Out and About: Not one, but two puppet shows, and a celebration of composer Crumb

String and Shadow’s ‘Paper Moon’

Life takes a strange turn after the moon falls from the sky in String and Shadow Puppet Theater’s “Paper Moon,” opening Friday, March 25, at Olympia Family Theater. The production is a variation on the puppet troupe’s 2020 drive-in puppet show, which happened just a few times before live entertainment was banned in an attempt to contain the spread of COVID-19. “Moon” features among its characters a wolf, raccoons and a government official up to no good. (Yes, adults are part of the target audience for the show, recommended for ages 5 and older. ) Narration is provided by Olympia storyteller/raconteur Elizabeth Lord. The play continues through April 24 at OFT, 612 Fourth Ave. E., Olympia, with Spanish performances March 26 and April 23 and a sign-language performance April 9. Tickets are available on a sliding scale. The theater requires those in attendance to be masked and to show proof of vaccination or a negative test result, a policy that will remain in place for the spring season. Both rapid tests and masks will be available free in the theater’s lobby before shows.

‘Golden Girls’ with puppets

Fans of the perennially popular sitcom about a quartet of squabbling Miami housemates will recognize both characters and plot points in the touring stage production “The Golden Girls Show: A Puppet Parody,” stopping in Olympia on Friday, March 25. The show, starring puppet versions of stars Betty White, Rue McClanahan, Bea Arthur and Estelle Getty — all of whom have since passed away — brings back the sassy (McClanahan), sarcastic (Getty), serious (Arthur) and sweet (White) housemates, who alternately annoyed and supported one another on NBC from 1985 to 1992. Incidentally, while the characters seemed to be senior citizens at the time, Parade magazine reports that three of the four were in their early 50s when the series began. The puppet performance begins at 7:30 p.m. at The Washington Center for the Performing Arts, 512 Washington St. SE, Olympia. Tickets are $25-$57. Those in attendance are encouraged to wear masks.

Emerald City salutes Crumb

The Olympia- and Seattle-based chamber music series Emerald City Music is paying homage to eclectic composer George Crumb on Saturday, March 26. Crumb, who died in February, won both a Pulitzer Prize and a Grammy award for his work, known for including elements of musical traditions from around the world. The evening includes a film about the last year of Crumb’s life as well as performances by the New York City-based JACK Quartet, cellist Jay Campbell, banjoist/guitarist Jordan Dodson, percussionist Ji Hye Jung, flautist Demarre McGill and mezzo soprano Charlotte Mundy. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Minnaert Center for the Arts at South Puget Sound Community College, 2011 Mottman Road SW, Olympia. Tickets are $34 and $55. Those attending are encouraged to wear masks.

Also making music this week is the Olympia Peace Choir, singing at 7:45 p.m. Monday at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1925 Boulevard Road SE, Olympia. The concert, “There’s No Place Like Home,” is free. Those attending are required to wear masks and show proof of vaccination.

Freelance writer Molly Gilmore talks about what’s happening in Olympia and beyond with 95.3 KGY-FM’s Michael Stein from 3 to 4 p.m. Fridays.