OPENING THIS WEEK

EVERYTHING NOT FORBIDDEN IS PERMITTED (AND VICE VERSA) · Annex Theatre

MONEY & RUN, EPISODE 3 · Theater Schmeater

ST. NICHOLAS · A Contemporary Theatre

UNSINKABLE FRINGE RESURFACES · ReAct

ONE WEEK ONLY

COWBOY MOUTH · Speakeasy Backroom

CLOSING THIS WEEK

ALL ABOUT MEDEA · Re-bar

THE FANTASTICKS · Northwest Asian American Theatre

THE SIX BASIC RULES · Union Garage

A SKULL IN CONNEMARA · A Contemporary Theatre

SUMMER SEASON · Seattle Children's Theatre

OPENING AND CURRENT RUNS

*ALL ABOUT MEDEA

An original comedy about backstage hijinks at a drag production of Medea. "The play is light, charming, smart, sexy, and always in the twilight of saying something profound or falling apart into laughter." (Charles Mudede) Re-bar, 1114 E Howell, 323-0388. Fri-Sun at 8; $12. Extended through Aug 20.

BETRAYAL

Harold Pinter's oft-produced play that examines a love triangle by starting at its end and traveling backward to its beginning. Theatre Paradox at the Chamber Theater, Odd Fellows Hall, Fourth Floor, 915 E Pine, 568-0631. Thurs-Sat at 8; $12, $10 students. Through Sept 9.

THE BOUFFANTS

Big wigs, pop songs. "You too might find the wigs and songs in this extended skit about three Caucasian gals in a Motown-era girl group amusing, especially if you've been curious about the films of John Waters but don't cotton to all that vomit." (Tamara Paris) Cabaret de Paris, second level of Rainier Square, 1333 Fifth Ave, 623-4111. Thurs at 8, Fri-Sat at 8:30; $16 for the show, $42 for dinner too. Through Sept 30.

THE CHAIRS

A hot young director (Kate Whoriskey, currently featured in Vogue!) and a new translation are going to try to invigorate this static chestnut of the absurd. Good luck. Intiman Theatre, Seattle Center, 201 Mercer St, 269-1900. Call for times; $23.50-$42. Through Sept 9.

COWBOY MOUTH

Sam Shepard's early play, written with rock star Patti Smith, about their fucked-up relationship. Featuring a giant lobster. Hoi Polloi Productions at the Speakeasy Backroom, 2304 Second Ave, 971-5100. Thurs-Sat Aug 17-19, 9 pm; $8.

DECADES

The history of America in popular song. Sort of like Forrest Gump, without the stupid guy. American Cabaret Theatre at the Broadway Performance Hall, 1625 Broadway, 325-6500. Fri-Sat at 8; $20, $10 children. Through Aug 26.

DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS

Fly-on-the-wall perspective on the lives of Michael & Lisa Marie, Pamela & Tommy, Frank's last days, and other moments of excruciating celebrity tabloid squalor. Annex Theatre, 1916 Fourth Ave, 728-0933. Thurs-Sat at 8, Sun at 7; $12. Added performance on Wed Sept 6. Through Sept 9.

EVERYTHING NOT FORBIDDEN IS PERMITTED (AND VICE VERSA)

A collection of quirky short plays and monologues by N.Y. playwright Anne Washburn, formerly of Seattle. Annex Theatre, 1916 Fourth Ave, 728-0933. Fri-Sat at 11; $5 (free if you saw the prime-time show). Through Sept 8 (no show on Fri Sept 1).

*THE FANTASTICKS

"The show is being staged among the murmuring brooks and rustling leaves of the tranquil and charming Japanese Garden at the Washington Park Arboretum. Okay, maybe musical theater isn't your thing, but who could resist watching a kimono-clad girl tiptoe around a koi pond before she bursts into song?" (Tamara Paris) Northwest Asian American Theatre at the Arboretum, Washington Park, 2300 E Arboretum Dr, 340-1049. Wed-Sun at 7; $27.50, $22.50 students/seniors. Through Aug 20.

HENRY IV, PART ONE

English politics filtered through a young king's relationship with a big fat drunk. Greenstage, 748-1551. At Volunteer Park on Sat Aug 19 & 26 and Sat-Mon Sept 2-4; all performances at 3 pm. Free.

LATE NIGHT CATECHISM

"While non-Catholics will find Sister's pathological disdain of chewing gum and broken rulers amusing, members of the faith will find it hilarious." (Adrian Ryan) A Contemporary Theatre, 700 Union St, 292-7676. Thurs-Sat at 8, Sun at 2; $24.50-$29.50. Extended for eternity.

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING

Two smartypantses fall in love while a good friend of theirs almost dies from public humiliation. Greenstage, 748-1551. At Volunteer Park on Fri-Sat Aug 18-19, Sat Aug 26, & Fri-Sun Sept 1-3; all performances at 8 pm. Free.

*THE SIX BASIC RULES

"The joke of the play is that in marriage, you 'fight endlessly about everything forever' just like in any number of those 1960s and 1970s comedies that usually starred Jack Lemmon.... Though it's not for everyone, The Six Basic Rules is energetic, goofy entertainment." (Stacey Levine) AlphaFemale Productions at the Union Garage, 1418 10th Ave, 853-8303. Thurs-Sat at 8; $12. Through Aug 19.

*A SKULL IN CONNEMARA

"A room full of grave-digging, maladjusted drunks going on about piss and puke, drunk driving, and attempted murder in thick Irish brogues is more than sufficient to entertain the average American audience, with or without the story's late-coming cloak-and-dagger developments." (Adrian Ryan) A Contemporary Theatre, 700 Union St, 292-7676. Tues, Wed, Thurs, Sun at 7:30; Fri-Sat at 8; 2 pm matinees on Aug 19 & 20; $27-$42, $10 for persons 25 and under. Through Aug 20.

