OPENING AND CURRENT RUNS

AXOLOTL
Final week. See review this issue. Chamber Theater, 915 E Pine St, 790-1645. $12–$18 adv/$15–$20 DOS. Fri–Sun at 8 pm. Through Oct 16.

B-MOVIE
Mad doctors, giant insects, improv. Wing-It Productions at Historic University Theater, 5510 University Way NE, www.wingitpresents.com. $8–$10. Thurs–Fri at 8 pm. Through Nov 18.

BAGUETTE
Final week. Tom Scanlon's play about scuzzy L.A. actors doing a hiphop version of Waiting for Godot. Stone Soup Theater, 4035 Stone Way, 309-8947. $5–$10. Fri–Sat at 8 pm. Through Oct 15.

BLOOD BROTHERS
A musical hit from London examining social and class issues vis-à-vis twins separated at birth. ArtsWest, 4711 California Ave SW, 938-0339. $12–$28. Thurs–Sat at 7:30 pm (occasional matinees). Through Oct 29.

CAMPFIRE
Creepy audience stories spun into campfire tales by improv performers. Unexpected Productions at Market Theater, 1428 Post Alley in Pike Place Market, 781-9273. $10. Sat at 8 pm. Through Nov 5.

THE COMPENDIUM OF NASTINESS
Written and directed by Ki Gottberg (Ubu at Empty Space), performed by Elizabeth Kenny (Bash at New City Theater). The Womb (AKA Ki Gottberg's Garage), tickets and directions available through www.brownpapertickets.com. $15. Fri–Sat at 8:30 pm. Through Oct 29.

DEATH OF A SALESMAN
See review this issue. Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center, 104 17th Ave S, 684-4758. $10–$18. Thurs–Fri at 7:30 pm, Sat at 2 and 7:30 pm. Through Nov 6.

DEFENDING THE CAVEMAN
Ongoing. A mid-'90s relic 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 Oct 30.

DELAWARE: A SUBTLE SPECTACULAR
Music, waffles, and melancholy with "Awesome," actors, and me. Written by Tim Sanders and directed by Matt Fontaine. Re-bar, 1114 Howell St, 706-4789. $14. Sat at 8 pm. Through Oct 29.

DINNER & DREAMS
Ongoing. The dinner theater extravaganza, with European-style cirque performances as garnish. Teatro ZinZanni, 2301 Sixth Ave, 802-0015. $99. Thurs–Sat at 6:30 pm, Sun at 5:30 pm (some additional Wed shows).

DON QUIXOTE
Final week. "Act 1 proves disastrous and insulting: A sort of CliffsNotes version of the first half of Don Quixote, reduced to repetitive, lackluster slapstick. Fortunately, Act 2 is a radical improvement. The narrative turns in on itself with layers of self-referentiality, which proves to be engagingly theatrical and emotionally complex." (Bret Fetzer) Book-It Repertory at Seattle Center House Theatre, 305 Harrison St, 216-0833. $15–$30. Wed–Fri at 7:30 pm, Sat at 2 and 7:30 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through Oct 16.

THE END OF THE AFFAIR
Opening. The opera based on Graham Greene's 1951 novel about jealousy, extramarital relations, and deals with God. McCaw Hall, 1020 John St, 389-7676. $41-$135. Opening Sat Oct 15 at 7:30 pm. Sun at 2 pm, and Wed at 7:30 pm. Through Oct 29.

THE FRONT PAGE
"As a burlesque of ambulance-chasing, scandal-hungry journalists, The Front Page is fantastic. As a piece of comic theater, it's middling—the show bears the stamp of an overwhelmed director. But the set! It looks like a fantasy of a 1920s Chicago pressroom—the floors, the desks, the big windows, the old wire wastepaper baskets, the old candlestick phones." (Brendan Kiley) Annex Theatre at Capitol Hill Arts Center, 1621 12th Ave, www.brownpapertickets.com. $10–$15. Thurs–Sat at 7:30 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through Oct 22.

