ANNA IN THE TROPICS
Sharon Ott directs the Pulitzer Prize-winning romantic drama by Nilo Cruz. Seattle Repertory Theatre, 155 Mercer St, Seattle Center, 443-2222. $10-$46. Thurs-Fri at 7:30 pm, Sat-Sun at 2 and 7:30 pm, Tues-Wed at 7:30 pm. Through Oct 30.
AS YOU LIKE IT
One weekend only. Shakespeare's comedy transported to the magical Irish woods. Seattle Shakespeare Company at Kirkland Performance Center, 350 Kirkland Ave, Kirkland, 425-893-9900. $10-$23. Opening Thurs Oct 7 at 7:30 pm. Fri at 8 pm, Sat at 2 and 8 pm.
AUNT DAN AND LEMON
See review this issue. Penny Cafe, 1707 NW Market St, 706-1426. $10. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm. Through Oct 23.
BUNNICULA
Opening. An adaptation of the fearsome and comedic children's book, with music by 2003 Genius winner Chris Jeffries. Seattle Children's Theatre, 201 Thomas St, Seattle Center, 441-3322. $14-$28. Opening Fri Oct 8 at 7 pm. Sat-Sun at 2 and 5:30 pm. Through Jan 16.
DUBYA 2000: A POLITICAL HORROR
Opening. A dark comedy about Bush's links to the occult. Re-bar, 1114 Howell St, 382-4250. $12-$14. Opening Fri Oct 8 at 8 pm. Sat at 8 pm. Through Oct 30.
THE FANTASTICKS
Final week. 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.
FORCE OF NATURE
One night only. A one-woman theater performance exploring childbirth. Bastyr University Auditorium, 14500 Juanita Dr NE, Kenmore. Tickets available at the door only, $3-$10. Fri Oct 8 at 7:30 pm.
FRANKENOCCHIO
"Absent a robust story, the moments of visual pleasure are mere diversions, and they can't support the weight of two full acts." (Annie Wagner) Empty Space Theatre, 3509 Fremont Ave N, 547-7500. $10-$25. Thurs at 7:30 pm, Fri at 8 and 10:30 pm, Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 2 and 7:30 pm. Through Oct 16.
GOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE BEARS
Opening. Bunraku puppets enact the children's story. Thistle Theatre at KidsQuest Children's Museum, 4089 Factoria Blvd SE, Factoria Mall, Bellevue, 425-524-3388. $7-$9. Sat-Sun Oct 9-10 at 2 and 4 pm. Through Oct 31.
GOOD BOYS
See review this issue. ACT Theatre, 700 Union St, 292-7676. $15-$24. 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 Oct 17.
H. P. LOVECRAFT THEATER OF HORRORS
Opening. Three adaptations of Lovecraft stories. Open Circle Theater, 429 Boren Ave N, 382-4250. $13. Opening Fri Oct 8 at 8 pm. Thur-Sat at 8 pm. Through Nov 13.
* HAMLET: MORE HONOR'D IN THE BREACH THAN THE OBSERVANCE
"This ingenious reworking of the script by director Rushton Howard is not only blessedly free of pretension and sterile respect, it takes remarkable chances with the play. " (Bret Fetzer) Straight-Edge Theatrics and Bunny-Eats-Cake Productions at Chamber Theatre, 915 E Pine St, fourth floor, 325-6500. $10-$12. Fri-Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through Oct 17.
KENTUCKY GHOSTS
Opening. Troy Mink and K. Brian Neel adapted an anthropological study of Appalachian ghost stories for this original work. Northwest Actors Studio, 1100 Pike St, 325-6500. $10-$14. Opening Fri Oct 8 at 8 pm. Sat at 8 pm. Through Oct 31.
LAURA'S BUSH
Opening. The first show from Washington Ensemble Theatre is a new Jane Martin play about a small-town librarian who discovers that the First Lady has been blinking Morse code distress signals whenever she appears in public. WET at the Little Theatre, 608 19th Ave E, 325-5105. $10. Opening Fri Oct 8 pm. Sat-Mon at 8 pm. Through Nov 1.
LOLA TAROT
"Improvisational ritual theater" that incorporates music, dance, improv, and tarot card readings. Rainier Valley Cultural Center, 3515 S Alaska St. Tickets available at the door only, $10-$15. Thurs-Fri at 8 pm. Through Dec 11.
