Mike's adventures in art: A weekend full of wishes

If you're looking for tips on how to experience art in the Seattle area, you're in the right place. In this weekly post, KUOW arts reporter Mike Davis has suggestions for what to do around Seattle over the weekend so you can have your own adventures in arts and culture.

THEATER:

"Carmela Full of Wishes" is playing at the Seattle Children's Theatre. This is my pick of week! I saw this play with my two kids and we had a blast. Seattle Children's Theatre has a line up of productions that engage children with music, comedy, and spectacles woven into stage design, while also providing compelling stories that resonate with adults.

I was taken by Carmela's journey around her neighborhood as she developed a new bond with her big brother and maintained hope that her father, who was stuck in Mexico, would make it home soon — or at least be able to call her on her birthday. My kids, ages 9 and 5, enjoyed the laughs from jokes that easily landed and tickled them, and loved joining Carmela in making wishes and (spoiler alert) the moment when the theater was filled with bubbles!

"Carmela Full of Wishes" is playing at the Seattle Children's Theatre from Feb. 14 to March 12.

"A Thousand Splendid Suns" has its world premiere this weekend at the Seattle Opera. I'll definitely have more coverage on this in the coming weeks. This opera is based on a novel, of the same title, and this was one of the saddest stories I've read in a long time.

The story follows two women, separated in age by a generation, over a period of three decades of pure turmoil in Afghanistan. From the remnants of 40 years of peace, into the Soviet invasion, jihad, and the rise and fall of the Taliban in the early 2000s, "A Thousand Splendid Suns" is a roller coaster ride depicting the impact of political events on Afghan women, whose lives are turned upside down as control of their society constantly swaps hands.

After going to the Afghan arts festival Jashin at the Seattle Opera, and hearing from artists who fled Afghanistan about how the Taliban's embargo on art affected them, this story puts us in the minds of women — one of which went from being educated in communist-run schools, to being beaten for walking the streets with out a man present. This opera will be heart-wrenching gaze into Afghan culture, but it's a must-see.

"A Thousand Splendid Suns" plays at Seattle Opera from Feb. 25 to March 11.

Visual Art:

The Feels Foundation is hosting its annual arts showcase in Pioneer Square on Thursday night. With an ample opportunity to see a bunch of local art and listen to live local music all in one place, this event will be an adventure. An arts panel will include Aramis Hammer, whose work will be familiar to most art lovers in Seattle (and if not, this is your chance). There will be 15 visual artists with pieces on display, there will be a live performance from Taliwhoah, and sets by local DJs.

The Feels 7 Showcase will take place Thursday, Feb. 23, at Axis Gallery, 308 1st Avenue South.