Submitted by Washington Center for the Performing Arts
The Washington Center is excited to bring a variety of performances to Olympia this October. From Mariachi music to comedy to political satire there’s something for everyone in October.
October 2 – 6pm-7pm Assistive Listening Open House. The Washington Center for the Performing Arts is proud to introduce our newly upgraded Assistive Listening system, designed to make performances more accessible for patrons with hearing loss or those who benefit from enhanced audio. Powered by Auracast™ Bluetooth LE Audio technology, the system delivers crystal-clear sound directly to compatible hearing aids, earbuds, or external receivers, with loaner devices available for those without the integrated technology. To help our community feel confident and supported in using this system, we invite you to a free Assistive Listening Open House, featuring onstage demonstrations every 20 minutes. Guests can drop in, connect their devices, try out our receivers, and learn firsthand how simple and empowering this new technology is—ensuring everyone feels comfortable before “show time.”
October 3-4 Arts Walk at the Center
- Oct 3 – 5-7 p.m. Artist Reception for the Center Gallery Exhibit “Places and Spaces”. In this curated exhibit featuring 17 different artists, united across mediums, for the shared concepts in their art. Be it realistic, surrealistic, futuristic or fantastical, they ask us to look at the world through a new set of eyes, theirs.
- Oct 4 – 1-2:15 p.m. Artistic Partner Season Spotlights. The Washington Center for the Performing Arts is proud to be home to more than a dozen community Artistic Partners who bring our stage to life. Don’t miss this unique chance to hear directly from Ballet Northwest, Debbi’s Dance, Johansen Olympia Dance Center, Masterworks Choral Ensemble, Olympia Symphony Orchestra, Student Orchestras of Greater Olympia (SOGO), and Studio West Dance Academy as they share highlights from their upcoming seasons. Enjoy a mix of live performances, fun door prizes, and exciting giveaways during this vibrant celebration of the local arts scene. Plus, meet the staff behind each organization — our own local celebrities — and snap a photo at our popular photo booth!
- Oct 4 – 5-5:30 p.m. Montana Miller: The Making of a Native Storytelling Tour and Documentary. The Washington Center for the Performing Arts, in partnership with Indigenous Performance Productions, will premiere “Stories from the Warrior Society” on January 24, 2026. This live storytelling event explores warrior societies within Tribal communities through the voices of Indigenous veterans and active-duty military members.
As part of Fall Arts Walk, join us for a special 30-minute preview event. Hear about the creation of this powerful documentary project and experience stories firsthand from Montana Miller, an Infantry Airborne Army veteran, actor, writer, director, and co-director of the project.
October 9 at 7:30 p.m. The Capitol Fools! The Capitol Fools hold up a mirror to our crazy political culture, providing hilarious song parodies and foolish reflections that inspire belly-laughter as both sides of the aisle get skewered. Cast members from past seasons of the Capitol Steps perform all the beloved bits, the mind-boggling backward talking spoonerisms, break-neck costume changes, over-the-top impressions, and song parodies reflecting the day’s news.
October 15 at 7:30 p.m. Mariachi Herencia De México! The historic tradition of mariachi music has its roots of origin in cities such as Guadalajara and México City. As the ever-evolving genre’s influence spread, it reached Chicago and birthed Mariachi Herencia de México. The two-time Latin GRAMMY®-nominated band has issued five chart-topping albums and has performed all across the North American continent paving the way for a new generation of mariachi musicians. The young, virtuosic band is composed of 14 musicians, ages 18-32, representing a new bicultural generation in the U.S.
October 17 at 7:30 p.m. “God is a Scottish Drag Queen: Halloween Spooktacular!” The beloved deity in a floral power suit returns with a spook-tacular twist! God descends from the heavens (or perhaps a haunted attic?) to hilariously roast everything from pumpkin spice lattes to demonic possession in a laugh-out-loud night of comedy. Expect divine commentary on the bizarre traditions of Halloween, terrifying costume choices, and the true horror of candy corn. A seasonal special packed with sass, satire, and supernatural wit—because nothing is scarier than eternal damnation…except maybe Spirit Halloween.
October 23 at 7 p.m. Adventure Series: Exploring Nature’s Hidden Worlds! Step into a world of wonder with biologist-turned-photographer Anand Varma as he unlocks the mysteries of nature through cutting-edge photography techniques. Anand captures the invisible behaviors of the natural world, beyond our naked eye. From the life cycle of a honeybee to the lightning-fast hummingbird, his images and videos reveal the hidden worlds that exist just beyond our perception.
October 30 at 7:30 p.m. Serial Killers and Dr. Scott Bonn! In this thrilling show, Dr. Bonn reveals the insatiable, psychological hungers that drive the likes of Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer to kill repeatedly with impunity and no remorse. He explains why the majority of serial killers are either psychopaths or sociopaths, how the two differ, and he reveals that every serial killer is compelled to murder by a unique fantasy need. He also explains how/why serial killers are able to successfully avoid apprehension, blend into a crowd and become invisible. Dr. Bonn explains our curious fascination with serial killers and true crime. Finally, you can ask anything you ever wanted to know about serial killers in a dynamic, live Q&A session with Dr. Bonn. Don’t miss out on this exciting event.
*Due to the nature of the topic and material, this show might not be appropriate for children. We recommend adults only.
To purchase tickets, visit the Washington Center for the Performing Arts website.
In the Gallery
Places and Spaces – Looking at the World through Diverse Artistic Perspectives.
Showing: September 11 – November 2, 2025
In this curated exhibit, artists, across mediums, are united for the shared concepts in their art. Be it realistic, surrealistic, futuristic or fantastical, they ask us to look at the world through a new set of eyes, theirs.Our three-floor gallery is open to the public for viewing by appointment (Monday through Friday from 12PM to 4PM), or to ticketed patrons 1 hour prior to an event. To schedule an appointment, or to fill out a gallery application please contact us here.
Season Subscriptions (5 or more shows) are now on sale! Subscribers get the best deal on their tickets as well as getting pre-sale access to future events, and an invitation to our annual season preview event!
A full list of 25-26 season events is available here.
Subscription Details can be found here.
The Washington Center offers military, low-income family (LIFT), and student rush discounts. More information can be found here.
Box Office Information
- Box Office hours are Tuesday through Friday 12:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
- For ticketing questions or more information about upcoming events please visit the Washington Center for the Performing Arts website or call the Box Office at 360.753.8586.
- Details on current COVID protocols can be found here.
Read about more upcoming shows at the Washington Center for Performing Arts here.
Read more Thurston County news here.
