November 15 at 7:30pm Everything old is new again. Tchaikovsky’s 129-year-old ballet is reimagined as a holiday dance spectacle in The Hip Hop Nutcracker, arriving at The Washington Center on November 15. A cast of a dozen all-star dancers, an on-stage DJ and an electric violinist turn the beloved score on its head. The production features hip hop pioneer Kurtis “The Breaks” Blow, the first rapper to be signed by a major label in 1979. 42 years and a heart transplant later, this hip hop founding father is still performing as MC of The Hip Hop Nutcracker. Just like the classic Nutcracker story, in The Hip Hop Nutcracker Maria-Clara and the Nutcracker prince go on a dream adventure battling a gang of mice, visiting the land of sweets and learning the lessons of the holiday season. Innovative digital graffiti and visuals transform the landscape of E.T.A. Hoffmann’s beloved story from traditional 19th Century Germany to the vibrant, diverse sights and sounds of a colorful and contemporary New York City. Through the modern, self-expressive gaze of hip hop culture, the dynamic performers of The Hip Hop Nutcracker celebrate the magic of the entire holiday season on the most inclusive holiday of them all – New Year’s Eve, a time for new beginnings. All ages are welcome! Video Teaser
November 18 at 7:30pm the Center presents Seattle International Comedy Competition. Bring out your crew for a night of big laughs as the Center hosts a semi-final round of the popular Seattle International Comedy Competition! After competing all over the Puget Sound Region, the comedic competitors come to Olympia. Up to 10 comedians will face-off with short, humorous sets while the judges decide who moves on based off audience response. This is an epic skirmish of punch lines and comedic timing on our mainstage theater and there is no telling what to expect!