OPENING THIS WEEK

HOUSE OF BERNARDA ALBA/CROCODILE EYES · Freehold

ONE WEEK ONLY

ANGELA CARTER'S PUSS IN BOOTS · Odd Duck Studio

AN EVENING WITH ELLEN DEGENERES · Paramount Theatre

FORUM THEATRE · Mandala Center

LA ISLA · Peru Fusion Teatro

LIQUID GIRLS · Seattle Experimental Opera

A NIGHT OF SHITTY THEATRE · Theater Schmeater

SHAVE AND A HAIRCUT · Consolidated Works

SUMMER TANGO BALL · Sonny Newman's Dance Hall

CLOSING THIS WEEK

CRUMBS FROM THE TABLE OF JOY · Intiman Theatre

CRY, GODDESS, RAGE · EXITheatre

I, BOHEMIA · Theatre Babylon

ON THE VERGE · GREX

RAIN CITY ROLLERS · House of Dames

OPENING AND CURRENT RUNS

*ALL ABOUT MEDEA

An original comedy about backstage hijinks at a drag production of Medea. "The play is light, charming, smart, sexy, and always in the twilight of saying something profound or falling apart into laughter." (Charles Mudede) Re-bar, 1114 E Howell, 323-0388. Fri-Sun at 8, $12. Through Aug 6.

ANGELA CARTER'S PUSS IN BOOTS

Savvy, tone-deaf cat struck by boots, love. Adapted by Emily Gardner. Odd Duck Studio, 1214 10th Ave, 861-0249. Thurs-Sat June 29-July 1, 8 pm. $10.

BANG THE DRUM SLOWLY

Third-string catcher gets fatal disease, star pitcher helps him cover it up so he can stay with the team. Sounds maudlin to me--but I never played baseball with my dad as a kid, so latent hostility must be coloring my perceptions. Seattle Theatre Project at the Union Garage, 1418 10th Ave, 382-4250. Thurs-Sat at 8, Sun at 7, $15. Through July 15.

THE BOUFFANTS

Big wigs, pop songs. Cabaret de Paris, second level of Rainier Square, 1333 Fifth Ave, 623-4111. Thurs at 8, Fri-Sat at 8:30. $16 for just the show, $42 for dinner too. Through Sept 30.

CRUMBS FROM THE TABLE OF JOY

Nostalgic but socially conscious play about two African American sisters from the South adjusting to life in the North in 1950s America. Intiman Theatre, Seattle Center, 269-1900. Thurs-Sat at 8; Tues-Wed, Sun, at 7; Sat-Sun matinees at 2. $27.50-$42. Through July 1.

CRY, GODDESS, RAGE

A retelling of the Trojan War by EXITheatre, who staged a play in a '71 Mercedes Benz in the last Fringe Fest. "Without any of the formal choices tied into a deeper consideration of theme, the play becomes an untethered exercise in manipulating the basic story.... The show as performed is slightly better than its scary, run-the-other-way title." (Tom Spurgeon) Nu Black Arts West, 153 14th Ave, 779-2284. Thurs-Sat at 8, $10. Through July 1.

FORUM THEATRE

An interactive presentation shaped by Augusto Boal's techniques for a Theatre of the Oppressed. Chamber Theatre, 915 E Pine St, Fourth Floor, 297-5059. Fri June 30, 7:30 pm. Free.

THE HOUSE OF BERNARDA ALBA/CROCODILE EYES

Two plays look at the same tale of sexual repression in 1930s Spain from different perspectives. Presented by the Ensemble Training Intensive. Freehold, East Hall Theatre, 1525 10th Ave, Second Floor. Thurs-Sat at 8, Sun at 7. Admission by donation. Through July 9.

I, BOHEMIA

This satire of a left-wing theater collective is based on playwright Marcy Redenborn's own experiences as an apprentice with the San Francisco Mime Troupe, a left-wing theater collective. "Redenborn explains a story rather than tells one; the audience is trapped in overheard conversations among old friends not their own." (Tom Spurgeon) Theatre Babylon at the Union Garage, 1418 10th Ave, 720-1942. Thurs-Sat at 8, $12. Through July 1.

*INTELLIGENCE

The latest play by Scot "Sgt. Rigsby & His Amazing Silhouettes" Augustson, about a gay man blackmailed by the State Department into getting information out of a visiting Russian physicist. "A solid and tight piece, peppered with enough clever plot twists and dimensions to satisfy and surprise the most seasoned (read: jaded) audience member." (Adrian Ryan) Annex Theatre, 1916 Fourth Ave, 728-0933. Thurs-Sat at 8, Sun at 7. $12 regular, $7 students. Through July 15.

