Opening and Current Runs
AMBER BROWN IS NOT A CRAYON
She is actually a cyborg stripper sent to Earth to incinerate Don Henley. Recommended for grades two through five. Pied Piper Youth Theater at Village Theatre, 303 Front St N, Issaquah, 425-392-2202. $11-$13. Sun, 2 & 4 pm. Through Oct 15.
ARMS AND THE MAN
"Soldiering, my dear madam, is the coward's art of attacking mercilessly when you are strong, and keeping out of harm's way when you are weak." Taproot Theatre, 204 N 85th St, $15-$30. Thurs, 7:30 pm, Fri, Sat, 8 pm and Sat, 2 pm. Through Oct 21.
BETRAYAL
Harold Pinter's 1978 playâthat sometimes goes backwardâabout an affair, featuring the immortal line: "I hate brandy... it stinks of modern literature." Starring Shawn Belyea, Heather Hawkins, and Bob Borwick. Bathhouse Theater, 7312 W Green Lake Dr N, 524-1300. $14-$24. Thurs-Sat, 7:30 pm and Sun, 2 pm. Through Oct 29.
BROKEN FOR YOU
The story of a wealthy old Seattle woman and her "feisty young boarder." Based on a novel byâand adapted byâlocal author Stephanie Kallos. Book-It Theatre at Center House Theatre, Seattle Center, 684-7200. $15-$32. Thurs-Sat, 7:30 pm and Sat, Sun, 2 pm. Through Oct 15.
COMPANY
Stephen Sondheim's 1971 concept musical about five married couples as seen through the eyes of a longtime bachelor. 5th Avenue Theatre, 1308 Fifth Ave, 292-2787. $20-$73. ThursâFri at 8 pm, Sat at 2 and 8 pm, Sun at 2 and 7 pm, TuesâWed at 7:30 pm.
DARK EARTH
Opening. An experimental puppet showâusing digital technology and audience participation, including the wearing of headlampsâabout the Kabbalistic idea of "failed worlds." NAKeD PUPPeTS at Theater4, Seattle Center House, 4th floor, 800-838-3006. $12-$16. Fri, Sat, 8 pm. Through Oct 28.
DINNER & DREAMS
Ongoing. The European-style dinner theater with cirque performers as garnish. Teatro ZinZanni, 2301 Sixth Ave, 802-0015. $99-$125. Thurs-Sat, 6:30 pm and Sun, 5:30 pm.
DOUBT
"The problem with Doubt as a production at the Seattle Rep is that there's too little of it. Shanley's Pulitzer-winning script is about a battle of wills between a sister and a priest, set in 1964 at St. Nicholas, a Bronx parochial school. Old-guard Sister Aloysius suspects the young and liberal Father Flynn of 'interfering' with a 12-year-old student. The script is tight and clean but the direction (by the usually impeccable Warner Shook) and the muddled acting telegraph the conclusion from the first scene. Usually, muddy acting is confusing, obscuring facts and emotions that should be clear. But Doubt requires precision to preserve confusion and produce its titular condition." (Brendan Kiley) Seattle Repertory Theatre, 155 Mercer St, 443-2222. $10-$48. Thurs-Sat, 7:30 pm and Sat, Sun, 2 pm. Through Oct 21.
H.P. LOVECRAFT: THE COLOUR OUT OF SPACE
See review this issue. Open Circle Theater, 429 Boren Ave N, 382-4250. $13. Thurs-Sat, 8 pm. Through Nov 11.
THE ITALIAN GIRL IN ALGIERS
Opening. Rossini's 1813 operaâwritten when he was 21 years oldâabout a shipwreck, foxy Italians, and a randy Algerian. McCaw Hall, 321 Mercer St, 684-7200. $49-$127. Sat, 7:30 pm and Sun, 2 pm. Through Oct 28.
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." (Annie Wagner) ACT Theatre, 700 Union St, 292-7676. $24.50-$29.50. Fri, Sat, 8 pm and Sun, 2 pm.
LINE ONE
See review this issue. Capitol Hill Arts Center, 1621 12th Ave, 388-0569. $7-$25. Thurs-Sat, 7:30 pm. ThroughOct 21.
MY MOTHER'S MEDICINE
Cheryl L. Kaplan's solo show about CIA training, superpowers, and a Jewish family moving from Brooklyn to Iowa. Second Story Repertory, 16587 NE 74th St, Redmond, 425-881-6777. $10-$54. Fri, Sat, 8:30 pm and Sun, 7:30 pm. Through Oct 15.