FROZEN
"Delivered mostly through monologues, Frozen follows three characters linked by the disappearance of 10-year-old Rhona: her mother, her male abductor, and the psychologist sent to study him. The plot is simple, but the characters are riveting. There's one particularly cheesy and awful exchange toward the end of the play that every production should 'forget' to deliver—but Chaw Yew's direction is tight, the visual design is evocative, and two of the three performances are mindbendingly great." (Brendan Kiley) Empty Space Theatre, 3509 Fremont Ave N, 547-7500. $10–$30. Thurs at 7:30 pm, Fri–Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 2 and 7:30 pm, Wed at 7:30 pm. Through Oct 23.

THE GRAPES OF WRATH
Opening. A Tony-winning adaptation of Steinbeck's Pulitzer-winning novel with 21 actors, directed by Children's Theatre artistic director Linda Hartzell. Intiman Theatre, Seattle Center 201 Mercer St, 269-1900. $27–$46. Preview performance Thurs Oct 13 at 7:30 by donation. Opening Fri Oct 14 at 8 pm. Sat at 2 and 8 pm, Sun at 2 and 7:30 pm, Tues–Wed at 7:30 pm. Through Nov 13.

THE HAINT
Opening. Troy Mink's celebrated and funny solo show about a brutal murder/suicide in Midway, Tennessee that leads to a haunting. A debate about turning the ghost into a tourist attraction polarizes the townsfolk. Mink plays all 10 characters, including Carlotta Sue Philpott, host of Carlotta's Wing Ding. Northwest Actors Studio, 1100 E Pike St, www.brownpapertickets.com. $13. Opening Thurs Oct 13 at 8 pm. Thurs–Sat at 8 pm. Through Oct 30.

A HAND OF BRIDGE
One week only. A one-act chamber opera by Samuel Barber (soon to be a film directed by Curtis Taylor), performed in a recital with works by Villa Lobos, Prokofiev, and others. Magnuson Auditorium at Magnuson Park, 7110 62nd Ave NE, www.brownpapertickets.com. $7–$18. Wed Oct 19–Sun Oct 23 at 8 pm.

H. P. LOVECRAFT ARKHAM
A new triptych of terror by the deceased Rhode Island occultist: The Shunned House, Cool Air, and Shadow Over Innsmouth. Directed by Open Circle artistic director Ron Sandahl. Open Circle Theater, 429 Boren Ave N, 382-4250. $13. Thurs–Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 4 pm. Through Nov 12.

THE IKEA CYCLE: TINY DOMESTIC DRAMAS
Watch short plays while shopping for lamps. Written and directed by Keri Healey with Stephen Hando, Stacey Plum, and other fine local talents. Printer's Devil Theater at IKEA, 600 SW 43rd St, Renton. Free, no reservations. Mon and Wed at 7 pm. Through Nov 9.

THE KING STAG
"The King Stag is vintage 18th-century commedia with romance, comedy, fantastic settings, masks, turns of fortune, and moralizing. Locals Charles Leggett and Sarah Rudinoff are endearingly funny, while R. Hamilton Wright is appropriately nauseating as the bilious prime minister. The King Stag occasionally drags ass, but is packed with theatrical spectacle. The king emerges in an enormous white cone topped by his head and the finale—well, if you can't enjoy 'Sweet Caroline' and a veritable weather system of bubbles, you're made of metal." (Brendan Kiley) Seattle Repertory Theatre, 155 Mercer St, 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 Oct 22.

LATE NITE CATECHISM
Ongoing. "The real point is not the adult-catechism 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. What distinguishes Late Nite from the walking cartoons at Disneyland is that your name, your background, and your behavior become the crux of the performance." (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.

LAST TRAIN TO NIBROC
See review this issue. Taproot Theatre, 204 N 85th St, 781-9707. $15–$29. Fri at 8 pm. Sat at 2 and 8 pm, Wed–Thurs at 7:30 pm. Through Oct 29.

