Submitted by Washington Center for the Performing Arts
The Washington Center is kicking off 2025 with some exciting shows!
Jan 9 at 7 p.m. ‘East Meets West: In the Footsteps of Marco Polo’
Our Adventure Series is back! Join National Geographic photographer Michael Yamashita as he follows in the footsteps of Marco Polo, the greatest Western explorer of all time. On the 700th anniversary of this epic journey, we celebrate the man who inspired a bold new age of exploration and discovery, introducing the Eastern and Western hemispheres to each other through his stories of the cultures, arts, and landscapes of the people he met and the places he visited. Experience Marco Polo’s 13th Century odyssey along the Silk Road, from Italy through Iraq, Iran, and Afghanistan, all the way to China, and his epic voyage back across the South China Sea with stops in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and India.
Jan 10 at 8 p.m. Black Box Jazz: Nelda Swiggett & Megabopolis! Don’t miss the first installment of our Black Box Jazz series for 2025 featuring women jazz musicians from the Pacific Northwest
Well-crafted arrangements and tight ensemble work produce a rich “mini-big band” sound from this high-energy jazz sextet’s three-horn front line. Megabopolis performs the unique, melodic originals of award-winning composer and OA2 recording artist Nelda Swiggett. The band features some of Seattle’s finest jazz musicians, passionate about their craft, who have collectively performed at many top clubs and festivals throughout the Northwest and beyond, including the Earshot Jazz Festival, the Port Townsend Jazz Festival, Bumbershoot, Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, the North Sea Jazz Festival, the Montreux Jazz Festival, and the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., to name a few.
Jan 15 at 7 p.m. The Pack Drumline
Get ready for an electrifying performance with The Pack Drumline! This group of talented musicians and performers bring their dynamic rhythms and high-energy beats to the stage in a show that will leave you breathless. The Pack Drumline is a group of percussionists and dancers who have honed their craft through years of training and performance. Their unique blend of Southern Show Style Drumming with Intense Upbeat Choreography works to create a production both powerful and awe-inspiring. From the opening notes to the final crescendo, you’ll be captivated by their expert drumming, intricate choreography, and stunning visuals. The show will feature a mix of original compositions and classic favorites, with each piece highlighting the group’s incredible range and versatility. From the explosive rhythms of the bass drums to the intricate patterns of the snare drums, this production will have you on the edge of your seat!
Don’t miss this chance to see the Chicago Bulls and Chicago Blackhawks official drumline perform! The Seahawks Blue Thunder drumline will open the show!
Jan 16 at 7:30 p.m. Comedy Underground featuring James Hancock III
Comedy Underground is back to make you laugh. This month we welcome James Hancock III! James is a globetrotting veteran who helps bring laughter to people all around the world. From entertaining fellow troops in Korea, to finishing second in both the prestigious San Francisco and Seattle international comedy competitions and starring in countless ads you never asked for. Audiences of all backgrounds are drawn to his hilarious & diverse comedic style. Recommended for ages 18+.
Jan 19 at 7 p.m. ‘Aluminum Show‘
This unique show brings music, artists and aluminum together on stage in a magical, mystery-filled creation combining visual theater, dance, and humor into an exciting, multi-sensory experience, the likes of which audiences have never before seen. This is the story of one man’s incredible journey to a parallel universe – a futuristic planet made entirely of aluminum. Aluminum pipes come to life right before the audience’s very eyes, transforming into imaginary, mysterious, and playful characters. The show is suitable for all ages and languages.
Jan 24 at 7:30 p.m. Trinity Irish Dance Company presents ‘JIG’
JIG, a Trinity Irish Dance Company (TIDC) production, is a fresh take on TIDC’s internationally-renowned, alternative approach to a traditional form. Centered by a live band in a unique space, JIG immerses audiences in an authentic experience that celebrates the power of vibrations, rhythm and movement. Following its critically-acclaimed premiere season, JIG continues to redefine what is possible for Irish music and dance.
“The stage felt as small and cozy as a New York studio apartment, while encompassing a vision that felt as infinite as the universe itself” – Cal Poly Arts
Offering everything you expect and nothing you’d imagine, the Trinity Irish Dance Company brings a cutting-edge, integrity-filled vision to the stage. Founded in 1990 and called “Sophisticated and commanding” by the Los Angeles Times and “Impossibly complex” by the New York Times, TIDC has sold out tours in Asia and distinguished venues throughout North America, including Washington’s Kennedy Center, NYC’s Joyce Theater, and LA’s Royce Hall. A dance legacy that is rooted in tradition yet forward-looking and ever evolving, TIDC celebrates Founding Artistic Director Mark Howard’s unique vision to fuse vibrant Irish traditions with ever-evolving American innovation, dazzling with hard-driving percussive power and aerial grace while sending a clear message of female empowerment.
Jan 25 at 8 p.m. Gregory Alan Isakov
Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, and now calling Colorado home, horticulturist/musician Gregory Alan Isakov has cast an impressive presence on the indie-rock and folk worlds with his six full-length studio albums: That Sea, The Gambler; This Empty Northern Hemisphere; The Weatherman; Gregory Alan Isakov with the Colorado Symphony; Evening Machines (nominated for a Grammy award for Best Folk Album), and his newest album, Appaloosa Bones. Isakov tours internationally with his band, and has performed with several national symphony orchestras across the United States. Please note, this show is currently sold out.
To purchase tickets, visit the Washington Center for the Performing Arts website.
In the Gallery
Traditions and New Stories – Quilts and Textile Art by Sew Many Stars Collective and Nicole Turner
Showing Dec 5 – Jan 26
Sew Many Stars Collectives’ quilts show a variety of quilting techniques including piecing, appliqué, machine quilting, and hand quilting. The quilts show many different styles from traditional to modern to art. The group looks forward to sharing the stage with emerging Tacoma artist Nicole Turner for their 25th year. Nicole Turner’s experimental textiles, made from recycled materials, break down the barriers of fiber arts often criticized as “women’s work” to demonstrate the inherent value of textiles in society and as an art form worthy of classification and respect in a traditional arts context.
Our three-floor gallery is open to the public for viewing by appointment (Monday through Friday from 12PM to 4PM), or to ticketed patrons 1 hour prior to an event. To schedule an appointment, or to fill out a gallery application please contact us here.
The Washington Center for the Performing Arts is a not-for-profit performance venue with a mission to inspire audiences and artists of all ages through live performances, enriching the vibrancy of our community.
Box Office Information
- Box Office hours are Tuesday through Saturday 12 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
- For ticketing questions or more information about upcoming events please visit the Washington Center for the Performing Arts website or call the Box Office at 360.753.8586.