MAGIC CITY
An 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. Fri at 7 pm, Sat-Sun at 2 and 5:30 pm. Through Nov 6.
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
"Timothy Hornor generates sexual tension seemingly single-handedly (an impressive feat), and his bug-eyed Benedick tumbles toward dewy romance with an endearing ease. Forget the cramped set and tolerate those boring transpositions of time and place--this show is worth seeing for his performance alone. " (Annie Wagner) Taproot Theatre, 204 N 85th St, 781-9707. $10-$28. Thurs at 7:30 pm, Fri at 8 pm, Sat at 2 and 8 pm, Wed at 7:30 pm. Through Oct 14.
OUR TOWN
Opening. Intiman launches a cycle of American drama with Thornton Wilder's 1938 play, starring Tom Skerritt (!) as the Stage Manager (!!). Intiman Playhouse, 201 Mercer St, Seattle Center, 269-1900. $10-$46. Preview performances Fri-Sat Oct 8-9 at 8 pm, Sun Oct 10 and Tues Oct 12 at 7:30 pm. Opening Wed Oct 13 at 7:30 pm. Through Nov 20.
PROOF
Opening. Mathematics, madness, and mystery collide in David Auburn's talky Pulitzer Prize winner. Seattle Public Theater at the Bathhouse, 7312 W Greenlake Dr N, 524-1300. $10-$20. Preview performance Thurs Oct 7 at 7:30 pm. Opening Fri Oct 8 at 7:30 pm. Sat at 7:30 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through Oct 31.
REQUIEM FOR A HEAVYWEIGHT
See review this issue. Theater Schmeater, 1500 Summit Ave, 325-6500. $15. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm. Through Oct 30.
ROMANCE/ROMANCE
Two musical acts about the sexual ennui of fin-de-siècle Viennese and modern couples summering in the Hamptons. ArtsWest, 4711 California Ave SW, 938-0339. $12-$28. Thurs-Sat at 7:30 pm. Through Oct 30.
SECRET HISTORIES: SEATTLE YOUTH
An original work created by Ping Chong in collaboration with four local young adults. Seattle Repertory Theatre, 155 Mercer St, Seattle Center, 443-2222. $10-$15. Fri at 7:30 pm, Sat at 2 and 7:30 pm. Through Oct 9.
STOLEN LANDS: BORDER CROSSINGS
Opening. A play about immigration across the U.S.-Mexico border. The Conciliation Project at UW Ethnic Cultural Theatre, 3940 Brooklyn Ave NE, 325-6500. $10-$15. Preview performance Mon Oct 11 at 7 pm. Opening Tues Oct 12 at 10 am. Wed at 10 am. Through Oct 23.
STREGA NONA
Opening. A puppet show based on an Italian folk tale about an enormous quantity of pasta. Paul Mesmer Puppets at Northwest Puppet Center, 9123 15th Ave NE, 523-2579. Opening Fri Oct 8 at 7:30 pm. Sat-Sun at 1 and 3 pm. Through Oct 24.
THIS LAND
"The tenor of This Land is less nostalgic than it is fetishistic. Woody Guthrie contributed to a fascinating era in American history, but this earnest tribute doesn't do him justice. " (Annie Wagner) Strawberry Theatre Workshop at Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, 800-838-3006. $15. Thurs-Sat at 7:30 pm. Through Oct 16.
TROJAN WOMEN
Opening. Waiting for Godot meets Cosmo in Euripides' classic play about a bunch of horny widows awaiting enslavement by their new Greek masters. Ghost Light Theatricals at Freehold's East Hall Theatre, 1529 10th Ave, second floor, 325-6500. $10-$12. Opening Thurs Oct 7 at 7:30 pm. Fri-Sat at 7:30 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through Oct 22.
