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18 Best Things to Do in Seattle in December 2019
Our handpicked list of the best bets for entertainment this month
This article originally appeared in the December 2019 issue of Seattle magazine.
VISUAL ART
In Plain Sight
Through 4/26/2020
This exhibit’s ironic title refers to visual art and performances by an international array of artists that evoke experiences and communities (in many senses: racial, sexual, economic) still obscured from the mainstream. Among the works are Los Angeles artist Andrea Bowers’ confrontational yet celebratory photos of transgender activists of color. Henry Art Gallery, University District; henryart.org
THEATER/MUSIC
Ahamefule J. Oluo: Susan
12/5–12/8
One of on the boards’ artists-in-residence this season, the Seattle-based composer, trumpeter, writer and stand-up performer puts all these skills to use in his new performance piece about his family history, with the help of vocalists Okanamodé and Tiffany Wilson and a stellar local band. Times and prices vary. On the Boards, Lower Queen Anne; ontheboards.org
CABARET
New Year’s Eve Meow Meow
12/31
No one loves Strauss waltzes more than I do, but there can be more to a New Year’s Eve concert than that timeworn tradition. Australian cabaret artiste Melissa Madden Gray, aka Meow Meow, is the Seattle Symphony Orchestra’s guest for this year’s gala. Imagine the brain of Dame Edna transplanted into Liza Minnelli’s body and you come close to envisioning her magic. Champagne and dancing until midnight follow! 9 p.m. Prices vary. Benaroya Hall, downtown; seattlesymphony.org
THEATER
Guys and Dolls
Through 12/29
Village Theatre stands out in the area’s theater scene as a nurturer of new musicals, but it also has a way with the classics, like this snappy 1950 “musical fable of Broadway,” which brings the gamblers, the bookies and the mythical Noo Yawk of Damon Runyon’s short stories to life. Times and prices vary. Village Theatre, Issaquah; villagetheatre.org
DANCE
Next Fest NW
12/12–12/15
Velocity’s annual festival of new dance works always gives applicants an intriguing theme to explore; this year, with “Ritual and Rebellion,” it called for dance artists to question tradition and received wisdom and turn their findings into art. 7:30 p.m. Prices vary. Velocity Dance Center, Capitol Hill; velocitydancecenter.org
The Daily Show host Trevor Noah. Photo by Gavin Bond
COMEDY
Trevor Noah: “Loud & Clear” tour
12/13
As a biracial South African, the Daily Show host provides a unique perspective on America’s racial tensions that other late-night hosts, however trenchant their one-liners, can’t match. Being booked into an uncommonly huge stand-up venue like the Tacoma Dome testifies to his success. 8 p.m. Prices vary. Tacoma Dome, Tacoma; tacomadome.org
STORYTELLING
Story Party Seattle: True Dating Stories
12/8
Our universal language is no longer music, it seems; it’s romantic humiliation. In this comedy show that’s toured the world, pro storytellers recount painful dating disasters for your amusement; you can submit your own stories (anonymously) at the show or online anytime at storyparty.net. 4 p.m. $20. Market Theater, downtown; unexpectedproductions.org
VISUAL ART
Saturday University: Zoroastrian and Manichean Arts
12/7
They may sound arcane, but Northern Arizona University prof Zsuzsanna Gulasci will expertly introduce you to these ancient religions that used art as a major—and successful—method of dissemination, spreading from the Middle East to Central Asia and as far as China. 10 a.m. Prices vary. Seattle Art Museum, downtown; seattleartmuseum.org
COMEDY
Britain’s Baking Challenge
12/5–12/20
Jet City Improv adds a twist to its version of cult fave The Great British Baking Show: All the treats (yes, they’ll actually be baked onstage) will need to fit a theme suggested on the spot by the audience. On your mark, get set, bake! 7:30 p.m. Prices vary. Jet City Improv Theater, University District; jetcityimprov.org
WORDS
Michael Cunningham
12/12
In his talk “The Problem Is Never the Plot,” the Yale faculty member and Pulitzer Prize–winning novelist (The Hours) advises fiction writers to focus on creating believable characters who will “in turn take care of the plot, all by themselves.” This isn’t too big a spoiler, is it? You should go hear him anyway. He’ll be interviewed after his lecture by Portland-based novelist Cari Luna. 7 p.m. Prices vary. Hugo House, Capitol Hill; hugohouse.org
Follow Us
SENSORIUM Takes on Our Screen Addiction
Dance, drag, and immersive art collide in an eight-week exploration of our phone-obsessed lives, with a few surprises along the way.
What do drag queens, smartphone addiction, art installations, and an old luggage shop have in common? According to longtime Seattle choreographer Alana O’Farrell Rogers, a lot. “There’s no dead time anymore,” says Rogers, explaining how the proliferation of smartphones fills the empty spaces that once served as time for rest or connection. Where we snuggled…
Salt-N-Pepa on Breaking Barriers and Staying Power
Ahead of their performance at Seattle’s Museum of Pop Culture gala, the hip-hop pioneers talk about creative ownership, connecting with new generations, and the songs that still resonate.
The Museum of Pop Culture (MOPOP) will host its annual ICONS of Pop Culture Gala in Seattle on October 22, honoring five artists and institutions whose work has helped shape entertainment and culture. This year’s honorees are martial arts and film legend Bruce Lee, fashion designer Jeremy Scott, the video game franchise Halo, hip-hop pioneers…
Studio Sessions: Christopher Paul Jordan
Drawing on childhood memories, neighborhood history, and salvaged materials, Christopher Paul Jordan’s latest show at Cornish’s Behnke Family Gallery explores how the past stays with us.
Start in the middle. It’s good advice for telling a story, and a way into Christopher Paul Jordan’s paintings. By the time you encounter them, their materials have already been something else, and who knows what they might move on to become. The Tacoma interdisciplinary artist works with salvaged objects, including screens, picture frames, canvas,…
Rearview Mirror: Wedding Bells, A Furniture Launch, and the Symphony’s New Look
Things I did, saw, ate, learned, or read in the past week (or so).
WEDDING BELLS I’ve been a bit absent from this column lately, but I think I have a pretty good excuse: I got married! It’s already been three weeks since my September 19 wedding, but I’m still reflecting on the magic of the day. My fiancé, well husband now (I can’t get used to saying it!),…