March 31, 2015

Moisture Festival First: Slack-Rope Walker Esther de Monteflores

Moisture Festival bring you slack rope for the first time at Hale's Palladium.  Esther de Monteflores is a contemporary circus artist, specializing in slack-rope walking. There are very few artists performing this skill, so don't miss your chance to see it! Esther has years of training in aerial arts, contortion, wire-walking, and handbalancing. She has performed with various troupes including New Old Time Chautauqua, Capistrano Circus, and Wise Fool New Mexico.  She was commissioned to choreograph and perform an acrobatic duet on stilts with a local musician for SANCA's ten year anniversary festival. Esther is a powerhouse of new circus arts, so make sure you attend one of these astounding performances!

March 23, 2015

A Special Moisture Festival Menu

The Moisture Festival is a community event, surviving and thriving on the generous support of both individual donors and company sponsors. We are so thankful to everyone who gives what they can to keep the Moisture magic alive!

Roxy's and The Backdoor have supported us for the past eight years, providing our performers and volunteers with delicious meals on show days. For the 2015 festival season, The Backdoor at Roxy's has created a special Moisture Festival menu. Every Sunday through Thursday from now through April 19, you can feast on a three course meal created by the chefs at The Backdoor and know that not only will you be satiated and satisfied, but you'll be supporting the world's largest and longest running comedy and variete festival!


March 21, 2015

A Peek Into Opening Night!

The twelfth year of the Moisture Festival kicked off on Thursday night, and we're sailing through the first weekend. We have so many amazing acts on stage, so many wonderful volunteers, and tons of smiling faces in the audience! There are three more weeks of exciting shows, and an immeasurable amount of talent yet to experience. Don't miss out on the fun! Buy your tickets today!

As a special treat and a glimpse into opening night, we have a great video put together by Ambodha, a friend of the festival. Check it out!

March 12, 2015

American Sign Language Interpreted Shows

Moisture Festival is once again happy to be partnering with Deaf Spotlight and Theaters, Allies, and Deaf Audiences (TADA) to offer American Sign Language interpreted shows.  Many thanks to Deaf Spotlight and TADA for making ASL interpreted shows possible!


The following shows will be ASL interpreted

Variete at Hale's Palladium:
April 5, 3:00pm 

Burlesque shows at Broadway Performance Hall:
March 27, 7:30pm
April 4, 10:30pm

We highly encourage you to purchase your tickets in advance since shows do sell out.


At these shows we will have a reserved section for our deaf patrons and their parties.  When you arrive at the theater for the show, let the Box Office manager know your party should be seated in the ASL section.  Our House Manager will show you to your seats.

We hope you can join us!

March 10, 2015

Award-Winning Prop Comics

The Moisture Festival brings the best in variete and comedy to Seattle every spring, so it's really no surprise that many of our artists have a collection of awards and records. This year, you have the ability to see not just one but TWO performers who have been awarded Seattle's Best Prop Comedian. They both hold Guinness World Records, too! Who said being funny doesn't get you places?!

Alex Zerbe photo by Michelle Bates
 
Alex Zerbe is back this year, full of hilarious antics and boundless energy. From juggling to dancing to magic and singing, you never know quite what The Zaniac will do next! Alex has performed in seventeen different countries, bringing laughter as his co-pilot. On top of his two Guinness World Records and Seattle's Best Prop Comic, Alex has also been honored as Hacky Sack World Champion and Seattle's 3rd Best Air Guitarist. He really sees the audience as part of the show, so if you're lucky, you just might get to be a part of his act! You may have seen him on "America's Got Talent" or "Last Comic Standing", but seeing him up close and personal on stage at the Palladium will be a real treat. Get ready to laugh, and bring the whole family to one of these shows!



