OPENING AND CURRENT RUNS

ALEXANDER AND THE TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE, NO GOOD, VERY BAD DAY

"The set is cool and a little dizzying, with a terrific trick of perspective-and if you're stoned there are moments of high, weird comedy, like when Sarah Rudinoff, as a cupcake-scarfing schoolgirl, strides across the stage holding two cupcakes and screams wildly, 'I LOVE THESE CUPCAKES!'" (Christopher Frizzelle) Seattle Children's Theatre, 201 Thomas St, 441-3322. $14-$28. Fri at 7 pm, Sat at 11 am, 2, and 5:30 pm, Sun at 2 and 5:30 pm. Through June 12.

ARTHUR: THE HUNT

Opening. The second part in Jeff Berryman's King Arthur Cycle, set in 490 AD, premieres in Seattle. Taproot AD Scott Nolte directs; the cast includes Terry Edward Moore (An Enemy of the People) and Candace Vance (Much Ado About Nothing). Taproot Theatre, 204 N 85th St, 781-9707. $15-$29. Opening Fri May 20 at 8 pm. Sat- at 2 and 8 pm. Wed at 7:30 pm. Through June 18.

BACH AT LEIPZIG

"The Itamar Moses script proves definitively that one should never structure a play after a musical form-the epistolary, fugue-inspired first act is so packed with new combinations of repetition that you'll feel yourself getting very sleepy-but the meta, postmodern second act is surprisingly smart without being smarmy." (Annie Wagner) ACT Theatre, 700 Union St, 292-7676. $10-$54. 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 May 29.

BACK OF THE THROAT

Opening. The winner of Schmeater's 2nd Annual Northwest Playwright Competition gets a full staging. Yussef El Guindi's play is "a very dark comedy about our (rapidly eroding?) civil liberties." Mark Jared Zufelt directs; the cast includes Kate Czajkowski (Waiting for Lefty) and Chris Mayse (Anna Karenina). Theater Schmeater, 1500 Summit Ave, 325-6500. $15. Preview performance Thurs May 19 at 8 pm. Opening Fri May 20 at 8 pm. Sat at 8 pm. Through June 18.

DEFENDING THE CAVEMAN

This mid-'90s relic by comedian Rob Becker is about the supposed prehistoric propensities of the two sexes. There was no excuse for this show then; there's none now. ACT Theatre, 700 Union St, 292-7676. $35-$39.50. Thurs-Fri at 7:30 pm, Sat at 5 and 8 pm, Sun at 3 pm. Tickets available through May 29.

DINNER & DREAMS

Ongoing. A new musical version of the rabidly successful dinner-theater/circus hybrid, with Martha Davis of the Motels as Madame ZinZanni. Ukrainian contortionist Vita Radionova is still onboard. Teatro ZinZanni, 2301 Sixth Ave, 802-0015. $89-$109. Thurs-Sat at 6:30 pm, Sun at 5:30 pm.

THE GOOD DOCTOR

Opening. Eleven Neil Simon sketches based on the early comedic work of Chekhov. Stage One at North Seattle Community College, 9600 College Way N, 527-3661. Donation. Opening Fri May 20 at 8 pm. Sat at 8 pm. Through May 28.

HANDCUFF GIRL SAVES THE WORLD

"You can't cobble together one-sided reenactments of interviews on heroes (a topic about which almost no one has anything interesting to say)-and fill in the gaps with meetings of a mildly amusing 'superhero support group' and some synchronized dance moves-and call it a play. Still, the production is slick. The set, by the very talented Jennifer Zeyl, includes a grassy mountain complete with soft trapdoors, built-in nooks and stairs, and a flexible shell that can squirm and bulge like an animated volcano." (Annie Wagner) Washington Ensemble Theatre at Little Theater, 608 19th Ave E, 325-5105. $10-$15. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 7 pm, Mon at 8 pm. Through May 30.

HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE

Opening. The Paula Vogel play about incest and driver's ed gets another local staging. Ghost Light Theatricals at Freehold's East Hall Theatre, 1529 10th Ave, second floor, 326-6500. $10-$12. Opening Thurs May 19 at 7:30 pm. Fri-Sat at 7:30 pm. Through June 5.

HYPNAGOGIA!

Josh Knisely wrote this sketch-comedy show inspired by semi-wakefulness. Kirk Anderson and Josh Knisely direct. Rendezvous, 2322 Second Ave, www.brownpapertickets.com. $10. Fri-Sat at 8 pm. Through May 28.

KIMBERLY AKIMBO

"In this play about a girl whose rare genetic disorder forces her to age at four times the normal rate, her bleak existence is wisely played like normal life, with the humanity of even the most outlandish cruelties keeping us engaged in Kimberly's inherently doomed plight. Despite too many stretches of water-treading dialogue and one distractingly mannered supporting performance, the play works." (David Schmader) ReAct Theatre at Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center, 104 17th Ave S, 364-3283. $9-$12. Fri-Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through May 29.

LATE-NIGHT CATECHISM

Ongoing. Long-running interactive Catholic-school comedy, in which a nun tells you everything you need to know about your everlasting soul. Cloud 9 Productions at ACT Theatre, 700 Union St, 292-7676. $24.50-$29.50. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 2 pm.

LI'L ABNER

A tap musical about the classic comic strip. Broadway Bound Children's Theatre at ACT Theatre, 700 Union St, 526-5437. $12. Fri at 7 pm, Sat-Sun at 3 and 7 pm. Through May 29.

LOBSTER ALICE

Opening. A surreal comedic love triangle involving a Walt Disney Studios secretary named Alice, an animator named John, and Salvador Dali. Walt Baker (Vilna's Got a Golem) directs. ArtsWest, 4711 California Ave SW, 938-0339. $12--$24. Opening Wed May 25 at 7:30 pm. Through June 18.

MEATHOOK: A MELODRAMA

Final week. "Meathook: A Melodrama isn't all brilliant genre pastiche. The first act starts slowly, as one after another artlessly painted bed sheet skids by in a rather sad substitute for scenic design. But once the blood starts spurting, and such breathless lines as 'Debbie, do the biodynamic feedback!' get rolling, you couldn't ask for a more entertaining evening." (Annie Wagner) Open Circle Theater, 429 Boren Ave N, 382-4250. $12. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 4 pm. Through May 21.

MODEL MINORITY 101

One weekend only. The Asian-American sketch comedy group "probes the irreverent side of being Asian/Pacific Islanders in America." Pork Filled Players at Theatre Off Jackson, 407 Seventh Ave S, 325-6500. $9-$12. Fri-Sat May 20-21 at 8 pm, Sun May 22 at 4:30 pm.

MY BOAT TO BAINBRIDGE

"This one-man show by Matt Smith is an extremely low-key tribute to a middle-aged crisis of heterosexual masculinity. Mainly this tired theme takes the form of a creepy obsession about his pet dog's severed testicles, but there's also lame nostalgia for the Seattle of yore." (Annie Wagner) Market Theatre, 1428 Post Alley, 781-9273. $15. Fri at 8 pm. Through June 2.

THE MYSTERY OF IRMA VEP

Final week. "Irma Vep is about a vampire (what, you've never seen an anagram before?), but Intiman's production makes it clear that Charles Ludlam's play is far from immortal." (Annie Wagner) Intiman Theatre, 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 pm. Through May 22.

NOTORIOUS WOMEN

One night only. A reprise of Live Girls!’ tribute to influential women. Live Girls! Theater, 2220 NW Market St, lower level, www.brownpapertickets.com. $15. Sun May 22 at 7 pm.

