OPENING AND CURRENT RUNS

AN INSPECTOR CALLS
A dead village girl, an engaged society girl, and an odd inspector. Taproot Theatre, 204 N 85th St, 781-9707. $15–$30. Thurs at 7:30 pm, Fri at 8 pm, Sat at 2 and 8 pm, Wed at 7:30 pm. Through March 4.

BEDTIME STORIES
Classic children's stories, adapted by Bret Fetzer and Keri Healey. Printer's Devil Theatre at IKEA, 600 SW 43rd St, Renton. Free, no reservations required. Sat–Mon at noon. Through Feb 25.

BOSTON MARRIAGE
"In a weird hybrid of Mamet acerbity and formal Victorian flourish, characters toss around terms like 'twat' and 'douche' while delighting in sweetmeats in the drawing room. Boston Marriage is funny, but it's difficult to find the humanity beneath the rapid-fire repartee." (Lindy West) Seattle Public Theater at Bathhouse Theater, 7312 W Green Lake Dr N, 524-1300. $12–$20. Thurs–Sat at 7:30 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through Feb 26.

CATCH 22
"The WWII comedy about the military and its maddening bureaucracy is broad, anarchic, and sometimes unconscionably sloppy, just like Joseph Heller's novel. James Weidman and Rob Jones are particularly good as high-octane, uniformed lunatics in Heller's adaptation." (Brendan Kiley) Theater Schmeater, 1500 Summit Ave, 325-6500. $18, Thurs by donation. Thurs–Sat at 8 pm. Through Feb 25.

recommended THE COMPENDIUM OF NASTINESS
Extended. "A twisted Gothic romance with Freudian undertones performed in a velvet-lined garage." (Brendan Kiley) The Womb, tickets and directions available at 800-838-3006. $20. Fri–Sat at 8:30 pm. Through March 4.

THE COWGIRL PLAY
See review this issue. Macha Monkey at Freehold Theater, 1525 10th Ave, www.brownpapertickets.com. $12–$15. Thurs–Sat at 8 pm. Through March 11.

DATE OF BIRTH
"John Kaufmann's pursuit of the poetic everyday continues with DOB, a play of excerpts from true-life transcripts—one from the day of Kaufmann's birth, the other from the day his nephew was born, 30 years later. Despite capable performances by Mark Boeker, Tina LaPadula, and Aaron Allshouse, the play is too long and too precious." (Brendan Kiley) Open Circle Theater, 429 Boren Ave N, 382-4250. $12. Thurs–Sat at 8 pm. Through Feb 25.

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 April 2.

THE DEVIL AND DANIEL WEBSTER
Opening. Webster (no, not Emmanuel Lewis) takes the devil to court to save the soul of a wayward farmer. By local Pulitzer winner Robert Schenkkan (The Kentucky Cycle). Seattle Children's Theatre, 201 Thomas St, 441-3322. $10–$31. Opening Fri Feb 17 at 7 pm. Sat–Sun at 2 and 5:30 pm. Through April 1.

DINA MARTINA
Opening. All-new "multimedia" mindfuckery by the queen of surreal cabaret. Rendezvous, 2320 Second Ave, 448-8464. $14. Opening Fri Feb 17 at 8 pm. Sat at 8 pm. Through Feb 25.

DINNER & DREAMS
Ongoing. The dinner-theater extravaganza, with European-style cirque performances as garnish. Teatro ZinZanni, 2301 Sixth Ave, 802-0015. $99–$125. Wed–Sat at 6:30 pm, Sun at 5:30 pm.

THE FALL CLASSIC
Opening. A new one-act comedy about brothers, rivalry, and tragedy. Outsiders-Inn Collective at Studio-Current, 1417 10th Ave, no reservations. $8 suggested donation. Opening Thurs Feb 17 at 8 pm. Sat at 8 pm. Through Feb 25.

FOOL FOR LOVE
Whiskey, lust, and a cheap hotel room in the Mojave Desert. By Sam Shepard, of course. Ghost Light Theatricals at Odd Duck Studio, 1214 10th Ave, brownpapertickets.com. $10–$12. Fri–Sat at 7:30 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through Feb 26.

