OPENING THIS WEEK

BORIS GODUNOV · Seattle Opera

BRILLIANT TRACES · RipTide Deli Theatre

CABARET · Paramount Theatre

LITTLE MURDERS · Northwest Actors Studio

L'UNIVERSE · Flying Karamazov Brothers

STUDIO SERIES 2000 · Freehold Theatre Lab Studio

STUFF & NONSENSE · Theater Babylon

TEXARKANA WALTZ · Empty Space

TO BE YOUNG, GIFTED AND BLACK: A PORTRAIT OF LORRAINE HANSBERRY IN HER OWN WORDS · UW Ethnic Cultural Theatre

ONE WEEK ONLY

DRUMMERS OF WEST AFRICA · Pantages Theater

REPLAY>TOM STOPPARD>RADIO · Boomer Classics

THE ROOTS OF CULTURAL ENTERTAINMENT · Fusion Dance Company

TALLULAH PALOOZA! · Re-bar

TATTOO · The Pat Graney Company

CLOSING THIS WEEK

ALIENS IN AMERICA · Seattle Rep

OPENING AND CURRENT RUNS

ALIENS IN AMERICA

Monologuist Sandra Tsing Loh performs skits, some of which have been heard on NPR -- including the segment wherein her elderly father searches for a Chinese mail-order bride. "Loh's a great writer, but the material, at least as presented here, feels bound to the page. So much keen commentary slips by in performance that you end up with a vague idea that you've missed something. The words are so well-chosen they demand to be read, not re-created." (Steve Wiecking) Seattle Rep's Leo K. Theater, Seattle Center, 443-2222. Tues-Sun at 7:30, Sat & Sun matinees at 2, through Jan 15. $29/$39.

BORIS GODUNOV

The Russian epic by Modest Mussorgsky is performed here in its original (1872) version, thanks to Seattle Opera General Director Speight Jenkins -- who wanted to present the full "taut, gripping tale of one man -- the beleaguered, tragic Czar, Boris Godunov." With Russian bass Alexander Anisimov in the title role. Seattle Center Opera House, 389-7676, www.seattleopera.org. Jan 15, 18, 21, 22, 26, 28, and 29 at 7:30; Jan 16 at 2. $30-$103.

CABARET

Joely Fisher's coming to town! As Fräulein Sally Bowles in this touring production of Cabaret, Ellen's red-haired sidekick promises to dance on some Third Reich ass. A big, sprawling dance-a-thon production. Paramount Theater, 911 Pine St, 292-2787. Tues-Sat at 8, Sat & Sun 2 pm matinees, Sun at 7:30, through Jan 30. $21-$50.

THE COMPLETE MILLENNIUM MUSICAL (ABRIDGED)

"Bad Boys of Abridgement," the Reduced Shakespeare Company take a red pen to 1,000 years of history, handling subjects like the Black Plague with a whimsical musical treatment. With Reed Martin, John David Pohlham-mer, and Taylor Young. Seattle Repertory Theatre, Second Ave & Mercer St, 443-2222. Tues-Sun at 7:30, Sat & Sun 2 pm matinees, through Jan 22. $10-$39.

DRUMMERS OF WEST AFRICA

Led by Doudou N'Diaye Rose, called "the greatest drummer in the world" by Paris' Le Figaro, more than 40 West African drummers play traditional percussive instruments, and dance in traditional costumes. Pantages Theater, 901 Broadway, Tacoma, 253-591-5894. Thurs Jan 13 at 7:30. $12-$32.

Late Night Catechism

And the nun goes on. This is an evening of audience participation and interactive improv theater: think Sister Windy crossed with Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All for You. ACT, 700 Union St, 292-7676. Thurs-Sat at 8, Sun at 2, extended for eternity. $24.50-$29.50.

LITTLE MURDERS

Northwest Actors Studio presents Jules Feiffer's dark satire, with its commentary on violence in American society, as fitting fare for the millennium. Featuring Inez Black, Eric Snellman, Paul Bergman, Stacey Lind, Roy Stanton, and Christopher Maxfield. Northwest Actors Studio, 1100 E Pike, 324-6328. Fri-Sat at 8, Sun at 7, through Jan 29. $10/$8.

L'UNIVERSE

The Flying Karamazov Brothers continue their hands-on exploration of science, juggling, music, comedy, and the cosmology of the universe, in this performance which takes advantage of new technologies created by MIT's Media Lab. Directed by Gordon Edelstein. A Contemporary Theatre (ACT), Seventh Ave & Union St, 292-7676. Tues-Thurs at 7:30, Fri-Sat at 8, Sun at 7:30, some matinees, through Jan 30. $20-$45.

REPLAY>TOM STOPPARD>RADIO

Three Stoppard comedies, first written for the BBC, now surface in Seattle for the first time under the auspices of the brand-new Boomer Classics theater organization, which is committed to producing works by late-20th-century playwrights in serial feature form. Kirkland Performance Center, 350 Kirkland Ave, 425-893-9900. Thurs-Fri Jan 13-14 at 8. Also at ACT's Bullitt Cabaret, 700 Union St, 292-7676. Sat Jan 15 at 8, Sun Jan 16 at 2 & 7. $12.

