OPENING AND CURRENT RUNS

ACCIDENTAL DEATH OF AN ANARCHISTOpening. Dario Fo's tragic farce about an actual pacifist-anarchist who "fell" from a fourth-floor window while in the custody of Italian police in 1969. Directed by Gabriel Baron of Collaborator. Strawberry Theatre Workshop at Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, www.brownpapertickets.com. $15–$20. Opening Fri Sept 9 at 7:30 pm. Thurs–Sun at 7:30 pm. Through Oct 9.

ARE WE SCARED?One week only. "Open Circle based Are We Scared? entirely on stories and poems created by preschool children. Repetitions and non sequiturs abound, yet there's a glorious headlong momentum." (Bret Fetzer) Open Circle Theater, 429 Boren Ave N, 382-4250. $6–$10. Thurs–Sat at 8 pm. Through Sept 10.

THE BEAUTY PAGEANTJust like a real beauty pageant, except it isn't rigged—and it wants to be funny. Wing-It Productions at Historic University Theater, 5510 University Way NE, www.thebeautypageant.com. $8–$10. Thurs–Fri at 8 pm. Through Sept 23.

CATHAY: THREE TALES OF CHINAPreviewing. Tales from China's past and present told with over 140 puppets. Written and directed by Ping Chong. Seattle Repertory Theatre, 155 Mercer St, 443-2222. $10–$46. Preview performances Sat Sept 10 at 7:30 pm and 2 pm, Sun Sept 11 at 2 pm. Through Oct 9.

recommended CRAVEOpening. See Theater News. Washington Ensemble Theatre at Little Theatre, 608 19th Ave E, Seattle, 800-838-3006. $10-$15. Preview performance Thurs Sept 8 at 7 pm. Opening Fri Sept 9 at 8 pm. Sat and Mon at 8 pm, Sun at 7 pm. Through Oct 3.

DEFENDING THE CAVEMANOngoing. This mid-'90s relic by comedian Rob Becker is about the supposed prehistoric propensities of the two sexes. ACT Theatre, 700 Union St, 292-7676. $39.50–$45. Fri at 7:30 pm, Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 3 pm. Tickets available through Sept 18.

DINNER & DREAMSOngoing. "In the tame summer edition of Teatro ZinZanni, Frank Ferrante is the cra-a-a-a-azy Chef Caesar, and his TV-style shenanigans are audience-provocation lite." (Annie Wagner) Teatro ZinZanni, 2301 Sixth Ave, 802-0015. $99. Thurs–Sat at 6:30 pm, Sun at 5:30 pm (some additional Wed shows).

GEORGE M!Opening. A tribute to George M. Cohan: vaudevillian, dancer, and composer of "You're a Grand Old Flag." Civic Light Opera, 7400 Sand Point Way NE, 363-2809. $25–$35. Opening Fri Sept 9 at 8 pm. Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through Sept 25.

recommended GO THEREOne night only. A performance of Stranger Genius Award–winner Sarah Rudinoff's 2003 hit solo show before it tours to the Time-Based Art Festival in Portland. Directed by Nick Garrison and accompanied by Chris Jeffries and Rick Miller. Theatre Off Jackson, 409 Seventh Ave S, 340-1049. $15. Mon Sept 12 at 7:30 pm.

GREASY DEMON HEATSee review this issue. Gallery 1412, 1412 18th Ave, 322-1533, except for the Fri Sept 16 show, which is at Vertebrae Theater, 321 Third Ave S, 526-8093. $5–$15. Fri Sept 9 at 8 pm. Through Sept 30.

GREEN NIGHTOpening. John Kaufmann's riff on Sir Gawain and the Green Night, with weather balloons, missile systems, and a magical island. Directed by Shawn Belyea. Macha Monkey Productions at Chamber Theater, 915 E Pine St, fourth floor, www.brownpapertickets.com. $12–$15. Opening Fri Sept 9 at 8 pm. Sat at 8 pm. Through Sept 24.

HAMLET X: THE TRAGEDY OF EL-HAJJ MALIK EL-SHABAZZOpening. Like Hamlet, but set in a cross between "the Nation of Islam, true Islam, and the separatist utopia envisioned by Malcolm X during the middle stage of his life." Brownbox Theatre, Rainier Valley Cultural Center, 3515 S Alaska St, 335-7020. $12–$15. Opening Sat Sept 10 at 7:30 pm. Sun at 3 pm. Through Oct 2.

INTIMATE APPAREL"At two and a half hours, Intimate Apparel drags ass. The characters aren't interesting." (Brendan Kiley) Intiman Theatre, 201 Mercer St, Seattle Center, 269-1900. $10–$46. Thurs at 7:30 pm, Fri at 8 pm, Sat at 2 and 8 pm, Sun at 2 and 7:30 pm, Tues at 7:30 pm, Wed at 7:30 pm. Through Sept 24.

