21 SHOTS
Opening.See review this issue. The time-honored unwanted houseguest routine serves as the groundwork for this world-premiere production, penned by Deron Bos. With The Stranger's own Sean Nelson in what I imagine is an all-too-convincing portrayal of the obnoxious, self-important novelist and uninvited caller. Printer's Devil Theatre at Rendezvous, 2320 Second Ave, 860-7163. $12. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm. Through Oct 26.
AGAINST THE GRAIN/MEN IN DANCE
One night only. Too gay. Bainbridge Performing Arts, 200 Madison Ave N, Bainbridge Island, 842-8578. $9-$15. Sat Oct 5 at 7:30 pm.
AMERICAN VOICES: BUKOWSKI, MICHELINE, AND THE FIRST AMENDMENT
Opening. "Vincent Balestri's new one-man show, American Voices, examines writers Jack Micheline and Charles Bukowski, Bukowski's column "Notes from a Dirty Old Man" in the San Francisco magazine Open City, and the 1968 obscenity charges that closed the publication. It is an unsettling show, a rough-hewn work about gritty writers whose subject matter is equally raw. Drunkenness, loneliness, and disgust are their refrains. Balestri manages the transition between the erratic Micheline and the shuffling Bukowski well, and he puts an earnest punch into the peculiar genre of 1960s poetry and prose." (Brendan Kiley) Union Garage, 1418 10th Ave, 720-1942. $12-$14. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm. Through Oct 26.
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
A foxy bookworm finds love in the arms of a hideous monster who once tried to kill her father in this Disney-fried musical. Paramount Theatre, 911 Pine St, 467-5510. $20-$60. Tues-Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 1 pm and 6:30 pm, with matinee performances Sat at 2 pm and Thurs Oct 3 at 1 pm. Through Oct 13.
THE BIG FRIENDLY GIANT
Opening. A kind vegan suffering from a crippling speech impediment and an extraordinary case of acromegaly befriends an orphan, meets the Queen of England, and saves the continent. Seattle Children's Theatre, 201 Thomas St, 443-0807. $12-$26. Fri at 7 pm, Sat-Sun at 2 and 5:30 pm. Through Jan 26.
CHARLEY'S AUNT
Opening. Three turn-of-the-century drag queens run amok--but with a comic twist: The trio is trying to get all up under the bustle cage of the same... woman? ArtsWest, 4711 California Ave SW, 938-0339. $10-$26. Wed-Sat at 7:30 pm, Sat matinees Oct 12 and 26, and Sun matinee Oct 20 at 3 pm. No show Oct 9. Through Oct 26.
COPENHAGEN
Seattle Rep presents Michael Frayn's Tony-winning Copenhagen, a fictionalized account of two atomic physicists, Werner Heisenberg and Niels Bohr, former colleagues who meet as opponents during World War II, then talk about a whole bunch of stuff for a long time. Seattle Repertory Theatre, 155 Mercer St, 443-2222. $15-$40. Tues-Sun at 7:30 pm, Sat-Sun matinees at 2 pm. Through Oct 26.
COWBOYS ARE MY WEAKNESS
Book-It Repertory gallops toward cowboy romance with a remount of its adaptation of Pam Houston's short stories "For Bo," "Selway," and "How to Talk to a Hunter." Book-It Repertory at Seattle Center House Theatre, 305 Harrison St, 325-6500. $15-$22. Thurs-Sat at 7:30 pm, Sun matinee at 2 pm. Through Oct 20.
FUDDY MEERS
See review this issue. ACT Theatre, 700 Union St, 292-7676. $32.50-$44. Sun-Thurs at 7:30 pm, Fri-Sat at 8 pm, matinees at 2 pm Oct 5, 6, 12, and 13. Through Oct 13.
FULLY COMMITTED
Solo show about an unemployed actor taking reservations for an ultra-chic restaurant. Now with Daniel J. Chercover. ACT Theatre, 700 Union St, 292-7676. $24.50-$29.50. Thurs at 7:30 pm, Fri-Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through Oct 20.