PIRATES OF PENZANCE

Opening. The Gilbert & Sullivan musical comedy, directed by Susanna Wilson and Stan Gill. Secondstory Repertory, 16587 NE 74th St, Redmond Town Center, 425-881-6777. $20-$24. Preview performance Thurs May 19 at 8:15 pm. Opening Fri May 20 at 8:15 pm. Sat at 8:15 pm. Through June 18.

RAGTIME: THE MUSICAL

Final week. A musical based on E. L. Doctorow's novel of the same name. Civic Light Opera at Magnuson Recreation Center, 7400 Sand Point Wy, Building #47, 363-2809. $20-$30. Thurs at 7:30 pm, Fri-Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through May 22.

SATURDAY MORNING CARTOON SHOW

Final week. Get your Scooby Snacks in the evening, thanks to this cartoon-themed improv show. Jet City Improv at Historic University Theater, 5510 University Way NE, 325-6500. $8-$10. Thurs-Fri at 8 pm. Through May 20.

SAUCY JACK AND THE SPACE VIXENS

Final week. "Despite moments of realizing its campy, innuendo-ridden nature (see especially the number 'Glitter Boots Saved My Life'), Saucy Jack and the Space Vixens fails to establish any coherent identity." (Weston Clay) BS Productions at Timberline Spirits, 1828 Yale Ave, 325-6500. $24. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through May 21.

SEATTLE INTERNATIONAL NIGHTS: TINY NINJA HAMLET

Final week. See review this issue.Tiny Ninja Theater at Empty Space Theatre, 3509 Fremont Ave N, 684-7346. $15. Thurs-Sun May 19-22 at 8 pm.

THE TALES OF HOFFMANN

Final week. "The basic plot: In the course of three acts, a poet named Hoffmann falls first for Olympia, who then gets smashed to bits by an angry scientist; then Antonia, who sings herself to death; and then Giulietta, who deceives Hoffmann and then sails off with a controlling asshole. The consolation offered by Hoffmann's muse: that 'the ashes of his heart will rekindle his genius.' Feelings provoked in the hearts and minds of all the lonely writers in the audience: pleasure, satisfaction, hope." (Christopher Frizzelle) Seattle Opera at McCaw Hall, 321 Mercer St, 389-7676. $42-$129. Fri-Sat at 7:30 pm, Sun May 22 at 2 pm (for which Seattle Opera is offering the rock-bottom student price of $15). Through May 22.

THE TAMING OF THE SHREW

Opening. A reprise of the all-male version of Shakespeare's most misogynist play. Directed by Stephanie Shine. Seattle Shakespeare Company at Center House Theatre, Seattle Center, 733-8222. $18-$30. Opening Thurs May 19 at 7:30 pm. Fri-Sat at 7:30 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through June 19.

TEA AT FIVE

Opening. Kate Mulgrew, best known for playing Captain Janeway on Star Trek: Voyager, impersonates Katharine Hepburn in this one-woman show about her life. John Tillinger directs. Seattle Repertory Theatre, 155 Mercer St, 443-2222. $24-$55. Preview performance Thurs May 19 at 7:30 pm. Opening Fri May 20 at 7:30 pm. Sat at 2 and 7 pm, Sun at 2 pm, Wed at 2 pm. Through May 29.

THREE TALL WOMEN

Final week. "This show has several things to recommend it, most especially a tour-de-force Act I performance by Betty Campbell in the role of an imperious, self-pitying old woman. But there's also incredibly inept costuming in the second act, when Campbell's character splits into a young, middle-aged, and disembodied version of her bedridden self. The dresses bear no trace of the era each woman belongs to (the Jazz Age naif is clothed in an ill-fitting off-the-shoulder getup reminiscent of an '80s bridesmaid), making the initial minutes of the act incredibly confusing." (Annie Wagner) Seattle Public Theater at the Bathhouse, 7312 W Green Lake Dr N, 524-1300. $10-$20. Thurs-Sat at 7:30 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through May 22.

A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD

The Tony Award-nominated musical is based on the children's books by Arnold Lobel, with music by Robert Reale and book and lyrics by Willie Reale. 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 June 5.

