ALEGRêA
Fire, flesh, and lycra. Cirque du Soleil at the Grand Chapiteau, Renton, 800-678-5440. $31.50-$165. Tues-Thurs at 8 pm, Fri-Sat at 4 and 8 pm, Sun at 1 and 5 pm. Through Sept 21.
BABY: THE MUSICAL
The terrifying threat of parasitic invasion (read: "pregnancy") haunts three couples faced with potential infestation in Richard Maltby Jr.'s 20-year-old musical, Baby. Second Story Repertory at Redmond Town Center, 16587 NE 74th St, 425-881-6777. $18-$22. Fri-Sat at 8:15 pm. Through Sept 20.
FUCKED: AN EVENING OF THEATRICAL ATROCITIES
"The plays were sadistically thrilling to watch, but they lacked that haunting chill that lingers after more substantially disturbing spectacles. Nevertheless, Fucked is a ragged evening of wicked, insensitive, revolting fun. " (Brendan Kiley) Open Circle Theater, 429 Boren Ave N, 382-4250. $8. Fri-Sat at 11 pm, 18+. Through Sept 20.
THE GAMBLERS
"Adapted by Tom Ansart and directed by Dennis Kleinsmith, The Gamblers, which is based on Dostoyevsky's novel The Gambler, is a very light affair that manages to hold one's attention as it runs, but fails to leave an impression after it's done. The problem is the acting, particularly that of the main character, Alexey (Erwin Galan), is completely unsuccessful. But despite the inadequate acting, the play is not boring. Packed into this little script--about a young tutor who loves an unattainable woman, and is addicted to and ruined by the whims of the roulette table--there are considerable chunks of the Russian author's passions: existential or Nietzschean philosophy; Russian politics and preoccupation with its own national identity; and, most importantly, the very nature of obsession itself. " (Charles Mudede) Steeplechase Productions at Liberty Deli, 2722 Alki Ave SW, 935-8420. $14. Fri-Sat at 8 pm. Through Oct 4.
HOMEBODY/KABUL
Opening. A bored English housewife, fascinated with the troubled history of Afghanistan, travels to the country and disappears. Completed by Pulitzer/Tony award-winning playwright Tony Kushner just prior to the World Trade Center attacks. Intiman Playhouse, 201 Mercer St, 269-1900. $27-$42. Thurs-Fri at 7 pm, Sat-Sun at 1 and 7 pm, Tues-Wed at 7 pm. Through Oct 11.
LEND ME A TENOR
The Cleveland Grand Opera has a problem on its hands--a big, dead, Italian problem--and the solution? MADCAP COMEDY! ArtsWest, 4711 California Ave SW, 938-0963. $10-$24. Wed-Sat at 7:30 pm, Sun at 3 pm. Through Sept 27.
A MOON FOR THE MISBEGOTTEN
The 1923 classic by four-time Pulitzer winner Eugene O'Neill, about a Connecticut family fighting--and blackmailing--to save their farm. ACT, 700 Union St, 292-7676. $10-$45. Tues-Thurs at 7:30 pm, Fri-Sat at 8 pm, with additional matinees Thurs, Sat, and Sun at 2 pm. Through Sept 28.
THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
Andrew Lloyd Webber and the man with the prosthetic face return to Seattle for another round of elaborately orchestrated schlock. Paramount Theatre, 911 Pine St, 628-1414. $29-$71.50. Thurs at 7:30 pm, Fri at 8 pm, Sat at 2 and 8 pm, Sun at 2 and 7:30 pm, Tues-Wed at 7:30 pm. Through Oct 5.
ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW
Previewing. A fresh take on the old boy-meets-girl, boy-turns-into-girl love story. Featuring Nick Garrison, Peggy Platt, and--gasp!--John Curley! 5th Avenue Theatre, 1308 Fifth Ave, 625-1418. $15-$57. Tues-Wed at 7:30 pm. Through Sept 28.
TOPDOG/UNDERDOG
Seattle Rep's season opens with last year's Pulitzer Prize-winning drama, penned by Suzan-Lori Parks, about the complex and taught bond of two criminal siblings. 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 Sept 27.
THE TRUE CONFESSIONS OF CHARLOTTE DOYLE
Opening. On a ship bound for the United States in the 1800s, a lone British girl learns a series of invaluable life lessons, including such fun facts as "Racism is bad," "Squealing is bad," and "Attacking the captain is bad." Seattle Children's Theatre, 201 Thomas St, 441-3322. $12-$26. Fri at 7 pm, Sat-Sun at 2 and 5:30 pm. Through Oct 24.
FESTIVALS, CABARET, & COMEDY
13TH ANNUAL SEATTLE FRINGE FESTIVAL
Opening. See preview this issue. Capitol Hill Arts Center, 1621 12th Ave, 322-2018. For specific shows, venues, and performance times, see www.seattlefringe.org. Through Oct 1.