LA ISLA

A Spanish-language version of Athol Fugard's The Island, presented with simultaneous translation. This production has been touring to theater festivals all over the world; acting and directing workshops are also being presented, call for details. Seattle Public Theatre at the Greenlake Bathhouse Theatre, 7312 W Greenlake Dr N, 328-4848 ext. 2. Sat-Sun July 1-2, 8 pm. $12.

LATE NIGHT CATECHISM

"While non-Catholics will find Sister's pathological disdain of chewing gum and broken rulers amusing, members of the faith will find it hilarious." (Adrian Ryan) A Contemporary Theatre, 700 Union St, 292-7676. Thurs-Sat at 8, Sun at 2. $24.50-$29.50. Extended for eternity.

LIQUID GIRLS

SEXO (Seattle Experimental Opera) returns with a new opera by Christian Asplund and Lara Candland. See Stranger Suggests. Nippon Kan Theater, 628 S Washington, 888-424-2525. Fri June 30 at 8 and 10; Sat July 1 at 2, 8, and 10. $15, $10 students/seniors.

*MEDEA, THE MUSICAL

The Greek tragedy Medea presented as a gay musical, also featuring backstage shenanigans. A big hit in San Francisco and L.A. "A comedy with lots of laughs, music, and flamboyant acting, but it wants to do much more than simply entertain us--it also wants to address feminist concerns within the context of contemporary queer theater." (Charles Mudede) ArtsWest Theatre Company, 4711 California Ave SW, 938-0339. Thurs-Sat at 8, $18-$22. Runs for as long as they can milk it.

A NIGHT OF SHITTY THEATRE

A bunch of terrible but short plays, presented as a benefit for Naugahyde Productions. Theater Schmeater, 1500 Summit Ave, 729-4839. Fri-Sat June 30-July 1, 8 pm. $10 suggested donation.

ON THE VERGE

Eric Overmeyer's highly verbal adventure of three Victorian women traveling from 19th-century New England to 1955 Las Vegas, produced by GREX. Book-It Repertory Theater, 1219 Westlake Ave N, Suite 301, 985-1019. Thurs-Sat at 8, $12. Extended through July 1.

RAIN CITY ROLLERS

Bitchin' babes on skates tell the tale of Orpheus and Eurydice through song and competitive roller derby. "Nikki Appino knows everything there is to know about putting together a completely realized, excellently produced, well-designed, well-funded, stuffed-with-talented-actors show. Everything, that is, except how to make a satisfying, pleasurable piece of art out of all that." (Eric Fredericksen) House of Dames at Sand Point Naval Base, Hangar 2S, 7400 Sand Point Way NE, 720-5252. Thurs-Sun at 8, with 10:30 pm performances on Fri-Sat nights. $16-$20. Through July 2.

*THE SCANDAL!

"Kristen Kosmas is a remarkably restrained performer.... If her voice wasn't so clear and listenable one could almost accuse her of muttering.... the scandal! is a solid show from a mature, confident performer, and deserves to be seen." (Tom Spurgeon) New City Theatre, First Christian Church, 1632 Broadway, 328-4683. Thurs-Sat at 8, $10-$12. Through July 8.

THE SEAGULL

Seattle's cutest and feistiest theater troupe tackles Chekhov, staging the play on the Kalakala ferry. Printer's Devil Theatre at the Kalakala, 2555 N Northlake Way (note: street parking only), 328-2690. Wed-Sun at 8. Fri-Sat, $12 suggested donation; other nights, $10. Pay-what-you-can on Wed July 12. Through July 21. Reviewed this issue.

UNDER THE GASLIGHT

"It's hard to believe any theater company in the year 2000 would produce a two-hour Carol Burnett sketch and attempt to pass it off as a celebration of a discarded theatrical form." (Tom Spurgeon) Empty Space, 3509 Fremont Ave, 547-7500. Tues-Sun, times vary. $18-$26. Through July 9.

DANCE

SUMMER TANGO BALL

The Ninth Annual Tango Ball hosted by Sonny Newman, featuring Nito and Elba Garcia from Argentina, as well as tango dancers from the Puget Sound area. Nito and Elba will also be presenting workshops; call for details. Temple DeHirsch Sinai, 1512 Union, 784-3010. Sat July 1, 8 pm. $25 in advance, $30 at the door.

