The Top Things to Do This Weekend: June 2–5

DANCE

June 3–12American Stories^[1]Ballet isn’t the most American art form, but Pacific Northwest Ballet’s American Stories proves there’s plenty of inspiration to be mined from the United States. Square Dance serves as George Balanchine’s tribute to American folk dancing. Fancy Free by Jerome Robbins finds sailors on shore leave in 1940s New York battling (via dance, of course) to woo women out on the town. Twyla Tharp celebrates the country’s railway traditions (and the jazz of Allen Toussaint) with the PNB favorite Waiting at the Station. McCaw Hall, $30–$187

June 2–10Cherdonna Shinatra: Clock That Mug or DustedWhen Jody Kuehner throws on a wig, slips into a lavishly colorful outfit, and cakes on her clownish makeup to become the outlandish drag dance diva Cherdonna Shinatra, it’s the closest thing Seattle has to a superhero transformation (sorry, Phoenix Jones). In her new Clock That Mug or Dusted, the latest entry in Velocity Dance’s Made in Seattle series, Shinatra pays homage to feminist performance artists through her signature awkward, spastic, and entirely captivating movements. Velocity Dance Center, $20–$25^[2]

June 3–11OUT-Spoken^[3]Whim W’Him closes out its season with three dances from the dark side. Company favorite Annabelle Lopez Ochoa returns with a piece inspired by Pulp Fiction’s criminal underbelly. Montreal choreographer James Gregg presents a work set to the sounds of the Old West that explores past relationships. Finally, Whim W’Him artistic director Olivier Wevers shares a dance that explores the dark side of young, passionate love. Cornish Playhouse, $25–$30

CLASSICAL & MORE

Thur & Sat, June 2 & 4Shostakovich Symphony No. 4Being a composer can be stressful, but the perils Dmitri Shostakovich faced when composing his Symphony No. 4 exist on a whole different plane of pressure. The Soviet dealt with attacks on his music that (allegedly) came directly from Joseph Stalin through the state newspaper Pravda in 1936. As a result, Shostakovich didn’t premiere the defiant and bold masterpiece until 1961, after the dictator’s death. Seattle Symphony pairs the work with Stravinsky’s Symphony of the Psalms–hailed as one of the best classical pieces of the twentieth century–for a powerhouse evening. Benaroya Hall, $36–$121^[4]

THE SPORTING LIFE

Sat, June 4Copa América: Haiti vs. PeruSeattle’s Copa América Centenario slate kicks off when Haiti and Peru take the pitch at CenturyLink Field. While not a lot is expected out of either squad because their group includes favorites Brazil and Ecuador, there’s still interesting storylines in play for this match. The game marks Haiti’s Copa América debut, and there’s a chance the young Peruvian squad could be a tourney dark horse after finishing third in Copa 2015. CenturyLink Field, $24–$500^[5]

SPECIAL EVENTS

June 3–5Northwest Pinball and Arcade ShowHave you been to an new arcade lately? As arcades have slipped in popularity, many of the new games are just blown up versions of smartphone app games. It’s kind of a bummer. Relive the glory years of arcade culture as the Northwest Pinball and Arcade Show returns to the Tacoma Convention Center. With hundreds of classic gaming cabinets and pinball machines, it’s a true gaming oasis for all-ages. Tacoma Convention Center, $20–$30; Weekend pass $65 ^[6]

Sat, June 4Bad JokesSeattle’s hip-hop, food, and comedy worlds combine in a beautiful mess for Bad Jokes. The event features comedy from local standouts Elicia Sanchez, Wilfred Padua, and Andy Hayes, Filipino bites from Food and Shit (the culinary popup by Geo from Blue Scholars), and tunes spun by DJ duo Bad Rap. Think of it as a tasty and cheap combo platter that’s well worth sampling. Lovecitylove, $5^[7]

