OPENING AND CURRENT RUNS

ACCIDENTAL DEATH OF AN ANARCHIST
See review this issue. Strawberry Theatre Workshop at Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, www.brownpapertickets.com. $15–$20. Thurs–Sun at 7:30 pm. Through Oct 9.

THE BEAUTY PAGEANT
Final week. Just like a real beauty pageant, except it isn't rigged—and it wants to be funny. Wing-It Productions at Historic University Theater, 5510 University Way NE, www.thebeautypageant.com. $8–$10. Thurs–Fri at 8 pm. Through Sept 23.

CATHAY: THREE TALES OF CHINA
See review this issue. Seattle Repertory Theatre, 155 Mercer St, 443-2222. $10–$46. Tues–Sat at 7:30 pm, Sat–Sun at 2 pm. Through Oct 9.

CRAVE
See Stranger Suggests. "Crave is less a play than a prose-poem about lust, longing, and repulsion, spoken in short bursts by four characters identified only by letters. The scenic design is fantastic—we can hear a pool of water collecting at the actors' feet, and see them getting increasingly soaked as they pop in and out of our letterbox view." (Brendan Kiley) Washington Ensemble Theatre at Little Theatre, 608 19th Ave E, Seattle, 800-838-3006 or www.brownpaperticket.com. $10–$15. Thurs–Mon at 8 pm. Through Oct 3.

DEFENDING THE CAVEMAN
Ongoing. A mid-'90s relic about the supposed prehistoric propensities of the two sexes. ACT Theatre, 700 Union St, 292-7676. $39.50–$45. Fri at 7:30 pm, Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 3 pm. Tickets available through Oct 30.

DINNER & DREAMS
Ongoing. The new fall edition of the dinner theater extravaganza, with European-style cirque performances as garnish. Teatro ZinZanni, 2301 Sixth Ave, 802-0015. $99. Thurs–Sat at 6:30 pm, Sun at 5:30 pm (some additional Wed shows).

DON QUIXOTE
Opening. Don Quixote is, hands down, the most romantic man in the history of European literature. David Quicksall (Dracula) directs. Book-It Repertory at Seattle Center House Theatre, 305 Harrison St, 216-0833. $15–$30. Opening Fri Sept 23 at 7:30 pm. Sat at 2 and 7 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through Oct 16.

FEIFFER'S PEOPLE
A series of sketches by cartoonist and social satirist Jules Feiffer. Northwest Actors Studio, 1100 E Pike St, 324-6328. $10–$12. Fri–Sat at 8 pm. Through Oct 1.

FROZEN
Opening. Nominated for four Tony Awards in 2004, Frozen (by Bryony Lavery) examines three lives connected by the disappearance of a young girl. Directed by Chaw Yew (The Laramie Project). Empty Space Theatre, 3509 Fremont Ave N, 547-7500. $10–$30. Opening Wed Sept 21 at 7:30 pm. Thurs at 7:30 pm, Fri at 8 pm, Sat at 2 and 8 pm, Sun at 2 and 7:30 pm. Through Oct 22.

GEORGE M!
A tribute to George M. Cohan: vaudevillian, dancer, and composer of bombastic hits like "You're a Grand Old Flag." Civic Light Opera, 7400 Sand Point Way NE, 363-2809. $25–$35. Fri–Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through Sept 25.

GREASY DEMON HEAT
"Greasy Demon Heat came off as college students discovering performance art. Yet the sudden, structurally smart ending as well as several vivid sequences (the crackle of sticky feet on concrete and pan elegantly peeling off his syrup-soaked shirt) make this crazed, chaotic, cycle worth another visit." (Christopher DeLaurenti) Villainaire's Academy at Vertebrae Theater, 321 Third Ave S, 526-8093. $5–$15. Fri at 8 pm. Through Sept 30.

GREEN NIGHT
Final week. "It's impossible to derive a moral from Green Night, and a fable without a moral is even more ungainly than a knight without a head. Add in dull production design (with buzzing, static video projections) and about five too many ludicrous puns ("You're making a joke. You're making a kara-jokee!"), and you've got yourself an evening of truly pointless theater." (Annie Wagner) Macha Monkey Productions at Chamber Theater, 915 E Pine St, fourth floor, www.brownpapertickets.com. $12–$15. Fri–Sat at 8 pm. Through Sept 24.

HAMLET X: THE TRAGEDY OF EL-HAJJ MALIK EL-SHABAZZ
Hamlet, set in the separatist Islamic utopia imagined—and then rejected—by Malcolm X. Brownbox Theatre at Rainier Valley Cultural Center, 3515 S Alaska St, 335-7020. $12–$15. Sat at 7:30 pm, Sun at 3 pm. Through Oct 2.

THE IKEA CYCLE
See Theater News. Printer's Devil Theater at Ikea, 600 SW 43rd St, Renton. Free, reservations not required. Opening Mon, Sept 26 at 7 pm. Mon and Wed, 7 pm. Through Nov 9.

