West Seattle Blog… | BIZNOTE: Emerald City Drama Club moves into storefront in West Seattle Junction

Barely a month later Funky Jane’s Consignment closed at 4455 California SW, the space has a new tenant. Signs in the window announce it Emerald City Drama Club will be there soon. We spoke to the owner Jessie Kuehm this afternoon on the phone to hear more about her plans. She’s been teaching performing arts for about 12 years, she told us, but this will be her first independent venue. Her classes will be mainly for children K-8; along with teaching acting, musical theater and film production, she also offers summer camps and even “D&D campaigns.” (As in Dungeons & Dragons.) If you have one or more kids in school locally, you may already know Jessie—she directs the Alki Elementary musical for one thing and teaches after-school enrichment at some other schools.

Why a shop front? Jessie hopes to take advantage of the “open space,” perhaps even installing a curtain so the Emerald City Drama Club can do some shows for the students’ families, though she may also stage shows at larger venues in West Seattle. And she also has ideas about turning it into a “third space for young people” — a place to hang out, maybe events like movie nights and book clubs. Right now, she expects to be in the space education classes at the end of March for starters. “I am so excited to have this place!” she told us, especially since it’s within walking distance of her home in West Seattle.