The Top Things to Do This Weekend: April 7–10

VISUAL ART

Apr 9–July 17Edvard Munch and the SeaThere’s more to Edvard Munch than just The Scream. The Norwegian master of psychological painting frequently turned to the aquatic majesty of his homeland’s fjords and coasts to serve as a motif in his works. Edvard Munch and the Sea at Tacoma Art Museum collects some of the artist’s finest works that simultaneously display the soft, quiet soul and darker undercurrent of the Scandinavian psyche. Tacoma Art Museum, $14^[1]

Apr 9–Oct 9Mood IndigoWith a rainbow of possibilities, we rarely dwell on the impact of a single color. Drawing largely from Seattle Art Museum’s collection, Mood Indigo: Textiles from Around the World at Asian Art Museum presents the many feelings the color blue can evoke when dyed on cloth. Ancient Egyptian fragments, Japanese kimonos, Belgian tapestries, Chinese robes, and contemporary multimedia works coalesce to both celebrate and investigate the power of color. Asian Art Museum, $9^[2]

THE SPORTING LIFE

Fri, Apr 8Seattle Mariners Home Opener vs. Oakland Athletics^[3]Hope springs eternal as the Mariners kick off their 2016 home slate against the A’s. The team may have the longest playoff drought in Major League Baseball, but they’re hoping to change their fortunes as breakout candidate Taijuan Walker takes the mound. Under the direction of new general manager Jerry Dipoto, the Mariners’ roster has been drastically overhauled, so don’t be alarmed if there aren’t many familiar faces in the home colors. Safeco Field, $23–$600; Televised on Root Sports

FILM

Apr 9–May 11Seijun Suzuki Retrospective^[4]Japanese director Seijun Suzuki experimented so wildly while churning out rule-breaking studio B action movives in the ’60s that he eventually got fired and blacklisted. During his 10-year exile, cinephiles began to champion Suzuki’s visionary style (which eventually influenced directors like Quentin Tarantino) , and his eventual return as an award-winning independent film-maker further built a legacy. Northwest Film Forum and Grand Illusion team up to present a national tour of 11 of Suzuki’s finest and rarely screen works, including Carmen from Kawachi. Northwest Film Forum and Grand Illusion Cinema, $9–$11; Series pass $80

SPECIAL EVENTS

Apr 7–10Emerald City ComiconAs nerd culture has become pop culture over the past decade, Emerald City Comicon continues to grow ever bigger. Between the inaugural Western Championships of Cosplay, appearances by TV and film stars like Nathan Fillion, Supergirl’s Melissa Benoist, The Walking Dead’s Norman Reedus, and Goonie and Hobbit Sean Astin, not to mention panels and signings by comic book artists and writers galore, there’s something to tickle any nerd’s fancy. Washington State Convention Center, Sold out^[5]

Sat, Apr 9Celebrating the Life of Ernestine Anderson^[6]Seattle lost a vital voice of the city’s jazz history when singer Ernestine Anderson died last month at the age of 87. Anderson’s career spanned six decades as she traveled the world singing both on her own and alongside legends like B.B. King and Johnny Otis, becoming a favorite of luminaries like her peer Quincy Jones in the process. To honor her legacy, Seattle Theatre Group hosts a free public celebration at the Paramount Theater that will feature remembrances and performances by the Garfield High School Jazz Band and special guests. Paramount Theatre, Free with RSVP

Sun, Apr 10Heroes of the Dorm^[7]NCAA March Madness might have ended in spectacular fashion, but that’s not the end of clutch plays in collegiate competitors this week thanks to Blizzard’s Heroes of the Dorm e-sports tournament. In a seeded NCAA-style bracket just like their basketball counterparts, 64 college teams spent March playing the multiplayer online battle arena game Heroes of the Storm. On April 10, the two remaining teams duke it out for the grand prize of free tuition. Both the semifinals and main event will be broadcast live from CenturyLink Event Center on ESPNU and ESPN2, respectively. CenturyLink Field Event Center, Free with RSVP (Televised on ESPN2 and ESPNU)