ST. NICHOLAS

Sounds like a Christmas show, but it's actually a vampire story. Starring Laurence Ballard. See Stranger Suggests. A Contemporary Theatre, 700 Union St, 292-7676. Preview on Thurs Aug 17. Opens Fri Aug 18. Wed, Thurs, Sun at 7:30, Fri-Sat at 8, matinee on Sun Sept 3 at 2; $15. Through Sept 10.

SUMMER DURANG... SOME ARE NOT

Actually, all of them are Durang. Ten short plays from the hugely popular comic playwright, who's probably best experienced in a short format. Northwest Actors Studio, 1100 E Pike, 324-6328. Fri-Sat at 8, Sun at 7; $10. Through Aug 26.

SUMMER SEASON

A whole buncha stuff at Seattle Childrens Theatre, ranging from Dr. Dolittle in the Moon to Macbeth (?!), featuring students from the SCT Drama School. Seattle Childrens Theatre, Seattle Center, 441-3322. Call for specific show times; $4 single tickets, $6 double features, $20 for all eight shows. Through Aug 18.

THE TWILIGHT ZONE MARATHON VII

Theater Schmeater pulls at the teat of their cash cow one more time, which is not to say that these episodes won't be perfectly entertaining. Also featuring the insidiously popular Miss Intermission. Theater Schmeater, 1500 Summit Ave, 325-6500. Thurs-Sat at 8, Sun at 7; $12, under 18 free. Through Aug 26.

UNSINKABLE FRINGE RESURFACES

ReAct remounts three shows from the 2000 Fringe Fest: Another Antigone, Shylock, and Audition Antics. ReAct at Theatre Off Jackson, 409 Seventh Ave S, 364-3283. Fri-Sun Aug 18-27 at varying times; $8 apiece, or a three-show pass for $15. Call for details.

FESTIVALS, CABARET, & COMEDY

HOKUM'S RAGTIME NICKELODEON REVUE

Professor Hokum W. Jeebs returns with an evening of ragtime, silent cinema, classic vaudeville, and the big sounds of the mighty 1929 WurliTzer Theatre Pipe Organ. "I felt somehow like we were fireflies raising our tiny lights into a shimmering chorus, sharing our voices before descending into the inevitable darkness." (Tamara Paris) Hokum Hall, 7904 35th Ave SW, 937-3613. Fri-Sat at 8; $12, $10 students/seniors, discounts available. Open-ended engagement.

JULIE CASCIOPPO EXPERIENCE

"Cascioppo has confidently tossed schmaltz, a Casio keyboard, a couple of exhausted-looking wigs, naughty banter, and... songs you thought you hated into a furiously agitating blender. The cocktail concocted goes down shockingly smooth." (Tamara Paris) Pink Door, Pike Place Market, 1919 Post Alley, 443-3241. Tues at 8:30 & 11. No cover.

THREE DOLLAR BILL

"Like most disreputable arts, standup now offers a more compelling product for its lack of adoration. Billed as a gay- and lesbian-oriented show, Three Dollar Bill also works as a low-cost current comedy primer." (Tom Spurgeon) Comedy Underground, 222 S Main St, 628-0303. Tues at 8; $6.

LATE NIGHT

BLACK JACK

A new play by Anthony Curry about three friends. Something must happen, but the press release doesn't say what. Northwest Actors Studio, 1100 E Pike, 324-6328. Fri-Sat at 10:30; $5. Through Aug 26.

THE DUCT TAPE EXPERIENCE

Another sketch comedy show; this one claims to be an all-singing, all-dancing indictment of a society gone astray. Disgruntled Bit Players at the Union Garage, 1418 10th Ave, 729-4839. Fri-Sat at 11; $6. Through Aug 26.

JET CITY IMPROV

Improv comedy and music based on audience suggestions. "The show goes down really smoothly. One only wishes for better direction." (Tom Spurgeon) Ethnic Cultural Theater, 3940 Brooklyn Ave NE, 781-3879. Fri-Sat at 10:30; $7, $5 with student ID. ALSO: Through August, Jet City performs live with Fremont Friday Night Outdoor Movies, improvising dialogue and sound effects for B movies shown without sound. See Movie Times for details.

*MONEY & RUN, EPISODE 3

Wayne Rowley has an evil gift for channeling the spirit of terrible 1970-'80s television. Still, he'd be powerless were it not for the zest and gusto of his cast, who share a frightening, preternatural kinship with the cast of The Dukes of Hazzard. Frighteningly funny. Theater Schmeater, 1500 Summit, 324-5801. Thurs-Sat at 11; $6, no reservations. Through Aug 26.

THEATER SPORTS

"The only improvisational show I've ever seen where the women performers were clearly better than the men--a welcome change from the overaggressive scene-stealing of many male-driven troupes." (Tom Spurgeon) Market Theater, 1428 Post Alley, 781-9273. Fri-Sat at 10:30, $9; Sun at 7, $5.

CALLS

Centerstage Theatre Arts Conservatory offers advanced teen and adult drama classes on Aug 19 and 26. Limited space available; call 253-661-1444 for information.

Northwest Actors Studio is holding auditions for their Conservatory Class during the last two weeks of August. Call 324-6328 for information or appointments.

Northwest Actors Studio is also holding auditions for a new comedy on Aug 19. Call 860-9410 for info or appointments about that.

ReAct Theatre is scheduling auditions on Aug 21. Performers of all ethnicities, genders, ages, shapes, and sizes are encouraged to audition. Call 364-3283 ext. 3 for information or appointments.

Seattle Public Theater holding equity and non-equity general auditions on Aug 20-21. Call 328-4848 for info and appointments.