OPENING AND CURRENT RUNS

THE CARABAO CRIES TOO

Opening. Cultural identity struggle--in song form. Like "We Are the World." Or Farm Aid. Or, um, not. Rainier Valley Youth Theatre at Rainier Valley Cultural Center, 5117 Rainier Ave S, 725-7169. $3-$5. Thurs-Sat Aug 1-3 & Wed-Sat Aug 7-10 at 8 pm.

DAMES AT SEA

Opening. Dramatic self-reference spirals out of control in yet another American musical based on the production of an American musical. Classics Unlimited at Broadway Performance Hall, 1625 Broadway, 325-6500. $14-$19. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm, Sat-Sun at 2 pm, opens Aug 3. Through Aug 18.

DAUGHTERS OF CATASTROPHE

Opening. Staged reading of S. P. Miskowski's new production--an "erotic retelling of Electra, Phaedra, and Medea" in modern America. Part of the Summer Six Pack. City 3 Theater at Odd Duck Studio, 1214 10th Ave E, 783-2284. $5. Sun at 9 pm. Through Aug 11.

DRALION

Opening. Since when did foreigners in funny clothes hell-bent on "death-defying" nosedives cease to be called "threats to National Security"? I'm ASKING?!?! Cirque du Soleil at Grand Chapiteau, 900 Garden Ave N, next to Renton Boeing Plant, 800-450-1480. $31.50-$65. Thurs-Fri Aug 1-2 at 8 pm, Sat Aug 3 at 4 and 8 pm, Sun Aug 4 at 1 and 5 pm. Through Sept 8.

FOOTLOOSE! THE MUSICAL

Opening. 'Cause every time he pulls me near I just wanna cheer: Let's hear it for the boy! Let's give the boy a hand! Let's hear it for my baby, you know you gotta understand.... Oh, oh, oh, maybe he's no Romeo but he's my loving one-man show, oh, woh, woh, woh--Let's hear it for the boy! ArtsWest, 4711 California Ave SW, 938-0339. $10. Thurs-Sat Aug 1-3 & Wed-Sun Aug 14-18 at 7 pm, Sat-Sun Aug 17-18 at 2 pm. Through Aug 18.

FULLY COMMITTED

Solo show about an unemployed actor taking reservations for an ultra-chic restaurant. Now with David Scully. ACT Theatre, 700 Union St, 292-7676. $24.50-$29.50. Thurs at 7:30 pm, Fri-Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Open run.

HENRY IV, PART 2

Coming of age, by way of flowery language. GreenStage Theater Company. Call for locations, dates, and times, 748-1551, www.greenstage.org. Free. Through Aug 11.

I'M GETTING MY ACT TOGETHER AND TAKING IT ON THE ROAD

Closing this week. The hit 1978 feminist musical showcases Heather Jones' disgust with her '50s childhood, her failed relationships, and ever-present showbiz chauvinism. "The surprisingly relevant content is undermined by inexcusably slow pacing and boring songs." (Lindsay Marsak) Steeplechase Productions at Liberty Deli, 2722 Alki Ave SW, 935-8420. Thurs-Sat at 7:30 pm, $15. Fri-Sat dinner plus show, $29. Through Aug 3.

MONEY & RUN EPISODE 6

Wayne S. Rawley's serial returns, with original cast in tow, for its newest debacle: The Eyepatch of the Tiger. Theater Schmeater, 1500 Summit Ave, 324-5801. $12-$15, under 18 free. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 7 pm, matinee performances Sun at 2 pm. Through Aug 24.

NICKEL AND DIMED: ON (NOT) GETTING BY IN AMERICA

Adapting Barbara Ehrenreich's best-selling account of the same name, Joan Holden's new play focuses on minimum-wage labor and it's soul-draining effects. Intiman Theater, 201 Mercer St, 269-1900. $27-$42. Tues-Thurs & Sun at 7:30 pm, Fri-Sat at 8 pm, Sat-Sun matinees between Aug 3 and Aug 24 at 2 pm. Through Aug 25.

QUICKIES, VOLUME III

Closing this week. As the titular double entendre suggests, Quickies is an evening of short plays, which all happened to be authored by members of the fairer sex. Live Girls! Theater, 620 Alaska Way, second floor. $10 suggested donation. Fri-Sat Aug 2-3 at 8 pm.

SEX IN SEATTLE EPISODE 5: INTIMATE SECRETS

Closing this week. Sassy Asian American women discuss sex over a Chinese New Year celebration. SIS Productions at Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, 325-6500. $8-$12. Fri-Sat at 8 pm and 10:30 pm. Through Aug 3.

SPEECHLESS

Opening. Sketch comedy on mute. Bald Faced Lie at Empty Space Theatre, 3509 Fremont Ave N, 325-6500. $15-$19. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 2 and 7 pm. Through Aug 24.

STARBALL

Opening. Solo performer John Kaufmann takes a stab at combining Jungian theory, astronomy, and dramatic performance in this act of planetary spectacle. John Kaufmann at Pacific Science Center's Smith Planetarium, 200 Second Ave N, 634-9018. $12. Thurs-Sun at 8 pm, seating between 7 and 7:55 pm. Through Aug 25.

TEATRO ZINZANNI: DINNER & DREAMS

The most expensive dinner theater of all time--three hours of gluttony, lust, and eye candy. Featuring the effervescent yet earthy Kevin Kent. "Dinner & Dreams isn't a disaster. The food is great, and a handful of the performers are dazzling. But for every bit that dazzles, a half-dozen fall flat." (David Schmader) Teatro ZinZanni, Sixth & Battery, 805-0015. $89 Wed-Fri & Sun, $99 Sat (includes dinner, but not beverages or gratuity). Wed-Sat at 6:30 pm, Sun at 5:30 pm. Open run.

