May 7, 2026, Seward Folly
“Springing in the Rain,” the latest Changing Tides Variety Show, packed the house on Saturday night. Both performances sold out, and by the time the lights came up, a line stretched out the door of the Tidewater Taphouse, with people hoping to snag a spot. The venue, with its staircase above the stage, gave the artists plenty of space, and they used every inch, incorporating the steps into the show itself.
Like last fall’s lineup, this night was a grab bag of everything: music, dance, poetry, and enough comedy sketches to keep the energy up. Things kicked off with Cali Mau’s powerhouse vocals, accompanied by Ed Slavich on piano. Then Charisty Calhoun took the mic as host for the rest of the evening, keeping things light with her quick wit and charm.
Christy Everett’s opening poem, “Wonders of Alaska,” painted a vivid picture of small-town Alaska — the freedom, the oddball resourcefulness, and the way a place like that lets you be a little weird. After that, the Eternal Divas introduced a Persian fusion dance with just enough exotic flair to get things moving.
The Tidal Twerkers took over, fitting hip hop dance into a surprisingly tight dance space. Cali Mau, Edmee Anderson, Tamara Filipovic, and Annie Johnson moved as one, even lifting Filipovic overhead, then drifting apart, gliding up and down the staircase, exuding joy and rhythm.
Marc Swanson and Ed Slavich brought down the house with a clever country-western parody, written by Swanson and inspired by Kayce James’ Alaska Men Calendar. Their “Mountain Men” chorus had everyone singing along, and Ed’s fiddle solos kept things lively.
Photos by Erik Slater
The sketch comedy lineup — Emily Martis, Dan Olsen, and Sean Ulman — delivered some of the night’s biggest laughs. In “Sweater & the Birders,” Olsen and Martis riffed with a now-infamous Sweater (Sean Ulman), poking fun at the quirks of hardcore birdwatchers. Later, Ulman and Olsen returned for a spot-on pickleball spoof: a silent, mimed match in the middle of the crowd, with only the sound of an imaginary ball echoing through the space as the two locked into their ridiculous, determined duel.
In another scene, a group gathered to simulate a city council meeting, complaining about housing and tourists, with the council members more concerned about what they were eating and drinking — or what sounded good — than actual city policy.
Teresa Andersen upended expectations with a bold belly dance routine that was anything but typical for Seward. Using the staircase as part of her set, she spun through hip drops, lifts, and an undulating abdomen. The rhythmic moves matched the pulsing drum beats, leaving the audience fixated.
Christy Everett returned to the spotlight with “Chocolate,” a poem about her obsession — every craving, from ice cream to Hershey’s Kisses, laid bare with such delicious detail you could almost taste her words. The crowd was right there with her, savoring every guilty pleasure.
Henry Helvetica, decked out in over-the-top makeup and a riotous costume, danced to a zany soundtrack. It was the perfect comic relief.
The Burlesque Beauties, focusing on exaggeration, confidence, and “tease” performed an electrifying, highly choreographed dance. Their tight outfits and high heels didn’t slow them down — unless they wanted to, and they did. Moving from fast to slow, the dancers’ sensuous and graceful moves were deliberate, precise, and riveting.
Then Cali Mau returned for the finale on an aerial hoop, performing to “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” — dancing, spinning, and swinging above the audience.
By the end of the night, the audience was buzzing with energy.
“Altogether a fun evening, a pleasant surprise… it reaffirmed to me that Seward is indeed a unique community,” said John Page.
Karen Wright, who also attended last fall’s show, loved all the dance numbers. She also appreciated how “they incorporated the comedy routine that was so specific to the community. The council skit was very relatable.” She added, “The show was unpredictable. I went to the last one and wondered if this one would be the same, but it was very different, and that was fun.”
Fun was the takeaway from “Springing in the Rain.” The Changing Tides’ Variety shows are an adult form of a talent show, allowing a diverse group of people who enjoy getting in front of a crowd to share their passions. The audience walked away on a rainy evening impressed by the performers’ courage and skill — and the choreography involved, weaving the eclectic skits together to produce a light, fast-moving evening of entertainment.
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