THEATER
OPENING THIS WEEK
A DELICATE BALANCE · Seattle Repertory Theatre
A MAP OF THE WORLD · Bridges International Repertory Theatre
AGNOSTIC'S WAY · Remember Theatre
AN UNEXPECTED EVENING · Crepe de Paris
THE EFFECT OF GAMMA RAYS ON MAN-IN-THE-MOON MARIGOLDS · ArtsWest
ENNIO · Moore Theatre
NUTZ-N-BOLTS · Northwest Actors Studio
STUDIO SERIES 2001 · Freehold
SWING · Paramount Theatre
THE TRAGEDY OF KING CHRISTOPHE · Seattle Public Theatre
2 WOMEN AVOIDING INVOLUNTARY HOSPITALIZATION · On the Boards
THE WALL OF WATER · Next Step Theater Group
ONE WEEK ONLY
CASH COW SMACKDOWN! · Annex Theatre
DEAF KIDS DRAMA FESTIVAL · Seattle Children's Theatre
SPECTRUM DANCE THEATER · Auburn Performing Arts Center
CLOSING THIS WEEK
PRINCE BRAT AND THE WHIPPING BOY · Seattle Children's Theatre
RENT · Paramount Theatre
OPENING AND CURRENT RUNS
A DELICATE BALANCE
Nobody tears apart upper middle-class family life like Edward Albee. Directed by M. Burke Walker. Seattle Repertory Theatre, 155 Mercer St, 443-2222. $29-$42, $10 for anyone under 25. Tues-Sun at 7:30, Sat-Sun at 2. Through Feb 17.
A MAP OF THE WORLD
A new theater group launches themselves with this David Hare comedy about a cynical novelist and an idealistic journalist. Opens Wed Jan 17. See Bio Box. Bridges International Repertory Theatre at Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, 562-1888. $25. Wed-Thurs at 7:30, Fri-Sat at 8, Sun at 2 & 7. Through Feb 4.
ADAM BAUM AND THE JEW MOVIE
Awkward title, but a promising premise: A movie mogul and a left-wing screenwriter wrestle over a potential blockbuster at a boy's bar mitzvah. Empty Space, 3509 Fremont Ave N, 547-7500. $20-$28 (1/2 price day-of-show tickets for students/seniors). Tues-Thurs at 7:30, Fri-Sat at 8, Sat-Sun at 2, Sun at 7. Through Feb 10.
AGNOSTIC'S WAY
A new play and performance from Vincent Balestri, whose Kerouac: The Essence of Jack ran for years at the late lamented Velvet Elvis Arts Lounge. See Stranger Suggests. Remember Theatre at the Chamber Theatre, 915 E Pine, Fourth Floor, 800-965-4827. $15 general, $12 students/seniors. Thurs-Sat at 8. Through Jan 27.
DEAF KIDS DRAMA FESTIVAL
The 11th semiannual showcase of SCT's Deaf Youth Drama Program, featuring short plays in American Sign Language (English voice-over provided). Seattle Children's Theatre, Seattle Center, 441-3322 (voice or TTY). $8 adults, $5 seniors/children under 12. Sat Jan 13 at 2 & 5:30 only.
THE EFFECT OF GAMMA RAYS ON MAN-IN-THE-MOON MARIGOLDS
Paul Zindel's oddball but affecting exploration of a divorced mom with two daughters. Opens Fri Jan 12. ArtsWest, 4711 California Ave SW, 938-0339. $22 adults, $18 students. Thurs-Sat at 8, call about Sat-Sun matinees. Through Feb 3.
FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT
An evening of short plays on the theme of noble lost causes (such as the status of the short play in the American theater). See review this issue. Theatre Babylon, 1418 10th Ave, 720-1942. $12 (all Thurs are pay-what-you-will). Thurs-Sat at 8. Through Jan 27.
*HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH
The world's greatest botched-sex-change rock musical. "I seriously question the intelligence of anyone who doesn't see this show. Twice." (Adrian Ryan) Re-bar, 1114 Howell (at Boren), 323-0388 or 325-6500. $16. Thurs-Sun at 8. Through Feb 11.
LATE NIGHT CATECHISM
Those ever-popular Catholic hijinks. Seattle Theatre Project at A Contemporary Theatre, 700 Union St, 292-7676. $24.50-$29.50. Thurs-Sat at 8, Sun at 2. Running into eternity, or at least February.
*PRINCE BRAT AND THE WHIPPING BOY
"A very funny, exciting, and good play. It is about a spoiled prince and a smart whipping boy. The two boys run away from the castle where they live to get away from all the horrible things there. In this play at the beginning you would think it would be fun to live in a castle, but the play makes you realize it's better to live a normal life than a fancy life." (Maggie Brown) Seattle Children's Theatre, Seattle Center, 441-3322. $14.50-$22. Fri-Sat at 7, Sun at 2 & 5:30. Through Jan 13.
RENT
One of the great publicity triumphs of our time; if playwright/composer Jonathan Larson hadn't died before opening night, this modest, maudlin work (an "update" of Puccini's La Boheme) would never have appeared on the cover of Newsweek. Paramount Theatre, Ninth and Pine, 292-ARTS. $21.50-$53.50. Mon-Sat at 8, Thurs & Sat at 2. Through Jan 13.