SLOW CHILDREN
"The hair-metal melodrama plot is summoned and sacrificed in the first two minutes: A police officer is handcuffed to a sofa in a room decorated with Iron Maiden and Poison paraphernalia. His kidnapper, a guileless Alice Cooperâlooking rocker wearing a tiger-print leotardâor is it a unitard, as the kidnapper claims, or some other kind of 'tard entirely?âtries to figure out what to do with the cop while his roommate, a talented Slash-like stoner, and their girlfriends all get in on the act. The best acting in the show is the quietest: Tim Gouran mercifully underplays Timo, star guitarist in the band Fistin' the Missus, as a decent dumb guy. It's a smart move, because everybody else pretty much screams their way through. Slow Children forgets that the cheesy greatness of hair metal also lies in the melodrama of the power ballad. It's like listening to 'Welcome to the Jungle' on repeat, when a little 'Patience' would've helped immeasurably." (Paul Constant) Re-bar, 1114 Howell St, 233-9873. $12-$15. Thurs-Sat, 8 pm. Through Oct 21.
SOUL OF A WHORE: THE CASSANDRA CYCLE, PART III
"Denis Johnson's play is a down-and-dirty baroque, a work of excess, and a stoned phantasmagoria in cursing verse, where strippers, criminals, and executioners stumble through a seedy, apocalyptic vision of Texas. The story follows a tortured, sin-loving, ex-con preacher named William Jennings Bryant Jenks, recently released from prison, who exorcises demonsâin Greyhound stations, hospitals, and prisons. At nearly three hours, the play is an endurance contest, but it's worth getting lost in the dense, mystical fog of Johnson's rich wordplay and gallows humor." (Brendan Kiley) Theater Schmeater, 1500 Summit Ave, 325-6500. $18. Thurs-Sat, 8 pm. Through Oct 21.
THOM PAIN (BASED ON NOTHING)
An angsty solo comedy by Will Eno, performed by Todd Jefferson Moore. Representative passage: "Someday, some minute, you'll have thirty seconds left to live. Think of me, my little comic bit about the raffle. Think of me, fucking around with your life, and try to smile." Seattle Repertory Theatre, 155 Mercer St, 443-2222. $10-$48. Thurs-Sat, 7:30 pm, Sat, Sun, 2 pm and Tues, Wed, 7:30 pm. Through Nov 5.
TICK, TICK...BOOM!
A musical by Jonathan Larson, the creator of Rent, about a young man trying to write the Great American Musical before his 30th birthday. (Larson himself died suddenly, 10 days before his 36th birthday and mere hours before Rent opened off Broadway.) ArtsWest, 4711 California Ave SW, 938-0339. $29. Thurs-Sat, 7:30 pm. Through Nov 4.
THE TRANSYLVANIAN CLOCKWORKS
See review this issue. Capitol Hill Arts Center, 1621 12th Ave, 388-0569. $9-$15. Thurs-Sat, 7:30 pm and Sun, 2 pm. Through Oct 21.
THE UNDERPANTS
Previewing. A comedy by Steve Martin (adapted from a 1910 farce by Carl Sternheim) about a housewife who becomes an instant celebrity by accidentally losing her underpants in public. ACT Theatre, 700 Union St, 292-7676. $10-$54. Fri, Sat, 8 pm, Sun, 7:30 pm and Tues-Thurs, 7:30 pm. Through Nov 12.
Dance
DEBRIS FROM OUR YOUTHFUL YEARS
Dance works by André Bouchard, Sarah Parton, and Jana Kincl with music by Seth Littlefield and Company. Walrus Performance Productions at R.E.D. Performance Loft, 89 Yesler Way, 331-6673. $12-$15. Fri, Sat, 8 pm. Through Oct 14.
Cabaret
BURLESQUE BEHIND THE PINK DOOR
Ongoing. Novelty acts, puppets, crooners, and old-fashioned burlesque. With Paula the Swedish Housewife. Pink Door, 1919 Post Alley, 443-3241. $10. Sat, 10:30 pm.
COLUMBIA CITY CABARET
Ongoing. A "saucy cabaret," hosted by Tamara the Trapeze Lady. Columbia City Theatre, 4916 Rainier Ave S, 723-0088. $15. Fri, 9 pm.
LITTLE BROOKLYN & ORCHESTRA L'POW!
