Diversity in Our Arts
Originally published on The JOLT News on September 17, 2025
Our world is chaotic right now, and hate is running amok. My own personal anger about it all felt very fiery this week, and the thing that calmed me and helped me feel like my true self again was taking refuge in the arts.
Filling our lives with all sorts of extraordinary and diverse art is what makes life meaningful and wonderful. Diversity is truly a gift, one that I am beginning to understand cannot be taken for granted.
The diversity in our arts scene is beautiful, but is in danger. I invite you to read the performance reviews for Olympia Little Theatre’s (OLT) “Dead Man’s Cell Phone” and Choro Tomorrow’s show at Pizzeria La Gitana.
Before you read the reviews, I invite you to read the murmurings of what is beginning to take place in arts classrooms in Thurston County: diversity in arts education is in danger.
The murmerings
Our little corner of the world feels so welcoming and diverse, and the idea of that being under threat in any way feels odd. The idea of the current federal administration spilling any of their hate filled ideas our way once seemed absurd and impossible to me. I stand corrected.
There is a danger being presented to the arts community here, and right now it is presenting itself in the arts classroom in the form of parent and student pushback. These anonymous statements reveal what I mean:
“I was teaching mariachi music this week, and a kid suddenly stated, ‘Mexico is bad!”
“Last year a student of mine got to go see ‘The Pack Drumline.’ That student told me, ‘I’ve never been proud to be black before.”
“I had a parent pushback on teaching native music on Indigenous Peoples Day.”
“Last year, we had a parent pull their kids from the school for the entirely to Black Lives Matter week.”
Many families are very supportive of diversity in arts education, but there are still some that are against it. As a community, we must do everything we can to continue to support the arts, arts educators, and invite people to experience diverse art together.
I will be keeping tabs on experiences like these. If you have a story to share, please reach out to me at rachel@thejoltnews.com
Review of OLT’s 'Dead Man’s Cell Phone'
Stepping into the Olympia Little Theatre again after a long summer felt like coming home. This space is comfortable and cozy, and emanates with the warmth that comes from the community. I find that OLT’s audiences tend to be open and eager to engage in conversation, adding to the charm of attending the theatre.
OLT’s first show this season, “Dead Man’s Cell Phone,” is entirely quirky, awkwardly funny, and in a strange way, thought provoking.
Similar to an onion, this show has lots of layers. On the surface, there is an element of screwball comedy. As you go deeper, the show tackles topics like love, loneliness, grieving, death, the afterlife, and a discussion of how we choose to live our one precious life.
I applaud this cast and their dedication to their roles. Watching the show, it felt like real people living their lives rather than actors just performing — that is how you know they aced it!
There were plot twists in the script that I did not particularly enjoy, but the cast truly embraced every moment and performed consistently well throughout the show.
This show has many great conversation starters and is really enjoyable. Go see it, I know you will enjoy it! Purchase your tickets here.
Review: Choro Tomorrow
Last weekend, I was invited to listen to the group, Choro Tomorrow, perform at Pizzeria La Gitana. It was a truly decadent experience.
Choro Tomorrow is a band made up of six talented local musicians who perform Brazilian music. Their music dances between the classical and jazz genres. Personally, I would categorize it as music you would hear in a Nancy Meyers film: upbeat, flirty and classy. Just sitting in the audience for their show made me feel like a leading lady in my own romantic comedy.
Listening to them felt like getting a dose of Vitamin D to my soul, brightening my perspective and relieving much of the stress I was carrying that day. I needed it, and I bet you do too!
Their next performance will be on Saturday, Sept. 20, at New Traditions and Soul Cafe. You can buy tickets here and explore their website here.
Diversity in our arts | The JOLT News Organization, a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit