AS YOU LIKE IT
TAG stages Don Nigro's adaptation of the Shakespearean comedy for just seven actors. Tacoma Actors Guild, 901 Broadway Ave, Suite 600, Tacoma, 253-272-2145. $12.50-$28. Thurs at 7 pm, Fri-Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 2 and 7 pm, Tues at 7 pm, Wed at 2 and 8 pm. Through May 9.
BEAUTY OF THE FATHER
The premiere of a new play by Nilo Cruz, about the reunion of a young woman with her estranged artist father. Seattle Repertory Theatre, 155 Mercer St, Seattle Center, 443-2222. $10-$29. Thurs-Fri at 7:30 pm, Sat-Sun at 2 and 7:30 pm, Tues-Wed at 7:30 pm. Through May 15.
BLACK COFFEE
Final week. "In ACT's production, the actors have polished their own variation on a kind of PBS high camp, just arch enough to say 'I'm not taking this stuff seriously' but articulating nothing else. I laughed, particularly at the glee David Pichette took in playing finicky Belgian detective Hercule Poirot, but the experience of watching Black Coffee faded from my memory even while it was happening." (Bret Fetzer) ACT Theatre, 700 Union St, 292-7676. $20-$36. Thurs-Fri at 7 pm, Sat at 2 and 7 pm, Sun at 1 and 6 pm. Through May 2.
CENTER OF GRAVITY
Final week. "As Orville and Wilbur, Shawn Law and Cory Nealy bounce off of each other like the frenzied ideas in the brothers' own heads. But Julia Leonas, as the brothers' mother, is woefully out of synch; her flat, sluggish performance makes the play--much of which is utterly charming--feel only partially digested. " (Bret Fetzer) Theatre Babylon at Union Garage, 1418 10th Ave, 720-1942. $12-$15. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm. Through May 1.
COWBOY MOUTH
See review this issue. Cowboy Mouth is a rock musical by Sam Shepard and Patti Smith that's loosely based on their tumultuous nine-month affair; this production features live music from members of the Tight Bros from Way Back When. Narrow Escape at Rendezvous, 2320 Second Ave, 226-5508. $10-$12, 21+ w/ID required. Fri-Sat at 8 pm. Through May 8.
CRASH! THE POW BOOM SERIES
Final week. A festival of short plays by emerging playwrights. JEM Arts Center, 6012 12th Ave S, 763-5830. $10. Fri-Sat at 8 pm. Through May 1.
CROWNS
Opening. A new gospel musical by Regina Taylor exploring the religious and cultural importance of hats. Intiman Playhouse, 201 Mercer St, Seattle Center, 269-1900. $10-$46. Preview performances Fri-Sat April 30-May 1 at 8 pm, Sun May 2 at 7:30 pm, Tues May 4 at 7:30 pm. Opening Wed May 5 at 7:30 pm. Through May 28.
* EDMOND
"By way of this smart, painfully intimate staging, the audience is dragged on an emotionally numbing but sickly fascinating journey through the lowest sleaze-caked cesspits of mankind's worst imaginings. In between urges to shower off my soul, abscond from the human race, and take a prolonged nervous breakdown, I think I loved it. " (Adrian Ryan) Open Circle Theater, 429 Boren Ave N, 382-4250. $12. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm. Through May 8.
* FOOLS
Final week. "Fools is an extra-G-rated, community-oriented, even-the-damn-Mormons-couldn't-find-a-problem-with-it type romp through total fluff. Don't hate me if I thought it was adorable, too. " (Adrian Ryan) Taproot Theatre, 204 N 85th St, 781-9707. $10-$28. Thurs at 7:30 pm, Fri at 8 pm, Sat at 2 and 8 pm. Through May 1.
THE GOOD BODY
Final week. Eve Ensler--mastermind of The Vagina Monologues--workshops her newest work, exploring "body image." Seattle Repertory Theatre, 155 Mercer St, Seattle Center, 443-2222. $10-$35. Thurs-Fri at 7 pm, Sat at 1:30 and 7 pm, Sun at 7 pm, Mon at 7:30 pm. Through May 3.
