OPENING AND CURRENT RUNS
ALEXANDER AND THE TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE, NO GOOD, VERY BAD DAY
Final week. "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!' The rest of the cast is equally strong, and so are all the stereotypes their characters reinforce: Mom's in an apron and Dad's in a suit, the teacher is a woman and the dentist is a man. In other words, the whole thing is retrograde and sexist when you think about it. You see this show stoned and all sorts of injustices occur to you. But the googley-eyed kids loved it." (Christopher Frizzelle) Seattle Children's Theatre, 201 Thomas St, 441-3322. $14-$28. Fri at 7 pm, Sat-Sun at 2 and 5:30 pm. Through June 12.
ARTHUR: THE HUNT
"Jeff Berryman's ambitions are not small; Arthur: The Hunt is only the second of the playwright's seven-play cycle about King Arthur. Unfortunately, no one's life-not even Arthur's-has seven distinct, dramatically effective stories in it. At least half of the play consists of long expository scenes about what has been or what's to come, suffocating the story at hand. This talkiness is made worse by the Scots-Welsh hybrid accents that Taproot Theatre has invented, which hamper the actors and test the audience. This could have been a touching romance screwed over by fate; instead, it's a stew of bloated intrigue with an enjoyable garnish of star-crossed love." (Bret Fetzer) Taproot Theatre, 204 N 85th St, 781-9707. $15-$29. Thurs at 7:30 pm, Fri at 8 pm, Sat at 2 and 8 pm, Wed at 7:30 pm. Through June 18.
THE AWAKENING
See review this issue. Book-It Repertory Theatre at Seattle Repertory Theatre, 155 Mercer St, 216-0833. $15-$30. Thurs-Sat at 7:30 pm, Sun at 2 pm, Wed at 7:30 pm. Through June 26.
BACK OF THE THROAT
"In this new play about civil liberties, everything onstage works exceptionally well. But the script isn't nimble enough to avoid tongue-clucking preachiness, and the dead-serious direction exacerbates the situation. Tangential moments-federal agents' insistence that their suspect fill out a customer satisfaction survey grading their 'service,' and other rare, daffy laughs-charm in a way that polemics cannot, but then the characters are quickly tucked back behind their politics, inscrutably outraged and diametrically opposed." (Paul Constant) Theater Schmeater, 1500 Summit Ave, 325-6500. $15. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm. Through June 18.
DARIO AND BARIO
Opening. A dark-comedy clown duo (George Lewis and David Taft) performs an hour of physical theater. According to Lewis, it's "stupid raised to high art." Freehold East Hall Theatre, 1529 10th Ave, second floor, 325-6500. $12-$15. Opening Thurs June 9 at 8 pm. Fri-Sat at 8 pm. Through June 18.
DEATH AND THE PLOUGHMAN
Opening. A physical-theater reinterpretation of the medieval German text by Johannes Van Saaz, in which a lowly farmer argues with Death over the death of his young wife. Directed by Anne Bogart (Room) and performed by her New York-based troupe, SITI Company. On the Boards, 100 W Roy St, 217-9888. $25. Opening Wed June 15 at 8 pm. Through June 19.
DEFENDING THE CAVEMAN
Extended. This mid-'90s relic by comedian Rob Becker is about the supposed prehistoric propensities of the two sexes, and is performed by former Portlander Isaac Lamb. There was no excuse for this show then; there's none now. ACT Theatre, 700 Union St, 292-7676. $35-$39.50. Fri at 7:30 pm, Sat at 5 and 8 pm, Sun at 3 pm. Through July 10.
DINNER & DREAMS
Ongoing. The summer edition of the rabidly successful dinner-theater/circus hybrid launches this week, with tap dancer Roxanne Butterfly and chanteuse Debbie de Coudreaux. Teatro ZinZanni, 2301 Sixth Ave, 802-0015. $89-$109. Thurs-Sat at 6:30 pm, Sun at 5:30 pm.
ECLIPSE
Final week. A performance work based on the 1911 execution of a female prisoner in Japan. Written and directed by William Satake Blauvelt. Aono Jikken Ensemble at Theatre Off Jackson, 409 Seventh Ave S, 800-838-3006. $12-$15. Thurs-Sun at 8 pm. Through June 12.
