OPENING THIS WEEK

COMEDY OF EROS 路 A Theater Near You

FOOL FOR LOVE 路 UW Ethnic Cultural Center/Theatre

MONEY & RUN, EPISODE 2: OF NUNS AND NINJAS 路 Theater Schmeater

ROMEO & JULIET 路 Stepping Stone Productions

STUDIO SERIES 2002 路 Freehold


ONE WEEK ONLY

DAVID DORFMAN DANCE 路 On the Boards


CLOSING THIS WEEK

FOUR SHORT PLAYS BY FRANK O'HARA 路 The Poet's Theater

LOVE IS STRANGE 路 Theatre Babylon

THE SINGING FOREST 路 A Contemporary Theatre

VALLEY OF THE DOLLS 路 The Empty Space


OPENING AND CURRENT RUNS


COMEDY OF EROS

A sampler of new plays on the subject of love. A Theater Near You at Northwest Actors Studio's Cabaret Space, 1100 E Pike St, 3rd floor, 244-9191. $10 (Feb 7 is pay-what-you-will). This week: Thurs-Fri at 8 pm, Sat at 10 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Next week: Thurs at 8 pm, Fri at 10 pm, Sat at 8 pm. Through Feb 16.


DREAM OF A COMMON LANGUAGE

The torrid lives of French Impressionists. Featuring full-frontal male nudity, among other things. Theater Schmeater, 1500 Summit Ave, 325-6500. $15 Fri-Sat, $12 Thurs-Sun. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 2 pm (Feb 17 only). Through Feb 23.


ETHAN FROME

See review. A treatise on the dangers of winter sledding. With sex. Book-It at the Intiman Playhouse, Seattle Center, 325-6500. $19 general, various discounts for groups/seniors/students. Thurs-Sat at 7:30 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through Feb 10.


FOOL FOR LOVE

Sam Shepard's tale of torrid emotions and slamming doors. UW Ethnic Cultural Center/Theatre, 3931 Brooklyn Ave NE, 543-4635. $10 general, $5 students. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through Feb 17.


FOUR SHORT PLAYS BY FRANK O'HARA

Exactly what the title says. Poet's Theater at Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, 335-5132. Pay-what-you-will. Thurs and Sat at 8 pm, Feb 7 and 9. Through Feb 9.


JUMPING THE SHARK

Post-apocalyptic pop-culture deconstruction. Meta-sketch-comedy. Featuring members of the Habit, Bald Faced Lie, and Disgruntled Bit Players. Northwest Actors Studio, 1100 E Pike St, www.jeffschell.com. $10. Fri-Sat at 8 pm. Through Feb 16.


LOVE IS STRANGE

See Stranger Suggests. Two one-acts: Amy Freed's Claustrophilia and Marcy Rodenborn's All Acts of Love and Pleasure. Theatre Babylon at the Union Garage, 1418 10th Ave, 720-1942. $12 (Thurs is pay-what-you-can). Thurs-Sat at 8 pm. EXTENDED through Feb 9.


THE MAIDS

Two sisters get kinky in their mistress' bed. Liberty Deli, 2722 Alki Ave SW, 935-8420. $29 (includes dinner), $15 show only (availability limited). Fri-Sat, buffet opens at 6:30 pm, show at 7:30 pm. Through Feb 16.


PUTTING AWAY JAMES

An awkwardly titled play about young people on antidepressants. Outcast Productions at TPS Studio 4, Center House, 4th floor, Seattle Center, 325-6500. $10. Fri-Sat at 8 pm. Through Feb 16.


ROMEO & JULIET

Shakespeare's romantic potboiler, set on the border of China and Russia. Stepping Stone Productions at the Nippon Kan Theatre, 628 S Washington St, 325-6500. $15 general, $12 students/seniors. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 7 pm. Through March 9.


THE SINGING FOREST

A workshop production of a new play by Craig (The Dying Gaul) Lucas, about civil rights and psychoanalysis. A Contemporary Theatre, 700 Union St, 292-7676. $10. Thurs/Sun at 7:30 pm, Fri-Sat at 8 pm. Through Feb 10.


STUDIO SERIES 2002

Three weekends of short stuff by students and affiliates of Freehold. A different lineup each weekend; call for details. Freehold East Hall Theatre, 1525 10th Ave, 2nd floor, 323-7499. Donation suggested. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through March 3.


THE TAMING OF THE SHREW

Shakespeare's tale of sexual domination, set in Venice Beach, CA. ArtsWest, 4711 California Ave SW, 938-0339. $12-$22. Wed-Thurs at 7:30 pm, Fri-Sat at 8 pm, some Sat-Sun matinees at 3 pm (call for details). Through Feb 23.


* VALLEY OF THE DOLLS

Featuring many glamorous wigs. "[The] Empty Space's version takes the high road--more or less--and the misguided grandiosity of the story that fuels the humor is left to speak for itself." (Adrian Ryan) The Empty Space at the Broadway Performance Hall, 1625 Broadway, 547-7500. Tues-Thurs at 7:30 pm, Fri-Sat at 8 pm, Sat-Sun at 2 pm, Sun at 7 pm. Through Feb 9.


DANCE


* DAVID DORFMAN DANCE

Two pieces from the acclaimed New York choreographer: To Lie Tenderly and Subverse. Featuring music by local genius Amy Denio. On the Boards, 100 W Roy St, 217-9888. $21-$23. Thurs-Sun at 8 pm, this weekend only.