OPENING AND CURRENT RUNS

THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (ABRIDGED)

Opening. Titus Andronicus as a cooking show, the histories as a football game, and other spoofs. Absurd Reality Theatre at Northwest Actors Studio, 1100 E Pike St, www.brownpapertickets.com. $10 adv/$12 DOS. Opening Fri June 9 at 8 pm. Sat at 8 pm. Through June 24.

recommended CIRQUE DU SOLEIL’S VAREKAI

Final week. “Juggling, magic, popcorn, and everything else you’d expect to find under Cirque du Soleil’s sophisticated big top. Be prepared for traffic and parking snarls, but his show is worth the hassle.” (Amy Kate Horn) Marymoor Park, 6046 West Lake Sammamish Parkway NE, Redmond, www.cirquedusoleil.com. $24.50–$185. Thurs–Sat at 4 and 8 pm, Sun at 1 and 5 pm. Through June 11.

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. Through June 24.

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 FOREIGNER

A British gent in rural Georgia. 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 June 17.

HELLO, DOLLY!

Goin’ bonkers in Yonkers. Village Theatre, 303 Front St N, Issaquah, 425-392-2202. $24–$48. Thurs–Fri at 8 pm, Sat at 2 and 8 pm, Sun at 2 and 7 pm, Wed at 8 pm. Through June 25.

HONUS AND ME

Final week. A tale of self-confidence and baseball, featuring Stranger Genius Award–winner Gabriel Baron. Seattle Children’s Theatre, 201 Thomas St, 441-3322. $16–$31. Fri at 7 pm, Sat–Sun at 2 and 5:30 pm. Through June 11.

IMAGINATION THEATRE™: A DOUBLE FEATURE “MOVIE FOR YOUR MIND”

One night only. A recording session for two new radio plays. Jim French Productions at Kirkland Performance Center, 350 Kirkland Ave, Kirkland, 425-893-9900. $8.50. Mon June 12 at 7:30 pm.

recommended THE INTELLIGENT DESIGN OF JENNY CHOW

Extended. “Jennifer, an adopted young genius with OCD, makes a flying robot to find her birth mother in China. The best thing about this play is its menagerie of eccentrics: the stoner pizza guy obsessed with archaeology, the horny Mormon, the cigar-chewing army brass, and the delightfully melodramatic (and profane) Dr. Yakunin, a Russian scientist who howls about his tapeworm. This play won a 2006 OBIE Award.” (Brendan Kiley) Seattle Public Theater, 7312 W Green Lake Dr N, 524-1300. $12–$20. Thurs–Sat at 7:30 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through June 18.

JUNIE B. JONES AND A LITTLE MONKEY BUSINESS

It sounds like a Belle and Sebastian song, but it’s actually a bright musical about a feisty kindergartner. Seattle Children’s Theatre, 201 Thomas St, 441–3322. $16–$31. Fri at 7 pm, Sat–Sun at 2 and 5:30 pm. Through June 18.

JUST SO

Final week. A family-friendly musical based on the Just So Stories by the literary genius and unabashed imperialist Rudyard Kipling. ArtsWest Playhouse, 4711 California Ave SW, 938-0339. $10–$15. Thurs–Fri at 7:30, Sat at 3 and 7:30 pm. Through June 10.

THE LAST SUNDAY IN JUNE

Opening. Tom and Michael contemplate moving to the suburbs while the Pride Parade rolls beneath their window. ReAct at Theatre Off Jackson, 409 Seventh Ave S, 364-3283. $6–$15, Sun by donation. Opening Fri June 9 at 8 pm. Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 4 pm. Through July 2.

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.” (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 Aug 27.

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 June 25.

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING

Fact: In Shakespeare’s time, “nothing” was slang for the female bits. Seattle Shakespeare Company at Center House Theatre, Seattle Center, 733-8222. $18–$30. Thurs–Fri at 7:30 pm, Sat at 2 and 7:30 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through June 25.

recommended NORTHWEST NEW WORKS FESTIVAL

Opening. Like Bumbershoot for performance nerds. The first weekend features dance, theater, and avant-comedy, including Gaelen Hanson as an aging country star, the Cody Rivers Show performing a baseball game, a Vancouver dancer-lady playing an adolescent boy, and lots more. On the Boards, 100 W Roy St, www.ontheboards.org. $14 for one evening, $30 for all four. Opening Fri June 9 at 8 pm. Sat–Sun at 5 and 8 pm. Through June 18.

