SEATTLE, WA (May 1, 2025) — ACT Contemporary Theatre and Seattle Shakespeare Company announced today the cast and creative team of William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, directed by Annie Lareau and playing at ACT June 7 through June 22. Twelfth Night represents the debut of Seattle Shakespeare Company at ACT and their first joint production ahead of their official merging on July 1 of 2025.

Village Theatre’s new production of The Color Purple is more than a musical — it’s an emotional journey brought to life through rich harmonies, gospel roots, and a cast that feels like family.

The power of youth storytelling will take center stage at the upcoming 11th Annual Rising Voices Oratory Showcase & Celebration, hosted by Speak With Purpose (SWP). The event, which amplifies the voices of young scholars across King County, will be held on Saturday, June 14 at the Seattle Museum of Flight. Preliminaries were Saturday, May 31, and the showcase is free and open to the public.

If you're someone who appreciates heat with flavor, Qemem Hot Sauce is a brand worth knowing. Recently featured on Back2Besa, Qemem founder Embeba sat down with Besa Gordon to share the story behind her bold, flavorful hot sauces that celebrate culture, community, and culinary creativity.

When choreographer and dancer Rena Butler flew into Seattle fresh off a birthday trip to France, she came with more than just jet lag—she arrived with purpose, power, and a new production in the works for Pacific Northwest Ballet's Director’s Choice series. Besa Gordon sat down with Rena for an intimate conversation about life, legacy, and her upcoming piece titled Cracks.

When Juneteenth rolls around, Seattle will once again feel the electric energy of community, creativity, and culture thanks to the Griot Party Experience. Hosted at the state-of-the-art Broadway Performance Theater, this free event is more than just a celebration—it's a full-on unity experience.

If you're looking for the move this Memorial Day Weekend, look no further than Bellevue. PapaBlack DaVinci is hosting his first-ever All White Party on Sunday, May 25th at Mirra, and according to him—it’s going to be “some energy in Bellevue you don’t want to miss.”

Mark your calendars, Seattle! The incisive and hilarious W. Kamau Bell is heading our way, bringing his acclaimed "Who's With Me?" tour to the historic Neptune Theatre on Friday, June 27, 2025. Get ready for an evening of thought-provoking comedy that tackles the pressing social and political issues of our time with Bell's signature wit and insight.

Seattle’s creative community, mark your calendars, Besa Gordon’s The Real Seattle Media Mixer is officially back! After a long-awaited return, the beloved event for media professionals, creatives, entrepreneurs, and community builders is set to bring the city together once again for an evening of real connection and real inspiration.

Mark your calendars! Get ready for an incredible community event on May 10th from 12 PM to 4:30 PM at the Delridge Community Center. Join Rob Ross and the team for a Wellness and Resource Fair that promises to be a fantastic experience for all ages.

WOW Gallery in downtown Seattle's Pacific Place Mall recently hosted a very special event titled "Celebrating HERstory Tea Party." This gathering brought together a diverse group of Black women from various organizations across the region. The event aimed to celebrate Women's History Month and provide a space for networking, connection, and recognition of the vital work being done within the community.

The anticipation is building for Masego's upcoming performance at Remlinger Farms on July 19, 2025. The Jamaican-American vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and producer, known for his unique blend of R&B, hip-hop, and jazz, is set to bring his "trap house jazz" to the Seattle area.

Commissioned by ACT Theatre and first seen as a staged reading at ACT’s inaugural New Works Northwest Festival in 2023, Golden is set after the Great Recession of 2008. Morris Golden, fighting to save his laundromat, finds an unexpected source of hope in a broken change machine with mysterious powers.

Ed Ewing's journey with biking is more than just a story of wheels and roads; it's a narrative deeply intertwined with community, social justice, and a lifelong passion ignited in childhood. Growing up in Minneapolis, Ewing's early experiences with biking around the city's lakes were formative. "I remember learning balance on my first bike, hitting every trash can in the alley," he fondly recalls. These weren't just playful moments but the beginnings of a lifelong connection to cycling, a connection that would later shape his career and mission.

Get ready, Seattle! Tonight, Saturday, April 12th at The Royal Room, music history comes alive as Vitamin D and Roc Phizzle go head-to-head in a tribute battle honoring the legendary producers J Dilla and Q-Tip. Doors open at 8 PM.

The 2025 GSBA Impact Awards at Seattle Town Hall proved to be an unforgettable evening of celebration and recognition. The event honored the individuals, businesses, and organizations making a powerful difference in the LGBTQ+ and allied communities across Washington State.

Seattle Opera is set to close its 2024/25 season with a bang, bringing back Giacomo Puccini's thrilling melodrama, Tosca. This classic production, returning to McCaw Hall for the first time since 2015, promises to be a visual and auditory feast, featuring an international cast and stunning vintage painted sets.

Seattle’s Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI) is set to host a powerful and moving exhibition, "Mandela: The Official Exhibition," opening on Saturday, May 24, 2025. This immersive experience will explore the life and legacy of Nelson Mandela, the global icon of justice, resilience, and reconciliation.

Brian Gatewood Sr., Founder and CEO of Innovative Change Makers (ICM), recently shared insights into his organization's impactful work during an interview on "The Day With Trae" with guest host Deaunte Damper on Sunday, March 16, 2025. Brian discussed ICM's mission to uplift the community, with a particular focus on youth engagement. ICM provides after-school programming, community events, and resources aimed at creating positive change.

Victory Hall in SODO was electric last Thursday as the “Ladies First Marketplace” and the unique “Take Me Out to the Quad - An HBCU Vibe Bingo Experience” took center stage, creating a vibrant celebration of Black women-owned businesses and community fellowship. This event, part of the larger HBCU Seattle Series presented by Baseball Beyond Border, featured a three-game matchup between Seattle University and Coppin State University (HBCU) Baseball teams, focused on empowering entrepreneurs and fostering a lively, culturally rich atmosphere and letting the Coppin State University Blad Eagles know they were welcome in the Emerald City.