TeenTix

The Seattle Office of Arts & Culture (ARTS) is partnering with TeenTix to publish a bi-monthly round-up of arts and cultural events. The partnership supports and provides additional outlets for teen expressions in media. TeenTix programs create a place for teens to process, interpret, reflect, and think critically about the content they engage with through professional journalism and podcasting, and in-school arts criticism training. TeenTix and ARTS support and uplift youth voices in media to empower students while fostering future writers and content creators. Read more work by youth at teentix.org.

Take a peek at some of their recent features below:

The Hidden Wonders of LAIKA’s “Hidden Worlds”

A review of Hidden Worlds: The Films of LAIKA at Museum of Pop Culture
By Teen Writer Raika Roy Choudhury

Coraline’s Other World House Exterior, Coraline (2009). Photo credit: Joseph Bondi.

“MoPOP’s Hidden Worlds serves as a wonderful introduction to stop motion and other creative processes in the popular animation studio LAIKA’s films. LAIKA is an Oregon-based studio behind the famous films Coraline, ParaNorman, Kubo and the Two Strings, Missing Link, and BoxTrolls, all of which were nominated for Oscars and PGA Awards. Beyond their critical acclaim, LAIKA is also known for specializing in standalone films and bringing hand-curated artistry back into our increasingly digital media space. Their films are bold and distinctive whilst also aesthetic and thought-provoking, widening the appreciation for animation. It only makes sense for this accomplished studio to be celebrated with a museum exhibit.”

A Swamp-Sculpted Gallery

A review of Thick as Mud at Henry Art Gallery
By Teen Writer Daphne Bunker

Candice Lin, *Swamp Fat* [detail], 2021. Scagliola, ceramic, clay, earth, mortar, lard infused with custom scent. Courtesy of the artist and François Ghebaly Gallery. Commissioned by Prospect New Orleans for P.5. Installation view of Thick as Mud, 2023, Henry Art Gallery, University of Washington, Seattle. Photo: Jonathan Vanderweit, courtesy of the Henry.

“The first room of Thick as Mud at the Henry Art Gallery, bathed in terracotta-tinged light, is unfurnished except for its display: snakeskin latticework stretched over two picnic chairs. Rain sounds splatter from speakers in the ceiling, and occasional thunderclaps echo. The descriptions on the wall label the chairs as Sitting Shiva and the overhead audio as Tropical Storm, both by artist Sasha Wortzel. Sitting Shiva is Wortzel’s meditation on endings and beginnings in the South Florida Everglades, where the invasive Baurmese Python has devastated local populations, and the installation sets the tone for the exhibit, establishing a pattern of thoughtful examination of historical and environmental themes conveyed through intricate artistic techniques.”

“Fires of Varanasi: Dance of the Eternal Pilgrim”: Through the Eyes of an Inexperienced Viewer

A review of Ragamala Dance Company at the Meany Center for the Performing Arts
By Teen Writer Josephine Bishop

Ragamala Dance Company at the Meany Center for the Performing Arts. Photo credit: Steven Pisano.

“The curtain rose to reveal an unlit stage. Fifteen bells hung at varied lengths from the ceiling, and three shallow pools of water were dispersed, mimicking the famous Ganges River. A dancer silently pushed out candles into the water, unhurriedly lighting the stage with a serene atmosphere. This opening set the mood for Ragamala Dance Company’s phenomenal performance.”

“Sámi Film Festival”: An Exploration of the Sámi Female Experience

A review of Sámi Film Festival at National Nordic Museum
By Teen Writer Olivia Lee

*Sire and the Last Summer* (2022). Photo courtesy of IMDb © 1990-2023 by IMDb.com, Inc.

“The Sámi Film Festival is an exciting showcase of female-focused films at the Seattle Nordic Museum. As this is TeenTix’s first act of new partnership with the Seattle Nordic Museum, this is a very special event! Honoring the work of Sámi female directors, the films reflect on difficult topics like sexual assault and violence against Indigenous women. Through an intriguing selection of nine documentary and fictional films, there is definitely something for everyone to enjoy at the Sámi Film Festival.”

“A Thousand Splendid Suns” Shines at Seattle Opera

A review of A Thousand Splendid Suns at Seattle Opera
By Teen Writer Olivia Qi

The Seattle Opera’s production of *A Thousand Splendid Suns*, photo by Sunny Martini

“A pressing story of love during harsh times, A Thousand Splendid Suns is finally ready for its world premiere at Seattle Opera. The work, commissioned by Seattle Opera in 2015, is written by Seattle-born composer Sheila Silver and librettist Stephen Kitsakos. Based on Khaled Hosseini’s book of the same name, the opera is an epic tale set in Afghanistan from 1974 to 2001. Suns is unforgettably intense, a gripping story brought to life by heart-wrenching music.”

