OPENING AND CURRENT RUNS

recommended ACCIDENTAL DEATH OF AN ANARCHIST"Accidental Death of an Anarchist is 98 percent brilliant political farce and 2 percent distracting, patronizing brouhaha." (Lindy West) Strawberry Theatre Workshop at Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, www.brownpapertickets.com. $15–$20. Thurs-–Sun at 7:30 pm. Through Oct 9.

BLOOD BROTHERS
Opening. A musical hit from London examining social and class issues vis-à-vis twins separated at birth. ArtsWest, 4711 California Ave SW, 938-0339. $10–$24. Opening Wed Oct 5 at 7:30 pm. Thurs–Sat at 7:30 pm (some additional weekend matinees). Through Oct 29.

CAMPFIRE
Opening. Creepy audience stories spun into campfire tales by improv performers. Unexpected Productions at Market Theater, 1428 Post Alley in Pike Place Market, 781-9273. $10. Opening Sat Oct 1 at 8 pm. Through Nov 5.

CATHAY: THREE TALES OF CHINA"The puppets are pretty, but the story is thin—I wish writer Ping Chong had spent as much time on the text as the Shaanxi Folk Art Theater did on the visuals." (Brendan Kiley) Seattle Repertory Theatre, 155 Mercer St, 443-2222. $10–$46. Tues–Sat at 7:30 pm, Sat–Sun at 2 pm. Through Oct 9.

recommended CRAVE
Final week. "Crave is less a play than a prose-poem about lust, longing, and repulsion, spoken in short bursts by four characters identified only by letters. The scenic design is fantastic—we can hear a pool of water collecting at the actors' feet, and see them getting increasingly soaked as they pop in and out of our letterbox view." (Brendan Kiley) Washington Ensemble Theatre at Little Theatre, 608 19th Ave E, Seattle, 800-838-3006 or www.brownpapertickets.com. $10–$15. Thurs–Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 7 pm, Mon at 8 pm. Through Oct 3.

DEATH OF A SALESMAN
Opening. The Miller classic, with an African-American cast, directed by Jacqueline Moscou. Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center, 104 17th Ave S, 684-4758. $10–$18. Opening Wed Oct 5 at 7:30 pm. Through Nov 6.

DEFENDING THE CAVEMAN
Ongoing. A mid-'90s relic about the supposed prehistoric propensities of the two sexes. ACT Theatre, 700 Union St, 292-7676. $39.50–$45. Fri at 7:30 pm, Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 3 pm. Tickets available through Oct 30.

DINNER & DREAMS
Ongoing. The dinner theater extravaganza, with European-style cirque performances as garnish. Teatro ZinZanni, 2301 Sixth Ave, 802-0015. $99. Thurs–Sat at 6:30 pm, Sun at 5:30 pm (some additional Wed shows).

DON QUIXOTE
See review this issue. Book-It Repertory at Seattle Center House Theatre, 305 Harrison St, 216-0833. $15–$30. Thurs–Fri at 7:30 pm, Sat at 2 and 7:30 pm, Sun at 2 pm, Wed at 7:30 pm. Through Oct 16.

FEIFFER'S PEOPLE
Final week. A series of sketches by cartoonist and social satirist Jules Feiffer. Northwest Actors Studio, 1100 E Pike St, 324-6328. $10–$12. Fri–Sat at 8 pm. Through Oct 1.

THE FRONT PAGE
Opening. Set in 1928 Chicago, the play "exposes the unscrupulous modus operandi of the 'gentlemen of the press.'" Humph. Annex Theatre at Capitol Hill Arts Center, 1621 12th Avenue, www.brownpapertickets.com. $10–$15. Opening Thurs Sept 29 at 7:30 pm. Fri–Sat at 7:30 pm. Sunday at 2:30 pm. Through Oct 22.

recommended FROZEN
See review this issue. Empty Space Theatre, 3509 Fremont Ave N, 547-7500. $10–$30. Thurs at 7:30 pm, Fri–Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 2 pm, Wed at 7:30 pm. Through Oct 22.

GREASY DEMON HEAT
Final week. "Greasy Demon Heat came off as college students discovering performance art. Yet the sudden, structurally smart ending as well as several vivid sequences make this crazed, chaotic, cycle worth another visit." (Christopher DeLaurenti) Villainaire's Academy at Gallery 1412, 1412 18th Ave, 322-1533. $5–$15. Fri at 8 pm. Through Sept 30.

HAMLET X: THE TRAGEDY OF EL-HAJJ MALIK EL-SHABAZZ
Final week. Hamlet, set in the separatist Islamic utopia imagined—and then rejected—by Malcolm X. Brownbox Theatre at Rainier Valley Cultural Center, 3515 S Alaska St, 335-7020. $12–$15. Sat at 7:30 pm, Sun at 3 pm. Through Oct 2.

HELIUM
Opening. Matt Smith's monologue about Japan, sex, and STIs. Unexpected Productions at Market Theater, 1428 Post Alley in Pike Place Market, 781-9273. Opening Fri Sept 30 at 8 pm. $15. Through Nov 4.

recommended THE IKEA CYCLESee a show, buy a lamp. Written and directed by Keri Healey. Printer's Devil Theater at IKEA, 600 SW 43rd St, Renton. Free, no reservations. Mon and Wed at 7 pm. Through Nov 9.

THE KING & I
See review this issue. 5th Avenue Theatre, 1308 Fifth Ave, 292-2787. $10–$71. 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 Oct 9.

THE KING STAGA new adaptation of Italian playwright Carlo Gozzi's fantasy about magical deer, emotionally needy royals, and true love. Andrei Belgrader directs; cast includes Charles Leggett, R. Hamilton Wright, and Sarah Rudinoff as "Smeraldina." Seattle Repertory Theatre, 155 Mercer St, 443-2222. $10–$46. Thurs–Fri at 7:30 pm, Sat at 2 and 7:30 pm, Sun at 2 pm, Tues–Wed at 7:30 pm. Through Oct 22.

LATE NITE CATECHISM
Ongoing. "The real point is not the adult-catechism monologue, but the script's gaps, in which Sister (Aubrey Manning) dispenses tissues to cover salacious displays of flesh and kitschy prizes to reward the dumbstruck targets of her improvisations. What distinguishes Late Nite from the walking cartoons at Disneyland is that your name, your background, and your behavior become the crux of the performance." (Annie Wagner) 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 LAST FIVE YEARS
Final week. A Jewish wannabe novelist and Catholic wannabe actress meet, fall in love, and sing about it. ReAct Theatre at Freehold's East Hall Theater, 915 E Pine St, second floor, 364-3283. $12–$18. Thurs at 7:30 pm, Fri at 8 pm, Sat at 8 and 11 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through Oct 2.

LAST TRAIN TO NIBROC
Opening. A romantic comedy about a would-be missionary and a soldier who meet on a train in December 1940. With Chastity Parenzi and Timothy Hornor (the talented stars of Beau Jest). Taproot Theatre, 204 N 85th St, 781-9707. $15–$29. Preview performance Thurs Sept 29 at 7:30 pm. Opening Fri Sept 30 at 8 pm. Sat at 2 and 8 pm, Wed at 7:30 pm. Through Oct 29.

LES ROMANESQUESThe French play that spawned The Fantasticks. Act 1 is in French; Act 2 is the same thing in English. Steeplechase Productions at Chapel Theatre, 4649 Sunnyside Ave N, 935-8261 or www.brownpapertickets.com. $10–$16. Fri–Sat at 8 pm. Through Oct 8.

MENOPAUSE THE MUSICAL™Four women sing about the end of menses, when the ovaries stop producing estrogen, often accompanied by vasomotor symptoms such as vaginal dryness, palpitations, and increased depression and anxiety. ACT Theatre, 700 Union St, 292-7676. $45. Thurs–Fri at 8 pm, Sat at 4 and 8 pm, Sun at 2 pm, Tues–Wed at 8 pm. Through Nov 6.

recommended RIFF RAFF
Final week. "Riff Raff (by Laurence 'Morpheus' Fishburne) is a drama of tangled and sometimes hidden allegiances—involving stolen heroin, guns, and childhood friends—but it is primarily a thriller. I only wish there had been more literal and figurative juice." (Brendan Kiley) Theater Schmeater, 1500 Summit Ave, 325-6500. Thurs by donation, Fri–Sat $18. Thurs–Sat at 8 pm. Through Oct 1.

SCABSheila Callaghan's play about a grad-school love triangle (two chicks and a dude, if you're counting). Also featuring a malevolent statue of the Virgin Mary. Live Girls! Theater, 2220 NW Market St, www.brownpapertickets.com. $9–$12. Fri–Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through Oct 16.

SEUSSICALA Dr. Seuss tribute musical by Ahrens and Flaherty, who created the score for Ragtime. Seattle Children's Theatre, 201 Thomas St, 441-3322. $15–$30. Thurs–Fri at 7 pm, Sat–Sun at 2 and 5:30 pm. Through Nov 18.

recommended STARBALL
See Stranger Suggests, page 29. Smith Planetarium, Pacific Science Center, 200 Second Ave N, 352-1777. $12–$17. Opening Thurs Sept 29 at 8 pm. Fri–Sat at 10 pm, Sun at 8 pm. Through Oct 23.

TUXEDO MANA character study of nightclub singer Nick Sands, written and performed by Zach Hoffman. Odd Duck Studio, 1214 10th Ave, 706-0086. $12. Thurs–Sat at 8 pm. Through October 9.

VERBATIM VERBOTEN
Extended. Ongoing. "Verbatim Verboten is a succession of minimally staged scenes bringing dirty voice mails, court transcripts, and other modes of celebrity embarrassment to life. Hilarity abounds, but just as often the actors don't interpret the transcripts so much as read them aloud." (Mariesa Bus) Clove Productions and Quade Productions at Rendezvous, 2322 Second Ave, 624-4455. $10–$12. Fri–Sat at 8 pm.

VINCENT IN BRIXTON
Final week. "Appropriately, Vincent's primary virtues are visual. ACT artistic director Kurt Beattie exploits the arena layout, and scenic designer Scott Weldin cleverly peppers hints of Van Gogh paintings from The Bedroom to Night Cafe at Arles throughout the set." (Brendan Kiley) ACT Theatre, 700 Union St, 292-7676. $10–$54. Thurs at 7:30 pm, Fri–Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 7:30 pm. Through Oct 2.

WE'RE NO ANGELSA stage adaptation of the 1955 movie that was a film adaptation of a stage comedy about three escaped convicts who help a needy family. SecondStory Repertory, 16587 NE 74th St, Redmond, 425-881-6777. $18–$24. Fri–Sat at 8:15. Through Oct 8.

WIT
Opening. A 1999 Pulitzer-winning play about a literature professor battling cancer and "changing lives along the way." Seattle Public Theater at the Bathhouse, 7312 W Green Lake Dr N, 524-1300. $12–$20. Opening Thurs Sept 29 at 7:30 pm. Fri–Sat at 7:30 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through Oct 23.

WOOMBIES
Final week. A one-woman play about growing up as an identical twin. Ironic, yes? We Three Productions at Ethnic Cultural Theatre, 3940 Brooklyn Ave NE, www.we3productions.com. $7–$10. Thurs–Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through Oct 2.

DANCE

DAYLIGHT
One week only. See Theater News. New York–based choreographer Sarah Michelson and her company play with architectural space, movement, and audience perception. On the Boards, 100 W Roy St, 217-9888. $22. Wed–Sun Oct 5–9 at 8 pm.

DEBRIS FROM OUR YOUTHFUL YEARS
Final week. Music by Snowman Plan and three dance pieces that examine the "acute vulnerability of the human condition." Walrus Performance Productions at R.E.D. Loft, 89 Yesler Way, www.brownpapertickets.com. $10–$15. Fri–Sat at 8 pm.

