AMERICAN BUFFALO
Final week. Mamet right where he belongs: in the bookstore. Live Theater Company at University Rare and Used Books, 4213 University Way NE, 579-3155. $12. Thurs-Sun at 8 pm. Through March 16.
THE ARK
Opening. A musical retelling of the story of Noah. Village Theatre, 303 Front St N, Issaquah, 425-392-2202. $26-$42. Tues-Sat at 8 pm, Sat-Sun at 2 pm. Through April 20.
* A BRIGHT ROOM CALLED DAY
"The script, and subsequently the production, is riddled with flaws. It is of uneven quality, sometimes screechy, sometimes saccharine. But none of that matters. Day manages to be a shockingly brilliant piece of work whose power and beauty make the odd stitches and visible seams totally insignificant. This is why God gave us small theater. Bold, funny, and gutsy, it had me choking back tears several times--something this critic hasn't done in a theater for a very long time." (Brendan Kiley) Strike Anywhere Productions at Seattle Center House, Theater Four, fourth floor, 325-6500. $8-$10. Fri-Sat at 8 pm. Through March 22.
BOY GETS GIRL
"If the premise of this politically naive and dramatically inert play is to be believed, romantic comedies and exploitation movies turn regular guys into psychopathic stalkers. After a fairly engaging first half, the second act collapses into a paralyzing and formless miasma--leaving a stage full of talented actors with nothing left to stand on but a big pile of ham." (Tamara Paris) Seattle Repertory Theatre, 155 Mercer St, 443-2222. $10-$46. Tues-Fri at 7:30 pm, Sat-Sun at 2 and 7:30 pm. Through March 23.
* THE CHANGELING
"The prospect of watching a florid Jacobean play in a tiny theater in the back of a bar may not sound like an exciting way to spend a weekend night. Unless, however, that play has been adapted by Bret Fetzer, dynamically directed by Carys Kresny, and performed by a cast beyond reproach." (Gregory Zura) Annex Theatre at Rendezvous, 2320 Second Ave, 728-0933. $12. Fri-Sat at 8 pm. Through March 22.
DEATHTRAP
Final week. Ira Levin's (Rosemary's Baby, The Stepford Wives) ancient Broadway comedy-thriller about a dried-up playwright who attempts to lift a script from his up-and-coming student. North Seattle Community College, 9600 College Way N, 526-7791. Tickets are pay-what-you-can. Fri-Sat at 8 pm. Through March 15.
ESCAPE FROM HAPPINESS
Final week. "Canadian playwright George F. Walker's play, touted as a throwback to the screwball comedies of the 1930s, is a supposedly humorous work, with dark twists involving a family entrenched in a 'battle of denial.' Never has a show had a more appropriate title." (Gregory Zura) Theatre Babylon at Union Garage, 1418 10th Ave, 720-1942. $12. Fri-Sat at 8 pm. Through March 15.
GO, DOG. GO!
Word on the street says this shit's got the kiddies cracking up like there's no tomorrow. Get super high and join the fun. Seattle Children's Theatre, 201 Thomas St, 441-3322. $12.50-$19.50. Fri at 7 pm, Sat-Sun at 2 and 5:30 pm. Through May 4.
GOODNIGHT CHILDREN EVERYWHERE
Final week. No, Michael, no! It's just a play! Richard Nelson's WWII drama about families scattered abroad during the bombings on London. Playhouse Theatre, 404 University Way NE, UW campus, 543-4880. $7-$12. Wed-Thurs at 7 pm, Fri-Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through March 16.
HARD TIMES
Opening. Book-It does Dickens. Book-It Repertory Theatre at Seattle Center House, 305 Harrison St, 770-0880. $12-$22. Thurs-Sat at 7:30 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through April 6.
HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE
Final week. Paula Vogel's Pulitzer Prize-winning survey of the icky limits of familial affection. University of Washington, Studio 201, 543-4880. $5. Thurs at 7 pm, Fri-Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through March 16.
KICKING THE HAT
See review this issue. ArtsWest Theater, 4711 California Ave SW, 938-0399. $10-$24. Wed-Sat at 7:30 pm, Sat and Sun matinees at 3 pm. Through March 29.
LETTERS FROM EARTH
Adapted by one Mr. Dan Savage (AKA Keenan Hollahan, AKA the guy who figuratively signs my checks) from a short story by Mark Twain, Letters is based around a correspondence between the banished Mephistopheles and Saints Michael and Gabriel on the subject of humanity. Starring the typically magnificent Charles Smith. Consolidated Works, 500 Boren Ave N, 860-5245. $15. Fri-Sat at 8 and 10 pm. Through March 22.
THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER
A 1930s Kaufman and Hart comedy in the familiar "unwanted houseguest" subgenre, about a domineering theater critic who wears out his welcome. The Playhouse, 200 Madison Ave, Bainbridge Island, 842-8569. $9-$15. Fri-Sat at 7:30 pm, Sun at 3 pm. Through March 22.
THE MILLIONAIRESS
"I'm a big fan of the Liberty Deli's quirky take on dinner theater. It's thrillingly weird eating corned beef and coleslaw three inches away from a stage full of actors working up a salty lather. Which is why I'm sad to report that their latest production of George Bernard Shaw's socialist farce is ill-prepared and overwrought." (Tamara Paris) Steeplechase Productions at Liberty Deli, 2722 Alki Ave SW, 935-8420. $15. Fri-Sat at 7:30 pm. Through March 29.
MURDER AT CRAGGY ROCK
A Wild West musical-mystery-comedy set to steak, featuring characters with names like Slappy, Hap Hazard, El Gatito, and Fifi. Northwest Murder Mysteries at Rock Salt Steak House, 1232 Westlake Ave N, 706-7575. $50, includes meal. Sat at 8 pm. Through March 29.
MY FAIR LADY
Final week. I'm really uncomfortable with the word "cockney." 5th Avenue Theatre, 1308 Fifth Ave, 625-1900. $15-$58. Thurs-Fri at 8 pm, Sat at 2 and 8 pm, Sun at 7:30 pm. Through March 16.
NICKY SOMEWHERE ELSE
Apparent mental illness, as masked by the notion of a child's "imagination." Nicky Somewhere Else journeys through the world of imaginary twins, pet rabbits, Santa Claus, and telling delusions. Seattle Children's Theatre, 201 Thomas St, Seattle Center, 441-3322. $12-$26. Fri at 7 pm, Sat-Sun at 2 and 5:30 pm. Through March 30.
PR GOLEM
Opening. A play based on the mythical creature from Jewish folklore, as based on a short story by Antoni Geimer. ArtsWest Studio Theater, 4711 California Ave SW, 938-0963. $10. Fri-Sat at 7:30. Through March 29.
PRICK
Solo performer K. Brian Neel brings his welcomed fourth one-man show to fruition in a story about the exploits of a successful fantasy writer and his less than desirable roommates. Re-bar, 114 Howell St, 325-6500. $12. Thurs- Sat at 8 pm. Through April 5.
ROMEO AND JULIET
West Side Story, but in fancier pants. Seattle Repertory Theatre, Seattle Center, 443-2222. $15-$40. Tues-Sun at 7:30 pm, Sat-Sun at 2 pm. Through April 20.
SEX IN SEATTLE, EPISODE 6: VICIOUS VALENTINES
Opening. Just in time for Valentine's Day (wait, what?) comes the latest installment of Sex in Seattle, the long-running serial about those sassy, sexual women of Asia. Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, 323-9443. $8-$12. Fri-Sat at 8 pm and 10:30 pm. Through April 5.
THIS IS OUR YOUTH
Opening. The Reagan era is all the rage in Seattle theater all of a sudden--here's another example. The rich and disenchanted, as written by Kenneth Lonergan. UW Ethnic Cultural Theatre, 3940 Brooklyn Ave NE, 634-4288. $7-$10. Thurs-Sun at 8 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through March 23.
* WOMEN WITH BALLS
"Finally, someone has managed to tackle a social issue without beating the audience to death with it. The concept is simple: Four fun and talented women perform what seems like a collection of history reports written by sassy budding feminists. Set to music. With butt jokes. This show is breezy, not preachy; lighthearted, not pointy-headed; and even a touch (ouch) educational." (Adrian Ryan) Red & Me at Bathhouse Theater, 7312 W Green Lake Drive N, 325-6500. $12-$18. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 7:30 pm. Through March 29.
WORLD OF WONDER
One day only. The paradox of performance art for the family--Leland Faulkner bridges the impossible gap with World of Wonder. Leland Faulkner at Kirkland Performance Center, 350 Kirkland Ave, Kirkland, 425-893-9900. $8-$14. Sat March 15 at 2 pm.
* WOUNDS TO THE FACE
Final week. "Wounds to the Face is a thoughtful, intense, moody, broody piece of theater. It's a 'serious artistic statement,' certainly, and I thought it was swell. It's a lot to take at times: stylized, serious, on the verge of buckling under its own artsier-than-thou symbolism." (Adrian Ryan) Union Garage, 1418 10th Ave, 720-1942. $12. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm. Through March 15.
YELLOW FEVER: THE INTERNMENT
According to the press release, the collective "we" (which in this case seems to mean America as a whole) are afflicted with "yellow fever" (which in this case seems to refer to a blanket of racism held against people of Asian descent)--an ailment that the collective "we" must heal ourselves from. This performance--combining poetry, music, dance, and performance art--is the prescription. Little Theatre Off Broadway, 1524 Harvard St, 325-6500. $10-$15. Tues-Thurs at 7:30 pm, Fri-Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 3 pm. Through March 23.
YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN
A lighthearted musical about the most fucked-up children of all time. Music Works Theatre, 14360 SE Eastgate Way, Suite 102, Bellevue, 325-6500. $12-$16. Fri-Sun at 7:30 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through March 23.
FESTIVALS, CABARET, & COMEDY
* 12 MINUTES MAX: A PERFORMANCE EXHIBITION
This week only. Now in its 24th year, On the Boards' artist-friendly, time-sensitive performance showcase 12 Minutes Max has grown into a veritable rite of passage for up 'n' coming Northwest performers--be they writers, dancers, or wonderfully entertaining freaks. This month's installment offers Troy Mink, John Osebold, Louise Zamparutti, Rachel Diamond, Brian Culver, and Jacob Nolte. On the Boards, 100 West Roy, 217-9888. $7. Sun March 16 and Mon March 17 at 7 pm.
BABA YAGA & THE BAG OF GOLD
Russian folklore and puppets. Northwest Puppet Center, 9123 15th Ave NE, 523-2579. $7.50-$9.50. Fri at 7:30 pm, Sat-Sun at 1 and 3 pm. Through March 30.
CITY LIFE
Improvised theater about the Jet City. Unexpected Productions at Market Theatre, Post Alley, 781-9273. $10. Fri-Sat at 8 pm. Through March 15.
FRENCH CABARET ON BROADWAY 2003
Buncha French songs, sung in French by Frenchies. Le Centre Français, 623 Broadway Ave E, 726-4843. $8-$10. Sat at 8:30 pm. Through May 17.
ELLEN DEGENERES
One night only. The funniest lesbian in the history of the world comes back to the town that loves her. Last time Ellen was here, she mocked someone she believed to be a drunk audience member. Turns out the person wasn't drunk, just handicapped. Hyuk! Paramount Theatre, 911 Pine St, 467-5510. Wed March 19 at 7:30 pm.
IMPROV! COMEDY AND MORE!
It's not clear what the "and more!" portion of the evening holds, but I hope it has something to do with Reddi-wip. Ain't nothin' funny like Reddi-wip. Northwest Actors Studio, 1100 E Pike St, third floor, 425-417-5667. $10. Sat at 10 pm. Through March 29.
IT'S ALL THE SAME
Gender-bent cabaret starring local theater veterans Karen Gruber and Doug Knoop. Thumper's Restaurant & Lounge, 1500 E Madison St, 328-3800. $10. Sun at 8:30 pm. Through March 30.
LATIN CABARET
This week only. A spicy blend of salsa and tango, featuring Angel Garcia and Rosa Collantes. Michelle Badion presents at Century Ballroom, 915 E Pine St, 325-6500. $20. Fri-Sat at 8 pm. Through March 15.
LOUNGE LIZARDS
Final week. If life is a cabaret, please kill me. The Velveteens--a lounge trio and their pianist--gut the standards for your entertainment. Straight-Edge Theatrics at Thumper's Restaurant & Lounge, 1500 E Madison St, 328-3800. $15. Fri-Sat at 8:30 pm. Through March 15.
SPOLIN PLAYERS
Improv comedy for the cause--in this case, that of the blood cancer variety. Spolin Players at Bathhouse Theater, 7312 W Green Lake Dr N, 325-6500.
DANCE
BUTTROCK SUITES
See Stranger Suggests. Velocity MainSpace Theater, 915 E Pine, second floor of the Oddfellows Hall, 722-0963. $10-$12. Fri-Sun at 8 pm. Through March 16.
JARDI TANCAT
A mixed-repertory collection of works as performed by the Pacific Northwest Ballet, boasting the world premiere of French Canadian choreographer Dominique Dumais' Scripted in the Body and including the return of the titular work by Nacho Duato. Pacific Northwest Ballet at Mercer Arts Arena, 362 Mercer St, 292-ARTS. $9-$110. Thurs-Sat at 7:30 pm, Sun March 15 at 2 pm. Through March 22.
LONG RUNS
BROADVILLE CARNIVAL at Cafe Venus, 624-4516.
CABARET: THE ResERECTION at Coffee Messiah, 861-8233.
* THE HOKUM SHOW at Hokum Hall, 937-3613.
JET CITY IMPROV at ArtsWest, 938-0339; at the Ethnic Cultural Theater, 781-3879.
LATE NIGHT CATECHISM from Seattle Theatre Project at ACT, 292-7676.
QUEER AS A THREE-DOLLAR BILL at the Comedy Underground, 800-992-8499.
