Tuesday, Aug. 7 – Wednesday, Aug. 8
This Is My Dinner: The Perform-ART Dramedy Musical
This original satirical musical sounds like a total wild card that I am totally into. Presented by Who Dat Cindy—local comedy vets Samantha Demboski and Gary Stensland—the show features 12 original songs and stars “two self-proclaimed geniuses who believe themselves to be burgeoning gods of performance art.” Also plays Aug. 14–15. —Gemma Wilson
12th Avenue Arts
Friday, Aug. 10
Lusio
Props to Mollie Bryan for escalating each successive Lusio festival with more light art, more music, more vibes. In its third year, this family friendly (yet subtly psychedelic) nocturnal fete seeds 30 illuminated installations around Volunteer Park for your meandering discovery. This year Lush Sounds, the DJ-dance party offshoot, happens simultaneously at the Conservatory. —Jonathan Zwickel
Volunteer Park
Friday, Aug. 10 – Saturday, Aug. 11
Festival:Festival
Flying quietly under the summertime-events radar, this free, two-day, two-venue art and music blowout features work by some of Seattle’s most talented, intelligent and outspoken artists and City Arts faves like Goodsteph, Guayaba, Christopher Paul Jordan, David Rue and Randy Ford, LushLoss and many more. —Jonathan Zwickel
Northwest Film Forum, LoveCityLove
Saturday, Aug. 11
SPF30: Sub Pop’s 30th-Anniversary Party
Sub Pop celebrates its Dirty 30 by commandeering Alki Beach and presenting a free festival with the kind of lineup you’d normally deplete your wallet for: Mudhoney, Shabazz Palaces, Kyle Craft, Fastbacks and more. Food, booze and records will also be on sale. Bring sunscreen and earplugs. —Tony Kay
Alki Beach
Saturday, Aug. 11
The Eight Diagram Pole Fighter
The Grand Illusion’s programmers know how to treat genre fans right, so it’s no surprise that they’re unspooling this oft-overlooked but great 1983 Shaw Brothers martial arts flick. Hollywood Theatre programmer Dan Halstad’s also got a secret second movie on the schedule, too. —Tony Kay
Grand Illusion Cinema
Saturday, Aug. 11
Black Happy
I understand if the thought of an early-’90s, eight-piece Christian rock/funk/metal/ska band out of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, doesn’t have you jumping off the couch, but you really should rethink your prejudices. Reuniting to support the reissue of their two long-players, Black Happy is a live monster, generating some of the most boisterous parties the area has ever seen. —Dan Paulus
Showbox
Saturday, Aug. 11 – Sunday, Aug. 12
Porgy and Bess
This beloved Gershwin/Heyward piece is one of the greatest opera gateway drugs of all time thanks to songs like “Summertime” and “I Loves You, Porgy.” The production at Seattle Opera will be gorgeous, and I highly recommend reading this interview with social impact consultant ChrisTiana ObeySumner beforehand for some fascinating and important context. Runs through Aug. 25. —Gemma Wilson
McCaw Hall
