DEAD WOMAN HOME
See review this issue. Pamana Theatre Project at Freehold's East Hall Theater, 1525 10th Ave, second floor, 325-6500. $10-$12. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through Oct 3.
EXCHANGE OF PRISONERS
Opening. An experimental play by Roxanne Ray about a German soldier's five-day furlough during World War I. White Cat Productions at Odd Duck Studio, 1214 10th Ave, www.brownpapertickets.com. $12-$15. Opening Fri Sept 17 at 8 pm. Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 3 pm. Through Sept 26.
THE FANTASTICKS
A boy, a girl, and some matchmaking parents. SecondStory Repertory, 16587 NE 74th St, Redmond, 425-881-6777. $18-$22. Fri-Sat at 8:15 pm. Through Oct 9.
FLO & GLO
A play about two women who shovel snow on airplane runways in Antarctica. DO Group at JEM Arts Center, 6012 12th Ave S, 325-6500. $12.50. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm. Through Oct 2.
FORBIDDEN HOLLYWOOD
One weekend only. A touring production of the musical spoof about fake boobs and Method acting. Kirkland Performance Center, 350 Kirkland Ave, Kirkland, 425-893-9900. $10-$32. Fri-Sat Sept 17-18 at 8 pm, Sun Sept 19 at 2 pm.
GENOCIDE TRAIL: A HOLOCAUST UN-SPOKEN
Opening. A "ritual poetic drama" about American Indian history. UW Ethnic Cultural Theatre, 3940 Brooklyn Ave NE, 325-6500. $10-$15. Preview performance Mon Sept 20 at 7 pm. Opening Tues Sept 21 at 10 am. Wed at 10 am. Through Oct 2.
HAIRSPRAY
The Tony Award-winning musical about Baltimore big hair, circa 1962, returns to its Seattle birthplace. 5th Avenue Theatre, 1308 Fifth Ave, 292-2787. $20-$70. Thurs-Fri at 8 pm, Sat at 2 and 8 pm, Sun at 1:30 and 7 pm, Tues-Wed at 7:30 pm. Through Sept 26.
I DO! I DO!
Michael and Agnes get hitched, grow old, and warble all the while. Rain City Players at Seattle Public Theater at the Bathhouse, 7312 W Greenlake Dr N, 325-6500. $12-$20. Thurs at 7:30 pm, Fri-Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through Sept 26.
JUMPERS
Final week. "Isn't there something deeply cynical about bribing audiences with striptease and primary colors and gymnastics in a play about philosophy? Do we need to see George's poor secretary cavorting naked on a swing before we'll consent to watching her sitting mute on stage for the rest of the evening? Do we really require a cheerleading pyramid to gird us for the ponderous philosophizing to come? The answer to each of these questions is yes. " (Annie Wagner) ACT Theatre, 700 Union St, 292-7676. $15-$54. Thurs at 2 and 7:30 pm, Fri-Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 2 and 7:30 pm, Tues-Wed at 7:30 pm. Through Sept 19.
LOVE & TAXES
See review this issue. Josh Kornbluth's one-man comedy about U.S. tax code. Intiman Playhouse, 201 Mercer St, Seattle Center, 269-1900. $10-$46. 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 2.
MAGIC CITY
Opening. SCT's 30th anniversary season begins with this adaptation of the E. Nesbit novel about a little boy who finds himself in a city of his own making. Seattle Children's Theatre, 201 Thomas St, Seattle Center, 441-3322. $14-$28. Opening Fri Sept 17 at 7 pm. Sat-Sun at 2 and 5:30 pm. Through Nov 6.