DANCE

FOREVER TANGO

Final week. The touring tango spectacular, directed by Luis Bravo, lands in Seattle for one week only. 5th Avenue Theatre, 1308 Fifth Ave, 292-2787. $20-$65. Thurs at 7:30 pm, Fri at 8 pm, Sat at 2 and 8 pm, Sun at 2 and 7 pm. Through May 22.

GRAVITY

One week only. A dance-theater revision of Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard, incorporating aerial performance and trap doors. Steve Pearson (Next Tuesday) directs. Pacific Performance Project at Playhouse Theater, 4045 University Way NE, 632-1319. $10-$14. Thurs-Fri at 7:30 pm, Sat-Sun at 2 and 7:30 pm. Through May 22.

LINESCAPE

A multidisciplinary program at CoCA, including visual art, performance, and music. This week's events include performances by Amelia Reeber and Beth Graczyk. Center on Contemporary Art, 410 Dexter Ave N, 728-1980. $5-$8. Fri-Sat at 8 pm. Through June 4.

RIMASTO ORFANO

See Stranger Suggests, page 19. One weekend only. A dance performance (the title means "Abandoned Orphan"-which is, I think we can all agree, a very somber theme) by the Dutch company, led by choreographer Emio Greco and theater director Pieter C. Scholten. Emio Greco | PC at On the Boards, 100 W Roy St, 217-9888. $22. Thurs-Sun May 19-22 at 8 pm.

SPIRIT UNDER THE INFLUENCE

Final week. See review this issue. 33 Fainting Spells at Northwest Film Forum, 1515 12th Ave, www.brownpapertickets.com. $12.50-$15. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm. Through May 21.

LATE NIGHT

STAY UP LATE SHOW

One night only. The late-night variety show hosted by Rebecca M. Davis. This edition features DJ No Name of the End and Troy Mink's Cowboy Band. Capitol Hill Arts Center, 1621 12th Ave, 388-0500. $10 (21+ w/ID required). Fri May 20 at 10 pm.

SWING-IT MIDNIGHT REVUE

A late-night comedy and music show. Jet City Improv at Historic University Theater, 5510 University Way NE. $5 at the door (18+ w/ID required). Sat at midnight. No closing date set.

IMPROV & COMEDY

JET CITY IMPROV at Historic University Theater, 5510 University Way NE, 325-6500. $8-$10. Fri at 10:30 pm, Sat at 8 and 10:30 pm. THEATRESPORTS at Market Theater, 1428 Post Alley, 781-9273. $8-$10. Fri-Sat at 10:30 pm, Sun at 7 pm. DAMONDE TSCHRITTER at Comedy Underground, 222 S Main St, 628-0303. $12. Thurs at 8:30 pm, Fri-Sat at 8:30 and 10:30 pm. JOHN WESSLING, TOMMY DRAKE at Comedy Underground, 222 Main St, 628-0303. Wed at 8:30 pm.

STAGED READINGS

Abner Mills Presents Abner Mills (a one-act by high school student Evan Douglas) and Lucy Title, Olympic Gold Medalist (a one-act by high school student Frank Paiva) at Consolidated Works, 500 Boren Ave N. $2. Mon May 23 at 7 pm. The Last Mikvah (by Z. Sharon Glantz) at Cloud City Coffee, 8801 Roosevelt Way. Free. Sun May 22 at 3 pm. Rapunzel & the Three Little Princes (an adult fable by Larry Coffin), at Odd Duck Studio, 1214 10th Ave. Free. Sun May 22 at 7 pm. Rejoice! (a gospel musical by Cheryl West) at Seattle Repertory Theatre, 155 Mercer St, 443-2222. $10. Sat May 21 at 4:30 pm, Sun May 22 at noon. Young Playwrights festival at Rainier Valley Cultural Center, 3515 S Alaska St, 725-7169. $3–$5. Fri–Sat May 20–21 at 7:30 pm.