Want to know what’s coming to the Washington Center in 2023-2024? Here’s the list

Though audiences have been growing, the Washington Center for the Performing Arts’ 2023-2024 season, announced this week, still shows the aftereffects of COVID-19.

“It was not an easy season to put together,” said Jill Barnes, the center’s executive director. “The timelines are a challenge. It’s been this way since the pandemic. But it’s a wonderful array of diverse performances, and I’m excited about a lot of them.”

The season includes many of the same ingredients locals have come to expect — music of multiple genres, theater, shows for families and comedy galore.

It kicks off with the hip, high-energy jazz collective Sammy Miller and The Congregation (Oct. 8), includes the bilingual musical adventure “Sugar Skull” (Nov. 14), and marks the returns of bawdy diva Storm Large (Feb. 15) and “Stomp” (Feb. 20 and 21).

“Stomp has sold out every time it’s been here,” Barnes told The Olympian.

The season also boasts an appearance by Las Vegas’s Cirque Mechanics (Nov. 9), which is one of Barnes’ favorite cirque acts for its combination of skillful storytelling and impressive acrobatics.

“I’m really excited about Cirque Mechanics and the chance to bring my kids to a cirque show,” said Tineke Raak, the center’s marketing director.

Notably missing are Broadway tours and contemporary dance, although “Éireann: A Taste of Ireland” (March 24), rescheduled from March of this year due to visa issues, includes Irish dance.

“It’s not for lack of trying,” Barnes said. “The booking process is like a puzzle.”

Broadway touring shows are particularly popular — this season’s “Legally Blonde” was one of 10 sold-out shows — but they are always challenging to schedule, she said. Olympia can’t support an extended run, Washington state is out of the way for tours, and the Broadway companies tend to have inflexible touring schedules.

This year, though, was more difficult than usual. “Broadway tours have not picked up the same pace that they had pre-pandemic,” Barnes said.

“I’m the biggest Broadway fan,” she added. “I’m hopeful that in future years we can bring in some Broadway, but the stars did not align for it.”

She said she hopes options continue to improve the following year.

“The absence of contemporary dance or Broadway is not a new normal,” Barnes said. “We remain committed to bringing these genres to our stage and community.”

The season does include several off-Broadway shows. Besides “Stomp,” those shows include “Potted Potter” (Jan. 26), a parody that packs all seven Harry Potter books into 90 minutes, and the musicals “Million Dollar Quartet Christmas” (Dec. 20) and “Johnny Cash: The Official Concert Experience” (Jan. 28).

More shows will be added throughout the year, she said.

Also missing is a National Geographic speaker — but that’s because the organization has cut back on its program, sending speakers only to a handful of cities.

Not missing a beat, Barnes connected with an agent who worked with National Geographic speakers and is bringing in Kevin Fedarko (Oct. 27), who’ll share stories and images from his 750-mile trip along the entire length of the Grand Canyon.

She believes the National Geographic program will return, but whether or not it does, the center will continue to bring in adventure speakers. January’s “From Summit to Sea,” with Andy Mann, had the highest attendance of any National Geographic show at the center.

Also growing in popularity is the center’s Black Box Jazz series, which is returning in 2024. “We’ve sold out almost every show this season,” Barnes said.

Among the other sold-out shows were “The Aunties: Women of the Salish Sea,” January’s Comedy Underground show and the April “Frozen 2” sing-along. Comedy Underground is back for 2022-2023, and the schedule also includes both an “Aunties” sequel (May 16) and another sing-along (“The Greatest Showman,” April 27).

Barnes is thrilled by the resurgence of live performance.

“Audiences are just so appreciative and joyful,” she said. “They are having a great time. It fills my heart when I see the audiences on their feet at the end of a show.”

Getting tickets

• Season tickets: A 15 percent discount is available for those who buy tickets to five or more shows. Those who buy eight or more can stay in the same seats for the shows they choose. If you buy season tickets by June 20, the $20 subscription handling fee will be waived.

• Individual tickets: Prices vary. Regular season shows go on sale at noon Aug. 8.