ON THE VERGE
"When you're trapped in a small black box during a show that has no business being open to the public, with an audience so small that walking out before intermission would reduce the house by a drastic percentage, you're forced to use your imagination. Typically, one wonders what the cast would look like naked, or who might have slept with whom. In the case of this student production of On the Verge, I responded to the airless pretense--the game yet painful performances, the well-intentioned but lame nods to Noh and Kabuki--by imagining that the cast was on fire. What would they do? Would they run screaming? Would they broadcast their "intentions"? Would they, in short, be remotely convincing? Absent the flames, the three actresses in this quizzical linguistic exercise about the Christian colonial impulse and its late-20th century residues seemed mainly to be young and deluded, like most actors. Two of them might be talented, but you'd never know from this production." (Sean Nelson) Northwest Actor's Studio, 1100 E Pike St, 324-6328. $10-$12. Fri-Sat at 8 pm. Through Oct 2.
ROSENCRANTZ & GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD
Opening. Tom Stoppard's comic reinvention of Hamlet. Harlequin Productions at State Theater, 202 Fourth Ave E, Olympia, 360-786-0151. $19-$28. Opening Thurs Sept 16 at 8 pm. Fri-Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through Oct 9.
SWING!
A musical about the titular music and dance form. Civic Light Opera at Sand Point Way Community Center, 7400 Sand Point Way NE, 363-2809. $25-$30. Fri-Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through Sept 26.
THIS LAND
Opening. A play for puppets and actors based on the writing and music of Woody Guthrie. Strawberry Theatre Workshop at Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, 800-838-3006. $15. Opening Thurs Sept 16 t 7:30 pm. Fri-Sat at 7:30 pm. Through Oct 16.
DANCE
AXOLOTL
Opening. An interactive performance wherein the audience is blindfolded and the guest stars include an assortment of Seattle dance illuminati. Dance Underground, 340 15th Ave E, 790-1645. Opening Sun Sept 19 at 8 pm. Through Oct 3.
BIG RED DANCE COMPANY
Two weekends only. A Big Red Dance Company performance choreographed by returning Seattleite Kristina Dillard. Chamber Theater, 915 E Pine St, fourth floor, 568-7635. $12-$15. Fri-Sat Sept 17-18 at 8 pm, Sun Sept 19 at 1 pm. Through Sept 25.
* FALL KICKOFF SHOWCASE EXTRAVAGANZA
One weekend only. Velocity's first event of the fall gives us the opportunity to recall why the organization was awarded a 2003 Genius Award. Here's an opportunity to check in on what the dance A-listers have been up to this summer, while helping to raise money for the rest of this year's programming. Velocity MainSpace Theater, 915 E Pine St, 325-8773. $20 (one night) to $40 (all three nights). Fri Sept 17 at 8 pm: Crispin Spaeth Dance Group, locust, Jessica Jobaris, Paige Phillips, Pat Graney Dance Company. Sat Sept 18 at 8 pm: Degenerate Art Ensemble, Lingo dancetheater, Ricki Mason, Rob Kitsos, Spectrum Dance Theater. Sun Sept 19 at 8 pm: acornDance, betterbiscuitdance, Christian Swensen, LeGendre Performance Group, Maureen Whiting Company.
LYON OPERA BALLET
One night only. A contemporary French dance company directed by Yorgos Loukos. Paramount Theatre, 911 Pine St, 292-2787. $22-$45. Wed Sept 22 at 7:30 pm.
FESTIVALS, CABARET, & COMEDY
COMEDIANS OF COMEDY TOUR
One night only. "Alternative" comedians--including Patton Oswalt, Brian Posehn, and Maria Bamford--in an alternative venue. Neumo's, 925 E Pike St, 800-325-7328. $12-$14. Wed Sept 22 at 9 pm.
ELECTION SHOW 2004
See review this issue. Wing-It Productions at Historic University Theater, 5510 University Way NE. Tickets available at the door only, $8-$10 (one dollar off w/ a voter registration card). Thurs-Fri at 8 pm. Through Oct 22.
OFF LIMITS
One night only. Improv comedy at Rendezvous, 2322 Second Ave. Tickets available at the door only, $5. Sun Sept 19 at 4:30 pm.