FESTIVALS, CABARETS, & COMEDY

AN EVENING WITH ELLEN DEGENERES

DeGeneres has become more famous for being queer than for being funny. Let's hope she's trying to fix that. Paramount Theatre, 911 Pine St, 628-0888. Thurs June 29, 8 pm. $23.50-$36.

HOKUM'S RAGTIME NICKELODEON REVUE

Professor Hokum W. Jeebs returns with an evening of ragtime, silent cinema, classic vaudeville, and the big sounds of the mighty 1929 WurliTzer Theatre Pipe Organ. "I felt somehow like we were fireflies raising our tiny lights into a shimmering chorus, sharing our voices before descending into the inevitable darkness." (Tamara Paris) Hokum Hall, 7904 35th Ave SW, 937-3613. Fri-Sat at 8. $12 general, $10 student/senior, discounts available. Open-ended engagement.

JULIE CASCIOPPO EXPERIENCE

"Cascioppo has confidently tossed schmaltz, a Casio keyboard, a couple of exhausted-looking wigs, naughty banter and... songs you thought you hated into a furiously agitating blender. The cocktail concocted goes down shockingly smooth." (Tamara Paris) Pink Door, Pike Place Market, 1919 Post Alley, 443-3241. Tues at 8:30 & 11. No cover.

SHAVE AND A HAIRCUT

A non-stop cabaret with dance, theater, poetry, rotten fruit, and the Ottoman Bigwigs. Other performers include the freaky Mark Boeker, the even freakier Seanjohn Walsh, and John Kaufman, who looks completely normal but is a total freak. Consolidated Works, 410 Terry Ave N, no reservations. Sat July 1, 8 pm. $10.

THREE DOLLAR BILL

"Like most disreputable arts, standup now offers a more compelling product for its lack of adoration. Billed as a gay- and lesbian-oriented show, Three Dollar Bill also works as a low-cost current comedy primer." (Tom Spurgeon) Comedy Underground, 222 S Main St, 628-0303. Tues at 8. $6.

LATE NIGHT

CLAUSTROPHILIA

Morbid play about Edgar Allen Poe and his child bride, by S.F. playwright Amy Freed, whose The Psychic Life of Savages was a recent hit at the Empty Space. Annex Theatre, 1916 Fourth Ave, 728-0933. Fri-Sat at 11 pm (no performance on July 7). $5, free if you see the prime-time show. Through July 14.

JET CITY IMPROV

Improv comedy and music based on audience suggestions. "The show goes down really smoothly. One only wishes for better direction." (Tom Spurgeon) Ethnic Cultural Theater, 3940 Brooklyn Ave NE, 781-3879. Fri-Sat at 10:30. $7, $5 with student ID. ALSO: Through August, Jet City performs live with Fremont Friday Night Outdoor Movies, improvising dialogue and sound-effects for B-movies shown without sound. Adobe Parking under the Aurora Bridge in Fremont; bring your own chair, suggested donation of $5. Fri June 30 at dusk: Tarantula!

THEATER SPORTS

"The only improvisational show I've ever seen where the women performers were clearly better than the men--a welcome change from the over-aggressive scene-stealing of many male-driven troupes." (Tom Spurgeon) Market Theater, 1428 Post Alley, 781-9273. Fri-Sat at 10:30, $9; Sun at 7, $5.

UP IN YOUR GRILL

The Grill folks are tearing it up weekly with fast and furious comic sketches. Speakeasy, 2304 Second Ave, 444-4336. Sat at 11 (opening acts at 10:30). $7.

CALLS

Centerstage in Federal Way is holding auditions on August 7 & 8 for two fall productions, including an adaptation of Little Women. Call 253-661-1444 or e-mail centerstagetheatre@yahoo.com for further information.

One World Theatre is seeking a male actor 30-50 years old for paid position. Performances Sept 28-Oct 15. Equity or non-equity considered. Please call 264-1735 for audition details.

Queercore, a program of Gay City Health Project, is looking for writers for an original play about gay and bi men under 30, entitled If These Queers Could Talk. Call Robert at 860-6969 for more information.

Seattle Public Theater holds Summer Theatre Day Camps for kids, starting on July 10; programs range from grades 3-12. Workshops held at the Bathhouse in Green Lake; contact Lauren Marshall or Alexis Chamow at 328-4848.

A short comic film seeks male and female actors in their 20s to 40s for a shoot in late August. Send headshot and resume with cover letter to: Dave Monks, Beautiful Filmed Entertainment, 3612 Whitman Ave N #4, Seattle, WA 98103, or e-mail BeautifulFilms@aol.com.