IN PURSUIT OF AN INKLING
Opening. On top of sporting the most unfortunate moniker of all time, Mind-Shattering Productions has also managed to produce what appears to be an enormously indulgent self-portrait, describing itself with language like "essential being" and "profound inner authority." Mind-Shattering Productions at Odd Duck Studio, 1214 10th Ave, 324-1062. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 7 pm. Through Oct 19.
MATCHSTALK MAN
See review this issue. New City Theater Zero & Strike Anywhere Productions at South End Warehouse, 2110 S Airport Way, 328-4683. $8. Fri-Sat at 8 pm. Through Oct 26.
ODE TO ICARUS: A POLYHEDRONIC SCRIPTURE OF ADOUROUS SEDUCTION
One night only. The informative Greek myth reminding us all of the hazards of angel dust, as performed by a volatile, elaborately adorned cast of 40, an orchestra, and the drunken assortment that will follow through the streets of Pioneer Square. Ode to Icarus at 124 S Jackson Ave, 621-2000, see www.odetoicarus.org for more details. Thurs Oct 3, 5 pm.
OIL CITY SYMPHONY
"Maybe I'm too young to feel nostalgic about concerts in high school gyms, maybe I'm just a curmudgeon, but all the energy and musical wizardry that went into Symphony should, by my lights, have had a worthier object. Heavy on faded '80s ambiance and light on story, revelation, or thought-provoking material, Symphony is charmingly lighthearted, sometimes funny, and sometimes musically interesting, in a novelty-show kind of way." (Brendan Kiley) Taproot Theatre, 204 N 85th St, 781-9707. $18-$26. Wed-Thurs at 7:30 pm, Fri-Sat at 8 pm, with additional Sat matinee at 2 pm. Extended through Oct 26.
OKLAHOMA!
"Where the corn's as high as an elephant's eye... " Village Theatre, 303 Front St N, Issaquah, 425-392-2202. $25-$42. Wed-Sat at 8 pm, Sun matinees at 2 pm. Through Oct 27.
OUR ONLY MAY AMELIA
Based on the works of Jennifer L. Holm, Our Only May Amelia is the tale of an outspoken young girl finding her way in the wilderness of 19th-century Oregon Territory. Seattle Children's Theatre, 201 Thomas St, 441-3322. $12-$26. Fri at 7 pm, Sat-Sun at 2 pm and 5:30 pm. Through Oct 26.
ROAD MOVIE
Opening. See Stranger Suggests. Godfrey Hamilton's one-man show, concerning the life and love of a particular queer couple, lands in Seattle after racking up raves and awards around the globe. Performed by Mark Pinkosh. Open Circle Theater, 429 Boren Ave N, 382-4250. $15. Thurs-Sun at 8 pm. Through Oct 13.
SCAPIN
See review this issue. Intiman Theatre, 201 Mercer St, 269-1900. $27-$42. Tues-Thurs & Sun at 7:30 pm, Fri-Sat at 8 pm, matinees Sat-Sun at 2 pm. Through Oct 19.
*STAGE DOOR
"If all you know of Stage Door is that "classic" (ha!) 1936 film adaptation starring Katherine Hepburn and Ann Miller--well, those old hacks just butchered it. Stage Door: Feel the magic again... for the first time." (Adrian Ryan) The Empty Space Theatre, 3509 Fremont Ave N, 728-0933. $14. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through Oct 13.
TEATRO ZINZANNI: DINNER & DREAMS
The most expensive dinner theater of all time--three hours of gluttony, lust, and eye candy. Featuring the effervescent yet earthy Kevin Kent. "Dinner & Dreams isn't a disaster. The food is great, and a handful of the performers are dazzling. But for every bit that dazzles, a half-dozen fall flat." (David Schmader) Teatro ZinZanni, Sixth & Battery, 802-0015. $89 Wed-Fri & Sun, $99 Sat (includes dinner, but not beverages or gratuity). Wed-Sat at 6:30 pm, Sun at 5:30 pm. Open run.
