OPENING THIS WEEK

FULL BLOWN · Paradise Garage

ONE WEEK ONLY

DANCE THIS... · Paramount Theatre

LOWCRAWLERSHIGHFLYING · Seven Star Women's Kung Fu

MARTINI SOCIAL II · Theatre on the Rocks

NIGHT OF SHITTY THEATRE · Naugahyde Productions

CLOSING THIS WEEK

B-SIDES · Some Kind of Cult

BLACK EYED BLONDE · Market Theatre

DINNER WITH FRIENDS · A Contemporary Theatre

THE EROTICA PROJECT · Left Coast Theatre

GIRLS! GIRLS! GIRLS! · Northwest Asian American Theatre

GUYS & DOLLS · Tacoma Little Theatre

KEELEY & DU · Stepping Stone Productions

PORCELAIN · Northwest Asian American Theatre

PTERODACTYLS · Seattle Theatre Project

STRAY · Printer's Devil Theatre

WEST SIDE STORY · Village Theatre

OPENING AND CURRENT RUNS

COTTON PATCH GOSPEL

A retelling of the story of Jesus set in rural Georgia, in which Jesus gets stuck on a tar baby and begs Brer Fox not to throw him in that briar patch. Featuring songs by Harry Chapin. Taproot Theatre, 204 N 85th St, 781-9707. $17-$25, student/senior discount available. Wed-Thurs at 7:30, Fri-Sat at 8, Sat at 2. EXTENDED through July 14.

DINNER WITH FRIENDS

The Pulitzer-Prize-winning drama about some friends having dinner. "The play wrestles determinedly with the human desire that everyone be just like you, but the script doesn't have the emotional scope to make that seem compelling and sad instead of just meager and pathetic." (Bret Fetzer) A Contemporary Theatre, 700 Union St, 292-7676. $30-$42 ($10 for anyone 25 or under). Tues-Thurs at 7:30, Fri-Sat at 8, Sun at 7:30 (2 pm on June 30, July 1). Through July 1.

FULL BLOWN

Caustic satire of three gay men in Hollywood. Claims to be politically incorrect, which usually means it's trying too hard to be controversial--but hey, maybe they're just being honest. Outcast Productions at the Paradise Garage, 10th & Pike, 325-2080. $10. Thurs & Sat at 8, Fri at 7 (no show July 7). Through July 14.

GREAT MEN OF SCIENCE, Nos. 21 & 22

One of the most peculiar and remarkable plays you'll ever see, from one of the most peculiar and remarkable playwrights alive. Empty Space, 3509 Fremont N, 547-7500. $20-$28. Tues-Thurs at 7:30, Fri-Sat at 8, Sat-Sun at 2, Sun at 7. Through July 15.

KEELEY & DU

A pro-life group kidnaps a working-class woman on her way to get an abortion; an investigation into the abortion debate. "I don't know politics, but I know a bad play when I see one." (Tom Spurgeon) Stepping Stone Productions at Nippon Kan Theatre, 628 S Washington St, 781-3905. $12 general, $10 students/seniors. Thurs-Sat at 8, Sun at 7. Through June 30.

LET MY ENEMY LIVE LONG!

Tanya Shaffer tells the tale of her 12-week trip up the Niger River on her way to Timbuktu. A Contemporary Theatre, 700 Union St, 292-7676. $16.50-$19.50 ($10 for anyone 25 or under). Wed-Thurs/Sun at 7:30, Fri-Sat at 8, matinee on July 8 at 2. (No show July 4.) Through July 8.

PORCELAIN

Sex-related murder in a London men's room! From NWAAT's new artistic director Chay Yew. "Political sloganeering and affected attempts at controversy squarely upstaged any true exploration of the human heart or condition." (Adrian Ryan) Counter-opinion: "Well acted and cleanly designed; though the play lacks the suspense it wants to create, it does paint a multi-layered psychological portrait of both murderer and psychoanalyst." (Bret Fetzer) Northwest Asian American Theatre, 409 Seventh Ave S, 325-6500. $12. Thurs-Sat at 7:30, Sun at 4. Through July 1.

PTERODACTYLS

Hot on the heels of Raised in Captivity comes another Nicky Silver dysfunctional family play. Collect them all. "The good news: Pterodactyls is an astute, fun and well-written play.... The bad news: The production just wasn't all that good." (Adrian Ryan) Seattle Theatre Project at the Union Garage, 1418 10th Ave, 325-6500. $13 general, $10 students/seniors. Thurs-Sat at 8. Through June 30.

R. BUCKMINSTER FULLER: THE HISTORY (AND MYSTERY) OF THE UNIVERSE

Heady one-man show that's been knocking 'em dead in California and Chicago. See Stranger Suggests. Intiman Theatre, Seattle Center, 269-1900. $30-$42 ($10 for anyone under 25). Tues-Thurs at 7:30, Fri-Sat at 8, Sat-Sun at 2, Sun at 7:30. Through July 7.