GOD'S COUNTRY
Final week. "The play uses familiar symbols—screaming Aryan Nation preachers, a skinhead with a hammer spazzing out to oi music—which are little more than crude symbolic bludgeoning. These are cheap emotional punches—easily administered, easily forgotten—but not deep, artful cuts." Capitol Hill Arts Center, 1621 12th Ave, 800-838-3006. $18–$35. Thurs–Sat at 7:30 pm, Sun at 2 pm, Wed at 7:30 pm. Through Feb 19.

THE IKEA CYCLE: TINY DOMESTIC DRAMAS
Vignettes performed in the IKEA showrooms—a remount of Keri Healey's site-specific theater experiment. Printer's Devil Theatre at IKEA, 600 SW 43rd St, Renton. Free, no reservations required. Sat and Mon at 7 pm. Through April 1.

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. 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. Tickets available through April 30.

MENOPAUSE THE MUSICAL™
Ongoing. "What makes this toweringly formulaic crap about dusty uteruses even moderately bearable? The consummate cast was ferocious and fast." (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. Tickets available through March 12.

NOISES OFF
Opening. A "farce" about a "farce," which can be like "battery acid" in a "wound." Or it's really great. Depends on who's asking. Directed by Walter Baker. Centerstage at Knutzen Family Theater, 3200 SW Dash Point Rd, 253-661-1444. $7–$20. Opening Fri Feb 17 at 8 pm. Sat at 2 and 8 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through March 5.

PETER AND THE WOLF
A kid-friendly adaptation of the Prokofiev symphony with "Buster Keaton–style clowning." Seattle Children's Theatre, 201 Thomas St, 441-3322. $15–$22. Fri at 7 pm. Sat at 2 and 5:30 pm, Sun at 5:30 pm. Through March 18.

PLAINSONG
An adaptation of Kent Haruf's 1999 novel about bachelor farmers, a pregnant high schooler, and other characters on the Colorado plains. Directed by Myra Platt. Book-it at Center House Theatre, Seattle Center, 216-0833. $15–$30. Wed–Fri at 7:30 pm, Sat at 2 and 7:30 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through March 5.

recommended RADIO GOLF
Final week. "August Wilson takes a hard look at what is new and what is the same for blacks in Pittsburgh and America in general. The four men in the play form a polyphonic musical discourse of desire, each line/theme/man representing a class. The last installment of his 10-play survey of 20th-century black America, Radio Golf spreads the word and supplies the literary goods." Seattle Repertory Theatre, 155 Mercer St, 443-2222. $10–$46. Tues–Fri at 7:30 pm, Sat at 2 and 7:30 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through Feb 18.

THE ROAD TO MECCA
Opening. Art, patriarchy, and friendship in small town South Africa. Stone Soup Theatre, 4035 Stone Way N, 675–8497. $15–$20. Opening Thurs Feb 16 at 8 pm. Fri at 8 pm, Sat at 3:30 and 8 pm. Through March 11.

ROOMS
Opening. A performance exploration of three rooms designed for this site-specific theater company. EXITheatre at Live Girls!, 2220 NW Market St, brownpapertickets.com. $12. Opening Thurs Feb 16 at 8 pm. Fri–Sat at 8 pm. Sun at 2 pm. Through Feb 26.

recommended STONES IN HIS POCKETS
"This two-man show is like a well-made sandwich—warm, charming, and full of cheese. There's nothing challenging about its predictable Irish clichés, but watching actors Tim Hyland and Darragh Kennan fall in and out of over a dozen characters—from a Hollywood diva to an old town drunk—is a pleasure." (Brendan Kiley) Capitol Hill Arts Center, 1621 12th Ave, 388-0569. $15 adv/$18 DOS. Thurs–Sat at 7:30 pm. Through March 11.