TOMATO PLANT GIRL
This week only. The tumultuous relationship between Bossy Best Friend and Little Girl comes to a dramatic head when the former is accused of vegetable abuse. Rainier Valley Cultural Center, 3515 S Alaska Way, 725-7169. $5-$10. Fri-Sat at 2 and 7:30 pm.
THE TROJAN WOMEN
Opening. With every press release prominently displaying the luridness of this show's content ("rated NC-17," "contains strong language, violent situations, and partial nudity," etc.), one has no choice but to assume that The Trojan Women, a modern adaptation of Greek myth, will be the most poignant show of the season. And fuck, don't forget the nudity! Theater Schmeater, 1500 Summit Ave, 325-6500. $12-$15. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm, Sun matinees Oct 20, 27 at 2 pm. Through Nov 2.
FESTIVALS, CABARET, & COMEDY
FRINGE FESTIVAL ARTISTIC PICKS
This week only. Fringe Festival revisited: featuring restagings of 2002's "artistic picks," each of which receiving characteristically glowing reviews in these here pages, include Letters to Wendy's, Burning Cages, Tests, and Claudia Kelley's 500 Hats. Freehold Studio Lab, 1529 10th Ave, second floor, 322-2078. $12 per show. Thurs-Sat, see www.seattlefringe.org for individual showtimes.
*SKETCHFEST
Opening. Now in its fourth year, Seattle's SketchFest--North America's first comedy fest devoted entirely to sketch comedy--has grown from a two-night forum for local talent to a two-weekend blowout featuring name-brand acts from across the nation. Among Week #1's delights: L.A.'s Troop!, San Francisco's Totally False People, Austin, Texas' Latino Comedy Project, and Seattle's beloved Bald Faced Lie. (Check out www.sketchfest.org for a complete schedule.) Broadway Performance Hall, 1625 Broadway Ave, 325-6500. $7 per show. Fri-Sat at 7 pm. Through Oct 12.
DANCE
RIGGED
Opening. Watch in amusement as six poised, professional dancers attempt to sustain some semblance of grace as they dangle from 15-foot ropes. d9 Dance Collective at Velocity Mainspace Theater, 915 E Pike St, second floor, 781-7746. $12-$14. Fri-Sun at 8 pm. Through Oct 13.
KUUYAMBA
This week only. Interpretive dance ensemble tackles West African rite-of-passage rituals whilst gracefully shakin' their collective elegant asses. Le Ballet National du Senegal at Meany Theater, 4001 University Way NE, 543-4880. $22-$32. Thurs-Sun Oct 3-5 at 8 pm.
THE MERRY WIDOW
Closing. Pacific Northwest Ballet inaugurates its latest season with a story of passion and political intrigue: the fictional tale of a wealthy beauty and the suitor who must woo her for the good of his country. Pacific Northwest Ballet at Mercer Arts Arena, Seattle Center, 389-7676. $16-$110. Thurs-Sat at 7:30 pm. Through Oct 5.
LATE NIGHT
COMEDY COURT
Improv comedy... in a courtroom setting. Motion denied. Odd Duck Studios, 1214 10th Ave, 442-2044. $7-$10. Sat at 10:30 pm. Through Oct 26.
PUSH
Opening. Seattle SketchFest's inebriated, deviant non sequitur of a cousin--featuring SketchFest participants playing with "raw, daring, experimental" (read: dirty and senseless [read: just the way we like 'em]) works meant to push (get it?) the bounds of contemporary sketch in less contrived, more artful directions. The Serious Dogs at Center on Contemporary Art, 1420 11th Ave, 728-1980. $5. Sat Oct 5, 11 at 12:30 am. Through Oct 11.
SPIN THE BOTTLE
This week only. Annex's monthly mélange, featuring John Kaufman & Dan Dennis of Starball fame, a film by Richard Squad, and so much more. Annex Theatre at Velocity Mainspace, 915 E Pine St, second floor, 728-0933. $7. Fri Oct 4 at 11 pm.