HAMLET: MORE HONOUR'D IN THE BREACH THAN THE OBSERVANCE
Opening. Four actors perform all the roles in this restaging of Hamlet. Straight-Edge Theatrics at Chamber Theatre, 915 E Pine St, 632-9800. $8-$12. Opening Fri April 30 at 8 pm. Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through May 16.
HONK! THE UGLY DUCKLING MUSICAL
Final week. See review this issue. A musical adaptation of the Hans Christian Andersen classic. ArtsWest, 4711 California Ave SW, 938-0339. $10-$28. Thurs-Fri at 7:30 pm, Sat at 3 and 7:30 pm. Through May 1.
INTO THE WOODS
Stephen Sondheim's fairy-tale musical. Repertory Actors Theatre at Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center, 104 17th Ave S, 364-3283. $15-$18. Thurs-Sat at 7:30 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through May 30.
IT AIN'T NOTHING BUT THE BLUES
See review this issue. A blues-ical with more than three-dozen songs. That's 36, in case you've forgotten your arithmetic. Seattle Repertory Theatre, Seattle Center, 443-2222. $10-$46. Thurs-Fri at 7:30 pm, Sat at 2 and 7:30 pm, Sun at 2 pm, Tues-Wed at 7:30 pm. Through May 8.
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM
"Though director Arne Zaslove has some fun applying shtick to the four mismatched lovers, the rest of the play comes across as a chore he had to get through. To bend the rules of a genre, you've got to exercise some imagination and wit. If what you really want to do is stage a revue of old songs, leave Shakespeare out of it. " (Bret Fetzer) Seattle Shakespeare Company at Center House Theatre, 305 Harrison St, Seattle Center, 733-8222. $18-$24. Thurs-Fri at 7:30 pm, Sat at 2 and 7:30 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through May 8.
MRS. PIGGLE-WIGGLE
A musical adaptation of the children's books by Betty MacDonald. (Stoner alert: Set features a completely upside-down house!) Seattle Children's Theatre, 201 Thomas St, Seattle Center, 441-3322. $14-$26. Fri at 7 pm, Sat-Sun at 2 and 5:30 pm. Through June 13.
NATIVE-RELATED
One weekend only. A production from Red Eagle Soaring Youth Theatre Program exploring Native American identity in an urban context. Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center, Discovery Park, 323-1868. Donation. Thurs-Fri April 29-30 at 7:30 pm.
PROOF
Mathematics and madness and mystery, oh my! SecondStory Repertory, 16587 NE 74th St, Redmond, 425-881-6777. $14-$18. Fri-Sat at 8:15 pm, Sun at 2:15 pm. Through May 8.
QUEST FOR PLANET X
One night only. Bunraku puppet theater with a futuristic theme. Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center, 104 17th Ave S, 524-3388. $7-$9. Sat May 1 at 1 pm.
SAUCY JACK AND THE SPACE VIXENS
See review this issue. The West Coast premiere of a disco/techno musical based on the book by Charlotte Mann. Re-bar, 1114 Howell St, 323-0388. $10-$12. Thurs-Sun at 8 pm. Through May 8.
THE SHADOW OF A GUNMAN
Final week. A Dublin poet lets his neighbors think he has a slightly more glamorous occupation in this 1923 play, produced by a new theater company dedicated to promoting Irish drama. Gael Force Theatre at Odd Duck Studio, 1214 10th Ave, 325-6500. $7-$14. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through May 2.
THE TAVERN
Opening. A revival of the George Cohan mystery-melodrama, timed to coincide with the 5th Avenue musical about the playwright. Seattle Public Theatre at the Bathhouse Theatre, 7312 W Green Lake Dr N, 325-6500. $10-$18. Opening Fri April 30 at 7:30 pm. Sat at 7:30 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through May 23.
WHAT IS IT LIKE TO BE JOE BOLING?
One night only. A reprise of the Fringe Fest hit about the life of Joe Boling, the Seattle man who's seen more plays than anyone in the world. Starring Mr. Boling himself! Theatre Babylon at Union Garage, 1418 10th Ave, 720-1942. $12-$15. Wed May 5 at 8 pm.
YANKEE DOODLE DANDY
Opening. The world premiere of a musical about George M. Cohan, the inventor of that quintessentially American theatrical form. 5th Avenue Theatre, 1308 Fifth Ave, 292-2787. $18-$64. Opening Thurs April 29 at 8 pm. Fri at 8 pm, Sat at 2 and 8 pm, Sun at 1 and 7 pm, Tues-Wed at 7:30 pm. Through May 16.