INTIMATE APPAREL
Final week. "Esther is a hardworking black seamstress in early-20th-century Manhattan who sews custom undergarments for white uptown socialites and black downtown prostitutes. At two and a half hours, Intimate Apparel drags ass." (Brendan Kiley) Intiman Theatre, 201 Mercer St, Seattle Center, 269-1900. $10–$46. Thurs at 7:30 pm, Fri at 8 pm, Sat at 2 and 8 pm, Sun at 2 and 7:30 pm, Tues at 7:30 pm, Wed at 7:30 pm. Through Sept 24.

THE KING & I
Opening. Stephanie Powers (from Hart to Hart!) plays a British governess for the King of Siam's innumerable children. She falls in love with the king and, for better or worse, becomes a one-woman beachhead for Euro-style modernity. 5th Avenue Theatre, 1308 Fifth Ave, 292-2787. $10–$71. Opening Thurs Sept 22 at 8 pm. Fri at 8 pm, Sat at 2 and 8 pm, Sun at 1:30 and 7 pm, Tues–Wed at 7:30 pm. Through Oct 9.

LATE NITE CATECHISM
Ongoing. "The real point is not the adult-catechism monologue—which by this point in the run sounds understandably stale—but the script's gaps, in which Sister (Aubrey Manning) dispenses tissues to cover salacious displays of flesh and kitschy prizes to reward the dumbstruck targets of her improvisations. What distinguishes Late Nite from the walking cartoons at Disneyland is that your name, your background, and your behavior become the crux of the performance." (Annie Wagner) Cloud 9 Productions at ACT Theatre, 700 Union St, 292-7676. $24.50–$29.50. Thurs–Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 2 pm.

THE LAST FIVE YEARS
A Jewish wannabe novelist and Catholic wannabe actress meet, fall in love, and sing about it. ReAct Theatre at Freehold's East Hall Theater, 915 E Pine St, second floor, 364-3283. $12–$18. Thurs at 7:30 pm, Fri at 8 pm, Sat at 8 and 11 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through Oct 2.

LEAVING RUIN
One weekend only. A one-man show written and performed by Jeff Berryman. Taproot Theatre, 204 N 85th St, 781-9707. $15–$20. Thurs at 7:30 pm, Fri–Sat at 8 pm.

LES ROMANESQUES
A play performed once in French, and again in English.Steeplechase Productions at Chapel Theatre, 4649 Sunnyside Ave N, 935-8261 or brownpapertickets.com. $10–$16. Opening Thurs Sept 22 at 8 pm. Fri–Sat at 8 pm. Through Oct 8.

MENOPAUSE THE MUSICAL™
Four women sing about the end of menses, when the ovaries stop producing estrogen, often accompanied by vasomotor symptoms such as vaginal dryness, palpitations, and increased depression and anxiety. ACT Theatre, 700 Union St, 292-7676. $45. Tues–Fri at 8 pm, Sat at 4 and 8 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through Nov 6.

MY LAST YEAR WITH THE NUNS
Final week. "Occasionally amusing and frequently gross, the show, while chock-full of period detail and tasty local flavor (and who doesn't love a little old-timey Seattle yarn-spinnin'?) is nothing more than a slow, disjointed trudge down somebody else's memory lane." (Lindy West) Unexpected Productions at Market Theatre, 1428 Post Alley, 781-9273. $15. Fri at 8 pm. Through Sept 23.

RIFF RAFF
"Riff Raff (by Laurence 'Morpheus' Fishburne) is a drama of tangled and sometimes hidden allegiances—involving stolen heroin, guns, and childhood friends—but it is primarily a thriller. I only wish there had been more literal and figurative juice." (Brendan Kiley) Theater Schmeater, 1500 Summit Ave, 325-6500. Thurs by donation, Fri–Sat $18. Thurs–Sat at 8 pm. Through Oct 1.

SCAB
Opening. Sheila Callaghan's play about a grad-school love triangle (two chicks and a dude, if you're counting). Also featuring a malevolent statue of the Virgin Mary. Live Girls! Theater, 2220 NW Market St, brownpapertickets.com. $9–$12. Opening Fri Sept 23 at 8 pm. Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through Oct 16.

SEUSSICAL
A Dr. Seuss tribute musical by Ahrens and Flaherty, who created the score for Ragtime. Seattle Children's Theatre, 201 Thomas St, 441-3322. $15–$30. Thurs–Fri at 7 pm, Sat–Sun at 2 and 5:30 pm. Through Nov 18.

SPDV: TEEN SKETCH COMEDY, SEASON 2
Final week. The Dysfunctional Family Show. Wing-It and Green Theatre at Historic University Theatre, 5510 University Way NE, 325-6500. $5–$10. Sat at 3 pm. Through Sept 24.

TUXEDO MAN
A character study of nightclub singer Nick Sands, written and performed by Zach Hoffman. Odd Duck Studio, 1412 10th Ave, 706-0086. $12. Thurs–Sat at 8 pm. Through October 9.

