OPENING AND CURRENT RUNS


ALL MY SONS

Power, corruption, and lies: the weight of Arthur Miller's 1947 breakthrough. Taproot Theatre, 204 N 85th St, 781-9707. $18-$26. Wed-Thurs at 7:30 pm, Fri-Sat at 8 pm, Sat matinees at 2 pm. Through March 1.

* BALLYHOO

"A little bit Brazil, a little bit Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and a little bit King Crimson, Ballyhoo is the impossible-to-summarize story describing a far-distant future in which Earth has been transplanted to a new solar system, all culture is advertising, and government agents called Friendly Joes duke it out with renegade terrorists called the Bellboys." (Bret Fetzer) Re-bar, 1114 Howell St, 323-0388. $12. Feb 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 14, 16, 21, and 23 at 8 pm. 21 and over.

A CHORUS LINE

Hopes and dreams, triumphs and failures, tits and ass. 5th Avenue Theatre, 1308 Fifth Ave, 625-1418. $15-$58. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm, Sun-Wed (no performances Mon) at 7:30 pm, Sat-Sun matinees at 2 pm. Through Feb 16.

COMEDY OF EROS II

One of my most embarrassing character flaws: Syrupy love stories make me embarrassingly emotional. Only slightly less than dead bunnies. Being February--when such things are driven by the greeting card industry--we're ripe with love stories. Case in point: this year's installment of A Theater Near You's Comedy of Eros, a sampler of one-acts from the paper heart. A Theater Near You at Northwest Actors Studio Cabaret, 1100 E Pike St, 726-9814. $12-$20. Fri-Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 7 pm. Through Feb 15.

DRIVING MISS DAISY

Yes'm. Village Theater at Francis J. Gaudette Theatre, 303 Front St N, Issaquah, 425-392-2202. $26-$42. Wed-Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through Feb 23.

* DRUMMER WANTED

This week only. The much hubbubbed playwright and director Richard Maxwell makes his Seattle debut with a "personal injury lawsuit musical" about a rock drummer pushing 30 who moves back in with his mother. New York City Players at On the Boards, 100 W Roy St, 217-9888. Wed-Sun at 8 pm.

FOR COLORED GIRLS WHO HAVE CONSIDERED SUICIDE/WHEN THE RAINBOW IS ENUF

Final week. Dr. Tawnya Pettiford-Wates directs Ntozake Shange's evergreen tribute to the power of poetry in the face of oppression and stuff. UW Ethnic Cultural Theatre, 3940 Brooklyn Ave NE, 325-6500. $10-$15. Thurs at 7:30 pm, Fri-Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 3 pm. Through Feb 2.

THE JOY LUCK CLUB

"While the actors vary in talent, the sheer volume of people on stage gives dramatic moments an epic quality and celebratory moments a genuine joy." (Gregory Zura) ReAct at Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center, 104 17th Ave S, 364-3283. $6-$12. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through Feb 9.

I KNOW WHY THE CAGED BIRD SINGS

I can't think of anything to say that I don't personally find offensive, and I think that makes me a bad person. Book-It Repertory at Theatre Off Jackson, 409 Seventh Ave S, 364-3282. $15-$22. Thurs-Sat at 7:30 pm, Sun at 4 pm. Through Feb 16.

JACK AND JILL

See review this issue. Steeplechase Productions at Liberty Deli, 2722 Alki Ave SW, 935-8420. $29 with dinner, $15 for show only. Fri-Sat at 7:30 pm. Through Feb 15.

LOVE LETTERS

The torture of a love affair by post, just in time for that wicked celebration of Saint Valentine's. Seattle Public Theater at Bathhouse Theater, 7312 Green Lake Dr N, 325-6500. $10-$18. Fri-Sat at 7:30 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through Feb 15.

MONSTER

See review this issue. Theater Schmeater, 1500 Summit Ave, 325-6500. $12-$15. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm. Through Feb 22.

NEVER SWIM ALONE

See review this issue. Blackbird Theatre at Northwest Actors Studio, 1100 E Pike St, 632-9800. $8-$10. Fri-Sat at 10 pm. Through Feb 8.

THE NIGHT OF THE IGUANA

Opening. Southern drawl, questions of faith, and perhaps even some funny hats in Tennessee Williams' award-winning masterpiece. GreenStage at Sand Point Magnuson Park, 7400 Sand Point Way, building 406, 748-1551. Free. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm. Through March 1.

THE OUTSIDERS

"Stay gold, Ponyboy. Stay gold." Seattle Children's Theatre, 201 Thomas St, 441-3322. $12-$26. Fri at 7 pm, Sat-Sun at 2 and 5:30 pm. Through Feb 15.

THE PRODUCERS

Opening. Sorry, never heard of it. Paramount Theatre, 911 Pine St, 292-2787. $26-$67. Wed-Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 7:30 pm, matinees Sat-Sun at 2 pm, Thurs Feb 6 at 1 pm. Through Feb 16.

