Queen tribute will reign, eggs will be found and a musical romance unfurled this weekend

Molly Gilmore
·3 min read

Long live Queen

It takes more than one singer, it seems, to pay tribute to legendary Queen frontman Freddie Mercury. There will be three — Jerod Nace, Amy Shephard and Bruce Haasl — showing their skill in Mercury Rising, an Olympia tribute band performing at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 8, at The Washington Center for the Performing Arts, 512 Washington St. SE. Also in the band: lead guitarist Michael Hemming (who’ll be playing a Red Special, the electric guitar designed by Queen guitarist Brian Mays), bassist Mike Foisey, drummer/vocalist Andy Garness and guitarist/keyboard player David Lane. The one-night-only concert, a fundraiser for Theater Artists Olympia, has been in the works since before the pandemic — and its inspiration has been in Nace’s heart since he first heard “We Will Rock You” at a live sporting event. “I was mesmerized by the crowd’s response — thousands of people singing and stomping and clapping to the beat,” he told The Olympian. “All these complete strangers (were) sharing an epic moment together because of a song.” Olympia comedian Sam Miller will open the show, which is being produced by Broadway Olympia. Tickets are $8-$35.

Go out for eggs

It’s Easter weekend, the time when “eggs” refers not so much to the food oft served scrambled as to the bright-colored candy-filled replicas that send kids scrambling. Among the egg-grabbing opportunities this weekend is Tumwater’s venerable Easter Egg Dash, which is not so much a hunt as a race for goodies. The dash begins at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 8, behind the stadium at Tumwater High School, 700 Israel Road SW. Besides the timed dashes (11 a.m. for children 4 and younger, 11:20 for 5- to 7-year-olds and 11:40 for those 8-11), the 26th annual dash promises photo ops with the Easter Bunny and coffee and doughnuts for parents. In Yelm, meanwhile, eggs will rain from the sky in the Helicopter Egg Drop, happening from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 8, at American Legion Post 164, 16733 103rd Ave. SE. Besides the Easter egg gathering, the Legion event will offer face painting, games and a petting zoo.

Children race for treats in Tumwater’s annual Easter Egg Dash.
Children race for treats in Tumwater’s annual Easter Egg Dash.

Musical at the mall

Jason Robert Brown’s “The Last Five Years” looks at love from both sides — and in both directions: The 2001 musical, in its closing weekend at Broadway Olympia Productions’ Black Box Theater, tells the story of Jamie (Richard Cubi) and Cathy’s (Elise Campello) five-year relationship through alternating songs; his begin at the beginning and hers at the end. The couple meets in time only at their wedding. As you might have guessed, there are romantic moments, but also a lot of intensity. The “Last” performances are at 8 p.m. Friday, April 7, and 2 p.m. Saturday, April 8, at the BOP theater, near the cinema in Capital Mall, 625 Black Lake Blvd., Olympia. Tickets are $15-$25.

Freelance writer Molly Gilmore loves being able to see live theater at the mall. She talks about what’s happening in Olympia and beyond with 95.3 KGY-FM’s Michael Stein from 3 to 4 p.m. Fridays.