EPITAPH
Final week. "Epitaph is funny, but not craaazy funny, except when it ventures into tangential episodes, like How the Quit-Smoking Pill Got Its Name, and the Man Who Follows Every Impulse (who makes his entrance by parachuting through a main character's office window). Still, the show's strength is in the comedy. The rivalry and reconciliation between the main characters is only mildly interesting. I don't mean to damn with faint praise: The show has won awards from HBO and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and is worth seeing, especially as a primer on incorporating sketch madness into more straitlaced theater." (Brendan Kiley) Seattle Public Theater at the Bathhouse, 7312 W Green Lake Dr N, 524-1300. $12-$20. Thurs-Sat at 7:30 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through June 12.
THE GLASS MENAGERIE
Opening. Director Justin Emeka and his African-American cast explore the Tennessee Williams classic as a "blues play." Demene E. Hall plays Amanda, a Southern woman who's set on finding a suitor for her damaged daughter. Ethnic Cultural Theatre, 3940 Brooklyn Ave NE, 325-6500. $8-$12. Opening Thurs June 9 at 8 pm. Fri-Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through June 19.
CIRCUS CONTRAPTION'S GRAND AMERICAN TRAVELING DIME MUSEUM
See review this issue. Magnuson Community Center Auditorium, Magnuson Park, Bldg 47, 7400 Sand Point Way NE, www.brownpapertickets.com. $20. Fri-Sun at 8 pm. Through July 30.
HOOK THE HOLY HOLLOW
See review this issue. Experimental Theatre Project of White Cat Productions at Chamber Theater, 915 E Pine St, fourth floor, www.brownpapertickets.com. $9-$15. Fri-Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 3 pm. Through June 18.
JUNGLE: A HOBO PLAY
Opening. A new play about four modern-day misfits who ride the rails. Supposedly, it's set in the "urban jungle" of Arizona, but from what I know of Phoenix, it's a big suburban desert. Directed by Lindsay Christianson and Tim Barr. Rendezvous, 2322 Second Ave, www.brownpapertickets.com. $12-$15. Opening Thurs June 9 at 7:30 pm. Fri-Sat at 7:30 pm. Through June 25.
â LOBSTER ALICE
"I liked this play in spite of itself. The philosophy is broad, the performances are tidy but not particularly gripping, and the set is as Dali as you'd expect it to be. It's fun to watch Dali (brought to life with gusto by Gavin D. Cummins) simultaneously torture and delight his vanilla-pudding costars with comments about 'firm turds' and proclamations like 'shame is a woman with a moustache and a cake on her head,' but mostly it just made me wish for the real thing. I yearned to be disturbed or moved or confused, but instead I was just, I don't know, okay with it." (Lindy West) ArtsWest, 4711 California Ave SW, 938-0339. $12-$24. Thurs-Sat at 7:30 pm, Sun at 3 pm. Through June 18.
LOVE SUICIDES AT SONEZAKI
One weekend only. A turn-of-the-18th-century Kabuki play, starring Nakamura Ganjiro III, a Living National Treasure of Japan. Grand Kabuki Theatre of Japan at Paramount Theatre, 911 Pine St, 292-2787. $25.50-$100. Sat June 11 at 7:30 pm, Sun June 12 at 2 pm.
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.
THE MUSIC MAN
Meredith Willson's musical about a scam man and a very clever librarian. Village Theatre, 303 Front St N, Issaquah. 425-392-2202. $26-$42. Thurs-Fri at 8 pm, Sat at 2 and 8 pm, Sun at 2 and 7 pm, Tues-Wed at 8 pm. Through June 26 at this location.
PIRATES OF PENZANCE
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. Fri-Sat at 8:15 pm, Sun at 2:15 pm. Through June 18.
QUICKIES, VOLUME 6
The first show at Live Girls!'s new space is an evening of short plays by Lisa Soland, Lauren D. Yee, Amy Widdowson, Dorothy Lemoult, Regan deVictoria, and Dickey Nesenger. Live Girls! Theater, 2220 NW Market St, www.brownpapertickets.com. $15. Fri at 8 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through June 26.
REALITY WORLD
An improvised faux-reality show, wherein you get to vote the actors offstage, and there are no shaky handheld cameras. Jet City Improv at Historic University Theater, 5510 University Way NE, www.ticketwindowonline.com. $8-$10. Thurs-Fri at 8 pm. Through July 22.
