.m. May 7 only at Sylvia Center for the Arts, 207 Prospect St. Tickets are $16 general, $12 members, $5 students. Details: sylviacenterforthearts.org.
‘Feed me, Seymour!’
Burlington-Edison High School presents “Little Shop of Horrors,” the musical by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken, at 6 p.m. May 5 and 6; 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. May 7; and 6 p.m. May 12 at the high school, 301 N. Burlington Blvd.
When a floral assistant stumbles across a new breed of plant, he has no idea what he has gotten himself into. The singing carnivorous plant promises unending fame and fortune as long as the floral assistant keeps feeding it. Over time, the assistant discovers this plant is like no other. Festival seating; tickets sold at the door only, 30 minutes before curtain, cash or check only. Details: be.wednet.edu.
REDress Project honoring Indigenous women
Whatcom Museum is hosting “REDress,” an art installation to honor and remember missing and murdered Indigenous women, May 5 to 12 in the Lightcatcher courtyard, 250 Flora St. Red dresses will be on display in the courtyard, representing the thousands of Native women and girls who go missing or are murdered each year.
The original “REDress Project” by artist and Métis Nation member Jaime Black began in Winnipeg in 2011 to draw attention to crime against Aboriginal women in Canada. The project has since spread to the U.S. and calls attention to the lack of reporting, data and justice for Native American women. Learn more about this issue by visiting the Urban Indian Health Institute website at uihi.org, and the National Indian Council on Aging website at nicoa.org.
Irene A. Wytzka Lawson’s project for the Children’s Art Walk taking place May 6 in downtown Bellingham featured student/artist paired artwork that will be hanging at Make.Shift Art Space through May. (Photo courtesy of Irene A. Wytzka Lawson)
Children’s Art Walk
Downtown First Friday is an expansion of the monthly Art Walk. First Fridays continue to showcase local galleries and artists but now also feature expanded community programming. Look for places to dine while out and about, events and activities, and more. From 5 p.m to 8 p.m. Friday, May 6, bring your kiddos to enjoy the Children’s Art Walk. Allied Arts of Whatcom County organizes the annual event, which features art by area youth at more than 50 businesses, restaurants and galleries. Details: alliedarts.org.
Cast off!
Bellingham Yacht Club invites the public to opening day of the boating season from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, May 7 at the Yacht Club, 2625 S. Harbor Loop Dr. Public festivities include a decorated boat parade with the theme of “Looney Tunes,” starting around 1 p.m., plus the traditional flag raising and blessing of the fleet as well as events coordinated with Bellingham’s waterfront and other organizations. BYC members are treated to a morning reception and afternoon party. Details: byc.org.
Celebrate Mother’s Day through song
Join Vox Pacifica, directed by Wendy Bloom, at the choral ensemble’s spring performance, “Rise Up! A Mother’s Day Program for Peace,” celebrating Mother’s Day with songs that recognize and honor the critical impact mothers have played on our social and political landscape. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. May 7 and 3:30 p.m. May 8 at Christ the Servant Lutheran Church, 2600 Lakeway Dr. Tickets are $20 general, $10 for ages 12 and younger. All singers are fully vaccinated and boosted, and will have been COVID-tested multiple times leading up to performance day. Singers will be unmasked unless conditions and CDC/State guidelines require this to change.
Proof of vaccination is required for entry. Wearing a face mask during the performance is optional, but strongly encouraged. The venue is large and will be at no more than 50% capacity, allowing ample space for distancing. Details: voxpacifica.org.
‘The Shop Around the Corner’
In celebration of Mother’s Day, Blaine Community Theater presents a readers’ theater production of the radio play “The Shop Around the Corner,” as originally broadcast by Lux Radio Theater on June 23, 1941. A hit Jimmy Stewart movie from 1940, based on a 1937 French play, it’s the story of two people falling in love by writing to one another through an anonymous classifieds ad, little suspecting that their beloved is none other than their worst enemy at their workplace. The film went on to inspire the hit Broadway musical “She Loves Me” and received an internet facelift in the film “You’ve Got Mail.”
“The Shop Around the Corner” will have two performances, at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Sunday, May 8 in the Blaine Boating Center meeting room at 235 Marine Dr. Blaine Community Theater presents this show as a “pay-what-you-can” production, so there are no charges for the show. Donations will be accepted, but patrons are under no obligation to pay a ticket price for this event. In accordance with current Washington State protocol, all COVID protections are at the personal option of the individual. Details: blainecommunitytheater.com.
Boating season opens at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 7 with a boat parade hosted by the Bellingham Yacht Club. (Photo courtesy of Port of Bellingham)
A conversation with Amy Tan
Spend Mother’s Day with National Book Award nominee Amy Tan as she talks with Bellingham’s Shu-Ling Zhao at 3 p.m. May 8. Tan is the New York Times bestselling author of “The Joy Luck Club,” for which she also co-produced and co-wrote the 1993 film adaptation, which screens at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 7 at Mount Baker Theatre.
Tan is the subject of a documentary directed by James Redford titled “Amy Tan: Unintended Memoir,” which debuted at Sundance in January 2021 and is now on Netflix.
For a limited time, receive a free ticket to “The Joy Luck Club” on May 7 with every ticket purchase to the May 8 event. Movie tickets will be sent separately. Purchasers of the author event will be emailed a registration link within a week of their order. You must fill out the registration form to receive your free tickets. Listen to my recent interview with Tan at kmre.org/podcasts, and purchase tickets at mountbakertheatre.com.
Cool jazz
The Jazz Center of Bellingham hosts Brazilian vocalist Marina Albero and Spanish pianist and composer Adriana Giordano with Jeff Busch, drums, and Dean Schmidt, bass, at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 11 at the Sylvia Center for the Arts, 207 Prospect St. The concert is sponsored by Milt Krieger, Bellingham author of “The Less Subdued Excitement: A Century of Jazz in Bellingham and Whatcom County.” Tickets are $20 general, $10 students at the door. Details: jazzcenterofbellingham.org.
Before attending an in-person event, check with individual venues to make sure it is taking place as scheduled.
Margaret Bikman’s column runs every Wednesday. Reach her at margaret.bikman@gmail.com.
