Dance | Get your tickets early to this one
Mark Morris Dance Group (MMDG) to perform Dec. 1-3 at Moore Theatre.
I admit that I was heart-broken when I heard MMDG was canceling its Seattle performance of “Hard Nut” – the most hilarious version of “Nutcracker” you will ever see, complete with drag queen maid and a co-ed cast of dainty flowers and swirling snowflakes. But having the modern dance company stop by to perform two works, “Festival Dance” and “Violet Cavern” is still a treat.
1932 Second Ave., Seattle; 877-784-4849; http://stgpresents.org/moore/.
Christmas outing with a twist
Seattle Men’s Chorus featuring Bellevue-girl-gone-Broadway-star, Megan Hilty, Nov. 26-27 at Benaroya Hall.
Our very own Hilty, a former Sammamish High School student who would go on to play Glinda in Broadway’s, “Wicked” will make an appearance in this SMC show, affectionately dubbed as “Seattle’s Other Holiday Tradition.” One of the largest gay choruses in the world, SMC will sing favorites such as “Let It Snow,” with a live swing band.
200 University St., Seattle; 206-388-1400; http://www.seattlemenschorus.org/.
A show of local music legend
Seattle folk-pop vocal trio Uncle Bonsai celebrates its 30th anniversary at 8 p.m., Friday, Nov. 18, at Meydenbauer theater.
As critic Michael Upchurch put it, if there were an Ella Fitzgerald Award for Exquisite Elocution in Song, these three would certainly get it. Uncle Bonsai performs original folk/pop music with intricate three-part harmonies and biting humor, accompanied by only an acoustic guitar.
11100 NE 6th St., Bellevue; 206-527-3546; https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/198636.
Pre-holiday family fun
Disney’s “Sleeping Beauty” from now until Nov. 20 at Youth Theatre Northwest.
Thank goodness there is still time to catch this show which tells a love story treasured by 7-year-olds and 20-somethings (present company included) alike. Christmas and turkey-themed plays can wait it out for this one.
8805 SE 40th St., Mercer Island; 206-232-4145; http://www.youththeatre.org/.
For the millennials
Jay-Z and Kanye West Dec. 16 at Tacoma Dome.
Well, it doesn’t surprise me that these two kings in hip-hop royalty have teamed up for “Watch the Throne.” From when I last checked, the cheapest tickets to see the Louis Vuitton Don and Young Hov in action were in the $60-range. I’m sure they will go fast though.
2727 East D St., Tacoma; 253-572-3663; http://www.tacomadome.org/.
Shalom, theater
Seattle Jewish Theater Company presents “Tales of Chelm” at Temple B’nai Torah Nov. 20.
After recently seeing the documentary, “Sholem Alichem: Laughing in the Darkness” by Joseph Dorman I’m especially intrigued by Seattle Jewish Theater Company’s upcoming show, which is based, in part, on the hit Broadway show, “The world of Sholom Alichem.” Shalom Alichem was the pen name of Shalom Rabinowitz, the “Jewish Mark Twain” who wrote the story that would eventually become “Fiddler on the Roof.”
15727 NE 4th St., Bellevue; 425-603-9677; www.templebnaoitorah.org.