LATE NITE CATECHISMOngoing. "The real point is not the monologue but the script's gaps, in which Sister (Aubrey Manning) dispenses tissues to cover salacious displays of flesh and kitschy prizes to reward the dumbstruck targets of her improvisations." (Annie Wagner) Cloud 9 Productions at ACT Theatre, 700 Union St, 292-7676. $24.50–$29.50. Thurs–Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 2 pm.

THE LAST FIVE YEARSOpening. A Jewish wannabe novelist and Catholic wannabe actress meet, fall in love, and sing about it. ReAct Theatre at Freehold's East Hall Theater, 915 E Pine St, second floor, 364-3283. $12–$18. Opening Thurs Sept 8 at 7:30 pm. Fri at 8 pm, Sat at 8 and 11 pm, Sun (by donation) at 2 pm. Through Oct 2.

MY LAST YEAR WITH THE NUNSSee review this issue. Unexpected Productions at Market Theatre, Pike Place Market, 1428 Post Alley, 781-9273. $15. Fridays at 8 pm. Through Sept 23.

RIFF RAFFSee review this issue. Theater Schmeater, 1500 Summit Ave, 325-6500. Thurs by donation, Fri–Sat $18. Thurs–Sat at 8 pm. Through Oct 1.

recommended SKETCHFEST SEATTLESee Stranger Suggests, page 29. The first sketch festival in North America soldiers on, featuring local troupes Flaming Box of Stuff and Champagne, plus Elephant Larry (NYC), Animal Club (Chicago), and more. Capitol Hill Arts Center, 1621 12th Ave, www.brownpapertickets.com. $15 per show (see sketchfest.org for complete lineup). Thurs–Sat at 8 and 10 pm. Through Sept 17.

VERBATIM VERBOTENActors performing a rotating series of word-for-word interview transcripts, featuring famous people who thought they were talking off the record. Clove Productions and Quade Productions at Rendezvous, 2322 Second Ave, 624-4455. $10–$12. Fri-Sat at 8 pm. Through Sept 24.

VINCENT IN BRIXTONOpening. Young Van Gogh as a South London art dealer, before he was famous enough to merit a Don McLean song. Directed by Kurt Beattie. ACT Theatre, 700 Union St, 292-7676. $10–$54. Opening Thurs Sept 8 at 7:30 pm. Tues–Thurs at 7:30 pm, Fri–Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 7:30 pm. Through Oct 2.

DANCE

TERPSICHOREOne weekend only. Modern dance from choreographers Vania Bynum, Sarah Champion, Eric Clothier ,and Jaime Waliczek. Jeroba Dance at Broadway Performance Hall, 1625 Broadway, www.ticketwindowonline.com. $15–$18. Fri–Sat at 8 pm. Through Sept 10.

CABARET

THE ATOMIC BOMBSHELLSBurlesque at Triple Door, 216 Union St, 828-4333. $15 advance, $18 day of show. Tues at 7:30 pm. Through Sept 27.

A FOXIE CABARET!The gag burlesque troupe the Von Foxies at Rendezvous, 2232 Second Ave, tickets at the door or vonfoxies@yahoo.com. $10. Thurs at 7 and 8:30 pm. Through Sept 22.

IMPROV & COMEDY

CATHY SORBO at Comedy Underground, 222 Main St, 800-325-7328. $6–$12 (21+ w/ID required). Thurs at 8:30 pm, Fri–Sat at 8:30 and 10:30 pm. JET CITY IMPROV at Historic University Theater, 5510 University Way NE, 325-6500. $8–$10. Fri at 10:30 pm, Sat at 8 and 10:30 pm. Fri–Sat at 8:30 and 10 pm. THEATRESPORTS at Market Theatre, 1428 Post Alley, 781-9273. $8–$12. Sun at 7 pm. UNHINGED (featuring Cathy Sorbo and Andy Peters) at Mirabeau Room, 529 Queen Anne Ave N. $6. Wed Sept 14 at 8 pm.

LATE NIGHT

MONEY & RUN: JUKE BOX MOMMA!Opening. Our favorite late-night serial, featuring the ass-kicking denizens of Cudrup County, is back. Theater Schmeater, 1500 Summit Ave, 325-6500, www.ticketwindowonline.com. Thurs by donation, Fri–Sat $12. Preview performance Thurs Sept 8 at 11 pm. Opening Fri Sept 9 at 11 pm. Thurs–Sat at 11 pm. Through Oct 1.

SPECIAL EVENTS

DARK DIVASA "highly energetic" tribute to Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, and others. Nu Black Arts West Theatre at Rainier Valley Cultural Center, 3515 S Alaska St, 760-4285. $3–$5. Sat Sept 10 at 5 pm.

SLEEPWALKING APOCALYPSE: 9/11One day only. Outdoor performance art "exploring grief, memory, homeland security, and the conflicting dreams and fears of a divided people at war." Theater Squad at Green Lake Park, 63rd Ave and East Green Lake Way N, 633-1086. Free. Sun Sept 11 at 2 pm.