OPENING THIS WEEK
CATCH! · Flying Karamazov Brothers/ACT
THE COMEDY OF ERRORS · Taproot Theatre
JITNEY · Seattle Repertory Theatre
JUMPING THE SHARK · Northwest Actors Studio
JUST IMPROV · Northwest Actors Studio
LOVE OF THE NEW GUN · Freehold
TRUE WEST · RipTide Dinner Theatre/ArtsWest
ONE WEEK ONLY
THE BRIDGE PROJECT · Velocity MainSpace
THE SHUNPIKE FOLLIES · Fremont Unconventional Center
STRINDBERG IN PARIS · theater simple
CLOSING THIS WEEK
CLOUD NINE · Huisentruit Productions
I LOVE BEING ABROAD · Thumpers
INVISIBLE INK · House of Dames/On the Boards
JALOPY · glassbones
KISS ME, KATE · The 5th Ave Theatre
STORMY WEATHER · On the Boards
OPENING AND CURRENT RUNS
CATCH!
Juggling and jokes from the Flying Karamazov Brothers; this is something of a greatest hits compilation. A Contemporary Theatre, 700 Union St, 292-7676. $36-$42. Thurs/Sun at 7:30 pm, Fri-Sat at 8 pm, Sat-Sun at 2 pm. Through Feb 17.
CHARLOTTE'S WEB
Mmmm, bacon. Seattle Children's Theatre, 201 Thomas St at Seattle Center, 441-3322. $21.50-$22.50 adults, $14.50-$15.50 senior/student/child. Fri at 7 pm, Sat-Sun at 2 & 5:30 pm. Through March 30.
CLOUD NINE
Caryl Churchill's classic time- and gender-bender. Huisentruit Productions at Crow Studio in Freehold, 1525 10th Ave, 527-8588. $8. Thurs-Sun at 8 pm. Through Jan 27.
THE COMEDY OF ERRORS
Shakespearean froth. Taproot Theatre, 204 N 85th St, 781-9707. $18-$26. Wed-Thurs at 7:30 pm, Fri-Sat at 8 pm, Sat at 2 pm. Through March 2.
DREAM OF A COMMON LANGUAGE
The torrid lives of French Impressionists. Featuring full-frontal male nudity, among other things. Theater Schmeater, 1500 Summit Ave, 325-6500. $15 Fri-Sat, $12 Thurs-Sun. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 2 pm (Feb 3 & 17 only). Through Feb 23.
ETHAN FROME
A treatise on the dangers of winter sledding. With sex. Book-It at the Intiman Playhouse, Seattle Center, 325-6500. $19 general, various discounts for groups/seniors/students. Thurs-Sat at 7:30 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through Feb 10.
HOSPITALITY SUITE
My favorite P.R. quote of the year so far: This play is "set in the cutthroat world of industrial lubricant sales." Nosidam Productions/Moonlight Theatre Company at the Union Garage, 1418 10th Ave, 325-6500. $12. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm. Through Feb 2.
INVISIBLE INK
Subtitled Destiny and the Dance of Mata Hari. Nikki Appino tackles the female spy shot for spying in WWI. House of Dames at On the Boards, 100 W Roy St, 217-9888. $16 Thurs/Sun, $18 Fri-Sat. Thurs-Sun at 8 pm. Through Jan 27.
JITNEY
August Wilson continues exploring the 20th century with this tale of a father-and-son taxi service in the '70s. Seattle Repertory Theatre, Second & Mercer, Seattle Center, 443-2222. $15-$44. Tues-Sun at 7:30 pm, Sat-Sun at 2 pm. Through Feb 23.
JUMPING THE SHARK
Post-apocalyptic pop-culture deconstruction. Meta-sketch-comedy. Featuring members of the Habit, Bald Faced Lie, and Disgruntled Bit Players. Northwest Actors Studio, 1100 E Pike St, www.jeffschell.com. $10. Fri-Sat at 8 pm. Through Feb 16.
KISS ME, KATE
Cole Porter's backstage musical, about a production of Taming of the Shrew. The 5th Ave Theatre, 1308 Fifth Ave, 292-ARTS. $18-$58. Tues-Sat at 8 pm, Sat-Sun at 2 pm, Sun at 7:30 pm. Through Jan 27.
