The Weekly Wire: The Week's Notable Events

WEDNESDAY 6/17

Photography: Miniature Inmates

Cheryl Hanna-Truscott spent more than six years photographing women in the Washington Corrections Center's prison nursery program, near Shelton, Wash. These women—most in their 20s and 30s—maintain custody of their children while completing sentences for crimes like auto theft and burglary. Hanna-Truscott sheds light on their unique circumstances in her intimate portrait series "Protective Custody." Here we see a woman gazing in awe at her newborn son, his yellow blanket the only hint of color in the otherwise dreary room. In another frame, a mother pushes a stroller through the minimum-security campus. Hanna-Truscott explains that her biggest concern was that her subjects trust her. "These women are often incredibly vulnerable," she says. "They're willing to share their stories, but...the last thing they want is to have someone come in and give their situation a sensational spin, like 'Babies Behind Bars!'" Hanna-Truscott deals tenderly both with mothers and children, focusing on maternal bonds, not the felonies behind them. Her work is part of the PCNW Thesis Exhibition (through July 10), which also features six other artists in the program. Photographic Center Northwest, 900 12th Ave., 720-7222, pcnw.org. Free. 9 a.m.–9:30 p.m. ERIKA HOBART

FRIDAY 6/19

Basketball: Hardwood Parade

The Storm's Lauren Jackson is healthy and killing it, as she always does when she's healthy. Last year she was hurt, but the year before that she won the WNBA scoring title. The runner-up that season was Minnesota's Seimone Augustus. They meet tonight in a game between the Lynx and the Storm that promises to provide a slew of entertaining ballers. The Storm's Swin Cash is getting old (she's been dogged by a herniated disk for which she recently had surgery), but staying money. The Lynx's Charde Houston is still young and even more money. Her name's Houston, but she went to Connecticut, which is also the alma mater of Sue Bird, the Storm's starting point guard and a former WNBA Finals MVP. Finally, for novelty value, the Lynx's Rashanda McCants is the sister of NBA player Rashad McCants—he used to date Khloe Kardashian—and has the same haircut as 2005 NBA MVP Steve Nash had that year. KeyArena, 305 Harrison St., 684-7200, wnba.com/storm. $15–$160. 7 pm. DAMON AGNOS

Film: Otis B. Driftwood

Hard to believe now, but the Marx Brothers' great antiwar comedy Duck Soup was a flop in 1934. Zeppo retired, then MGM mogul Irving Thalberg, a bridge crony of Chico's, signed the boys on the condition they add structure and story to their antics. The result, 1935's A Night at the Opera (running through Thursday), is a classic, yet also a collision between anarchy and propriety—which neatly encapsulates the dynamic of most Marx Brothers movies. So here we have the polished MGM style and studio supporting players as a backdrop to Marxian zaniness. The opera sets are lavish and authentic; while on the ocean-liner crossing to New York, the folks in steerage break out in a song-and-dance frenzy that puts Titanic's Irish reels to shame. The juvenile-lead love story, usually Zeppo's province, is actually pretty credible—and cast with two young performers who can actually sing (Kitty Carlisle and Allan Jones). Meanwhile, Harpo plays his harp and Groucho (as Mr. Driftwood) torments Margaret Dumont. Before filming, Thalberg had the brothers road-test the script with an abbreviated vaudeville tour—which made a stop here in Seattle in 1934! If only we could've seen that. Grand Illusion, 1403 N.E. 50th St., 523-3935, grandillusioncinema.org. $5–$8. 7 and 9 p.m. BRIAN MILLER

SATURDAY 6/20

Outdoor Movies: Two Words: ABBA

If my life had a soundtrack, it would be filled with the songs of ABBA. For me, the tunes of Sweden's greatest export (sorry, Ikea) will never get old or out-of-date. Ever. So to say I'm excited for tonight wouldn't even begin to describe what I'm feeling. Fremont Outdoor Cinema begins its 2009 season not in Fremont (where the rest of the Saturday-night series continues), but at Magnuson Park. The film is Mamma Mia!, with Meryl Streep, Christine Baranski, and (yum) Colin Firth and Pierce Brosnan. And, God help me, it's a sing-along! Does life get any better than this? Well, yes, actually it does, because there will also be a pre-show costume contest and ABBA karaoke. (I call "Fernando"!) The rest of the season (through Sept. 12) brings titles like Edward Scissorhands, The Big Lebowski, The Godfather, and Pee-Wee's Big Adventure. Selected movies, like Some Like It Hot, will be dubbed with new dialogue as one of Jet City Improv's "Twisted Flicks." Each show is preceded by entertainment, like improv comedy, photo-booth contests, and a prize—including an Xbox—awarded to the best themed costume. (Anyone know where I can get a pair of sparkly platform go-go boots?) See you tonight; I'll be the one in ABB-ecstasy. Magnuson Park, 7400 Sand Point Way N.E., fremontoutdoormovies.com. $5. 7 p.m. SUZIE RUGH

Street Fairs: Summer, Uncovered

It's coming. The weekend that unites tree-hugging hippie moms, gawking teenagers, and quasi-sketchy graybeard voyeurs. Yes, I speak of the Fremont Fair—more commonly known as the site of the Summer Solstice Parade (at noon today). Or, alternatively: "Dude! Naked people riding bikes!" Calm down, horrified parents; your children have surely seen worse online. Families shouldn't overlook the rest of the (generally clothed) activities, live music, and good food. Balagan Theater will perform excerpts from The Taming of the Shrew in Canal Park (10:30 a.m. both days), while Cirque du Soleil's René Bibaud practices her rope routine (1 p.m. Sunday). The I Heart Rummage gang is also holding a two-day sale, and double-dutch teams will jump at amazing rpms today (3 p.m., Waterfront Stage). For art- and car-lovers alike, there's the weekend Art Car Blowout, where jalopies are adorned with ribbons, sparkles, paint, and glue; these are fairy-tale automobiles you'll want to take home. (I'm still looking for the "Woodland Nymph"–themed car I saw several years ago.) Meanwhile, the fair's educational EcoZone provides what might as well be the fair's motto: Come for the breasts, save the planet. Downtown Fremont, 297-6801, fremontfair.com. $1 (recommended). 10 a.m.–8 p.m. BRITT THORSON