SKETCHFEST SEATTLE
See review this issue. Final week. A festival of original sketch comedy from local and national troupes. Capitol Hill Arts Center, 1621 12th Ave, 325-6500. $15 (per show). Ten West w/FURIOSO!, Thurs Sept 16 at 8 pm. The OOPS GUYS w/Flaming Box of Stuff, Thurs Sept 16 at 10 pm. MEAT w/The OOPS GUYS, Fri Sept 17 at 8 pm. TROOP! w/Ten West, Fri Sept 17 at 10 pm. PUSH Sketch Cabaret, Fri Sept 17 at midnight. TROOP! w/Kazoo!, Sat Sept 18 at 8 pm. MEAT w/Bald Faced Lie, Sat Sept 18 at 10 pm. Through Sept 18.
TAXI CABARET
A musical revue set in New York City. Cr*pe de Paris, 1333 Fifth Ave, 623-4111. $16 (show only), $42 (includes dinner). Fri-Sat at 8 pm. Through Sept 25.
TRAVEL ABROAD
Burlesque from the Atomic Bombshells at Mirabeau Room, 529 Queen Anne Ave N. Tickets available at the door only, $10. Wed at 10 pm. Through Oct 6.
KEVIN WILLIAMS
One weekend only. Standup comedy at Comedy Underground, 222 S Main St, 628-0303. $6-$12. Thurs Sept 16 at 8:30 pm, Fri-Sat Sept 17-18 at 8:30 and 10:30 pm.
SPECIAL EVENTS
HOTHOUSE READINGS
Two nights only. Readings from playwrights participating in Annex Theatre's play development project. Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave. Free, donations accepted. Rachel Atkins (Seattle) and Kate E. Ryan (Brooklyn, NY), Mon Sept 20 at 7 pm. Lisa Konoplisky (Madison, WI) and José Teodoro (Victoria, B.C.), Tues Sept 21 at 7 pm.
LIVE GIRLS! PLAYWRIGHTING LAB READINGS
One weekend only. Staged readings of new plays by women. Joann Farias' Claudia Meets Fulano Colorado, Thurs Sept 16 at 8 pm. Nu Quang's Returning Home, Fri Sept 17 at 8 pm. Carolynne Wilcox's Apres, Fri Sept 17 at 9 pm. Molly Best Tinsley's Fission, Sat Sept 18 at 4 pm. Elizabeth Sparenberg's Stranger Than Fiction, Sat Sept 18 at 7 pm. Adrienne Dawes' Jesus Loves Good Christians, Sat Sept 18 at 8 pm. Pauline Carey's Mary Jane, Sun Sept 19 at 1:30 pm. Joy McCollough-Carranza's Mud Angel, Sun Sept 19 at 3 pm.
ROMEO'S REVELRY
One night only. An opening gala and fundraiser, featuring performances by PNB dancers at 9 pm. Pacific Northwest Ballet at McCaw Hall, 321 Mercer St, Seattle Center, 441-2424. $75-$2500. Fri Sept 17 at 5:30 pm.
TROJAN WOMEN TOGA PARTY
One night only. A benefit for Ghost Light Theatricals (togas optional) at Freehold's Crow Studio, 1525 10th Ave. Tickets available at the door only, $10. Sat Sept 18 at 8 pm.
WALRUS DANCE FUNDRAISER
One night only. A fundraiser and auction featuring a preview of works by André Bouchard and Jana Kincl. R.E.D. Performance Loft, 88 Yesler Way. $5. Fri Sept 17 at 7 pm.
ZOLA AWARDS IN PERFORMANCE
One night only. Actors read the winning entries from the Pacific Northwest Writers Association's annual awards. SecondStory Repertory, 16587 NE 74th St, Redmond, 881-6777. $10. Sun Sept 199 at 2:15 pm.
LONG RUNS
DON'T TELL MOMMA at Thumper's, 328-3800.
* THE HOKUM HALL VARIETY SHOW at Hokum Hall, 937-3613.
LATE NIGHT CATECHISM from Seattle Theatre Project at ACT, 292-7676.
TEATRO ZINZANNI, 2301 Sixth Ave, 802-0015.