LOVE IS STRANGE
Two one-acts: Amy Freed's Claustrophilia, about Edgar Allan Poe and his child bride, and Marcy Rodenborn's All Acts of Love and Pleasure, about a Christian lad trying to convert a pagan babe. Theatre Babylon at the Union Garage, 1418 10th Ave, 720-1942. $12 (Thurs is pay-what-you-can). Thurs-Sat at 8 pm; added pay-what-you-can show on Mon Jan 28 at 8 pm. Through Feb 2.
THE MAIDS
Two sisters get kinky in their mistress' bed. Liberty Deli, 2722 Alki Ave SW, 935-8420. $29 (includes dinner), $15 show only (availability limited). Fri-Sat, buffet opens at 6:30, show at 7:30 pm. Through Feb 16.
STORMY WEATHER
Two one-acts about natural disasters, by Stranger Theater Editor Bret Fetzer and Juliet Waller, under the name Poisonous Toy Theater. Featuring many fuzzy hats. On the Boards, 100 W Roy St, 217-9888. $12. Thurs-Sun at 7:30 pm, EXTENDED through Jan 27.
* STRINDBERG IN PARIS
All about one of theater's most biting personalities, August Strindberg. A benefit for theater simple's upcoming Australian tour. Theatre Off Jackson, 409 Seventh Ave S, 325-6500. $20. Fri-Sat at 8 pm, this weekend only.
* VALLEY OF THE DOLLS
The definition of glorious excess. Featuring many glamorous wigs. The Empty Space at the Broadway Performance Hall, 1625 Broadway, 547-7500. $22-$30. Tues-Thurs at 7:30 pm, Fri-Sat at 8 pm, Sat-Sun at 2 pm, Sun at 7 pm. Through Feb 9.
WILD OATS
Our local Shakespeareans branch out with this farce by another several-hundred-years-dead playwright. Seattle Shakespeare Company at the Center House Theatre, Seattle Center, 325-6500. $10-$24. Thurs-Sat at 7:30 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through Feb 3.
THE WRESTLING SEASON
A play about teen boys grappling with rumors that they're gay. Featuring many buff actors in singlets. Seattle Children's Theatre, Seattle Center, 201 Thomas St, 441-3322. $21.50-$22.50 adults, $14.50-$15.50 senior/student/child. Fri at 7 pm, Sat-Sun at 2 pm and 5:30 pm. Through Feb 16.
DANCE
THE BRIDGE PROJECT
Three new pieces from Chalie Livingston, Maureen Whiting, and Amy O'Neal. Velocity MainSpace, 915 E Pine St, 2nd floor, 325-8773 ex. 2. $12 in advance, $14 at the door. Fri-Sun at 8 pm, this weekend only.
JALOPY
Glassbones' site-specific dance piece, spread through multiple rooms of Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, 726-1879. $14. Fri-Sun at 8 pm. Through Jan 26.
LOVE OF THE NEW GUN
A dance-based performance inspired by painter Arshile Gorky, who has one of the all-time greatest names. Freehold, 1525 10th Ave, 914-4161. $12 in advance/seniors/students, $14 at the door. Fri-Sun at 8 pm. Through Feb 3.
FESTIVALS, CABARET, & COMEDY
I LOVE BEING ABROAD
One-woman cabaret from Julie Cascioppo, on the theme of travel. Thumpers, 1500 E Madison, 328-3800. $10. Fri at 10:30 pm. Through Jan 25.
LATE NIGHT
JUST IMPROV
Just what it sounds like. Featuring performers from assorted sketch troupes. Northwest Actors Studio, 1100 E Pike St. $5 (free if you saw Jumping the Shark). Fri-Sat at 10 pm, Through Feb 16th.
THE SHUNPIKE FOLLIES
A monthly variety show, featuring Improsia, the Social Studies, Siamese, and others. Fremont Unconventional Center, 160 N. Canal St. $5. Sat at 10 pm, this weekend only.
LONG RUNS
JET CITY IMPROV at ArtsWest, 938-0339; at the Ethnic Cultural Theater (note new location), 781-3879.
LATE NIGHT CATECHISM from Seattle Theatre Project at A Contemporary Theatre, 292-7676.
MYSTERIAN at Illusionz Magical Entertainment Center, Issaquah, 425-427-2444.
QUEER AS A THREE DOLLAR BILL at the Comedy Underground, 800-992-8499.
THEATERSPORTS at the Market Theater, 781-9273.