CONCERTS

Fri, Apr 8Jonathan Coulton^[8]Few singer-songwriters embody the adage “write what you know” like Jonathan Coulton. The former computer programmer gained online acclaim for his geeky and humorous tunes about coding monotony, Ikea furniture, workplace frustrations (expressed via zombies), and bloodthirsty robots. (Okay, that last one might not come from firsthand knowledge, but Coulton’s musical themes for Portal video games rule). The troubadour heads to the Triple Door with nerd comedy music duo Paul and Storm. The Triple Door, $28–$34

Sun, Apr 10Miike SnowSwedish indie pop outfit Miike Snow knows how to get down. Led my the infectious single “Genghis Khan,” the group’s new album iii lays down a seemingly unending array of danceable grooves. Don’t miss the party as the band plays its first Seattle show in years with opening support from electronic soul duo/couple Kaneholler (fronted by Steven Tyler’s daughter, Chelsea). The Showbox, $30–$32^[9]

CLASSICAL & MORE

Fri, Apr 8Seth MacFarlane with the Seattle Symphony^[10]Nothing is sacred in the animated worlds of Seth MacFarlane (Family Guy, Ted). But there is one thing he takes very seriously: traditional big band pop in the Sinatra mold. In addition to sprinkling musical num – bers throughout his shows, he’s gained some acclaim as a recording artist. He joins Seattle Symphony for a night of songs from last year’s Grammy-nominated album No One Ever Tells You. Benaroya Hall, $35–$105

Fri, Apr 8Star Trek: The Ultimate Voyage^[11]Captain’s log, stardate 42016.8. We’ve set a course for the Paramount Theatre where we expect to encounter nonhostile natives playing orchestrated music for ceremonial ritual called Star Trek: The Ultimate Voyage. Our logs indicate the music is from some sort of interstellar entertainment program of note. We hope to boldly listen to what no man has heard before. Paramount Theatre, $56–$81

DANCE

Apr 8–10Shen Yun^[12]In a mere decade since its formation, Shen Yun has become a world-renowned beacon of classic Chinese dance, folk music, and dazzling ceremonial costumes. The New York-based company returns to McCaw Hall with a new show for 2016 that focuses on the ancient mythology of dragons and heavenly-guided emperors. McCaw Hall, $60–$180

THEATER

Thru Apr 24Brownsville Song (B-Side for Tray)^[13]The scourge of inner city gun violence comes into personal focus in the new play Brownsville Song (B-Side for Tray). The show opens after the tragic death of its titular teen protagonist Tray, as his grandmother Lena explains that he was not just another hopeless case that got sucked into the system. The show then backtracks to show the loving bond between Lena and Tray, and highlights his zealous spirit as a boxer and a successful student in order to make the character a tragic human and not merely another detached statistic. Seattle Repertory Theatre, $40–$57

References

1. ^{^} Edvard Munch and the Sea (feedproxy.google.com)
2. ^{^} Mood Indigo (feedproxy.google.com)
3. ^{^} Seattle Mariners Home Opener vs. Oakland Athletics (feedproxy.google.com)
4. ^{^} Seijun Suzuki Retrospective (feedproxy.google.com)
5. ^{^} Emerald City Comicon (feedproxy.google.com)
6. ^{^} Celebrating the Life of Ernestine Anderson (feedproxy.google.com)
7. ^{^} Heroes of the Dorm (feedproxy.google.com)
8. ^{^} Jonathan Coulton (feedproxy.google.com)
9. ^{^} Miike Snow (feedproxy.google.com)
10. ^{^} Seth MacFarlane with the Seattle Symphony (feedproxy.google.com)
11. ^{^} Star Trek: The Ultimate Voyage (feedproxy.google.com)
12. ^{^} Shen Yun (feedproxy.google.com)
13. ^{^} Brownsville Song (B-Side for Tray) (feedproxy.google.com)