THE RITZ
"June is gay season, and here, to celebrate, is a very shitty gay play set in the gayest of settings-a bathhouse. The central gag (I mean, premise) in this tedious production of Terrence McNally's tedious sex farce, The Ritz, is that a gangster checks into a bathhouse to hide from his hot-headed, gun-wielding brother, although the gangster has no idea what actually goes on inside such places. He thinks it's a place for bathing! Hilarity ensues! At least, hilarity is supposed to ensue. What actually ensues is a convoluted mess of bad dialogue delivered by a cast of floundering actors, none of whom are listening to each other and some of whom shouldn't be wearing as little as they're made to wear. I hate to be mean, but come on." (Christopher Frizzelle) Open Circle Theater at Re-bar, 1114 Howell St, 382-4250. $10-$14. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm. Through June 25.
SEATTLE INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF IMPROVISATION
One week only. A festival of improv comedy, with participants from as far away as Slovenia and Sweden. After a week of workshops, the ensemble members will present Translation, a multilingual show created by Unexpected Productions Artistic Director Randy Dixon. Participants will do their own thing in the Festival Showcases, and will join the cast of Theatresports for this weekend's performances only. Market Theatre, 1428 Post Alley, 781-9273. $8-$12. Translation, Thurs at 8 pm. Festival Showcase, Fri-Sat at 8 pm. Theatresports, Fri-Sat at 10:30 pm, Sun at 7 pm.
SEX IN SEATTLE, EPISODE 11: THE ULTIMATE DATING CHALLENGE
The latest in the ongoing Asian-American theater soap opera, The Ultimate Dating Challenge follows Tess (Audrey Fan), Elizabeth (Kathy Hsieh), Shari (Miko Premo), and Jenna (Serin Ngai) on their dating adventures. SIS Productions at Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, 325-6500. $8-$12. Fri-Sat 8 and 10:30 pm. Through June 25.
STIMULUS
"Long-form improv: The genre should tell you everything you need to know. Improvisation, like stream-of-consciousness fiction, is a delicate art that should only be attempted by the few but is unfortunately popular with the many. In this version, five actors and one guitar player riff on whatever pops into their heads and the results are exactly what you'd expect. The performers looked like they were having an exhilarating time-you could smell the rubber burning as they tried to figure out what to say and how to be funny. I heartily recommend long-form improv as a party game but, like any party game, it's not much fun to watch." (Brendan Kiley) Jerk Alert Productions at Freehold's East Hall Theater, 1525 10th Ave, second floor, 755-8726. $7. Fri-Sat at 11 pm. Through June 18.
STUPID KIDS
A John C. Russell play about suburban high school students, starring Louis Hobson (Miss Saigon), Megan Hill (Laura's Bush), Jeanette Maus (Elephants Are Contagious), and Lathrop Walker (Finer Noble Gases). Adam Greenfield directs. Empty Space Theatre, 3509 Fremont Ave N, 547-7500. $10-$40. Thurs at 7:30 pm, Fri-Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 7:30 pm, Tues at 7:30 pm. Through June 26.
THE TAMING OF THE SHREW
"It pains me to say it, because I see so few driven, aesthetically unified productions of plays by Shakespeare, but this neat Taming of the Shrew is rotted at its core. No one is ever going to make The Taming of the Shrew into a nice play. And it's really not going to happen with the help of men's movement kook Robert Bly. Seattle Shakespeare Company is reviving its successful (and, bafflingly, celebrated) 2003 production of the play, in which director Stephanie Shine recasts the entire sexist torture session as a moralistic little ceremony that helps boys learn to be men. But The Taming of the Shrew is not an algebra problem to be solved. Its outrageous, offensive excess always spills over the edges of the simple devices meant to contain and excuse it. You'll leave this production unsettled and ashamed-not of Shakespeare or the society that gave rise to his fucked-up genius, but of SSC's pathetic attempts to patch over his sins." (Annie Wagner) Seattle Shakespeare Company at Center House Theatre, Seattle Center, 733-8222. $18-$26. Thurs-Sat at 7:30 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through June 19.
THE THREE SISTERS
Opening. Tony Award nominee Bartlett Sher directs the new adaptation (by fellow nominee Craig Lucas) of Chekhov's play. The cast includes Judy Kuhn (Broadway star and the voice of Disney's Pocahontas) and other luminaries of stage, screen, and audio book. Intiman Theatre, 201 Mercer St, 269-1900. $10-$46. Preview performances Fri June 10 at 8 pm, Sat June 11 at 8 pm, Sun June 12 at 7:30 pm, Tues June 14 at 7:30 pm. Opening Wed June 15 at 7:30 pm. Through July 9.