SCOOTER THOMAS MAKES IT TO THE TOP OF THE WORLD

When the looming threat of adulthood is amplified by the sudden death of a childhood friend, Dennis Wright's life is thrown into a comedic spiral of self-examination. Northwest Actors Studio, 1100 E Pike St, 632-9800. $8-$10. Fri-Sat at 8 pm. Through Feb 8.

* STRANGE ATTRACTORS

"Playwright David Adjmi hasn't written some kind of postmodern deconstruction of Henrik Ibsen's classic play A Doll's House, he's completely stolen the whole damn play, torn down the walls, and rebuilt it with hip new plastic façades. And in his remodeling he has created a wonderfully strange, dark look into the life of a woman attempting to maintain her 'magnificent obsessions.'" (Gregory Zura) Empty Space Theater, 3509 Fremont Ave N, 547-7500. $25-$40. Tues-Thurs at 7:30 pm, Fri at 8 pm, Sat at 2 and 8 pm, Sun at 2 and 7:30 pm. Through Feb 16.

THE SUICIDE: A RUSSIAN COMEDY

Opening. The kind of laughter only gruesome, selfish desperation can bring. With comedy like this, it's no wonder the Russians were so scary. Meany Studio Theatre, UW campus in lower Meany Hall, 543-4880. $7-$12. Wed-Thurs at 7 pm, Fri-Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through Feb 16.

TAKING SIDES

Art and politics and world war: the dramatic account of the clash between a U.S. Army major and the conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic, post-WWII. ArtsWest, 4711 California Ave SW, 938-0339. $10-$26. Wed-Sat at 7:30 pm, matinees Sun Feb 2 at 3 pm, and Sat Feb 8 at 3 pm. Through Feb 8.

THIS ROOM AND THIS GIN AND THESE SANDWICHES

"Fabulous acting, and the set? A picture-perfect testament to sepia-tinged bohemian dinge. However. Three hours long? Three jaw-clenching, breath-holding, pee-pee-dancing hours?" (Adrian Ryan) Theatre Under the Influence at Union Garage Performance Center, 1416/1418 10th Ave, 720-1942. $14. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 6 pm. Through Feb 8.

THE TRIUMPH OF LOVE

"Please don't let me be misunderstood--I love classical fogies. But if you're looking for a heroine-featuring wit-fest, go straight to the horse's mouth and read a three-dollar used copy of Much Ado About Nothing from your local used bookstore, and skip the $40 ticket." (Brendan Kiley) Seattle Repertory Theatre, 155 Mercer St, 443-2222. $15-$40. Tues-Fri at 7:30 pm, Sat-Sun at 2 and 7:30 pm. Through Feb 15.

FESTIVALS, CABARET, & COMEDY


COMEDY COURT

Improv comedy... in a courtroom setting! Motion denied. Comedy Court at Odd Duck Studios, 1214 10th Ave, 442-2044. $7. Sat at 8 pm.

* FRANKENOCCHIO

Opening. Monkey Wrench Puppet Lab, the masterminds behind Suzy and Nice Nice and the ever-popular Drunk Puppet Nite, present their latest abomination of puppet theater, whose title pretty much speaks for itself. Monkey Wrench Puppet Lab at Nippon Kan Theatre, 628 S Washington St, 340-1445. $13-$15. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 7 pm. Through Feb 21.

ORIGINAL WORKS FESTIVAL 2003

Ten days of student-produced works, lectures, and Q&A on the Cornish campus. Cornish College of the Arts, 710 E Roy, 323-1400. Call 323-1400 x1314 for full details. Through Feb 9.

STUDIO SERIES 2003

Freehold students, alumni, and faculty let loose in this series featuring 18 different performance events; each week will feature a new lineup of staged readings, dance, and original plays. Call for scheduling info. Freehold's East Hall Theatre, 1525 10th Ave, second floor, 323-7499. Donation. Thurs Jan 30 at 8 pm.

DANCE


AEROS: THE ILLUSION OF FLIGHT

One night only. Take a boatload of Romanian gymnasts, hand 'em over to the celebrated choreographers who crafted Stomp, throw in some adjectives like "high-octane," and you've got yourself Aeros--and perhaps a clever punch line. Paramount Theatre, 911 Pine St, 292-2787. $27-$47. Fri Jan 31 at 8 pm.

RUSSIAN NIGHTS

If the winter months are leaving you a little icy, check out the steamy, sweat-soaked sheen of these hot Russian nights--works by Marius Petipa and George Balanchine. Mercer Arts Arena, 363 Mercer St, 292-ARTS. $16-$110. Thurs-Sat at 7:30 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through Feb 8.

LATE NIGHT


THE TWILIGHT ZONE

Opening. The cash cow returns... and it's thirsty for blood! Theater Schmeater, 1500 Summit Ave, 324-5801. $10. Fri-Sat at 11 pm. Through Feb 22.