OEDIPUS

See review this issue. Akropolis Performance Lab at Washington State Federation of Garden Clubs, 2336 15th Ave S, www.brownpapertickets.com. $10–$15. Fri–Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 2 and 5:30 pm. Through June 17.

recommended PASSPORT

Final week. “With a threadbare set, no props but suitcases, and a youthful eight-person ensemble, watching this series of 10-minute plays by Bret Fetzer is like watching kids playing out fantasies about adult love up in the attic—where the wonder lives. And the monsters.” (Brendan Kiley) Annex Theatre at Capitol Hill Arts Center, 1621 12th Ave, 1-800-838-3006. $5–$10. Tues–Wed at 7:30 pm. Through June 14.

POSTCARD PLAYS

Final week. Six performances based on original postcards. Participants include WET, Crispin Spaeth, Ki Gottberg, and others.Empty Space Theatre at Lee Center for the Arts, 901 12th Ave, 547-7500. $12. Thurs June 8 at 7:30 pm.

SEX IN SEATTLE, EPISODE 13: RISKING IT ALL FOR LOVE?

The live soap opera continues, with a kidnapping, old flames, a wedding, and lots and lots of dating. SIS Productions at Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, 323-9443. $8–$12. Fri–Sat at 8 and 10:30 pm. Through June 24.

recommended STONES IN HIS POCKETS

“This two-man show about Irish extras in a Hollywood movie is like a well-made sandwich—warm, charming, and full of cheese.” (Brendan Kiley) Capitol Hill Arts Center, 1621 12th Ave, 388-0569. $18–$20. Thurs–Sat at 7:30 pm. Through June 30.

TUEXDO MAN

One week only. A “poignant and humorous character study” of nightclub singer Nick Sands.Tuxedoman Productions at Studio 4, Seattle Center, www.brownpapertickets.com. $15. Sun–Mon at 7:30 pm. Through June 11.

WINE IN THE WILDERNESS

Previewing. A black painter and his working-class model argue about life and politics in this 1969 Alice Childress play set against the backdrop of a race riot. ACT Theatre, 700 Union St, 292-7676. $10–$54, Sun by donation. Previewing Fri–Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 7:30 pm, Wed June 14 at 7:30 pm. Through July 9.

DANCE

recommended 8 ENCORES

One night only. A greatest hits from the past season, including Nacho Duato’s Jardi Tancat, Twyla Tharp’s Nine Sinatra Songs, and (my favorite) Marco Goecke’s Mopey. Pacific Northwest Ballet at McCaw Hall, 321 Mercer St, 441-2424. $20–$134. Sun June 11 at 6:30 pm.

IS IT NOW YET: IT’S ABOUT TIME

One weekend only. Work by Violette Tucker, Jill Voorhees Edwards, and Adele Myers, featuring A-line dresses and music by Mendelssohn, Peggy Lee, and others. Velocity Dance Center, 915 E Pine St, 329-1128. $12. Fri–Sun at 8 pm.

JEWELS

Final week. Emeralds, Rubies, and Diamonds, featuring music by Fauré, Stravinsky, and Tchaikovsky and choreography by (gasp!) George Balanchine.Pacific Northwest Ballet at McCaw Hall, 321 Mercer St, 441-2424. $20–$134. Thurs–Fri at 7:30 pm, Sat at 2 and 7:30 pm, Sun at 1 pm. Through June 11.

CABARET

BURLESQUE BEHIND THE PINK DOOR

Ongoing. Novelty acts, puppets, singin’, and old-fashioned burlesque.With Paula the Swedish Housewife. Pink Door, 1919 Post Alley. No reservations required. $10. (21+ w/ID.) Sat at 10:30 pm.