WAXWINGS
Opening. An adaptation of Jonathan Raban's novel about fin-de-last-siècle Seattle. Book-It Repertory Theatre at Seattle Rep's Leo K Theatre, 155 Mercer St, Seattle Center, 216-0833. $15-$30. Opening Fri Oct 8 at 7:30 pm. Sat at 7:30 pm, Sun at 2 pm, Wed at 7:30 pm. Through Oct 31. DANCE
MEN IN DANCE
Two weeks only. The fifth annual festival, with performances by Scott Davis, John Dixon, Cyrus Khambatta, Pablo Cornejo, and Aaron Swartzman. Choreographers include Wade Madsen and Kabby Mitchell. Velocity MainSpace Theater, 915 E Pine St, second floor, 515-9868. $12-$14. Fri-Sat Oct 8-9 at 8 pm, Sun Oct 10 at 7 pm. Through Oct 17.
RIVERDANCE
Opening. The Irish step dance show, minus its infamous Lord. Paramount Theatre, 911 Pine St, 292-2787. $29-$65. Opening Fri Oct 8 at 8 pm. Sat at 2 and 8 pm, Sun at 1 and 6:30 pm, Tues-Wed at 7:30 pm. Through Oct 17.
* VESSEL
One weekend only. See Stranger Suggests. The premiere of Mary Sheldon Scott/Jarrad Powell's new evening-length work. On the Boards, 100 W Roy St, 217-9888. $12-$18. Thurs-Sat Oct 7-9 at 8 pm.
IMPROV, CABARET, & COMEDY
BOMBSHELTER
Opening. A "spontaneous theater project" based on the work of NYC group Burn Manhattan. Odd Duck Studio, 1214 10th Ave. Tickets available at the door only, $5-$7. Opening Fri Oct 8 at 8 pm. Through Oct 29.
CAMPFIRE
An improvised show based on audience stories about the unexplained. Market Theater, 1428 Post Alley, 781-9273. $10. Fri-Sat at 8 pm. Through Oct 31.
DINNER AND DREAMS
Ongoing. See Theater News. The magical Kevin Kent is back as whack emcee Miss Mabel Dean. Teatro ZinZanni, 2301 Sixth Ave (in the Spiegeltent), 802-0015. $89-$109. Thurs-Sat at 6:30 pm, Sun at 5:30 pm.
ELECTION SHOW 2004
"Given how rife this year's presidential election is with fodder for riffing, it's disappointing that the comic actors of Jet City Improv turn in such a politically irrelevant show. " (Josh Feit) Wing-It Productions at Historic University Theater, 5510 University Way NE. Tickets available at the door only, $8-$10 (one dollar off with a voter registration card). Thurs-Fri at 8 pm. Through Oct 22.
MORT SAHL
Two nights only. The godfather of political standup at ACT Theatre, 700 Union St, 628-0888. $45-$75. Fri Oct 8 at 8 pm, Sat Oct 9 at 7 pm.
TODD SAWYER, MIKE TURNER
One weekend only. Standup comedy at Giggles Comedy Club, 5220 Roosevelt Way NE, 526-5653. $12. Fri-Sat Oct 8-9 at 8 and 10 pm.
SEATTLE NEUTRINO PROJECT
Opening. Performers shoot and edit an improvised movie while you watch. Northwest Actors Studio, 1100 E Pike St. Tickets available at the door only, $10. Opening Fri Oct 8 at 8 pm. Sat at 8 pm. Through Oct 30.
CATHY SORBO
One weekend only. Standup comedy at Comedy Underground, 222 S Main St, 628-0303. $6-$12. Thurs Oct 7 at 8:30 pm, Fri-Sat Oct 8-9 at 8:30 and 10:30 pm.
LATE NIGHT
SEATTLE GOGA
One night only. All-female improv comedy at Seattle Public Theater at the Bathhouse, 7312 W Greenlake Dr N. Tickets available at the door only, $7. Sat Oct 9 at 10:30 pm.
SISTERS OF SAL
One night only. Long-form improv comedy at ArtsWest, 4711 California Ave SW, 938-0339. $5-$7. Sat Oct 9 at 10:30 pm.
TWILIGHT ZONE LIVE!
Opening. Two new episodes: "The Lonely" and "The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street." Theater Schmeater, 1500 Summit Ave, 325-6500. $10. Preview performance Thurs Oct 7 at 11 pm. Fri-Sat at 11 pm. Through Oct 30.
SPECIAL EVENTS
SHORT STORIES LIVE!
One night only. Music-themed stories read by actors. Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave, 866-468-7623. $13-$18. Sun Oct 10 at 4 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.
