THURSDAY JAN 10

Superflat Cinema

(FILM) In conjunction with the Henry’s Superflat art show comes the Little Theatre’s Superflat Cinema series. It kicks off with Alakazam the Great (1960), one of the first anime films seen in the USA. As picked up by American International Pictures and dubbed by the likes of Frankie Avalon, Jonathan Winters, and that guy who voiced Winnie the Pooh, it’s the story of a cowardly monkey boy who follows the advice of a good woman to become king of all animals. Turns out he’s a terrible ruler, and he spends the rest of this odd children’s film learning humility, mercy, and wisdom. Perhaps you can do the same. (The Little Theatre, 608 19th Ave E, 675-2055, Thurs-Fri at 7 pm & 9 pm.) ANDY SPLETZER

FRIDAY JAN 11

Taiwan Acrobats

(PHYSICAL SPECTACLE) I adore the language used to describe the jaw-dropping physical feats of this acrobatic troupe: “A human pyramid is erected to against the gravity of the heaven and the earth, asking God: what is life?” The best part is, they’ll live up to this metaphoric hyperbole. The program includes contortionists who will fold themselves up like handkerchiefs; flaming hoops with steel knives; foot juggling of jars, bamboo, desks, and ladders; and a man balancing on a tower of chairs, the bottommost of which is perched on top of four bottles. It will be dazzling. (Meany Hall, UW campus, 543-4880, Fri-Sat Jan 11-12, 8 pm, $18-$28.) BRET FETZER

Spaceboat TV

(Multimedia, sort of) Okay. No one knows what Spaceboat TV is, not even Spaceboat TV. People generally agree, however, that whatever it is (some kind of hyper-original multimedia melange that combines technology and performance, music and video, art and craft), it’s pretty fucking spectacular, and clearly, must be seen not just to be believed, but even to be described. Featuring a heavenly host of local talent and more fancy electronic gear than you can even imagine. (Sky Church at EMP, 325 Fifth Ave, 770-2702, 8-11 pm, $10/$12.) SEAN NELSON

SATURDAY JAN 12

The Pat Graney Company

(DANCE) Over 20 years of choreography make Pat Graney the grand dame of Seattle’s dance scene. Out of the more than 40 works she has created in that time, she’s pulling together five classics and one brand new piece for two weekends. Graney’s work is smart, vigorous, and often has a sly sense of humor (and god knows humor is always welcome in the world of dance). Watching these pieces, all taken from different points in Graney’s career, should be like watching a sped-up film of a flower opening: an imagination unfolding and turning into brilliant visual spectacle. (The Moore Theatre, 1932 Second Ave, 292-ARTS, $25.50-$36. Through Jan 19.) BRET FETZER

SUNDAY JAN 13

Overdrawn

(ART MARKET) This is an experiment in socio-cultural engineering, in which only the poor get the art. In return for your NSF-stamped check or your ATM receipt showing a negative balance, you are permitted to choose a piece of art (by respectable artists!) to take home. The owners expect hundreds of works to cycle through the gallery, proving something not yet clear–but nevertheless enticing–about art’s value, art’s audience, and art’s gift. (Vital 5 Productions, 2200 Westlake Ave, 254-0475, Fri-Sun Jan 11-13.) EMILY HALL

MONDAY JAN 14

McCoy Tyner

(INTERVIEW) Second only to the genius of Mal Waldron, Tyner can be at once emotionally expressive, intellectually provocative, and effortlessly elegant in the span of a solo. Witnessing his fingers on Jazz Alley’s piano this week, starting Tues Jan 15, will be wonderful, but tonight there’s a bonus: As a part of EMP’s Jazz in January series, EMP director Bob Santelli will interview Tyner in front of a live audience. Suggested question: “Tyner, did Coltrane ever confess that you had better solos on Olé?” (JBL Theater at EMP, 325 Fifth Ave, 7 pm, free. Call 770-2702 for tickets.) BRIAN GOEDDE

TUESDAY JAN 15

Writers on Writers

(READING) Many of history’s great writers didn’t really want to be known. This distinguishes between person and persona, writer and work, and here is the terrible job of the biographer. This panel features writer and editor James Atlas in conversation with Francine du Plessix Gray and Edmund White, two fiction writers who have also journeyed into the strange territory of literary biography. I imagine the conversation will touch on influence, respect, and truth–the immense combined intelligence of the writers involved allows nothing less. (Benaroya Hall, Third Ave at University St, 621-2230, 7:30 pm, $7.50/$18.) EMILY HALL

WEDNESDAY JAN 16

The Handsome Family

(MUSIC) With his deep baritone deadpanning the lyrics penned by his wife Rennie, Brett Sparks finds the ache and the pitch-black humor of country’s gothic strain. The Chicago couple uses minimal instrumentation to carve out twisted two-steps and waltzes obsessed with death, depression, and mysteries. The Handsome Family mixes up George Jones, Edward Gorey, and Carson McCullers for a musical thanatopsis that is bizarre and always somehow touching. (Tractor Tavern, 5213 Ballard Ave NW, 789-3599, 9 pm, $8/$10.) NATE LIPPENS