• Where: The Washington Center for the Performing Arts, 512 Washington St. SE, Olympia

• More information: 360-753-8586, www.washingtoncenter.org

The 2023-2024 lineup

Sammy Miller and The Congregation (7 p.m. Oct. 8): The joyful jazz band’s “They’re So Vain” celebrates the music of 1973.

Six Appeal (7:30 p.m. Oct. 13): This a cappella sextet is part vocal ensemble, part comedy group and part rock band.

“Into the Canyon: Between River and Rim” (7 p.m. Oct. 27): Adventure writer Kevin Fedarko will share stories and images from his 750-mile trek from one end of the Grand Canyon to the other.

Cirque Mechanics (7 p.m. Nov. 9): The Las Vegas-based cirque troupe takes inspiration from the power of the wind with “Zephyr: A Whirlwind of Circus.”

“Sugar Skull” (7 p.m. Nov. 14): A 12-year-old learns the meaning of Día de Muertos in this bilingual and bicultural musical adventure.

Seattle International Comedy Competition (7:30 p.m. Nov. 16): The famed comedy competition stops in Olympia for a semi-final round.

“God is a Scottish Drag Queen 3” (7:30 p.m. Dec. 1): Canadian comedian Mike Delamont is back as a sassy and very opinionated God.

“Million Dollar Quartet Christmas” (7:30 p.m. Dec. 20): The “Million Dollar Quartet” — Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Jewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley — come together to celebrate the holidays in this follow-up to the 2006 jukebox musical based on the foursome’s legendary 1956 recording session.

“Potted Potter” (7:30 p.m. Jan. 26): Comedians Daniel Clarkson and Jefferson Turner condense all seven Harry Potter books into a 70-minute parody.

Johnny Cash: The Official Concert Experience (7 p.m. Jan. 28): The immersive multimedia production weaves together Cash’s music with his life story.

International Guitar Night (7:30 p.m. Feb. 1): ): The touring festival brings together noted acoustic guitarists.

“Wonder Women: A Celebration of Female Composers” (3 and 7:30 p.m. Feb. 3): Concert pianist Sarah Hagen spotlights in this witty combination of concert and spoken-word performance, coming to the Black Box for two performances.

Storm Large (7:30 p.m. Feb. 15): Well known for her work with Portland’s Pink Martini, the diva with a big voice and even bigger personality returns to Olympia with her solo show, recommended for ages 18 and older.

“Stomp” (7:30 p.m. Feb. 20 and 21): The show about making music with almost anything – or nothing but one’s own body – returns for a two-night stay.

Center Salon (7:30 p.m. Feb. 24): The seventh annual salon, held in the Black Box, showcases local music, literature and art.

“Éireann: A Taste of Ireland” (5 p.m. March 24): This contemporary Celtic show, originally scheduled for March 2023, mixes music and story with dance performed by champions.

The Red Hot Chilli Pipers (7:30 p.m. April 19): The bagpipe-bearing Scottish rockers have been described as AC/DC meets Robert Burns.

Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood (7:30 p.m. April 25): “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” stars Mochrie and Sherwood will give their improv skills a workout on the Olympia stop of their “The Scared Scriptless Tour.”

“The Greatest Showman” Sing-Along (6 p.m. April 27): Lauren O’Neill will host the sing-along, which will also feature a costume contest.

Ladies of Laughter (7:30 p.m. May 3): The returning tour features some of the top comics from each year’s national LOL competition.

“The Aunties 2: Women of the Salish Sea” (7:30 p.m. May 16): This original multimedia production, a follow-up to the sold-out 2022 show, features stories told by Native American and First Nations matriarchs.

Series performances

Black Box Jazz: The cabaret-style music series will showcase Alexey Nikolaev and the Brian Monroney Quartet (Jan. 12), the Michael Powers Band (Feb. 9), the D’Vonne Lewis Group (March 8) and the Dmitri Matheny Band (June 14).

Comedy Underground: The cabaret-style series, recommended for ages 18 and older, continues with performances Jan. 11, Feb. 8, March 7, April 18, May 9 and June 13 in the Black Box.

Silent Movies: The series with organist Dennis James offers “Peter Pan” (Sept. 24) and Kings of Silent Comedy, a double bill featuring Harold Lloyd and Charlie Chaplin (April 28).