Matt Baker photo by Mike Gardiner
Matt Baker was also once awarded Seattle's Best Prop Comedian. His comedy stunt show has been to various countries, on cruise ships, and a number of festivals. You may have seen him on "America's Got Talent", "Last Comic Standing", and "Tosh.0". If you're a world traveler, you may have also seen him on a live television show in Shanghai! Matt first started touring the world at the age of 17 with the first-ever international hacky sack team, and from there developed his repertoire through street performance. Matt holds five Guinness World Records, including one for Most Complete Changeovers Juggling Three Objects in One Minute. This is known as "leaping", and Matt, along with Joe Ricci, performed this feat on New Year's Day in Japan. To see what stunts Matt brings to the Moisture stage this year, make sure to get your tickets to one of these shows!

March 9, 2015

More Great Variety to Choose From!

The Moisture Festival is a variety show, so you never know exactly what you'll see each night. We like to invite all kinds of artists and performers to entertain and exhilarate you, so you know that no matter which show you get tickets for, you'll have an amazing time! Here are a couple of acts to have on your radar this festival season.

Circus Luminescence
Get ready for a psychedelic circus
experience, courtesy of Circus Luminescence! This collaborative group uses glowing and black-light props to bring light and wonder to the stage through the circus arts, and we are deLIGHTed to have them perform at the festival this year. Produced by Eli March and based out of Portland, this group has performed at various fairs and festivals including Oregon Country Fair, Pacific Fire Gathering, Black Sheep Family Reunion and Burning Man. Showtimes are posted, so get your tickets for this innovative circus adventure!

The Incredible Incredible
The Incredible Incredible is a project between Matthew "Poki" McCorkle and Justin Therrien. They've created a full length story, 'Palindrome', featuring various physical comedy such as string manipulation, shoe poi, and finger tricks. Matthew has traveled to various places with his solo shows (including the Moisture stage!), is a co-founder of the physical comedy duo Button Wagon, and an owner/resident at the Lookout Arts Quarry in Bellingham. He is also a member of Clowns Without Borders. Justin is the world record holder for Longest string passed through nose and mouth in one minute. You'll definitely want to see what this dynamic duo does to bring this full-sized performance to a variety show-sized time slot! Check here for showtimes.

March 5, 2015

Keeping History Alive: Lecture on the Revival of Glasgow's Panopticon

Throughout history, people have been gathering together for entertainment of all kinds, creating community around various art forms. The Romans had the Colosseum, the Greeks had their outdoor theaters...  and once the Industrial Revolution led to the creation of the modern city, entertainment was still a focus of the people.

Britannia Music Hall circa 1880's
One of the premier spots for those in Glasgow to be entertained in the late 1800's was the Britannia Music Hall, later to be known as the Britannia Panopticon. This building housed many acts over its long history. In fact, it was this very stage where Stan Laurel of Laurel and Hardy first performed professionally at the age of 16. The building itself has gone through a dearth of changes since it first opened in the late 1850's, and still stands today. In 1997, the Britannia Panopticon Music Hall Trust was founded by Judith Bowers to protect and restore this building that held so many magical memories for the people of Glasgow and beyond.

Recent look inside the Britannia Panopticon photo by David Walker


We are so very excited to announce that Judith Bowers, will be in Seattle this Moisture Festival season to present a workshop on the history of the Britannia Panopticon! Judith's book, Glasgow's Lost Theatre: The Story of The Britannia Music Hall was published in September 2014, and provides a detailed, insightful history into this glorious venue. From high kicking dancers and bawdy comics to cinema, Judith's talk takes the listener on a journey through time to the days when the audience really did leave no turn un-stoned.

This will be a FREE event at Hale's Palladium, Monday April 6 at 7:30 PM. No need to buy tickets, just show up to learn the interesting history and hopeful future of this glorious building!

March 4, 2015

The Doctor Is In: Patch Adams Workshop "Living a Life of Joy"

This year, we are excited to bring back Dr. Patch Adams to present the workshop "Living a Life of Joy". He isn't just an amazingly vivid and fun character played by Robin Williams in the movie "Patch Adams", he is a real-life doctor and activist working towards peace, social justice, and care for all people.

