OPENING THIS WEEK

SEATTLE FRINGE THEATRE FESTIVAL · Various Capitol Hill venues

ONE WEEK ONLY

A... MY NAME WILL ALWAYS BE ALICE · Town Hall

FEVER: A TRIBUTE TO PEGGY LEE · Crepe de Paris Cabaret

H ART CHAOS · The Moore Theatre

I WONDER IF THAT MAKES THE BEST IMPRESSION · On the Boards

PAD · Ethnic Cultural Theater

CLOSING THIS WEEK

EINSTEIN'S DREAMS · Annex Theatre

HOLD ME · Liberty Deli

LAKME · Seattle Center Opera House

THE THREE SISTERS · UW Meany Studio Theatre

OPENING AND CURRENT RUNS

AMSTERDAM

One of Seattle's most gorgeously deranged solo artists is back in a musical piece that has her playing a naive American, her mother, and several odd Dutch folk (including a cabaret performer named Beppi). Weedman has brains, oddball humor, and a loopy creativity. Empty Space Theatre, 3509 Fremont Ave N, 547-7500. Tues-Thurs at 7:30, Fri-Sat at 8, Sun at 7, select matinees at 2, through March 25. $18-$26. Reviewed this issue.

A... MY NAME WILL ALWAYS BE ALICE

In a benefit for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, TMCWorks presents a limited engagement of the show combining material from the two earlier, popular revues crafted by the talented Joan Micklin Silver and Julianne Boyd (A... My Name is... and A... My Name Is Still...). Town Hall, Eighth and Seneca, 425-454-1907. Fri-Sat at 8, Sun at 2, March 10-12 only. $35 on Fri and Sun, $85 for Pink Ribbon Patron Night reception on Sat.

APPLE TO GRANDMA

Speeltheater Holland comes to Seattle with some trippy puppets in a tale of moons, caterpillars, and a big, tasty apple. Seattle Children's Theatre, Seattle Center, 441-3322. Fri at 7, Sat-Sun at 2 and 5:30, through April 16. $8.25-$20.50.

EINSTEIN'S DREAMS

Annex director Mark Gallagher teams with popular choreographer Amii LeGendre for a multi-media adaptation of Alan Lightman's time-tripping story collection. "The show has convinced itself that it knows more than you do, and spends an hour and a half preening in the knowledge."(Steve Wiecking) Annex Theatre, 1916 Fourth Ave, 728-0933. Thurs-Sat at 8, Sun at 7, through March 11. $7-$12.

FEVER: A TRIBUTE TO PEGGY LEE

Jazz vocalist Connie Evingson plays the smoky-voiced chanteuse in an evening celebrating the life and music of one of the best voices in 20th-century popular music. Some narration and anecdote, but the promised emphasis is on the songs -- including some great original material from Lady and the Tramp. Crepe de Paris, Rainier Square, 623-411. Wed-Sat March 8-11 only, at 8:30. $15.

HOLD ME

Jules Feiffer has been tormented locally once already (the painful Little Murders at Northwest Actors Studio), so keep your fingers crossed that RipTide Theatre does him proud. At the very least, the deli theatre's accompanying buffet dinner should satisfy. Liberty Deli, 2722 Alki Ave SW on Alki Beach, 405-8433. Fri-Sat, with dinner at 6:30, show at 7:30; one Sun show on closing night, March 12. $22.

I WONDER IF THAT MAKES THE BEST IMPRESSION

The Washingtonians!, Seattle's irreverent, mixed-voice choir, returns with a night promising tongue-in-cheek arrangements "for choir, soprano, barbershop quartet, and banjo." David and Lisa Koch join them as The Carpeters. On the Boards, 100 W Roy, 217-9888. Fri-Sat at 8, Sun at 7, March 10-12 only. $7-$11.

KING HEDLEY II

Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright August Wilson continues his long-standing allegiance to a lucky Seattle Rep with this world premiere production, a sequel of sorts to his celebrated Seven Guitars. Seattle Repertory Theatre, Seattle Center, 443-2222. Previews begin March 6. Tues-Sun at 7:30, Sat-Sun matinees at 2. Runs March 13-April 8. $10-$42.

LAKME

The Delibes opera about -- what else? -- love and tragedy in British colonial India. Stephen Terrell's staging lacks spark and invention, but the luscious music is wonderfully sung from beginning to end. With the divine American soprano Harolyn Blackwell. Seattle Center Opera House, Seattle Center, 389-7676. March 11 at 7:30, select matinees at 2. $30-$103.

*METAMORPHOSES

Writer/director Mary Zimmerman's dreamy, sensual exploration of love and change, using the work of Ovid, Rilke, and others as foundation. "With transcendent reverence for the human element of myths, the show is rapture without suffocating pretense; its unencumbered generosity can bring you to tears." (Steve Wiecking) Intiman Theatre, Seattle Center, 443-2222. Tues-Sun at 7:30, Sat-Sun matinees at 2, through March 26. $10-$42.

