By: Desiree Rook, Senior Event Coordinator, CRG Events
When I think of iconic Seattle events, nothing showcases this city’s rich culture and support for the arts like the Moisture Festival. Celebrating its 10th Anniversary, this comedy and varietè show will make you laugh, cry and even provide shelter from the relentless Seattle rain. Taking place each spring, performers and spectators alike descend upon Hales Palladium, revered by this eccentric community as hallowed ground. This festival boasts such talent as award-winning aerialists, contortionists, record-holding jugglers, clowns and everything in between. The menagerie of contemporary vaudevillians alongside reminiscent 20th century sideshow acts are brought together nightly for a one-of-a-kind performance.
Earlier this week, I attended a show that was hosted by Armitage Shanks who has been with the festival for over seven years. During his tenure as ringmaster he has learned that “what makes the Moisture Festival so special, is it’s unusual way of bringing joy into people’s lives.” These ‘unusual ways’ range from the professional bubble blower, Tom Noddy, who defies physics by blowing square bubbles to the comedian, Frank Oliver, who willingly dresses up in a skin tight tutu while riding a unicycle. These performers also know how to share the spotlight by encouraging full audience participation. For instance, one unsuspecting victim (or audience member) was dragged onstage by a scantily clad Frank, placed in an identical tutu and persuaded to dance an impromptu reenactment of Swan Lake. With more 100 acts and over 200 performers from all over the world there is no shortage of chaos, laughs or talent! At the end of the night, Armitage Shanks summed up the performances beautifully, “You can’t unsee that.”