Dr. Patch Adams
Patch became very interested in whole systems thinking, and imagined the creation of a very different type of hospital that would change the way healthcare was delivered to those who needed it. He spent many years working on these ideas and with the help of friends, created the Gesundheit! Institute, a free hospital ran out of their communal home. Over the years, they saw thousands of patients, but eventually realized that funding for a new facility would be necessary to fulfill their dreams. Patch became busy as a speaker, giving presentations and performances all over the world. He believes that laughter, joy, and creativity are integral to the healing process.

We are very excited that Patch has some time in his busy schedule of spreading joy all over the world to present a workshop this festival season! Living A Life of Joy is a lecture/workshop using an hour of exercises, an hour of ideas on being happy and the remainder to explore the audacious idea of never having another bad day. Patch discusses how to discover the incredible thrill of choosing to live everyday with joy. The focus of this lecture/workshop is life as a choice.

This 4 hour event will be held at Fred Wildlife Refuge on Saturday, April 4 at 12 pm. Get your tickets today!

March 3, 2015

Cascade Leadership Challenge Benefit Show March 29 at Broadway Performance Hall

The Moisture Festival is dedicated to giving back to the community that gives so much to us! Each year, we choose some shows in which a portion of ticket sales are donated directly to a community 501(c)3 organization.

We are excited to announce the that matinee variete show on Sunday, March 29 at Broadway Performance Hall will be a benefit show for the Cascade Leadership Challenge!

Cascade Leadership Challenge Backpacking Trip

Cascade Leadership Challenge maintains that being out in the world is the only way to find your place in it. They have created an innovative and exciting program for Seattle area teenagers that combines leadership and life skills training with real world experiences, including whitewater guiding, rock climbing, sea kayaking and mountaineering. The 2015 teen expeditions will include summit attempts of Mt. Rainier and Mt. Baker, sea kayaking in the San Juan Islands, whitewater rafting in Oregon and a service expedition to Nepal, to include a climb of Nepal's 20,305 foot Imja Tse and a visit to the Tibetan Mt. Everest Advanced Base Camp. CLC is open to youth ages 14-20 and the adults who can keep up with them.

Cascade Leadership Challenge Rafting Trip
The CLC program emphasizes full immersion, gender, class, and race equity, risk management, personal accountability, and serious fun. Through adventure travel, Seattle youth have the chance to learn both outdoor skills and leadership. The funds raised from this benefit show will be directly used to support program costs. This includes purchasing and maintaining all rafts, ropes, and other adventure travel gear.

You can help them with their mission while enjoying an exhilarating Moisture Festival variete show! Acts are being confirmed as we speak, so check here to see who will be performing!

March 2, 2015

Benefit Show for Fremonstor Theatrical March 25 at Hale's Palladium

The Moisture Festival is dedicated to giving back to the community that gives so much to us! Each year, we choose some shows in which a portion of ticket sales are donated directly to a community 501(c)3 organization.

Trolloween 2014 photo by John Cornicello
Wednesday, March 25 at 7:30 pm will be a benefit show for Fremonstor Theatrical. Their mission is to support artists and performers incubating and producing art/performance events. In fact, the Moisture Festival was once one of those fledgling events, and Fremonstor Theatrical helped us spread our wings and fly into the fabulous extravaganza we are today!

Trolloween 2013 photo by John Cornicello

Fremonstor has also been producing Trolloween for the last 24 years. This year, to celebrate 25 years, they are planning an even more spectacular event on the birthday of the Fremont Troll (Oct 31st at 7pm sharp).  Funds generated by this Moisture Festival event will be matched by the Fremont Arts Council and will fund honorariums to artists and staff and pay for new special effects for Trolloween’s 25th year. In honor of this special celebration, we encourage you to dress up as if it were Halloween in Fremont!