Music & Drama

GETTING DRAMATIC: This weekend was busy, busy, busy. After two weeks of drama camp with Seattle Public Theater, Annabelle and her castmates performed a new, original play together three times (Friday evening, a Saturday matinee and a Saturday evening finale).

I just loved the script, by a local writer,  Seayoung Yim. So clever and relevant and contemporary!

Here's what Annabelle has to say about the experience. ...

At the Bathhouse Theater, Seattle Public Theater has a variety of summer acting camps. This year, a select few students were able to participate in these camps for free, including me. The play I began work on was an original script called “Summoning Frankie”, a show about a group of students overthrowing a corrupt official at their underfunded U.S. wizarding school. There was a total of 6 actors, with the script being tailored by the playwright (Ms. Seayoung Yim) to fit our needs.

The course ended up being 2 ½ weeks long, but it felt more like 2 weeks due to a sudden script change 4 days in. Each actor plays at least 2 characters, some up to 5, which makes quick costume changes and different scenes difficult to perform. Most of the time, when not on stage, the actors would either be preparing to go on or helping with costume changes, acting blocks, and props.

My castmates were all great sports and we all enjoyed suggesting story ideas and developing our characters. The performances went smoothly and the few errors that did occur ended up fine. I strongly suggest attending or volunteering with Seattle Theater Group, who helped this production come to life. They have multiple courses for everything from set design to opera, allowing for a wide range of ways you can get involved with the drama programs.

Though that show is over, Annabelle was invited to participate in a (free!) set design mentorship/internship, and so we'll be spending lots of August going to and fro Green Lake. She has a couple of set design sessions under her belt and is really enjoying the experience. 

(SUB) POP GOES THE CONCERT:

Saturday, I went to Bee's plays solo, because Christian was indulging CJ's musical passions. They went to Sub Pop’s 30th Anniversary Party on Alki Beach in West Seattle. There were four stages of live music, pop up record stores, food trucks, and more. 

When I looked at the event's map, complete with 'soft' and 'hard' road closures, I suggested the two take a car with bikes strapped to the back, make their way that way, and park and then bike in the last mile or two. That's just what they did, and it worked out very well for them.

CJ can tell you more about the experience. ...

Sub Pop is a record label from Seattle, WA, best known for having signed multiple "grunge" bands that would become very popular in the early 1990s, such as Nirvana and Soundgarden (and, to a lesser extent, Mudhoney).

In Summer 2018, Sub Pop Records turned 30. To celebrate this occasion, the label held a festival on Alki Beach in West Seattle. Sub Pop set up a page on their website containing information (times that bands would show up, stage locations, etc.) about the show.

My father and I arrived to the show at about 6 P.M. At 6:13, we saw Shabazz Palaces at the Flippity-Flop Stage, staying for a half hour before heading east to the Harsh Realm Stage.

We needed to get food, so we waited for half an hour in line to get into the Christo's on Alki. While waiting, Mudhoney started their set.

After we finished dining at Christo's, we headed west to the Loser Stage to see the night's final act, Father John Misty. Misty played an entertaining set for about an hour, full of folky rock 'n roll.

 While at the festival, CJ, the vinyl collector, made sure to get the four singles pictured below, pressed by Sub Pop and sold via KEXP.

 He can tell you a bit more about them. ...

At the event, there was a stand selling "split singles" (usually 7" vinyl records with songs by different bands on each side.) The singles were available for $7 for one, or $25 for all four. In addition, the singles came with mini-posters that could be put together to make a full poster representing the event. I bought the 4-single bundle, which I later started to play at my house.

Unfortunately, the singles evidently had crappy pressings. Mudhoney/Hot Snakes' single, for example, has noticeable lumps (as well as a "tag" at one part of the record's edge), as well as several skips. Worse yet, it had a surprisingly large scratch, right out the sleeve.

So that was a bit disappointing, to say the least.  

All in all, though, a great experience. I'm so glad they got to go.