SWIMMING IN THE SHALLOWS
See review this issue. WET at the Little Theatre, 608 19th Ave E, 800-838-3006. $10–$15. Thurs–Mon at 8 pm. Through March 6.

recommended
Opening. A music/theater/design hybrid in four movements by John Osebold ("Awesome"), with contributions by Tim Sanders (Delaware), Kevin Hinshaw and Sari Breznau (Circus Contraption), Sam Anderson (Defibrillator Productions), and a 14-member ensemble. Featuring castanets! Annex Theatre at Trinity Parish Episcopal Church, 609 Eighth Ave, 728-0933. $10. Opening Fri Feb 17 at 10 pm. Sat at 8 pm. Through Feb 25.

TWO ROOMS
Final week. "Lee Blessing's political drama about an American held hostage and his wife's attempts to get him back is... okay. Blessing writes in monologues (even characters in dialogue seem to be speaking to themselves) and none of their inner lives are nuanced enough to merit much attention. The lagging production doesn't do much to quicken the pace. But all the actors from this new theater company have promising moments." (Brendan Kiley) West of Brooklyn Theatre Company at Chamber Theatre, 915 E Pine St, 706-3716. $10. Fri–Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through Feb 19.

US
One weekend only. Queer solo performer Tim Miller's show about gay marriage and immigration. See www.thestranger.com for David Schmader's interview with Miller. Consolidated Works, 500 Boren Ave N, 800-838-3006. $12–$20. Thurs–Sat at 8 pm.

THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES
One weekend only. Eve Ensler's monologues about women, sexuality, violence, and power. HUB Auditorium, UW campus, 543-8131. $3–$5. Thurs–Sat at 7:30 pm.

THE WEDDING SINGER
Final week. "Remember that time in Puerto Rico when we picked up those two, well, I guess they were prostitutes, but I don't remember paying." 5th Avenue Theatre, 1308 Fifth Ave, 292-2787, $19–$71. Thurs–Fri at 8 pm, Sat at 2 and 8 pm, Sun at 1:30 pm. Through Feb 19.

DANCE

recommended DARK ROOM
Opening. Dancers in the dark and an audience with infrared glasses. Crispin Spaeth Dance Group at Western Bridge, 3412 Fourth Ave S, 325-6500. $10. Opening Fri Feb 17 at 8, 8:45, and 9:30 pm. Sat at 8, 8:45, and 9:30 pm. Through March 4.

ZOE SCOFIELD AND MONSTER SQUAD
One weekend only. See Stranger Suggests, page 23. On the Boards, 100 W Roy St, 217-9888. $12–$18. Thurs–Sat at 8 pm.

CABARET

BURLESQUE BEHIND THE PINK DOOR
Paula the Swedish Housewife hosts. Pink Door, 1919 Post Alley, 443-3241. $10. Sat at 10:30 pm. Through Feb 25.

CANNIBAL! THE MUSICAL
Extended. "You know when you like something soooo much that think there's no better tribute than to reimagine your number-one favorite thing as gay cabaret dinner theater? We've all been there, but please, don't do it." (Lindy West) G'A Team Players at Thumpers, 1500 E Madison St, 328-3800. $15 (21+ w/ID required). Fri–Sat at 8 pm. Through Feb 18.

COMEDY OF EROS V: HAUNTED HEARTS
Final week. Shorts regarding the romantic macabre. Northwest Actors Studio, 1100 E Pike St, 324–6328. $12. Fri–Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 7 pm. Through Feb 19.

DIRTY LITTLE SHOWTUNES
Opening. Old songs, new lyrics, gay jokes. Thumpers, 1500 E Madison St, 328-3800. $12 (21+ w/ID required). Opening Sun Feb 19 at 7:30 pm. Through April 2.

FAIRY TAILS!
The Atomic Bombshells bump 'n' grind their way through the Grimm Brothers' playbook. Triple Door, 216 Union St, 838-4333. $15 adv/$18 DOS. Wed at 7:30 pm (doors at 5:30 pm). Through Feb 22.

LAST YEAR'S KISSES
See review this issue. Theatre Off Jackson, 409 Seventh Ave S, 325-6500. $14–$20. Thurs–Sat at 8 pm. Through March 4.