LOLA TAROT
"Audience members come up to the stage with questions for the tarot cards. After an assistant draws three cards, the cast acts them out. There is nothing remotely interesting about the process. (Annie Wagner) Rendezvous, 2322 Second Ave,www.brownpapertickets.com. $15 (21+ w/ID required). Fri–Sat at 7:30 pm. Through Nov 12.

MENOPAUSE THE MUSICAL™
"What makes this toweringly formulaic and very demographic-specific crap about dusty uteruses even moderately bearable? The consummate cast was ferocious and fast—they rush in, slap you around with jokes about memory lapses and no sex and saggy boobs and then they rush out. Ninety tight minutes of an insane, colorful, and sometimes actually laugh-worthy little train wreck that stops just before it starts to hurt." (Adrian Ryan)

ACT Theatre, 700 Union St, 292-7676. $45. Thurs–Fri at 8 pm, Sat at 4 and 8 pm, Sun at 2 pm, Tues–Wed at 8 pm. Through Nov 6.

NOTHING IS THE SAME
The lives and friendships of four 11-year-olds of Korean, Japanese, and Filipino descent living in Hawaii just after the Pearl Harbor bombing. Performed in Hawaiian Pidgin. Honolulu Theatre for Youth at Seattle Children's Theatre, 201 Thomas St, 441-3322. $15–$30. Fri at 7 pm, Sat–Sun at 2 and 5:30 pm. Through Nov 20.

PULP VIXENS DOUBLE FEATURE
Opening. Hung by the Chimney and A Fistful of Lesbians by local playwright Scot Augustson (The Chris Schussler Incident). Theatre Off Jackson, 409 Seventh Ave, www.brownpapertickets.com. $15. Preview performance Thurs Oct 13 at 8 pm, by donation. Opening Fri Oct 14 at 8 pm. Thurs–Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 4 pm. Through Nov 13.

THE ROVER
Opening. It's carnival time in Naples and somebody's gonna get laid! Written in the 1600s by Aphra Behn, one of England's first professional woman writers. Ghost Light Theatricals at Freehold's East Hall, 1529 10th Ave, 325-6500. $10–$12. Opening Thurs Oct 13 at 7:30 pm. Thurs--Sat at 7:30 pm. Through Oct 29.

SCAB
Final week. Sheila Callaghan's play about a grad-school love triangle (two chicks and a dude, if you're counting). Also featuring a malevolent statue of the Virgin Mary. Live Girls! Theater, 2220 NW Market St, www.brownpapertickets.com. $9–$12. Fri–Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through Oct 16.

SEUSSICAL
A Dr. Seuss tribute musical by Ahrens and Flaherty, who created the score for Ragtime. Seattle Children's Theatre, 201 Thomas St, 441-3322. $15–$30. Thurs–Fri at 7 pm, Sat–Sun at 2 and 5:30 pm. Through Nov 18.

STARBALL
"Starball, which John Kaufmann and Dan Dennis have performed in planetariums from Chicago to Spain, is a sparkling goulash of astronomy, music, and choreographed chaos." (Brendan Kiley) Smith Planetarium, Pacific Science Center, 200 Second Ave N, 352-1777. $12–$17. Thurs at 8 pm, Fri at 10 pm, Sat–Sun at 8 pm. Through Oct 23.

STIMULUS
"They call it long-form improv—which I heartily recommend as a party game but, like any party game, it's more fun to play than to watch." (Brendan Kiley) NW Actor's Studio, 1100 E Pike St, 324-6328. $10. Sat at 10:30 pm. Through Nov 12.

VERBATIM VERBOTEN
Ongoing. "Verbatim Verboten is a succession of minimally staged scenes bringing dirty voice mails, court transcripts, and other modes of celebrity embarrassment to life. Hilarity abounds, but just as often the actors don't interpret the transcripts so much as read them aloud." (Mariesa Bus) Clove Productions and Quade Productions at Rendezvous, 2322 Second Ave, 624-4455. $10–$12. Thurs at 8 pm.

FLASHDANCE
See Stranger Suggests, page 41. Brown Derby Series at Re-bar, 1114 Howell St, no reservations. $10. Mon Oct 17–Wed Oct 19 at 8 pm.