THE TRULY TALL TALE OF SNOW WHITE: THE UNTOLD MUSICAL
Opening. A one-act musical, liberally adapted from the story of Snow White, with a little Edgar Allan Poe thrown in for good measure. Stone Soup Theatre, 4035 Stone Way N, 325-6500. $10. Opening Fri June 10 at 7:30 pm. Sat at 3 and 7:30 pm, Sun at 3 pm. Through June 19.
â THE UGLY AMERICAN
The hilarious Mike Daisey returns to Seattle with a new monologue about his misadventures in London. ACT Theatre, 700 Union St, 292-7676. $30. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 3 pm, Tues-Wed at 8 pm. Through June 26.
YA GOT TROUBLE!
Final week. A workshop production of an original one-man musical about the life of actor Robert Preston (Mark Sparks). Rita Giomi directs. Village Theatre, 120 Front St, Issaquah, 425-392-2202. $16-$20. Fri-Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through June 12.
DANCE
SILVER LINING
Final week. PNB founding directors Kent Stowell and Francia Russell bid you adieu with this encore presentation of Silver Lining, a tribute to musical theater great Jerome Kern. Pacific Northwest Ballet at McCaw Hall, 321 Mercer St, 441-2424. $20-$137. Thurs-Fri at 7:30 pm, Sat at 2 and 7:30 pm. Through June 11.
A TRIBUTE TO KENT STOWELL AND FRANCIA RUSSELL
One night only. A tribute to the departing artistic directors, with ballet premieres, revivals, and toasts from PNB company members, students, and colleagues. Pacific Northwest Ballet at McCaw Hall, 321 Mercer St, 441-2424. $30-$150. Sun June 12 at 6 pm.
LATE NIGHT
AN EVENING WITH WENDY PEFFERCORN
A sketch comedy show promising "high-brow and low-bow [sic] humor." Does that mean they can kiss their knees? Garage Band Theatre at Northwest Actors Studio, 1100 E Pike St. Tickets available at the door only, $8. Sat at 10:30 pm. Through June 25.
SWING-IT MIDNIGHT REVUE
A late-night comedy and music show, from the folks at Jet City Improv. Historic University Theater, 5510 University Way NE. $5 at the door (18+ w/ID required). Sat at midnight. No closing date set.
STAY UP LATE SHOW
One night only. This edition of the live talk and variety show features funnyman Mike Daisey, cartoonist Ellen Forney, and DJ No Name of the End. Hosted by Rebecca M. Davis. Capitol Hill Arts Center (Lower Level), 1621 12th Ave. Tickets at the door only, $10. Sat June 11 at 10 pm.
IMPROV & COMEDY
BLUE WEDNESDAY at Giggles, 5220 Roosevelt Way NE, 526-5653. $6. Wed June 15 at 9 pm. 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. TOMMY SAVITT at Comedy Underground, 222 Main St, 628-0303. $6-$12. Thurs at 8:30 pm, Fri-Sat at 8:30 and 10:30 pm. SISTERS OF SAL at ArtsWest, 4711 California Ave SW, 938-0339. $5-$7. Sat June 11 at 10:30 pm. TAPROOT IMPROV COMEDY at Taproot Theatre, 204 N 85th St, 781-9707. $5. Fri June 10 at 10:30 pm. THEATRESPORTS at Market Theater, 1428 Post Alley, 781-9273. $8-$10. Fri-Sat at 10:30 pm, Sun at 7 pm.
SPECIAL EVENTS
DEAF KIDS DRAMA FESTIVAL
One night only. An ASL performance by 60 deaf and hard-of-hearing children. Seattle Children's Theatre, 201 Thomas St, 441-3322. $9. Sat June 11 at 4 pm.
FLEXTASY
One night only. San Francisco double-dutch troupe Double Dutchess jumps rope with Seattle's likeminded On the Double (Dutch). Northwest Film Forum, 1515 12th Ave. Tickets not required. Sat June 11 at 5:30 pm.
SCHMEATEROKE SUICIDE!
One night only. A fundraiser for Theater Schmeater, hosted by Brandon Whitehead and Teri Lazzara. There will be voluntary karaoke, but the real money gets flowing with acts of "suicide," a transitive verb meaning "to force an unsuspecting member of the audience to sing the song of your choice" ($5). The suicidee can pay $10 to escape his/her fate. Theater Schmeater, 1500 Summit Ave. Tickets available at the door only, $7 (21+ w/ID required). Friday June 10 at 10 pm.
