OPENING THIS WEEK

A SUNDAY KIND OF LOVE · Thumpers

BLACK TO MY ROOTS · brownbox

FOUR SHORT PLAYS BY FRANK O'HARA · The Poet's Theater

FULLY COMMITTED · A Contemporary Theatre

PUTTING AWAY JAMES · Outcast Productions

THE SINGING FOREST · A Contemporary Theatre

THE TAMING OF THE SHREW · ArtsWest

ONE WEEK ONLY

ALWAYS. TIMES THREE · Lehua Productions

EMERALD CITY EROTICA · reBirth Festival Series

FINISHING SCHOOL · R.E.D.

FOOLS PLAY IMPROV · ArtsWest

LES BALLETS TROCKADERO DE MONTE CARLO · UW World Series

SPIN THE BOTTLE · Annex Theatre

CLOSING THIS WEEK

HOSPITALITY SUITE · Nosidam Productions/Moonlight Theatre Company

LOVE IS STRANGE · Theatre Babylon

LOVE OF THE NEW GUN · Freehold

WILD OATS · Seattle Shakespeare Company

OPENING AND CURRENT RUNS

BLACK TO MY ROOTS

African American women talk about their hair, which is the nexus of a surprising amount of political turmoil. Brownbox African American Theater at the Rainier Valley Cultural Center, 3515 S Alaska St, 325-6500. $12.50-$15.50 in advance, $15.50-$18.50 at the door ($9.50 for children). Fri-Sat at 7:30 pm, Sun at 3:30 pm. Through Feb 24.

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 and 17 only). Through Feb 23.

FINISHING SCHOOL

A reading of a new play by Yussef El Guindi, featuring Vince Balestri. R.E.D., 89 Yesler Way, 3rd floor, 405-1612. Pay-what-you-can. Fri at 7:30 pm, this week only.

FOUR SHORT PLAYS BY FRANK O'HARA

Exactly what the title says. The Poet's Theater at Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, 335-5132. Pay-what-you-will. Thurs-Fri at 8 pm, Jan 31-Feb 1; Thurs and Sat at 8 pm, Feb 7 and 9. Through Feb 9.

FULLY COMMITTED

Solo show about an unemployed actor taking reservations for an ultra-chic restaurant. Starring R. Hamilton Wright, who can be a pretty funny guy. On the other hand, it's written by a former writer for Cosby. A Contemporary Theatre, 700 Union St, 292-7676. $24.50-$29.50. Thurs at 7:30 pm, Fri-Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 2 pm.

HOSPITALITY SUITE

"An uninspired production of a stupid Mamet-lite play, Hospitality Suite is a thin slice of community theater hell, played by three actors, two of whom deserve better. About the only good thing you can say about this generic endurance test is that it's an exemplar of freedom of speech in action." (Sean Nelson) Nosidam Productions/Moonlight Theatre Company at the Union Garage, 1418 10th Ave, 325-6500. $12. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm. Through Feb 2.

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.

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.

PUTTING AWAY JAMES

An awkwardly titled play about young people on antidepressants. Outcast Productions at TPS Studio 4, Center House, 4th floor, Seattle Center, 325-6500. $10. Fri-Sat at 8 pm. Through Feb 16.

THE SINGING FOREST

A workshop production of a new play by Craig (The Dying Gaul) Lucas, which has something to do with civil rights and psychoanalysis. A Contemporary Theatre, 700 Union St, 292-7676. $10. Thurs/Sun at 7:30 pm, Fri-Sat at 8 pm. Opens Feb 1. Through Feb 10.

THE TAMING OF THE SHREW

Shakespeare's tale of sexual domination, set in Venice Beach, CA. Featuring additional dialogue by Michael Chemers. ArtsWest, 4711 California Ave SW, 938-0339. $12-$22. Wed-Thurs at 7:30 pm, Fri-Sat at 8 pm, some Sat-Sun matinees at 3 pm (call for details). Through Feb 23.

* VALLEY OF THE DOLLS

Reviewed this issue. 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, John O'Keefe. 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.

DANCE

ALWAYS. TIMES THREE

Three pieces by choreographer Rain Ross, one of which features the songs of Blossom Dearie. Lehua Productions at Velocity MainSpace, 915 E Pine St, 2nd floor, 898-1320. $12. Fri-Sat at 8 pm, this weekend only.

* LES BALLETS TROCKADERO DE MONTE CARLO

A fusion of ballet and camp. An all-male ballet troupe (featuring prima ballerinas with names like Fifi Barkova and Ida Nevasayneva) that both mocks and fulfills the high aspirations of classical ballet. UW World Series at Meany Hall, UW Campus, 543-4880. $35. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm, this weekend only.

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

A SUNDAY KIND OF LOVE

Singer Jenny Johnson and pianist/singer Victor Janusz put on a show. Thumpers, 1500 E Madison, 328-3800. $10 cover. Dinner seating starts at 6 pm on Sun. Through Feb 23.

EMERALD CITY EROTICA

An evening of smut, featuring Cass King, Trucker of the Sea, Gabrielle Bouliane, and others. reBirth Festival Series at the Odd Duck Studio, 1214 10th Ave, 617-3416. $4 in advance, $6 at the door. Fri-Sat at 8 pm, this weekend only.

LATE NIGHT

FOOLS PLAY IMPROV

An improve troupe from Olympia. ArtsWest, 4711 California Ave SW, 938-0339. $7 general, $5 students/seniors. Fri at 10:30 pm, this weekend only.

NIGHTCAP COMEDY IMPROV

Even more improv. Taproot Theatre, 204 N 85th St, 781-9707. $5. Fri at 10:15 pm. Through March 1.

SPIN THE BOTTLE

Annex's monthly mess o' stuff. No improv. Featuring the return of Sgt. Rigsby & His Amazing Silhouettes. Annex Theatre at Velocity MainSpace, 915 E Pine St, 728-0933. $5. Fri at 11 pm, this weekend only.