BROADS OF BROADWAY
Final week. Two acts, three courses, and four women--Crepe de Paris hosts another diva-worshiping cabaret over crab cakes, with four women belting show tunes under various celebrity guises. Cabaret de Paris, 1333 Fifth Ave, 623-4111. $45 with dinner. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm. Through Sept 13.
CABARET ATOMIQUE
One night only. Burlesque through the century we happily laid to rest some years ago. Re-bar, 1114 Howell St, 323-0388. $7. Wed Sept 17 at 8 pm.
COMEDY COURT
One night only. Improvised comedy: in a courtroom setting! Motion denied. Comedy Court at Odd Duck Studios, 1214 10th Ave, 442-2044. $7-$10. Sat Sept 13 at 8 pm.
* EXTROPIA
Final week. "A penchant for clever innovation and a heaping pile of smarts are their own glorious reward, of course--the excellent acting was simply gravy. With an excellent ensemble cast, successfully experimental sound/costume/set-design concepts, and a unique and engaging story: well, hell. Let's just stick with 'amazing.'"(Adrian Ryan) Collaborator Productions at Re-bar, 1114 Howell St, 323-0388. $10. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm. Through Sept 13.
* JOHN KELLY: SHINY HOT NIGHTS
This week only. See Stranger Suggests. On the Boards, 100 W Roy St, 217-9886. $12-$22. Thurs-Sun Sept 11-14 at 8 pm.
SEATTLE ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN STAND-UP COMEDY FESTIVAL
This week only. In the most specialized comedy festival since the Finnish Amputee Laugh-A-Thon, the (check this acronym:) SAPASUCF promises performances by Kermet Apio, Stan Chen, David Hyden, Suzanne Whang, and more. Northwest Asian Art Theatre, 409 Seventh Ave S, 340-1445. $12-$15. Fri-Sat Sept 12-13 at 8 and 10 pm.
CATHY SORBO
This week only. Free-associative standup comedy from the nervy Cathy Sorbo. Comedy Underground, 222 S Main St, 628-0303. $6-$12. Thurs Sept 11 at 8:30 pm, Fri-Sat Sept 12-13 at 8:30 and 10:30 pm.
DANCE
3 IMPROVISATIONS
This week only. Recent Seattle import Karl Frost shares the stage with the likes of Amii LeGendre, Alia Swersky, Ellah Ray, and others as they flail about with no conceivable order--in three parts. Chamber Theater, 915 E Pine St, 790-1645. $10-$15. Fri-Sat at 10 pm.
* VELOCITY DANCE FALL KICK-OFF SHOWCASE
This week only. Three nights of greatest hits from Seattle Dance 2003, alongside peeks at what's to come in 2004, choreographed and performed by the leading lights of our enviable local dance-theater scene. Friday: Peggy Piacenza, Maureen Whiting, Locust, and Mary Sheldon Scott/Jarrad Powell Performance. Saturday: Corrina Befort, Lingo dancetheater, Cheronne Wong, and Locate Performance Group. Sunday: d9, LeGendre Performance, Juliet Waller, BetterBiscuitDance, and the Phffft! Company. Velocity Mainspace Theater, 915 E Pine St, second floor, 324-8773. Fri-Sun Sept 12-14 at 8 pm. $20 (three-night deals available).
EVENTS
FRINGE SNEAK PEEKS
One night only. View the spectacle of Fringe from the cheap seats with a breeze through the abbreviated efforts of 13 theater companies fighting for your returning dollar. Re-bar, 1114 Howell St, 323-0388. $5. Sun Sept 14 at 8 pm.
GRAMMAR RODEO
One night only. The fine folk of Annex Theatre spotlight my inability to compose a single sensible sentence with Grammar Rodeo, their latest interactive production. Annex Theatre at Union Garage, 1418 10th Ave, 720-1942. $10. Sat Sept 13 at 8 pm.
* SARAH RUDINOFF
One night only. See Stranger Suggests. Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave, 624-6600. $10. Mon Sept 15 at 7:30 pm.
LONG RUNS
BROADVILLE CARNIVAL at Cafe Venus, 624-4516.
BUBBA AND BITCH at Bar, 322-1788.
CABARET: THE ResERECTION at Coffee Messiah, 861-8233.
* THE HOKUM HALL VARIETY SHOW at Hokum Hall, 937-3613.
JET CITY IMPROV at Historic University Theater, 352-8291.
LATE NIGHT CATECHISM from Seattle Theatre Project at ACT, 292-7676.
QUEER AS A THREE-DOLLAR BILL at the Comedy Underground, 800-992-8499.
TEATRO ZINZANNI 2301 Sixth Ave, 802-0015.
THEATRESPORTS at the Market Theater, 781-9273.
