The thriving arts scene is a priority in this city—in fact, Seattle has been recognized for having more arts-related businesses and organizations per capita than any other metropolitan area in the U.S., according to Americans for the Arts. Former Professor of Acting and Directing at the University of Washington, Tim Bond has been one of the contributors to this creative city. Read on for a look at the city through his artistic lens.
Seattle was my artistic birthplace and I’d always hoped to return. Being near this much nature is amazing. The Native American cultures inhabiting this region instilled something in the ground, air, water, trees, mountains—it’s a spiritual hotspot.
All the old-growth trees, the flowering cherry trees in the spring, the fountain, the view of Mount Rainier—the UW campus is like an arboretum with buildings. I love the historic Penthouse Theatre (the first theater-in-the-round built in the U.S.), and the Jones Playhouse is great too. I also love Magus Books near the Ave.
There’s so much interesting theater in so many corners of the city! The 12th Avenue Arts facility is terrific, as is the small 18th & Union theater for solo shows. So is ArtsWest. On the Boards, ACT, Seattle Rep, and Washington Hall have great spaces. The Center Theatre was built for my old company, and now Seattle Shakespeare Company and Book-It Theatre put on plays there.
I like jazz and I think KNKX public radio is one of the best jazz stations around. Jazz Alley is a really nice place to hear music. I also love the Daybreak Star Cultural Center in Discovery Park. I’m part Cherokee and Cree, and I used to go there all the time for pow-wows and salmon bakes. It feels really good there.
I’m nature oriented—I like hiking, camping, fishing in the Puget Sound for salmon. I love walking through the Arboretum, Seward Park, Discovery Park. In Volunteer Park you can go up in the water tower and get a great view of the city, or explore the flowers in the Conservatory. I also love sports. I highly recommend going to a softball game at UW—the team is nationally ranked, the tickets are inexpensive, there’s a view of Lake Washington. Everybody knows about Husky football, but the softball games are great. Also: Seattle Storm basketball!
Interview by Brangien Davis. Photo taken on the UW campus.
Tim Bond talks with the Seattle Channel’s Nancy Guppy about his direction of August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson.