Apr 12 Sunday
Ohhh those summer nights! From its earliest performance in a Chicago nightclub through its record-breaking Broadway run and hit feature film, Grease has remained one of the world’s most popular musicals. Featuring the many hit songs that became the soundtrack of a generation, like “Greased Lightnin’,” “Alone at the Drive-in Movie,” and “It’s Raining on Prom Night,” this 1950s pop culture satire is filled to the brim with grit, glam, and youthful exuberance.
In roles made famous by John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, head “greaser” Danny Zuko and new girl Sandy Dumbrowski try to relive their sizzling summer fling as the Burger Palace Boys and Pink Ladies of Rydell High’s senior class navigate the peer pressures and social politics of high school in the 1950s. Directed and choreographed by Lisa Shriver (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical), this production of Grease promises nonstop, nostalgic, hydromatic fun. So throw on a poodle skirt, dust off that leather jacket, and rediscover the show that’s been winning hearts for generations!
Disney Channel’s smash hit movie musical comes to life on your stage in Disney’s High School Musical JR. Troy, Gabriella and the students of East High must deal with issues of love, friends and family while balancing their classes and extra-curricular activities. The show’s infectious, danceable songs are sure to engage performers and audiences alike.
It’s the first day after winter break at East High. The Jocks, Brainiacs, Thespians and Skater Dudes all find their cliques. Basketball team captain and resident jock, Troy, discovers that the brainy Gabriella, a girl he met singing karaoke on his ski trip, has just enrolled at East High. The couple causes an upheaval when they decide to audition for the high school musical. Although many students resent the threat posed to the “status quo,” Troy and Gabriella’s alliance might just open the door for others to shine as well. – Music Theatre International
The Music of Sun Ra on Saturday April 11, 2026 7:30PM and Sunday April 12, 2026 2:00PM
Sun Ra's elaborate costumes and interstellar visions often overshadowed the fact that he was an extraordinary composer and musician. From the 1940s to the 1990s, his compositions transported listeners on sonic journeys through space and time, challenging conventional jazz boundaries while inspiring generations of musicians with his visionary artistry. Guest director and pianist Orrin Evans leads SRJO in The Sun Ra Suite, which was originally premiered in 2013 by Evans and his Captain Black Big Band At Dizzy's Club Coca Cola in Lincoln Center, honoring the centennial year of Sun Ra's birth. Selections include Sun Ra's Space is the Place, The Hour of Parting and Rocket Number Nine. Other concert selections include favorite big band works reflecting Orrin's background in the music scenes of New York City and his childhood home Philadelphia.
Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra is the Pacific Northwest's premier big band jazz ensemble. Founded in 1995, the 17-piece big band is made up of many of the most prominent jazz soloists and band leaders in the Puget Sound region. SRJO’s mission is to promote appreciation of the uniquely American art form of large ensemble jazz and to share the joy of live professional jazz performance.
Hurricane DianeWritten by Madeleine GeorgeDirected by Annie LareauMarch 20 - April 12, 2026Evening and matinee performances
Meet Diane, a permaculture gardener dripping with butch charm. She's got supernatural abilities owing to her true identity—the Greek god Dionysus—and she's returned to the modern world to gather mortal followers and restore the Earth to its natural state.
Apr 13 Monday
The Kareem Kandi World Orchestra will be presenting its 2026 Music Festival this year from April 5 to May 8. There will be many great artists performing throughout Tacoma and Puyallup and most of the performances and workshops will be free to attend. See the complete lineup here.
KNKX hosts two performances on Friday, April 24 in our Tacoma studios on Broadway:
4 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. - The Kareem Kandi World Orchestra with visiting French Artists6 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. - Brazilian jazz with pianist Cassio Vianna
In celebration of its 30th anniversary, the Washington State Historical Society invites you to explore the history of building the State History Museum. 30 Years and Counting: The Making of the Washington State History Museum is a special exhibition that uncovers the vision, effort, and community spirit that brought this iconic Tacoma landmark to life.
Discover the bold ideas and architectural ingenuity that shaped the museum’s distinctive look. From early sketches to final blueprints, see how the building’s design reflects both innovation and reverence for Washington’s past. Go behind the scenes of the museum’s construction. Through photographs and artifacts from the building process, witness how a dream took shape—brick by brick, beam by beam.
Staff Picks: 30 Objects for 30 Years
In a special feature area, museum staff share their favorite objects from the collection—each one a personal reflection on the power of history to inspire, surprise, and connect us.
Never Turn Back: Echoes of African American Music unveils the profound legacy of Gospel, Blues, Jazz, and Soul artists who shaped the soundscape of American culture and used their music as instruments of resistance, identity, and representation.
Gospel, Blues, Jazz, and Soul embody the profound influence of African American music on culture and history. From the spiritual foundations and transformative movements of Gospel hymns to the revolutionary improvisations of Jazz, the Blues’ Southern roots rising from the Mississippi Delta, and Soul’s powerful amplification of the Civil Rights and Black Power Movements, these genres have defined the unique sound and undying spirit of a nation that continues to echo through contemporary Black music today.
This is a permanent exhibition. Since time immemorial, Tribal nations have existed in this place we call Washington. This Is Native Land invites visitors to understand Washington State through the lived experiences and voices of its Native people.
Tribal nations are sovereign nations. Today, Native history, culture, and community thrive in our state. Through everyday acts of sovereignty – big and small – Indigenous peoples demonstrate they are still here, they have persevered, and they will always be here.
This Is Native Land is guided by three teachings:We are of the land and watersWith knowledge comes responsibilitySovereignty protects people, lands, and waters
These teachings are shared through multimedia, artwork, and interactive objects designed for guest engagement. They represent a contemporary continuation of Tribal stories and traditions.
Over 100 Native contributors from more than 60 Tribes shaped the exhibition’s stories and content. We thank the Native Advisory Committee and all community participants for their contributions.
LeMay – America’s Car Museum proudly presents The Birth of the American Supercar, a groundbreaking exhibition guest curated by renowned automotive innovator Steve Saleen. This one-of-a-kind display invites guests on an exhilarating journey through the evolution of American supercars. From early speed pioneers to cutting-edge modern marvels, visitors will experience a stunning lineup of vehicles that have redefined engineering, speed, and style, built by a wide range of American automotive manufacturers like Ford, Chevy, Dodge, Saleen himself, and even some more obscure ones like Vector, Cunningham, and Hennessey. From roaring V8s to sleek carbon-fiber bodies, discover how American automakers pushed boundaries, challenged European rivals, and redefined what a supercar could be. This exhibition offers a rare opportunity to see some of the most thrilling and historically significant American-made performance vehicles ever built—all under one roof.
Childhood's End Gallery presents "Atmospheres". Featuring new work by Mitchell Albala, Kim Eshelman, and Christopher Mathie. "Atmospheres" is a celebration of color, gesture, and pigment in two-dimensions. Witness the shifting light, air, and hues of these three PNW artists and their most recent creations.
Feb 27- April 19.Artist Reception: Feb 28, 4-6PM
FREE
Childhood’s End Gallery222 4th Ave WOlympia WA 98501
360-943-3724
info@childhoods-end-gallery.com