DANCE
FLOOR OF THE FOREST
Cornish and UW dance students perform a 1970 dance by Trisha Brown in conjunction with Brown's Henry Art Gallery exhibition. Henry Art Gallery, 15th Ave and NE 41st St, 543-2280. Free with museum admission ($6-$8). Thurs at 6:15 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through July 18.
LINGO DANCETHEATER AND MIZUTO ABURA DANCE/THEATER COMPANY
One weekend only. KT Niehoff's company performs Speak to Me and a physical theater troupe from Japan presents the Northwest premiere of Soup. Kirkland Performance Center, 350 Kirkland Ave, Kirkland, 425-828-0422. $11-$21. Fri-Sat April 30-May 1 at 8 pm.
UNEXPECTED COMPANY
One weekend only. An evening of dance by Deborah Birrane, including the premiere of Busted and four repertory works. Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, 852-4075. $7-$14. Fri-Sat April 30-May 1 at 8 pm, Sun May 2 at 2:30 and 7:30 pm.
FESTIVALS, CABARET, & COMEDY
HARROLD GOMEZ
One weekend only. Standup comedy at Comedy Underground, 222 S Main St, 628-0303. $6-$12. Thurs at 8:30 pm, Fri-Sat at 8:30 and 10:30 pm.
SEATTLE INTERNATIONAL NIGHTS
Opening. The Seattle International Children's Festival is engaging in adult outreach, starting with this production of German puppeteer Hendrik Mannes' Flamingo Bar. Consolidated Works, 500 Boren Ave N, 684-7346. $12-$15. Opening Wed May 5 at 8 pm. Through May 9 (production), May 14 (festival). For more information see www.seattleinternational.org.
SEATTLE NEUTRINO PROJECT
Dedicated to the art of live, improvised movies. Historic University Theatre, 5510 University Way NE, 325-6500. $10. Thurs-Fri at 8 pm. Through May 21.
SHAKESPEARE ON ICE!
One night only. A sketch comedy show that involves neither Shakespeare nor ice. Ethnic Cultural Center, 3940 Brooklyn Ave NE. Tickets available at the door only, $4. Thurs April 29 at 8 pm.
SPRING STING
One night only. The Queen Bees present an evening of seasonal burlesque. Rendezvous, 2320 Second Ave, 441-5823. $5. Thurs April 29 at 7 and 9 pm.
LATE NIGHT
* CARLOTTA'S LATE NITE WING-DING
Opening. Carlotta's back for four weeks of shenanigans, with guests from Seattle's fringe scene. Northwest Actors Studio, 1100 E Pike St, 325-6500. $8-$12. Opening Fri April 30 at 10:30 pm. Sat at 10:30 pm. Through May 22.
TAPROOT IMPROV COMEDY
Final week. Christian improv? We are so there. Taproot Theatre, 204 N 85th St, 781-9707. $5. Fri at 10:15 pm. Through April 30.
SPECIAL EVENTS
FALLEN WOMEN FOLLIES/NAKED TRUTH
One night only. A benefit for the Raelyn Gallina Survival Fund, this show features Tamara the Trapeze Lady and Lamar Van Dyke. Consolidated Works, 500 Boren Ave N. Tickets available at the door only, $12. Sat May 1 at 7 pm.
WRINKLES OF WASHINGTON
One night only. This very special benefit for Civic Light Opera features some kicky older ladies, rousing song, and tasty desserts. Edmonds Floral Conference Centre, 201 Fourth Ave N, Edmonds, 363-2809. $50. Fri April 30 at 7 pm.
LONG RUNS
BIG WHEEL BINGO at Rendezvous, 441-5823.
DON'T TELL MOMMA at Thumper's, 328-3800.
* THE HOKUM HALL VARIETY SHOW at Hokum Hall, 937-3613.
JET CITY IMPROV at Historic University Theatre, 352-8291.
LATE NIGHT CATECHISM from Seattle Theatre Project at ACT, 292-7676.
TEATRO ZINZANNI at 2301 Sixth Ave, 802-0015.
