Friday nights at our house are usually a pretty quiet affair. We often enjoy a take-out dinner, a little television and regular bedtime.
But last Friday, we shook things up a bit. My daughter and her husband decided to grab a bite to eat and attend The Mystery Plays presented by the Theater Artists Olympia.
Theater Artists Olympia (TAO) was a group we were unfamiliar with. We recently discovered that the Oly Theater is the home of Theater Artists Olympia, Broadway Olympia, and Juice Box Theatre and is located in the Capitol Mall.
The TAO group introduces itself as a certified non-profit organization, who for almost twenty years has been committed to producing accessible, under-represented and “untamed” theater for Olympia and the greater Thurston County community.
According to their playbill, TAO is operated and maintained solely by a volunteer Board of Directors and staff dedicated to the mission and vision of producing great theater.
And great theater it was, according to my daughter and son-in-law. My family members were full of praise for the actors. The only downside to their evening was the chairs in the theater. My family felt they were very uncomfortable for extended periods of sitting and had to leave before the second play began due to their discomfort.
“Next time,” my daughter announced, “we will bring cushions with us.”
This production runs through August 27, with Sunday Matinees.
The Juice Box Theater group offers plays for children. Currently The Three Billy Goats Gruff is being presented. The children’s plays are only about twenty minutes in duration, so these old bones can probably handle that on their chairs and I am sure the great-grands would enjoy live theater.
Oly Theater is located at 625 Black Lake Blvd SW, Olympia. Tickets for TAO The Mystery Plays are 20.00. The Juice Box Theater tickets are 5.00 and can be purchased online by clicking this link.
Not to be outdone, my other daughter, now living with us in Washington, and I decided we too, would have an exciting Friday night. So off we went to attend the 60’s do at the Virgil Clarkson Senior Center in Lacey.
“The idea for this type of event originally came from volunteer Linda Miller, who was joined by Linda Walker, and together, last April, they put together a 50’s Sock Hop. It was a big hit”, according to Manager Jill Rector.
“We then thought it would be fun to host a 1960s Rock & Roll Dance in August and you saw the incredible turnout!” Jill explained.
There were 108 hippies dancing to the iconic music of the 60s, plus about 15 exceptional volunteers who made it happen. The minute we walked in the door we were surrounded by tie-dye colors (mostly men) polka dots (mostly women) and hairdos of all lengths decorated with floral headbands, (both men and women).
It was a party, complete with strobe lights, music from the 60’s and dancing. “I’m a Believer,” by the Monkeys, was playing when we arrived and the dance floor was full. And boy were they dancing! Twirling bodies with happy feet, hips and arms moving, just as agile as when the song first burst onto our radios back in the day.
The place was packed. People were still arriving and more chairs were being brought out when we left. The air was filled with conversations, music, and laughter.
A 70’s Disco Dance is being planned for next year but you don’t have to wait that long for more fun and exercise.
“Our weekly Dance Socials on Tuesdays feature a live band from 1:30 - 3:30 pm”. Jill continued. The admission fee to attend for members is $7, and $10 for non-members. Jill feels these are about to become more popular with the addition of the lights they got for the R&R dance.
Fun, in my humble opinion, is the best thing in the whole world to have, and fun was definitely in play that night. Great music, laughter, and dancing – it doesn’t get much better than this.
For more information about up-coming events, classes and outings follow this link.
Our next stop was the Red Lobster where we enjoyed a crab. lobster, shrimp, and steak dinner. Perfect end to a fun evening. We are going to have to celebrate Friday nights more often…
Kathleen Anderson writes this column each week from her home in Olympia. Contact her at kathleen@theJOLTnews.com or post your comment below.
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