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A Timeless Legacy: Alan Mingo Jr. on Bringing ‘The Wiz’ to a New Generation

Through Sunday, February 15, a special 50th-anniversary production of “The Wiz” is taking over the Paramount Theatre, featuring veteran performer Alan Mingo Jr. in the titular role. On a recent “The Day With Trae” special, Mingo sat down with host Trae Holiday to discuss how taking the stage as the Wiz is the culmination of a lifelong journey of artistic inspiration that he hopes to pass down to the next generation of performers.

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Arts & Culture, Events Mead Gill Arts & Culture, Events Mead Gill

Easing on Down the Road: ‘The Wiz’ Electrifies Seattle’s Paramount Theatre on Opening Night

The Emerald City shined bright last night when the national tour of “The Wiz” made its long-awaited landing at Seattle’s Paramount Theatre. This isn’t your grandmother’s trip to Oz; it’s a 21st-century reimagining that keeps its soul firmly rooted in the 1975 original while injecting a fresh, modern energy that had the opening night crowd on its feet.

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PHOTOS: The Central District Art Walk Celebrates Black Love With ‘Noir Amor’ Vendor Market

The Central District Art Walk recently transformed the historic Seattle neighborhood into a self-guided celebration of local art, culture, and commerce. The monthly showcase adopted the meaningful theme of "Black Love" for its First Friday event in February. Converge co-founders Erik Kalligraphy and The Big O were on hand, experiencing the creative energy that permeated the district.

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Art, Wellness, and Community: Northwest Credible Messenger and The Re-Sole 206 Collaborate

The Re-Sole 206, Seattle's inaugural sneaker dry cleaner, recently hosted Northwest Credible Messenger (NWCM) youth for "Designing the Path,” a custom sneaker workshop. The Re-Sole 206 founder, Takiyah "T-DUB" Ward, whose state-of-the-art facility specializes in sneaker cleaning, restoration, and customizing, was all about sharing her knowledge with the next generation. 

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Creative Lou's Canvases: How Métier Brewing Turns Beer Cans into Central District History

Back2Besa host Besa Gordon recently visited Métier Brewing in the Central District for National Beer Can Appreciation Day on January 24th to chop it up with multi-disciplinary artist Damon Brown, a.k.a. Creative Lou, and Métier Brewing Company owner Rodney Hines. Brown, the visionary behind many of Métier’s iconic cans, is all about representing the stories of Blackness and the soul of Seattle’s Central District.

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Takiyah Ward Brings Her Artistry to the Ice with Seattle Torrent Hockey Stick Customization

Takiyah “T-DUB” Ward recently unveiled a new canvas in her portfolio: a custom-painted hockey stick for the Seattle Torrent. Designed specifically for the Torrent’s Black History Celebration Unity Game earlier this month at Climate Pledge Arena, this stunning piece was a gift to the Black Girl Hockey Club that will be independently auctioned off to drive increased access, representation, and belonging for Black women and girls in hockey. 

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Scope Screenings Sends Off Season 4: Film and Fashion's Harmonious Crossroads

The Scope Screenings season finale, dubbed the Met Gala Edition, brought together local creatives last month for a night where fashion and film met at a harmonious crossroads. Held at the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute in Seattle’s Central District, the event marked the conclusion of Scope Screenings’ fourth season. 

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PHOTOS: Converge Media Kicks It with Creative Lou at Métier Brewing

The Back2Besa crew recently kicked it at Métier Brewing in the Central District, where they connected with multi-disciplinary artist Damon Brown, better known as Creative Lou, the visionary behind many of Métier's striking beer can designs. Back2Besa host Besa Gordon and Converge co-founders The Big O and Erik Kalligraphy held it down behind the scenes. 

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PHOTOS: Seattle Snap Motivates Seattle’s Creative Pulse With ProofNThePlay

Photojournalist and host of “The Rundown” ProofNThePlay captured magic in the Hangar 30 parking lot at Magnuson Park during a recent Seattle Snap photo meetup. What makes a Seattle Snap event special isn’t the location, the gear, or even the images themselves — it’s the vibe, Proof said. Every meetup is a chance to encounter new creatives and subjects, enjoy a shared enthusiasm for photography, and ruminate in the unfiltered joy of creating with others. 