REQUIEM AT THE PINK FLAMINGO BAR

A new play by Bill Ratcliffe, about a guy who inherits a gay bar and wants to convert it to a sports bar. The patrons object. Theatre Babylon, 1418 10th Ave, 720-1942. Thurs pay-what-you-will, Fri-Sat $12. Thurs-Sat at 8. Through July 14.

STRAY

A new play by Heidi Schreck, about two women in a foreign city. "As beautiful and clever as much of this script is, it doesn't yet resolve the story of these characters." (Rebecca Brown) Printer's Devil Theatre at New City Theater, First Christian Church, 1632 Broadway, Third Floor, 860-7163. Wed pay-what-you-can, Thurs $10, Fri-Sat $12. Wed-Sat at 8. Through June 30.

TARTUFFE

Theater-in-the-park season begins with Moliere's satire of religious hypocrisy. (Featuring one of the Schmee's founding fathers, Tim Moore.) See Stranger Suggests. Theater Schmeater at Volunteer Park, on the lawn between the Amphitheater and the Conservatory. Free. Fri at 7, Sat-Sun at 2. Through July 22.

WE ARE NOT GOOD GIRLS

A blues musical about the conclusion of a band's grueling tour. "I kept wishing they'd skipped the first act altogether, had better mics, and sung more sweaty blues." (Rebecca Brown) Liberty Deli, 2722 Alki SW, 935-8420. $22 in advance, $25 at the door. Fri-Sat, dinner at 6:30, show to follow. EXTENDED through July 14.

* WHY? WHY? WHY?

"If anyone doubted it, Why? Why? Why? proves that [playwright-director-puppeteer Scot] Augustson has found his niche in the peculiar jibe between outrageous humor and faceless shadows." (Traci Vogel) Consolidated Works, 410 Terry Ave N, 381-3218. $14 general, $12 members. Fri-Sat at 8 & 10:30 pm. EXTENDED through July 8.

DANCE

DANCE THIS...

A concatenation of multicultural youth dance, featuring work from Leela Kathak Dancers, Morning Star, Eritrean Youth Dance Group, the Collective by Ewajo, Circle of Fire, and Abdel Salaam. Paramount Theatre, Ninth & Pine, 292-ARTS, $10 adults, $7 students. Sat at 7. This weekend only.

LOWCRAWLERSHIGHFLYING

Butoh-inspired dance from Haruko Nishimura, Joan Laage, Alan Sutherland, and others. A fundraiser for the group lowcrawlershighflying, yet another troupe with an aversion to the shift key; refreshments provided. Seven Star Women's Kung Fu, 525 21st St, 320-8363. $10-$35 sliding scale. Sun at 8 (doors at 7). This weekend only.

FESTIVALS, CABARET, & COMEDY

B-SIDES

A bunch of sketches with no unifying theme, just for kicks. Some Kind of Cult at the Odd Duck Studio, 1214 10th Ave, 524-5858. $7. Fri-Sat at 8. Through June 30.

BLACK EYED BLONDE

Improvised film noir, based on audience suggestions. Unexpected Productions at the Market Theatre, 1428 Post Alley, 781-9273. $10. Fri-Sat at 8. Through June 30.

BROADWAY'S GREATEST MALADIES!!!

Yes, they put three exclamation points in their title. Songs from flop musicals and songs that were cut from hit musicals. Cabaret in Crepe de Paris, Rainier Square, 1531 5th Ave, 623-4111. Dinner & show, $45; show only, $16. Wed-Thurs at 8, Fri-Sat at 8:30 (no show on July 4). Through July 14.

COMEDY COURT

Improv comedy. University Heights Center, 5031 University Way NE, 442-2044. $7 general, $5 students. First and third Friday of the month at 7:30. Through August.

NIGHT OF SHITTY THEATRE

Short, unendurable scenes, presented for your mockery and derision. A benefit show to send Disgruntled Bit Players to the Vancouver Fringe Festival. Naugahyde Productions at Open Circle Theatre, 429 Boren Ave. $10. Fri at 8. This weekend only.

LATE NIGHT

THE EROTICA PROJECT

Pretty pretentious title for a bunch of smut. The script knocked 'em dead in NYC. Performed cabaret-style by four women and a musician. See Bio Box. Left Coast Theatre, 1100 E Pike St, Third Floor (above NW Actors Studio), 325-6500. $18 general, $14 students/seniors. Thurs-Sat at 10. Through June 30.

GIRLS! GIRLS! GIRLS!

Actually, boys in girls' clothing. Drag divas, including Arnaldo!, Phoebe Fabu, Sable Lake, and Tina. Northwest Asian American Theatre, 409 Seventh Ave S, 325-6500. $10 (includes complimentary wine). Fri-Sat at 10:30. Through June 30.

MARTINI SOCIAL II

More drunken squalor from A Theater on the Rocks, aided and abetted by Lo Blo and San Pedro Circus. Union Garage, 1418 10th Ave, 851-3920. $5. Fri-Sat at 11. This weekend only.