SWING!
Splashy compilation of dance numbers set to big band musical stylings. Brought to you by the producers of The Sound of Music with Richard Chamberlain. Opens Tues Jan 16. Paramount Theatre, Ninth and Pine, 292-ARTS. $16-$50. Tues-Sat at 8, Sat-Sun at 2, Sun at 7:30. Through Jan 21.
THE TRAGEDY OF KING CHRISTOPHE
The epic tale of a Haitian war hero, written by Aimé Césaire, who is a poet, playwright, political theorist, and the mayor of Fort-de-France, Martinique. See preview this issue. Seattle Public Theatre at the Green Lake Bathhouse, 7312 W Green Lake Dr N, 524-1300. $16-$19 adults, $14-$16 seniors, $10 under 25 (Thurs Jan 18 is pay-what-you-can). Thurs-Sat at 8, Sun at 2. Through Feb 4.
2 WOMEN AVOIDING INVOLUNTARY HOSPITALIZATION
A satire of New Age thinking, set at the "Third Annual Celebration of the Perimenopausal Woman." On the Boards, 100 W Roy St, 217-9888. $12 Thurs/Sun, $14 Fri-Sat. Thurs-Sun at 8. Through Jan 28.
THE WALL OF WATER
A farce about four women sharing a rent-controlled apartment in New York. Next Step Theater at the Performance Studio, Seattle Center, 425-746-6604. $12 suggested donation. Thurs-Sat at 8; Sun Jan 14 and Sat Jan 20 at 2. Through Jan 20.
DANCE
SPECTRUM DANCE THEATER
Spectrum takes it on the road. Auburn Performing Arts Center, 700 E Main St, Auburn, 253-931-3043. $5-$10. Sat Jan 13, 7:30 pm only.
FESTIVALS, CABARET, & COMEDY
AN UNEXPECTED EVENING
A revue of songs and segments from the musicals of local composer David Austin. Crepe de Paris, 1333 Fifth Ave (Rainier Square), 623-4111. $16 for show only, $42 for dinner/show. Thurs at 8, Fri-Sat at 8:30. Through Feb 3.
ENNIO
A crazed Italian who does living caricatures. Opens Tues Jan 16. See Stranger Suggests. Moore Theatre, Second & Virginia, 292-ARTS. $20-$35. Tues-Thurs at 7:30, Fri at 8, Sat at 5 & 9, Sun at 2 & 7. Through Jan 21.
NUTZ-N-BOLTS
Some wild-ass performance piece that fuses dance, music, and theater into an inspirational oleo with some relationship to gang awareness, if I'm reading the vague press release correctly. Northwest Actors Studio, 1100 E Pike St, 324-6328. $10 general, $8 students/seniors. Fri-Sat at 8, Sun at 7. Through Feb 3.
STUDIO SERIES 2001
A smorgasbord of scene studies and original work by Freehold students and related artists, ranging from a bittersweet memory tale based on home vacation movies to "a murderous, hilarious romp through the Hundred-Acre Wood of love." Every weekend is different. This weekend: A new piece called The Ball Bottom Boy, and scenes from Jean Genet's The Maids and John Patrick Shanley's Savage In Limbo. Freehold, 1525 10th Ave, 323-7499. Donation. Thurs-Sat at 8, Sun at 2. Through Jan 28.
LATE NIGHT
CASH COW SMACKDOWN!
Annex continues its Cakewalk™ trend of competitive fundraisers with this event, sort of a fusion of actor scene study and Greco-Roman wrestling, using excerpts from Arsenic & Old Lace and True West. Keira McDonald (Showerhead) is the host. Annex Theatre, 1916 Fourth Ave, 728-0933. $10 (includes a free drink ticket; you must be 21 to enter). Sat Jan 13, 9 pm (the Smackdown! starts at 10) only.
*JET CITY IMPROV
Improv comedy and music. "The show goes down really smoothly. One only wishes for better direction." (Tom Spurgeon) NEW LOCATION: University Heights Center, 5031 University Way NE, 781-3879. $7, $5 with student ID. Fri-Sat at 10:30.
CALLS
Annex Theatre seeks playwrights for Annex Hothouse 2001. For two weeks (May 12-26), Annex will host four writers who will work with directors and actors to create new pieces of theater. Call 728-8081 or e-mail hothouse@annextheatre.org for application guidelines or further information; deadline Mon Jan 15.
Seattle Symphony and Marvin Hamlisch have extended their audition deadline to Jan 15. Send in a resume and videotape, labeled with your name, address, phone number, and type of talent to: "Marvin Hamlisch's Search for a Star" Audition Committee, P.O. Box 21906, Seattle, WA 98111-3906. There will be no live auditions with Mr. Hamlisch. For further information, call 336-6671.
Intiman Theatre is holding auditions for all roles (except Karl Lindner) in A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansbury, directed by Jackie Moscou (rehearsal and show dates March 20-May 19). Auditions will be held on January 15, 16, 17, and 20 by appointment. Call the Raisin info line at 269-1901 ext. 304.