COLUMBIA CITY CABARET

Ongoing.A “saucy cabaret,” hosted by Tamara the Trapeze lady. Columbia City Theatre, 4916 Rainier Ave S, no reservations required. $15 (21+ w/ID). Fri at 9 pm.

I HEAR AMERICA SINGING

One night only. Composer David Paul Mesler and mezzo-soprano Barbara Hume present work by Walt Whitman, Emily Dickinson, Robert Frost, Carl Sandburg, and e. e. cummings in song. Davidson Galleries, 313 Occidental Ave S, no reservations required. $10–$15. Sat June 10 at 7:30 pm.

MISS DIRTY MARTINI AND ORCHESTRA L’POW!

One night only. Strippers, singers, and general burlesquers, with Tamara the Trapeze Lady, Miss Indigo Blue, Pow!-la the Swedish Housewife, and others. The Heavens, 172 S Washington St, www.brownpapertickets.com. $12 (21+ w/ID). Thurs June 8 at 8 pm.

THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS

Songs and sketches on everyone’s favorite vices. SecondStory Repertory at Redmond Town Center, 16587 NE 74th St, Redmond, 425-881-6777. $20–$26. Fri–Sat at 8:15, Sun at 2:15 pm. Through June 24.

IMPROV & COMEDY

Daniel Rock w/Erik Griffin 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. 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. Theatresports at Market Theater, 1428 Post Alley, 781-9273. $8–$12. Fri–Sat at 10:30 pm, Sun at 7 pm. Comedy Night at Mirabeau Room, 529 Queen Anne Ave N, www.prokomedy.com. $5. Wed at 8 pm.

NONPROFIT COMEDY

One night only. “An evening of thoughtful, mostly political, comedy.” Comedy Underground, 222 S Main St, tickets available at door. $10. Tues June 13 at 8:30 pm.

REALITY WORLD: SEASON 2

A reality show that’s actually improvised. Wing-It Productions at Historic University Theater, 5510 University Way NE, www.wingitpresents.com. $10. Thurs–Fri at 8 pm. Through June 23.

THEM!

Grim sketch comedy that aims to offend. Open Circle Theater, 429 Boren Ave N, 382-4250. $10. Thurs–Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 3 pm. Through June 24.

LATE NIGHT

BURNING BRIDGES

A multimedia sketch comedy show about the Ave.Wing-It Productions at Historic University Theater, 5510 University Way NE, www.wingitpresents.com. $5. Fri at midnight. Through June 30.

CAPITOL HILL HIGH

Opening. Episode two of the soap-opera series written and directed by Dan Dembiczak.Bad Actor Productions and To Be Continued Productions at Capitol Hill Arts Center, 1621 12th Ave, www.brownpapertickets.com. $10 advanced/$12 DOS (21+ w/ID except Wed). Opening Fri June 9 at 10:30 pm. Sat at 10:30 pm, Wed at 8 pm. Through July 1.

CUPCAKE

Extended. A dirty, drinky improv where two fellas enact the audience’s “wildest dreams.” Wing-It Productions at Historic University Theater, 5510 University Way NE, www.wingitpresents.com. $5. Sat at midnight. Through June 24.

SPECIAL EVENTS

ACCOUNTABILITY AND THE ARTS: SUCCESSFUL FUNDRAISING EVENTS

One night only. Hint: They involve lots and lots of drugs. The Shunpike and Seattle DanceNet at ACT Theatre, 700 Union St, reservations not required. Free. Mon June 12 at 7 pm.

“COME TO THE CABARET” AUCTION AND BENEFIT

One night only. A film-noir benefit dinner and auction featuring Matt Smith, Marya Sea Kaminski, Felicia Loud, and others. Freehold Theatre, 1529 10th Ave, 323-7499. $10–$50. Sat June 10 at 8 pm.

SCENIC DOPE FIRST INVITATIONAL EXHIBITION

Opening. Individual artworks by scenic artists in the theater, television, and film industries.BallardWorks, 2856 NW Market St. Free. Opening Sat June 10 from 6–9 pm. Through July 2.