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Where Laughter Meets Liberation: The Disabled List Comedy Festival Is Happening This Week

Seattle’s Fourth Annual Disabled List Comedy Festival returns January 22–25, 2026, bringing four nights of sharp, joyful, and unapologetically disabled comedy to Northwest Film Forum and Theatre Off Jackson. Produced and hosted by local comedians Dan Hurwitz and Kayla Brown, the festival builds on three consecutive sold-out years with its biggest lineup yet.

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Beyond the Glass Slipper: Why PNB's ‘Cinderella’ Is the Human Fairy Tale We Need Now

Pacific Northwest Ballet is rolling out the red carpet, or perhaps, the magnificent golden ballroom, for the return of founding artistic director Kent Stowell’s production of “Cinderella.” This isn't just a classic tale, but a spectacle of human emotion and breathtaking artistry running for only ten performances, January 30 through February 8, 2026, at McCaw Hall.

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PHOTOS: Scope Screenings Meld Fashion and Film at the Season 4 Finale 

The Met Gala Edition of Scope Screenings successfully merged the worlds of fashion and film last month in a beautiful send off to the underground film festival’s fourth season. In a night of joyful creativity and community at the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute in Seattle’s Central District, film commissioner Lex Scope rounded out the year by celebrating filmmakers and visual artists.

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Intiman Theatre Presents the Transformational New Musical ‘SHe Said’

Intiman Theatre is hosting an electric theatrical production “SHe Said,” running from Wednesday, January 14 to Sunday, February 1, 2026 at Seattle’s Erickson Theatre. The show is a deeply personal and transformational work written by Seattle’s own vocal dynamo, pianist, and songwriter, Jen Ayers. 

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‘Scopesgiving’ At LANGSTON: Celebrating the Ethos of Independent Film 

November’s “Scopesgiving” edition of the underground film festival Scope Screenings at Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center shone a spotlight on the Pacific Northwest’s creative minds in film. The evening celebrated short-form content, from fashion-forward spec ads to documentary-style commercials and metaphysical comedies, including the trailer for Converge Media’s upcoming documentary “Diamond of Opportunity.”

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On the Block Seattle: Building a Hyperlocal Creative Ecosystem and Spreading Love

The second annual On the Block Holiday Special creative marketplace recently brought together a community of local artists, vendors, and creatives for a weekend of celebration and fundraising in Seattle. Held at the Quality Flea Center, the event was a coming-together and a vital effort to raise funds for the organization’s year-round programming.

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PHOTOS: Rocky Sandoval’s Winter Ball Through the Lens of Marvin Patterson

Rocky Sandoval’s Winter Ball, a live R&B showcase and community-centered event, brought together artists, musicians, and supporters from across the Pacific Northwest at McMenamins Spanish Ballroom in Tacoma, WA. As host and artist, Sandoval said the night represented a full-circle moment, celebrating independent music, live musicianship, and real connection with the community. 

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Seattle Museum Month Returns: A Guide to Culture, Cozy Vibes, and Major Savings

What better way to take on the dreary Seattle winter than a month of cozy museum days? Seattle Museum Month is scheduled to return for the entire month of February 2026, offering visitors and locals alike an opportunity to explore the Emerald City’s cultural landscape, art, and history with unbeatable deals. The program, presented by Visit Seattle, is designed as the perfect backdrop for a discounted getaway or staycation throughout the month of February.

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Designing the Path: Where Sneaker Culture Meets Healing Justice

Inside The Re-Sole 206 in Seattle’s Central District, the transformation taking place today went far beyond cleaning scuffs off a pair of sneakers. The shop, known as the city’s premier sneaker restoration hub, played host to a group from Northwest Credible Messenger (NWCM) for a workshop that was as much about life design as it was about footwear.

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'The Legacy Of The Soul Pole’: A Beacon of Black Pride, Preserved

For over 50 years, the Soul Pole has stood tall as a powerful, 21-foot reminder of Black history, endurance, and freedom outside Seattle Public Library’s (SPL) Douglass-Truth Branch in the historic Central District. The Black Heritage Society of Washington State rightfully called this artwork a "beacon of Black pride,” remaining a towering touchstone of Black creative excellence for generations to come. 

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