A WALK IN THE DARK

Closing this week. Open Circle Theater presents company member José Amador's one-man show exploring "racial identity and race homogeneity within the United States." "A person would have to consider himself pretty dang interesting to believe that a paying audience should sit and listen to him talk (talk, talk) about himself for 90 minutes. And some people are. SOME." (Adrian Ryan) Open Circle Theater, 429 Boren N, 382-4250. $10. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm. Through Aug 3.

WOMEN WITH BALLS

See review this issue. A title that defies all reasonable attempts at mockery. Bathhouse Theatre, 7312 W Green Lake Dr N, 325-6500. $10-$20. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 7:30 pm, with late shows Fri-Sat at 10:30 pm, Aug 2-10. Through Aug 11.

WONDERFUL TENNESSEE

See review this issue. Three couples embark on a birthday trip to an island of mystery off the coast of Ireland. Upon arrival, they talk a lot. Written by Brian Friel. Taproot Theatre Company at Taproot Theatre, 204 N 85th St, 781-9707. $18-$26. Wed-Thurs at 7:30 pm, Fri-Sat at 8 pm, matinees Sat at 2 pm. Through Aug 10.

WONDERLAND

This week only. A debut work combining elements of Lewis Carroll's timeless beacons of chemical depravity--Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. Seattle Children's Theatre, 201 Thomas St, 443-0807. $5. Thurs-Sat Aug 1-3 at 8 pm.

* YELLOWMAN

Closing this week. Racial prejudice in a small Southern town. "Go see it." (Adrian Ryan) ACT Theatre, 700 Union St, 292-7676. $32.50-$44. Sun-Thurs at 7:30 pm, Fri-Sat at 8 pm, matinees Sat-Sun Aug 3-4 at 2 pm. Through Aug 4.

DANCE

DEBORAH HAY

This week only. Respected experimental dance choreographer and instructor Deborah Hay performs two consecutive solo engagements of her newest work, Music. Velocity MainSpace Theatre, Oddfellows Building, 915 E Pine St, 632-2309. $14. Thurs-Fri Aug 1-2 at 8 pm.

SACRED ORAL THEATER

An Austin-based improvisational dance troupe that combines interactive modern theater with the ancient study of tarot. The Living Tarot performance troupe at Industrial Arts Factory, 3427 Fourth Ave S, 381-FIRE. $15-$25. Aug 1, 2, 4, 7, and 8 at 8 pm.

VERMILION VIOLET

P.A.N. interprets the physical phenomenon of the bruising process with a combination of live music, dance, and video. P.A.N. at One Night Only, 321 Third Ave S, 720-9909, between Seattle Lighting and King Street Station, look for One Night Only signs. Thurs Aug 1 at 10 pm.

FESTIVALS, CABARET, & COMEDY

ANTIQUES IMPROV SHOW

Bring your own objects; these jokers will tell you what you've got. The problem with the premise is... don't you think those real appraisers are pretty much winging it too? Unexpected Productions at Market Theater, Post Alley, 781-9273. $10. Fri-Sat at 8 pm. Through Aug 31.

HA! COMEDY IMPROV!

One night only. An improv troupe that's so funny, they couldn't contain their laughter long enough to cleverly name even themselves! The Playhouse, 200 Madison Ave N, Bainbridge Island, 842-8569. $8. Sat Aug 3 at 7:30 pm.

THE IMPROV OLYMPICS

This week only. It's sort of like curling... only funnier. Seattle Children's Theatre, 201 Thomas St, 443-0807. $5. Thurs-Sat Aug 1-3 at 7 pm.

KAFTAN!

A charmingly ramshackle kitsch cabaret with It's Mark Mitchell, Kurt B. Reighley, Paula!, and guests. "A nice-enough dose of free entertainment." (Josh Feit) Swedish Housewife at ING, 1530 Bellevue Ave, 329-5388. Free. Sun at 9 pm. Ongoing.

LA MOME PIAF: THE LIFE AND SONGS OF A FRENCH LEGEND

The life and work of Edith Piaf, with dinner, unless you say, "Je ne mange rien." Cabaret at Crêpe de Paris, 1333 Fifth Ave, second floor, 623-4111. $20. Wed at 8 pm. Through Aug 28.

LATE NIGHT

MYSTERY AT CAMP CHESTNUT

Opening. The kids at Cornish bring us the public run of their successful student production, a late-night affair with (surprise!) a twist: The audience controls the storyline in this Choose-Your-Own-Adventure-styled performance. Strike-Anywhere Productions at Northwest Actors' Studio, 1100 E Pike St, third floor, 324-6328. $5-$6. Fri-Sat at 10 pm. Through Aug 17.

NIGHTCAP COMEDY IMPROV

Guffaw! Taproot Theatre, 204 N 85th St, 781-9707. $5. Fri at 10:15 pm. Through Aug 9.

SPIN THE BOTTLE

This week only. Annex Theater continues it tradition of omnibus monthly shows, this month featuring performances by Troy Mink, Ivory Smith, Gillian Jorgensen, and many, many more. Annex Theatre at Velocity MainSpace, 915 E Pine St, second floor, 728-0933. $5. Fri at 11 pm.

THE TWILIGHT ZONE

Opening. The cash cow returns... and it's thirsty for blood! Theater Schmeater, 1500 Summit Ave, 324-5801. $10. Thurs-Sat at 11 pm. Through Aug 24.