IMPROV & COMEDY

Sean Rouse at Comedy Underground, 222 Main St, 800-325-7328. $6–$15 (21+ w/ID required). Thurs at 8:30 pm, Fri–Sat at 8:30 and 10:30 pm. Funny stuff at Giggles Comedy Club, 5220 Roosevelt Way NE, 526-5653. $12. Fri at 8 and 10:15 pm, Sat at 6 and 10:15 pm. Jet City Improv at Historic University Theater, 5510 University Way NE, 325–6500. $8–$10. Fri at 8 and 10:30 pm. Sat at 10:30 pm. Theatresports at Market Theater, 1428 Post Alley, 781-9273. $8–$12. Fri and Sat at 8 pm.

AL FRANKEN
One night only. The guy who played "baggage handler #1" in Trading Places flaps his jaw about politics or something. Paramount, 911 Pine St, 292-2787. $35–$75. Sat Feb 18 at 8 pm.

SEATTLE FESTIVAL OF IMPROV THEATER
Comic improvisers from New York, Chicago, Vancouver, and elsewhere converge on Seattle for this fourth annual festival. Historic University Theater, 5510 University Way NE, and Market Theater, 1428 Post Alley, 800-838-3006. $15. Wed–Sun, see www.seattleimprov.com for full listings.

XTREME THEATER LEAGUE
One night only. The Cody Rivers Show vs. Mystery Opponents in comedy combat. Capitol Hill Arts Center, 1621 12th Ave, brownpapertickets.com. $7. Tues Feb 21 at 10 pm.

LATE NIGHT

BREAKING UP
Sketch comedy about love and losing it. Train of Thought at Northwest Actors Studio, 1100 E Pike St, 324–6328. $8–$10. Fri–Sat at 10:30 pm. Through Feb 25.

THE BRIDESMAID
Keria McDonald's solo show about 13 weddings, 10 years, horny groomsmen, mean Christians, and a black eye. Theatre Off Jackson, 409 Seventh Ave S, 325-6500. $9–$10. Fri–Sat at 10 pm. Through March 11.

CAPITOL HILL HIGH
A late-night serial about high-school "hipsters, haters, and fags." Bad Actor Productions at Capitol Hill Arts Center, 1621 12th Ave, 800-838-3006. $10 (21+ w/ID required). Fri–Sat at 10:30 pm. Through Feb 25.

CRESCENDO FALLS, EPISODE ONE
A dysfunctional family soap opera, complete with backstabbing and bed hopping. Theater Schmeater, 1500 Summit Ave, 324–5801. $12. Fri–Sat at 11 pm. Through Feb 25.

CUPCAKE
Sexual references, suggestive dancing, and vaudevillian chicanery. Allegedly. Wing-It Productions at Historic University Theater, 5510 University Way NE, 325-6500. $5. Sat at midnight. Through Feb 25.

SPECIAL EVENTS

ACCOUNTABILITY AND THE ARTS 2006
One night only. A workshop on nonprofits and their budgets. Shunpike at ACT Theatre, 700 Union St, 292-7676. Free, RSVP to programs@theshunpike.org. Tues Feb 21 at 7 pm.

recommended AN EVENING WITH EDWARD ALBEE
One night only. The author of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia? speaks to his adoring public. University of Puget Sound, 1500 Warner St, Tacoma, 253-879-3419. $10. Thurs Feb 16 at 8 pm.

NORTHWEST PLAYWRIGHT COMPETITION
One week only. Readings of new scripts by local writers. Theater Schmeater, 1500 Summit Ave. Free, no reservations required. Mon–Wed at 7:30 pm.

PRE-PRESIDENTS' DAY PARTY
One night only. A benefit party for Atlas Theater featuring comic shorts, DJ Freddy King of Pants, Miss Mamie Lavona and her White Boy band, and others. NW Actors Studio, 110 E Pike St, 325-6500. $10. Sun Feb 19 at 8 pm.