WIT
A 1999 Pulitzer-winning play about a literature professor battling cancer and "changing lives along the way." Seattle Public Theater at the Bathhouse, 7312 W Green Lake Dr N, 524-1300. $12–$20. Thurs–Sat at 7:30 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through Oct 23.

DANCE

BLUEPRINT OF A LADY: THE ONCE AND FUTURE LIFE OF BILLIE HOLIDAY
One week only. A multimedia performance based on the jazz legend as part of the University of Washington's World Dance Series. Meany Theater, 15th Ave and NE 40th St, 543-4880. $40. Thurs Oct 13-–Sat Oct 15 at 8 pm.

ELOQUENCE
One week only. ARC Dance Productions at Shorecrest Performing Arts Center, 15343 25th Ave NE, 352-0798. $10–$20. Fri Oct 14–Sat Oct 15 at 7:30 pm.

NEW FORMULA
Final week. An evening of work by Mark Haim, Wade Madsen, Rob Kitsos, and Michael Foley. d9 Dance Collective at Velocity MainSpace, 915 E Pine St, 781-7746. $12 adv/$14 DOS. Fri–Sun at 8 pm.

TUNING SCORES
One week only. A performance/research event. Velocity MainSpace, 915 E Pine St, 781-7746, by donation. Thurs Oct 13–Fri Oct 14 at 3 pm.

CABARET

THE ATOMIC BOMBSHELLS BURLESQUE
Tits, ass, and sassafras. Mirabeau Room, 529 Queen Anne Ave N, www.ticketswest.com. $12 adv/$15 DOS. Thurs at 8 pm. Through Dec 15.

SWINGING RADIO HOUR
Dinner cabaret modeled after an old-time radio show. Century Ballroom, 915 E Pine St, 325-6500. $20–$25 (show only), $60 (w/dinner included). Show starts Fri–Sat at 7:30 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through Nov 19.

IMPROV & COMEDY

JIM SHORT at Comedy Underground, 222 Main St, 800-325-7328. $15 (21+ w/ID required). Thurs at 8:30 pm, Fri–Sat at 8:30 and 10:30 pm. DUANE GOAD at Giggles Comedy Club, 5220 Roosevelt Way NE, 526-5653. $12. Fri–Sat Oct 14–15 at 8:30 and 10 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 at Mirabeau Room, 529 Queen Anne Ave N. $6. Wed Oct 5 at 8 pm.

SEATTLE COMEDY FESTIVAL
Drew Carey, Richard Lewis, Norm MacDonald, and many more. Paramount Theatre and Moore Theatre, Oct 13 www.ticketmaster.com or www.theparamount.com for tickets and details, respectively.

LATE NIGHT

PSYCHOPOMP PRESENTS
Opening. "A Grand Guignol for the soul," Psychopomp presents three world-premiere shorts by Paul Mullin, Louis Broome, and Stephanie Timm. Psychopomp Cooperative at Capitol Hill Arts Center, 1621 12th Ave, www.brownpapertickets.com. $10 (21+ w/ID required). Preview performance Thurs Oct 13 at 11 pm. Opening Fri Oct 14 at 11 pm. Thurs–Sat at 11 pm. Through Oct 31.

SPECIAL EVENTS

DESIRE UNDER THE ELMS
One night only. A reading of the Eugene O'Neill play by the new Our American Theater Company. Theatre Off Jackson, 409 Seventh Ave S, www.theatreoffjackson.org. By donation. Mon Oct 17 at 7:30 pm.

SH!TSTORM 2: WELCOME TO HOOTERVILLE
One night only. Sh!tstorm rolls out the welcome wagon for new arts leaders at ConWorks, the Rep, Town Hall, Empty Space, and PNB with drinking and talking points: "Seattle is a heavenly vestibule" and "Seattle is a mossy hell." Rendezvous, 2320 Second Ave, 441-5823. Free. Tues Oct 18 at 7 pm.