Out and About: Meet ‘God,’ return to ‘Pemberley,’ or hear new music

‘God’ stops in Olympia

OK, OK, the “God” coming to town is not, so far as The Olympian knows, an actual supreme being but rather Canadian comedian Mike Delamont of “God Is a Scottish Drag Queen” fame. A hit in Olympia in 2018 and 2019, Delamont’s sharply dressed and pointedly witty deity returns on Friday, Dec. 3, with a nostalgic Christmas special that takes on Stars Wars, Tiny Tim and, of course, religion. The show is at 7:30 p.m. at The Washington Center for the Performing Arts, 512 Washington St. SE. Tickets, available online or by calling the box office at 360-753-8586, are $19-$42. The center requires proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test for those 12 and older.

Upstairs, downstairs

The servants share the spotlight in Olympia Little Theatre’s “The Wickhams: Christmas at Pemberley,” a holiday tale in the vein of Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice.” With characters including a no-nonsense housekeeper and a lovesick footman, Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon’s 2019 romantic comedy also echoes “Downton Abbey.” The play, opening Friday, Dec. 3, is a follow-up to Gunderson and Melcon’s “Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley,” which OLT produced in 2019. Kathryn Dorgan, who helmed “Miss Bennet,” is back in the director’s chair. Performances are at 7:25 p.m. Dec. 3, 4, 10, 11, 17 and 18 and 1:55 p.m. Dec. 5, 12 and 19 at the theater, 1925 Miller Ave. NE, Olympia. Tickets are $9-$15. Find out more at http://olympialittletheater.org, or call 360-786-9484. The theater requires proof of vaccination.

‘Pillars’ of percussion

Western Washington audiences will be the first to hear a live performance of Andy Akiho’s “Seven Pillars,” which has just been nominated for two Grammy Awards. The Brooklyn, New York-based ensemble Sandbox Percussion will play the 85-minute work — which aims to change how audiences think about percussion — on Friday, Dec. 3, in Seattle and Saturday, Dec. 4, in Olympia. Akiho also will be on hand for the concerts, presented by the chamber series Emerald City Music. The Olympia concerts, at 5 and 7:30 p.m., will be held in the Black Box Theater at The Washington Center for the Performing Arts, 512 Washington St. SE. Tickets are $10-$55. The center requires proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test for those 12 and older. Another musical innovator performing in Olympia this week is ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro, playing at 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 9, at the Capitol Theater, 206 Fifth Ave. SE, Olympia. Tickets are $35-$40. The Capitol Theater requires proof of vaccination.

Freelance writer Molly Gilmore talks about what’s happening in Olympia and beyond with 95.3 KGY-FM’s Michael Stein from 3 to 4 p.m. Fridays.