THE MIDWIFE'S APPRENTICE

Constance Congdon (Dog Opera, Tales of the Lost Formicans) adapts Karen Cushman's award-winning book about the adventures and longings of a medieval orphan girl. "Capable players, and you couldn't ask for a better physical production, but Congdon has not actively opened up the story for the stage. The heroine's victories are page-bound." (Steve Wiecking) Charlotte Martin Theatre, Seattle Center, 441-3322. Fri at 7, Sat-Sun at 2 and 5:30, through April 8. $13.50-$20.50.

PRINTER'S DEVIL PLAY BONANZA

Continuing its commitment to presenting new works, the accomplished fringe company (fresh from their successful remount of Free Will and Wanton Lust) brings us their fifth annual workshop stagings of 12 plays in 12 weeks. An ambitious, innovative, and, most likely, worthwhile event. Consolidated Works, 410 Terry Ave N, 860-7163. Mon-Tues at 7:30, through May 23. Pay-as-you-leave donation.

SEATTLE FRINGE THEATRE FESTIVAL

It can be like finding a needle in a haystack, but there's usually a couple of gems hidden somewhere in this annual fest. This year's event is spread out over nine venues in Capitol Hill's Broadway/Pike/Pine areas, and represents 81 theatre companies. Capitol Hill, 322-2018. Runs March 9-19 with various plays and showtimes. Single tickets are $12, or after a one-time purchase of a $2 fringe button, $10.; Four-show passes are $40; and for the strong of stomach only, All Fest passes are $150.

THE THREE SISTERS

UW's School of Drama presents a centennial staging of Chekhov's classic, in a translation by Lanford Wilson. A 100-year-old play that never ceases to resonate truth. Meany Studio Theatre, University of Washington, 543-4880. Tues-Thurs at 7:30, Fri-Sat at 8, Sun at 2, through March 12. $7-$10.

VICKI GADGET SAVES THE WORLD

Sometimes a press release says it all: "Giddy, glittery, guerrilla-style musical theatre for the comic-book reading, eyebrow-piercing, extreme sports-playing, gender-fuck fringe." Well, alright, then. Re-bar, 1114 Howell, 323-0388. Fri-Sun at 8. Open-ended run. $10.

DANCE

H ART CHAOS

As an extremely popular contemporary dance company in Japan, this all-female troupe has received much attention and critical acclaim. Secret Club... Floating Angels 2000 is an all-new version of a show first presented in Tokyo in 1992. Moore Theatre, 1932 Second Ave, 292-ARTS. Thurs-Sat March 9-11 only, at 8. $15.50-$33.

PAD

Local choreographers have created three new pieces for this night of performances presented by Dropout, a modern-dance company based in Seattle. Pieces celebrate Mozart, the suburban paper route, and Bob, a stuffed monkey. Ethnic Cultural Theater, 3940 Brooklyn Ave NE, 547-5127. Fri-Sat March 10-11 only, at 8. $6-$8.

FESTIVALS, CABARETS, & COMEDY

IMPROSIA: COMEDY OF THE GODS

Performing character-driven scenes based on audience suggestions. Wit's End, 770 N 34th St, 547-2330. Sat at 9:30. $7.

*THREE DOLLAR BILL

Seattle's original gay/lesbian/bisexual stand-up comedy night is still standing in its second year. Comedy Underground, 222 S Main St, 628-0303. Tues at 8. $6.

LATE NIGHT

THE A.M. CABARET

Amoral entertainment for insomniacs; promising naked poetry, music, strippers, and drag queens. You may think you're dreaming. Coffee Messiah, 1554 E Olive Way, 860-7377. Sat from 2-4 am. $5.

Jet City Improv

Improv comedy and music based on audience suggestions. Ethnic Cultural Theater, 3940 Brooklyn Ave NE, 781-3879. Fri-Sat at 10:30.

Theater Sports

Improv comedy with a competitive edge, brought to you by Unexpected Productions. Market Theater, 1428 Post Alley, 781-9273. Fri-Sat at 10:30, $9. Sun at 7, $5.

CALLS

NEW PLAY COMPETITION

Richard Hugo House is awarding $1,000 and a staged reading to the best new full-length play written by a playwright residing in Washington, Oregon, or Idaho. Send a bound copy of your unproduced, original script by March 15 to Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122. Call 322-7030 for more information.

SEATTLE REPERTORY THEATRE

Now accepting applications through March 15 for its Professional Arts Training Program for the 2000-2001 season. Call intern hotline at 443-2210, ext. 1200, or write for an application to: Seattle Repertory Theatre, 155 Mercer St, Seattle, WA 98109.