THEATER

Thru June 12Motown The Musical^[8]The music of Motown serves as a more essential part of the American identity than even “The Star-Spangled Banner,” so it only makes sense that Broadway would eventually tap the extensive catalog. Motown The Musical follows label founder Berry Gordy and his relationships with stars like Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, and his longtime paramour, Diana Ross. Prepare for an onslaught of music, as the jukebox musical crams in more the 50 Motown hits from the label. (Don’t worry, many are mere snippets; this isn’t an endurance test). While the narrative of Motown The Musical leaves a lot to be desired, it makes for a decent concert. Paramount Theatre, $20–$120

Thru June 26The Brothers KFrom a distance, David James Duncan’s American epic The Brothers K reads like a checklist of mid-twentieth century touchstones: small-town life, professional baseball, politics, spirituality, and (of course) family. But there’s authentic depth to the story of ex-MLB pitcher Papa Chance and his Camas, Washington, clan of draft protestors, soldiers, and shanghaied spiritualists. The Chance family’s drama sees the stage as Book-It Rep adapts the novel into two full-length productions with performances spread across two months. The Center Theatre, $45–$55^[9]

CONCERTS

Thur, June 2Chastity Belt, Posse, and Mommy Long LegsAfter returning from another European last week, Chastity Belt gets back in front of a hometown audience. The band has recently been testing out new material at its live shows, so fans of mid-tempo slow burns can get a preview of Time to Go Home’s sequel before the band returns to the studio. This night at the Nectar features a stacked local lineup that includes the rarely gigging (but excellent) Posse, the deliciously cartoonish ferocity of Mommy Long Legs, Hoop’s light indie pop. Nectar Lounge, $13^[10]

Fri, June 3Iska Dhaaf: The Wanting Creature Release ShowComing off a blister set at Sasquatch! Festival last weekend, Seattle/Brooklyn indie rock act Iska Dhaaf shows off its new album The Wanting Creature, a followup to Even the Sun Will Burn, a Seattle Met Album of the Month. While the core duo of Nathan Quiroga and Benjamin Verdoes remains in tact, the live band has expanded to a four piece, allowing the band to fully convey the electronic flairs and the swirling darkness at the core of the new record. Warning: If you stand up front, Quiroga might hop down to your level to howl a song or two. Champagne Champagne and Wampire help round out the evening’s album release festivities at the Croc. The Crocodile, $10^[11]

Sat & Sun, June 4 & 5Bob DylanLike a rolling stone, Bob Dylan just keeps on moving. The 74-year-old folk rock icon kicks off a 27-date summer with two nights of concerts at Chateau Ste. Michelle. The sublime Mavis Staples opens the shows. The tour supports his 37th studio album Fallen Angels, another collection of old standards, following in the footsteps of his last release—2015’s Shadows of the Night—which consisted of Frank Sinatra covers. Cheateau Ste. Michelle, Sold Out^[12]

Sun, June 5KEXP Hood-to-Hood 2016KEXP heads to West Seattle (its defending neighborhood fundraising champ) to broadcast its annual Hood-to-Hood celebration. The day’s festivities feature free live performances by Toronto genre blurring indie/punk band Greys and local standouts Porter Ray and Acapulco Lips. Grab some grub and a drink to make it an early summer block party. Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, Free^[13]

References

1. ^{^} American Stories (feedproxy.google.com)
2. ^{^} Cherdonna Shinatra: Clock That Mug or Dusted (feedproxy.google.com)
3. ^{^} OUT-Spoken (feedproxy.google.com)
4. ^{^} Shostakovich Symphony No. 4 (feedproxy.google.com)
5. ^{^} Copa América: Haiti vs. Peru (feedproxy.google.com)
6. ^{^} Northwest Pinball and Arcade Show (feedproxy.google.com)
7. ^{^} Bad Jokes (feedproxy.google.com)
8. ^{^} Motown The Musical (feedproxy.google.com)
9. ^{^} The Brothers K (feedproxy.google.com)
10. ^{^} Chastity Belt, Posse, and Mommy Long Legs (feedproxy.google.com)
11. ^{^} Iska Dhaaf: The Wanting Creature Release Show (feedproxy.google.com)
12. ^{^} Bob Dylan (feedproxy.google.com)
13. ^{^} KEXP Hood-to-Hood 2016 (feedproxy.google.com)