One night only. The art of the tease, with live music and burlesque dancers from Seattle and New York City. Heavens, 172 S Washington St, 622-1863. $12. Thurs, Oct 12, 8 pm.
THE WITCHING HOUR RETURNS...
With Arnaldo!, the drag chanteuse. Thumper's, 1500 E Madison St, 328-3800. $15. Fri, Sat, 7:30 pm. Through Oct 28.
Improv & Comedy
THE COMEDY SHOP Columbia City Theatre, 4916 Rainier Ave S, 723-0088. $12 adv/$15 DOS. Sat, 8:30 & 10:30 pm COMEDY UNDERGROUND New comedians each week. Check website for details. 222 S Main St, 800-325-7328. $6-$15. Fri, Sat, 8:30 & 10:30 pm. GIGGLES COMEDY CLUB 5220 Roosevelt Way NE, 526-5653. $12. Fri, Sat, 8:30 & 10:30 pm. JET CITY IMPROV Historic University Theater, 5510 University Way NE, 352-8291. $8-$10. Fri, Sat, 10:30 pm and Sat, 8 pm. THEATRESPORTS Market Theater, 1428 Post Alley, 587-2414. $8-$12. Sat, 8 pm and Fri, Sat, 10:30 pm.
CAMPFIRE
Scary campfire stories about ghosts, UFOs, monsters, and strange dreams, generated by ideas from the audience. Unexpected Productions at Market Theater, 1428 Post Alley, 587-2414. $10. Fri, Sat, 8 pm. Through Nov 4.
CLUES
An improvised murder mystery. Wing-It Productions at Historic University Theater, 5510 University Way NE, 352-8291. $10. Thurs, Fri, 8 pm. Through Nov 17.
FUH-GEDDABOUDIT: AN INTERACTIVE MAFIA MUSICAL
The name says it all. Julia's Restaurant, 300 Broadway E, 860-1818. $44.90. Sun, 6:30 pm.
IMPROSIA: LIFE... UNKNOWN
A long-form improv show "meant to be engaging and philosophical." Historic University Theater, 5510 University Way NE, 352-8291. $10. Sun, 7 pm. Through Oct 15.
SCATTERBRAINS
One night only. A night of improv comedy. Rendezvous, 2320 Second Ave, 441-5823. Sat, Oct 14, 8:30 pm.
Late Night
BLACK DESERT
A dark and sexy dance cabaret, including bellydance and tango in the Stellner Studio. Hands of Kali at Capitol Hill Arts Center, 1621 12th Ave, 388-0569. Sat, Oct 14, 11 pm.
CAPITOL HILL HIGH, EPISODE THREE: SHANIQUALA SLEEPS TONIGHT
"A ramshackle parade of Pike/Pine-corridor-specific satire, teenage soap-opera spoofing, and enthusiastic crap, marked by aggressively terrible acting and shamelessly lame theatrics." (David Schmader) Bad Actor Productions at Capitol Hill Arts Center, 1621 12th Ave, 388-0569. $10. Fri, Sat, 10 pm. Through Oct 21.
CUPCAKE
See review this issue. Historic University Theater, 5510 University Way NE, 352-8291. $8. Sat, 12:30 am. Through Nov 17.
SUAVE
A show by Douglas S. Willott and Ian Schempp that "will educate audiences on the sextracurricular arts, using instructional videos as well as some serious sensuous role-playing." No one under 17 admitted. Historic University Theater, 5510 University Way NE, 352-8291. $8. Sun, 12:30 am. Through Nov 17.
Special Events
CIRCLE OF BLOOD
One night only. A reading of a new internet serial comedy by Bret Fetzer, featuring vampire lesbians and their struggle to maintain a sustainable ecosystem. Seattle Dramatists at Theater Schmeater, 1500 Summit Ave, 325-6500. $2. Mon, Oct 16, 7 pm.
OPEN BOX
One night only. An open mic for playwrights. Seattle Dramatists at Rendezvous, 2320 Second Ave, 441-5823. $3. Sat, Oct 14, 4:30 pm.
UTSAV: SOUTH ASIAN PERFORMING ARTS FESTIVAL
One week only. A South Asian performing arts festival with dance, theater, and music at McCaw Hall, Seattle Center, Ethnic Cultural Theatre, and Kane Hall. See www.utsav-seattle.org for more information. Seattle Center, Broad St and Denny Way, 800-838-3006. $10-$35. Thurs-Sun. Through Oct 15.
