ALEGRíA
Final week. How much Lycra can one building comfortably house? 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.
CANDIDA
Previewing. George Bernard Shaw examines questions of love by way of broken homes, love triangles, and that ever-bracing Shavian wit. Taproot Theatre, 204 N 85th St, 781-9707. $18-$26. Wed at 7:30 pm. Through Oct 25.
* DON'S PARTY
Opening. An updated reworking of Wade Madsen's work of last year. "Don's Party isn't really dance, although it is carefully choreographed--the characters speak in excerpts from Don Quixote, which here read as social platitudes, boastful rationalization, and cocktail chitchat. It's darker and more interesting than its kooky surface suggests. " (Emily Hall) Wade Madsen at On the Boards, 100 W Roy St, 217-9888. $7. Fri-Sun at 7:30 and 9 pm, Mon at 8 pm. Through Sept 28.
FUCKED: AN EVENING OF THEATRICAL ATROCITIES
Final week. "While inarguably nasty, the production's horror was relatively shallow. From war to fast-food joints to out-of-body-experiences, the playwrights ride roughshod over decency and good taste. " (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. " (Charles Mudede) Steeplechase Productions at Liberty Deli, 2722 Alki Ave SW, 935-8420. $14. Fri-Sat at 8 pm. Through Oct 4.
HOMEBODY/KABUL
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.
KISS ME KATE
Opening. Civic Light Opera begins its 26th season in a new venue and an old-ass musical, Cole Porter's circular love-hate story about a backstage romance. Civic Light Opera at Shoreline Conference Center, 185th St and First Ave NE, 363-2809. $20-$30. Opening night Thurs Sept 18 at 8 pm, Fri-Sat at 8 pm Sun at 2:30 pm. Through Oct 4.
LEND ME A TENOR
See review this issue. 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.
MEASURE FOR MEASURE
Opening. One of Big Willie's early B-sides, Measure for Measure brings the bard to Vienna for a dark comedy of desires. Seattle Shakespeare Company at Seattle Center House Theater, Seattle Center, 733-8222. $12-$24. Thurs-Sat at 7:30 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through Oct 12.
A MOON FOR THE MISBEGOTTEN
See review this issue. The 1923 classic by four-time Pulitzer winner Eugene O'Neill about a Connecticut family fighting--and blackmailing--to save their farm. ACT Theatre, 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
Based on the story that has made the case for the romance of stalking for nearly a century, 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.
PILEDRIVER!
Opening. See Stranger Suggests. Bald Faced Lie at Re-bar, 1114 Howell St, 323-0388. $12. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm, with additional performances Sept 21 and 28 at 8 pm. Through Oct 11.
ROCKY HORROR SHOW
Celebrate the old boy-meets-girl, boy-turns-into-girl love story. Featuring Nick Garrison, Peggy Platt, and John Curley! 5th Avenue Theatre, 1308 Fifth Ave, 625-1418. $15-$57. Tues-Wed at 7:30 pm. Through Sept 28.
TOPDOG/UNDERDOG
See review this issue. 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
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.
THE WEDDING BANQUET
Based on the Ang Lee film of the same name, The Wedding Banquet is something of a Guess Who's Coming to Dinner reversal centered around a queer Taiwanese immigrant in New York who enters into a marriage of convenience in order to remain closeted to his conservative family back home. Village Theatre at Francis J. Gaudette Theatre, 303 Front St N, 425-329-2202. $30-$44. Thurs-Fri at 8 pm, Sat at 2 and 8 pm, Sun at 2 pm, Wed at 8 pm. Through Nov 16.
FESTIVALS, CABARET, & COMEDY
*13TH ANNUAL SEATTLE FRINGE FESTIVAL
Capitol Hill Arts Center, 1621 12th Ave, 322-2018. For specific shows, venues, and performance times, see www.seattlefringe.org. Through Oct 1.
HILARITY ON THE HILL
One night only. A trio of comedians make your life worth living again. Featuring Geoff Lott, Dan Moore, and Marcus Absher. Thumper's Restaurant and Bar, 1500 E Madison St, 328-3800. $5. Thurs Sept 18 at 10 pm.
RAIN DOLLS
One night only. The Gun Street Girls pay tribute to the source of their namesake with an evening of smut performed to the garbage-disposal-voiced Tom Waits. Gun Street Girls at Rendezvous, 2320 Second Ave, 441-5823. $8. Sat Sept 20 at 10:30 pm.
QUEEN BEES SPELL IT LIKE IT IS
One night only. Butchy burlesque and cabaret troupe the Queen Bees present an evening of grammatical gayness with a spelling-bee-themed performance mishmash. Re-bar, 1114 Howell St, 323-0388. $8-$15. Wed Sept 24 at 8 pm.
DANCE
* TRACE ELEMENTS
This week only. Locate performance group's co-artistic directors Pablo Cornejo and Paige Barnes present three new works by Cornejo: Piedra de Sol, The Mouse Project, and Living in a Safety Zone. Locate at Velocity MainSpace Theater, 915 E Pine St, second floor, 706-5422. $12-$14. Fri-Sun Sept 19-21 at 8 pm.
EVENTS
SEND OFF!
One night only. Seattle's own multimedia hiphop extravaganza TURF! makes its bid for coveted Stomp! status with a national tour and an appearance on It's Showtime at the Apollo--but shit don't pay for itself. This week they present a fundraising performance for their expenses. TURF! at Moore Theatre, 1932 Second Ave, 628-1414. $10-$50. Sat Sept 20 at 8 pm.
SHORT STORIES LIVE!
One day only. Short stories as read aloud by members of the local theater community--featuring actors David Quicksall, Jennifer Sue Johnson, and Lanise Shelley. Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave, 624-6600. $13-$18. Sun Sept 21 at 4 pm.
LATE NIGHT
CAMPFIRE
Opening. Long-form improvisation, based on audience experiences with unexplained--i.e., spooooooky!--phenomena. Unexpected Productions at Market Theater, Post Alley, 781-9273. $5. Fri-Sat at 10:30 pm. Through Nov 1.
LONG RUNS
BROADVILLE CARNIVAL at Cafe Venus, 624-4516.
BUBBA AND BITCH at the 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.