“Metamorphoses”: An Endless Battle for Justice

A review of Metamorphoses at Seattle Repertory Theatre
Written by Teen Writer Elle Vonada

Nike Imoru, Meme García, and Kjerstine Rose Anderson in *Metamorphoses* (2023) at Seattle Rep. Photo by Nate Watters.

“Before one’s eyes, actors morph into polarizing characters written by an ancient Roman author. Seattle Rep’s compelling performance of Metamorphoses brings Ovid’s stories into the 21st century, giving reason to why humanity has chosen to preserve his literature. The production’s impact is enhanced by expert stagecraft, made most powerful because of how the 2,000-year-old fiction remains relevant to modern society. One would expect humanity to have evolved somewhat in the years since then, but this show reveals that the more things change, the more they remain the same.”

Read more arts and culture reviews on the TeenTix blog and stay tuned for more roundups coming soon.

Take a peek at some of their recent features below:

Talking About It Plainly With Debra Ann Byrd

A review of The World’s a Stage: Becoming Othello, A Black Girl’s Journey at Seattle Shakespeare Company
By Kyle Gerstel

“Debra Ann Byrd deserves your attention—don’t worry, she’ll get it. A prolific writer, performer, and artistic director, Byrd is a theatre artist with a wardrobe of many hats and stories to share.”

The Musical Language of Jovino Santos Neto Quinteto

Review of Jovino Santos Neto Quinteto at Town Hall Seattle
By Miriam Gaster

Photo of Jovino Santos Neto Quinteto performing at Town Hall Seattle by Sasha Bailey; Courtesy of TeenTix

“Sitting in the pews of Town Hall Seattle, it felt as if I could physically breathe in the sound of the jazz quintet, Jovino Santos Neto Quinteto. The venue’s dim lighting and warm atmosphere complemented the quintet’s style well, and the open seating encouraged a sense of community within the audience, a vital aspect of the personal nature of the quintet’s music. The pieces Jovino Santos Neto Quinteto composes and performs are their own language; combining jazz and traditional Brazilian music, each instrument is simultaneously percussion and melody. By the end of the set, the audience felt comfortable in the space the quintet created, creating a distinctive musical atmosphere and reminding us of the joys of human connection.”

The Delicate Magic of “Into the Woods”

Review of Into The Woods at The 5th Avenue Theater
By Kyle Gerstel

Shanelle Nicole Leonard, Shaunyce Omar, Trina Mills, and Sarah Russell in Into the Woods at The 5th Avenue Theatre. Photo Credit: Tracy Martin; Photo courtesy of TeenTix

“Into the Woods is one of the most popular and critically acclaimed musicals of all time, and for good reason: Stephen Sondheim’s intricate lyricism and James Lapine’s witty book tickle audiences of all ages and appeal to both the heart and head. The 5th Avenue Theatre’s rendition of the show allows audiences to appreciate the text’s ingenuity, but some of the magic is unfortunately lost.”

People Have the Patti

Review of Patti Smith presented by Seattle Arts and Lectures
By Elle Vonada

Headshot of Patti Smith by Steven Sebring; Courtesy of TeenTix

“Patti Lee Smith is recognized as a legend in the music community. She made her musical debut in the mid-1970s in New York City with her first album Horses. Smith’s first major recognition came when she was featured on the cover of Rolling Stone. She came to Town Hall Seattle on December 2 as part of her book tour for A Book of Days, which came out on November 15. She gave a captivating performance as she alternated between different media. In her presentation, she told entertaining anecdotes alongside a slideshow, answered prepared questions from notecards, and performed a few songs with her guitarist. Smith’s innate sense of humor just added to the evening’s entertainment.”

The Tang of Lemon and Weight of Cinder Blocks

Review of Thank You For Coming: Space at On the Boards
By Daphne Bunker

Photo by © 2023 Bruce Clayton Tom.; Courtesy of TeenTix

“Before the show begins, sitting in the audience of Thank You For Coming: Space is like being surrounded by an immersive “I Spy” game. The stage is a white rectangle, with two rows of audience chairs around the perimeter, a raised set of tables on one end, and an opening in the seats on the other. Ropes crisscross in the air, tied to chair legs and slung high above on overhead bars. There’s a lemon suspended in the air, microphones, a bundle of leaves, and a bell too, all hanging over people’s heads as theatergoers trickle in from the lobby. A block of clay sits on a corner, and a pair of Doc Martens with wires duct taped to them lie resting on the floor.”

Read more arts and culture reviews on the TeenTix blog and stay tuned for more roundups coming soon!

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TeenTix Arts News Roundup: May Edition