STUDIO SERIES 2000

Freehold students, alumnae, and faculty let loose in this series featuring 18 different performing events -- each week will feature a new lineup of staged readings, dance, and original plays. Call for scheduling info. Freehold's East Hall Theatre, 1525 10th Ave, Second Floor, 323-7499. Thurs-Sat at 8, Sun at 2, through Jan 30. Donation.

STUFF & NONSENSE

Theater Babylon presents this one-man show about the Victorian painter, traveler, and limerick writer Edward Lear, written and performed by some guy identified only as "Eric." Theater Babylon, 1418 10th Ave, 720-1942. Thurs-Sat at 8, through Jan 29. $9.99 (Thurs pay-what-you-will.)

TALLULAH PALOOZA!

Performance artist Orlando does that Tallulah voodoo so well, reincarnating the notorious Ms. Bankhead for a ribald and rib-tickling variety hour (including music, comedy, and vaudeville), first performed at Josie's Cabaret & Juice Joint in San Francisco. Re-bar, 1114 Howell St at Boren, 323-0388. Fri-Sat Jan 14-15 ONLY, at 8 pm. $10.

TEXARKANA WALTZ

The Empty Space presents Seattle playwright Louis Broome's award-winning, highly imaginative comic drama of a Southern family coming to terms with its horribly violent past. Directed by Allison Narver, and featuring the formidable acting talents of Burton Curtis, Jena Cane, and Lauren Weedman. Empty Space Theater, 3509 Fremont Ave, 547-7500. Opens Wed Jan 12 and runs through Feb 13. Call for showtimes. $18-$26.

TO BE YOUNG, GIFTED AND BLACK: A PORTRAIT OF LORRAINE HANSBERRY IN HER OWN WORDS

Student, community, and professional artists come together at the UW's Ethnic Cultural Theatre to celebrate Lorraine Hansberry, author of A Raisin in the Sun, via this "divine journey" of a play, once the longest-running off-Broadway. University of Washington Ethnic Cultural Theatre, 3940 Brooklyn Ave NE, 543-4635. Tues-Sat at 7:30, Sun at 2, through Jan 23. $7/$10.

DANCE

THE ROOTS OF CULTURAL ENTERTAINMENT

New works from Africa to America are featured in two evenings of performance by Anthony T. Manuel, followed by a reception and silent auction to celebrate Fusion Dance's new non-profit status. Dance on Capitol Hill, 340 15th Ave E, 784-7119. Sat at 8, Sun at 7, this week only. $10/$8.

TATTOO

Composers Ellen Fullman and Amy Denio team up with Seattle choreographer Pat Graney -- whose work has won worldwide acclaim -- to explore through dance themes of personal memories transferred through generations. Graney's finely honed athletic movements are always visually muscular. On the Boards, 100 W Roy St, 217-9888. Thurs-Sun at 8, this week only. $18/$20.

FESTIVALS, CABARETS, & COMEDY

BRILLIANT TRACES

Eat a gourmet buffet dinner while watching melodrama unfold in Cindy Lou Johnson's Brilliant Traces, in which a sweat-stained bride and a curmudgeon are trapped in an Alaskan snowstorm. Liberty Deli, 2722 Alki Ave SW, 405-8433. Fri-Sat at 6:30, through Feb 5. $22.

IMPROSIA: COMEDY OF THE GODS

Performing character-driven scenes based on audience suggestions. Wit's End, 770 N 34th, 547-2330. Sat at 9:30. $7.

Julie Cascioppo Experience

Songs and characters you may grow to love. The Pink Door, Pike Place Market, 1919 Post Alley, 443-3241. Tues at 8:30 & 11. No cover.

*THREE DOLLAR BILL

Seattle's original gay/lesbian/bisexual stand-up comedy night is still standing in its second year. Comedy Under-ground, 222 S Main St, 324-8025. Tues at 8. $6.

LATE NIGHT

THE A.M. CABARET

Amoral entertainment for insomniacs; promising naked poetry, music, strippers, and drag queens. You may think you're dreaming. Coffee Messiah, 1554 E Olive Way, 860-7377. Sat from 2-4 am. $5.

Jet City Improv

Improv comedy and music based on audience suggestions. Ethnic Cultural Theater, 3940 Brooklyn Ave NE, 781-3879. Fri-Sat at 10:30.

Theater Sports

Improv comedy with a competitive edge, brought to you by Unexpected Productions. Market Theater, 1428 Post Alley, 781-9273. Fri-Sat at 10:30, $9. Sun at 7. $5.

CALLS

ARTSWEST

ArtsWest Theatre Company will hold auditions Jan 22-26 for its world premiere production of the comedy The Collaborators, by local playwright Stephen Price. Directed by John Vreeke, performances will begin in late April and run through the end of May. Actors are paid. The script calls for six men, ages 25-55, and two women, ages 25-50. Please prepare one brief contemporary comedic monologue, and bring headshot and resume.

VIKKI GADGET SAVES THE WORLD

Looking for musician/sound effects person for a rock musical about female superheroes that will be performing at the Re-bar starting Feb 4. Please call Linda Santiman at 329-3583.