VERBATIM VERBOTEN
"Verbatim Verboten is a succession of minimally staged scenes bringing dirty voice mails, court transcripts, and other modes of celebrity embarrassment to life. Hilarity abounds, especially when we're treated to a nattily done naughty bit, a rehashing of bitchy Orson Welles outtakes, or anything involving Coco the gorilla, but just as often the actors don't interpret the transcripts so much as read them aloud." (Mariesa Bus) Clove Productions and Quade Productions at Rendezvous, 2322 Second Ave, 624-4455. $10–$12. Fri–Sat at 8 pm. Through Oct 1.

VINCENT IN BRIXTON
"Appropriately, Vincent's primary virtues are visual. ACT artistic director Kurt Beattie exploits the arena layout, and scenic designer Scott Weldin cleverly peppers hints of Van Gogh paintings from The Bedroom to Night Café at Arles throughout the set." (Brendan Kiley) ACT Theatre, 700 Union St, 292-7676. $10–$54. Tues–Thurs at 7:30 pm, Fri–Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 7:30 pm. Through Oct 2.

WE'RE NO ANGELS
A stage adaptation of the 1955 movie that was a film adaptation of a stage comedy about three escaped convicts who help a needy family. SecondStory Repertory, 16587 NE 74th St, Redmond, 425-881-6777. $18–$24. Fri–Sat at 8:15. Through Oct 8.

WOOMBIES
Opening. A one-woman play about growing up as an identical twin. Ironic, yes? We Three Productions at Ethnic Cultural Theatre, 3940 Brooklyn Ave NE, www.we3productions.com. $7–$10. Opening Thurs Sept 22 at 8 pm. Fri–Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through Oct 2.

DANCE

DIRECTOR'S CHOICE
Opening. New Pacific Northwest Ballet artistic director Peter Boal picks three selections from the dance masters: Jerome Robbins (set to Chopin), Balanchine (set to Stravinsky), and William Forsythe (set to Bach). McCaw Hall, 321 Mercer St, 441-2424. $20–$149. Opening Thurs Sept 22 at 7:30 pm. Fri at 7:30 pm, Sat at 2 and 7:30 pm. Through Oct 2.

VELOCITY FALL KICKOFF EXTRAVAGANZA
One weekend only. Three days of dance with d-9, BetterBiscuit, Lingo dancetheater, Mark Haim, Crispin Spaeth, and tons more. Velocity Dance Center, 915 E Pine St, 325-8773. $20 for one night, discounts for additional nights. Fri–Sun 23-25 at 8 pm.

CABARETTHE ATOMIC BOMBSHELLS
Burlesque at Triple Door, 216 Union St, 838-4333. $15 advance, $18 day of show. Tues at 7:30 pm. Through Sept 27.

IMPROV & COMEDY

MATT WEINHOLD at Comedy Underground, 222 Main St, 800-325-7328. $6–$12 (21+ w/ID required). Thurs at 8:30 pm, Fri–Sat at 8:30 and 10:30 pm. ANDREW NOURILLI and LUCAS SEELEY at Giggles Comedy Club, 5220 Roosevelt Way NE, 526-5653. $12. Fri–Sat Sept 16–17 at 8:30 and 10 pm. JET CITY IMPROV at Historic University Theater, 5510 University Way NE, 325-6500. $8–$10. Fri at 10:30 pm, Sat at 8 and 10:30 pm. Fri–Sat at 8:30 and 10 pm. THEATRESPORTS at Market Theatre, 1428 Post Alley, 781-9273. $8–$12. Sun at 7 pm. UNHINGED (Comedy Slam!) at Mirabeau Room, 529 Queen Anne Ave N. $6. Wed Sept 21 at 8 pm.

LATE NIGHT

MONEY & RUN
See review this issue. Theater Schmeater, 1500 Summit Ave, 325-6500, www.ticketwindowonline.com. Thurs by donation, Fri–Sat $12. Thurs–Sat at 11 pm. Through Oct 1.

SPECIAL EVENTS

12 MINUTES MAX
Two nights only. Stranger Genius Sarah Rudinoff co-curated this month's performance exhibition. On the Boards, 100 W Roy St, reservations not required. $7. Sun–Mon at 7 pm.

BREAK MY BODY
One night only. A reading of a new play by Stephanie Timm (Franchenocchio) about the need for love. Seattle Dramatists at Northwest Actors Studio, 1100 E Pike St. Tickets available at the door only, $2. Mon Sept 26 at 7 pm.

HANNAH AND MARTIN
Two days only. A staged reading of a play about the real-life pedagogical and romantic relationship between Jewish political philosopher Hannah Arendt and former Hitler supporter Martin Heidegger. Sun Sept 25 at 2 pm at Pigott Auditorium, Seattle University Campus. Mon Sept 26 at 7 pm at Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, 322-7030. $5.

MEET PETER BOAL
Film clips, lecture, and Q&A with Pacific Northwest Ballet's new artistic director. McCaw Hall, 321 Mercer St, 441-2424. $12. Mon Sept 26 at 7:30 pm.

OPEN BOX
Open mic for playwrights, with actors assigned to read brand-new scenes and short plays. Seattle Dramatists at Rendezvous, 2322 Second Ave. $3. Sat Sept 24 at 4:30.