October 23, 2025 Seward Folly Staff

There’s a certain electricity when a small town tries something new. This weekend, the Seward Arts Council’s production of Almost Famous tapped into that current, packing the Rae Building with an audience hungry for the sort of creative risk you don’t often find locally, or even statewide. 

On paper, an adult variety show in Seward is a novelty, maybe even a gamble. But under the assured direction of Cali Mau, a Sitka transplant with a professional dance pedigree and a knack for community-building, Almost Famous became the best kind of local spectacle: loose, surprising, and full of moments that left the crowd hooting, clapping, and sometimes blinking in disbelief.

(Photo by Erik Slater)

Mau, who moved to Seward in 2023, saw a gap in the town’s long tradition of drama; adults here have had few opportunities for performance outside the usual plays and musicals. The result? Changing Tides Theatrics, now one of eight lively subgroups within the Seward Arts Council, dedicated to stretching the town’s theatrical options.

(Photo by Erik Slater)

The evening’s hosts, Sean Ulman and Charisty Calhoun, kept the mood buoyant. Their playful exchanges set the tone: Ulman bounced between his own persona and “Sweater,” a birdwatcher in a gloriously tacky red sweater, while Calhoun’s starry-eyed character volleyed back with wide-eyed ambition. Their banter was fun, and their timing worked.

The show’s lineup was as unpredictable as it was entertaining. The opener, “The Sword Dance,” was a tongue-in-cheek homage to Scottish tradition, performed by Henry Helvetica. Before the applause faded, the stage shifted to “Alaska Nelly,” a five-act silent play sprinkled throughout the night, starring TotallyTiff as a heroine straight out of an old silent film reel. The Seward Community Band then thundered in with “Fanfare for the Common Man,” their brass and percussion filling the room.

(Photos by Erik Slater)

From there, the acts only got wilder. Helvetica returned for a lively lipsync to “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” and later as “Barbie’s Counterpart,” poking fun at Ken with just the right amount of camp. Nancy Neel delivered two memorable solo performances, “A Love of Diamonds” and “Paparazzi,” the latter lampooning celebrity obsession.

Choreography took center stage with “Show Me” and “Obsessed,” both cabaret-inspired numbers marked by razor-sharp synchrony and a polish rarely seen on a small-town stage. It’s not every day you spot such a disciplined ensemble of three to five dancers working outside the big city, but these dancers made it look easy.

The night’s narrative thread came full circle as TotallyTiff’s Alaska Nelly met her melodramatic end, tended by a loyal bear. The community band performed a fun rendition of “Bohemian Rhapsody,” showcasing the band’s ability to synchronize a complex piece. 

And then, the finale: Cali Mau herself, delivering a burlesque-inspired solo that was both athletic and elegant. It was a bold move, the kind of number that asks a crowd to trust the performer, and Mau earned every cheer.

“It’s hard to be a performer in general,” she admitted. “You really put yourself out there, understanding that not everyone is going to like it.”

Judging by the applause, there were few dissenters.

Pulling off a show of this scale was no small feat: between front-of-house, backstage, and cast, Mau estimates 35 to 40 people pitched in. Each act rehearsed separately, only coming together in the final week.

“It kept things a surprise, even for us,” Mau said, “which just added to the excitement.”

The show’s collaborative spirit ran deep. Ulman, Calhoun, Tyler Pelo, and Mau wove the scenes together, with each writer contributing ideas — like the “donut” sketch, dreamed up by Calhoun and realized with Pelo.

“It all just fell together,” Ulman said.

What’s next for Changing Tides? More shows, and hopefully finding a bigger venue.

“The more people, the better,” Mau said. “We want everyone to see that everything — and everyone — can be art.”

If Almost Famous is any indication, Seward’s appetite for grown-up creativity is alive and well.

Anyone itching to perform, or just lend a hand, is encouraged to get in touch. For details, visit sewardartscouncil.org or find them on social media @changingtidestheatrics.

Seward Arts Council membership page: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/seward-arts-council-memberships–2025