DIRECTOR'S CHOICE
Final week. "Director's Choice features four pieces chosen by new artistic director Peter Boal. Forsythe's Artifact II is back, for those who missed its 1998 premiere. The dramatic, sci-fi piece runs the gamut from sports to sculpture and makes the Bach score sound avant-g rde. Balanchine's Duo Concertant is a charming, fancy-footwork tribute to Stravinsky's music. The intricate, thrilling Symphony in Three Movements (also Balanchine) really shows what Boal has done with PNB: The corps' line is no longer arrow-straight, but movements make more sense, legatos are more exciting, and the dancers as a group have more feeling." (Rosie Gaynor) Pacific Northwest Ballet at McCaw Hall, 321 Mercer St, 441-2424. $20–$149. Thurs–Sat at 7:30 pm, Sun at 1 pm. Through Oct 2.

CABARET

SWINGING RADIO HOURDinner cabaret modeled after an old-time radio show. Century Ballroom, 915 E Pine St, 325-6500. $20–$25 (show only), $60 (w/dinner included). Show starts Fri–Sat at 7:30 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through Nov 19.

TANGO CABARET
One weekend only. A survey course in the famous Argentine dance that reminds us of sex, knife fights, and Jorge Luis Borges—with champagne, show, and lessons. Washington Dance Club, 1017 Stewart St, 325-6500. $20–$30. Fri–Sat at 7:30 pm, Sun at 1 pm.

IMPROV & COMEDY

DANNY BEVINS at Comedy Underground, 222 Main St, 800-325-7328. $6–$12 (21+ w/ID required). Thurs at 8:30 pm, Fri–Sat at 8:30 and 10:30 pm. RICH VOSS and BONNIE MACFARLAND at Giggles Comedy Club, 5220 Roosevelt Way NE, 526-5653. $12. Fri Sept 30–Sat Oct 1 at 8:30 and 10 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. THEATRESPORTS at Market Theatre, 1428 Post Alley, 781-9273. $8–$12. Sun at 7 pm. UNHINGED (Gabriel Rutledge and Geoff Brousseau) at Mirabeau Room, 529 Queen Anne Ave N. $6. Wed Oct 5 at 8 pm.

LATE NIGHT

MONEY & RUN: JUKE BOX MOMMA
Final week. "Oh, how I long for the Money & Run I once knew! The one that dazzled and blazed! Through misty eyes I can see it still: that enflagrante redneck carnivale of campy '70s spoof, Def Leppard–rich, loud, and drunken as a ball game, a late-night row of ever-dependable theatrical satisfaction! (And those meticulous slow-mo fight scenes! Wow!) Today's Money & Run, Juke Box Momma, sputters and spurts and mumbles its lines; it's not sure where it's going, it's forgotten who it is." (Adrian Ryan) Theater Schmeater, 1500 Summit Ave, 325-6500, www.ticketwindowonline.com. Thurs by donation, Fri–Sat $12. Thurs–Sat at 11 pm. Through Oct 1.

SPECIAL EVENTS

HURRICANE BENEFIT
One night only. Playwright and performer Anne Galjour will perform her solo show Hurricane—about her childhood in Cajun country—as a Katrina relief benefit. Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave, 652-4255 for info, 443-2210 for tickets. $20. Wed Oct 5 at 7:30 pm.

DEGENERATE ART ENSEMBLE PARTYInfernal Noise Brigade, Seattle School, wrestlers, and trapeze artists converge to help DAE raise money for their next big project at the Moore. Consolidated Works, 500 Boren Ave N, 381-3218. $5–$15. Sat Oct 1 at 8 pm.

recommended SHOWGIRLS WITH DAVID SCHMADER
Stranger associate editor and columnist David Schmader performs his renowned annotated screening of Showgirls as a Red Cross/Hurricane Katrina benefit. Triple Door, 216 Union St, 838-4333. $12–$15. Wed Oct 5 at 7 pm.