Can't Miss It: Thursday
TAKING OFF: Tonight is opening night of Shine: A Burlesque Musical. We wondered what a burlesque musical might look and sound like, and after watching this, we got our answer. It looks like a freaking sexy musical, that’s what. Shine is a full-book musical that tells the story of the infamous Aristocrat Theatre and a family of misfits that try to save it from demolition and gentrification. Winner of the Vancouver Ovation Award for “Best New Work,” Shine is also heading to New York’s Fringe in August, but not until its through entertaining Seattle burlesque and/or musical fans through July 18. Tassels and electric guitars, need we say more? 18+, of course.
7:30 p.m. // Theatre Off Jackson 409 7th Ave S // $25-$45
WHAT’S UP BACH?: Saturday morning cartoons just aren’t what they used to be. The days of oversized anthropomorphic smartass and screwball animals declaring “Suffering succotash,” “Ain’t I a stinker,” and “You’re despicable” are all but gone. But one thing we miss the most about yore Merrie Melodies is the fantastic music that always accompanied our favorite cartoons. It wasn’t difficult to imagine that behind the colorful screen there was a huge orchestra playing along with the adventure, expertly summing up the classic scenes with classic music. Tonight, however, the orchestra performs in front of the screen, playing on stage while Bugs, Daffy, and the rest of them run around and act up on a big screen behind the band.
7:30 p.m. // Benaroya Hall // $20-$57
COMING DOWN THE MOUNTAIN: Seattle quintet, Mt. Saint Helens Vietnam Band, shifts and turns, needles and pounds through each of its indie post-hardcore tunes. The new(er) group performed its first show at Neumos in 2008, has one full-length album under its belt, 2009’s self-titled release on Dead Oceans, and toured North America. Sounding similar to groups like Cursive, Les Savy Fav, and Drive Like Jehu with a little Interpol thrown in, MSHVB puts on an exciting and energized live show. This afternoon, they’ll perform for free at Seattle City Hall. Later this evening between 5 and 7, City Hall also opens its lobby for Umbrella for the Arts: 40 Years of Bumbershoot Artwork, a free reception and exhibition featuring festival posters from past years.
12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. // Seattle City Hall 600 4th Ave // Free
