Want more? Here’s everything we recommend this month: Music, Visual Art, Literature, Performance, Film, Food & Drink, and This & That.
Blood/Sucker
Through Sept 21
September is a time for school, and it is a time for horror. What if something thirsty for blood was lurking in your high school’s walls? It’s a brave question asked by Blood/Sucker, a new play by Anamaria Guerzon and directed by Sophia Franzella. The play starts with a history teacher trying to save his Asian American history class in the wake of a doxing campaign. Meanwhile, there’s that thing in the walls, and something is off about the students. But Blood/Sucker isn’t all gristle and guts. Its thrills come from a combination of Filipino mythology and the horrific state of public education. What could be scarier than that? (12th Avenue Arts Mainstage, times vary) NATHALIE GRAHAM
Anthony Jeselnik: Wrath of Man
Sept 11
Anthony Jeselnik’s entire standup-comedy career has been one big trigger warning. It’s hard to think of another comic who can repeatedly drop shockingly offensive punch lines with the methodical elegance of this 47-year-old American. He’s a master of hilarious misdirection and his chiseled, darker-than-thou material repeatedly makes you say “Holy shit, I cannot believe he went there.” Maybe if Jeselnik weren’t a handsome devil with perfectly coiffed hair, his edgelord-y jokes wouldn’t slap as hard as they do or audiences wouldn’t laugh so hard at them—he even gets women to chortle at his misogynistic zingers. But here we are, doubling over at the most mordant material in this tragically flawed country. Listen, it’s difficult to cancel a comedian when you’re crying with laughter. (Moore Theatre, 7:30 pm, all ages) DAVE SEGAL
Suns Out, Ones Out
Sept 16
Seattle does a great job of supporting queer artists, but end-stage capitalism does not. That’s where fundraising can help, and this one is packed with talent! Suns Out, Ones Out raises money for the Queer Sick Pay Fund (qSPF), an organization that provides sick pay to queer, contracted performers when they need to miss a gig due to illness. qSPF has also begun offering gender-affirming care grants for the greater Seattle area. Even if your goal wasn’t to donate to such an awesome cause, you’d still want to go just to catch the show! Featuring drag, music, and comedy, the lineup includes Moscato Sky, Taylar Elizza Beth, CHAD, Emma Schmuckler, DJ dark wiley, and qSPF co-founder, Betty Wetter. The evening will also include a silent auction, raffle, and raise the paddle. Who doesn’t like a good paddling?! (Clock-Out Lounge, 8:30 pm, 21+) NICO SWENSON
Clayton Lee: The Goldberg Variations
Sept 17–19
From the larger-than-life personas to the homoerotic lore and campy costumes, there’s something about pro wrestling that is just inherently queer, which is why it makes perfect sense that Canadian curator, producer, and performance artist Clayton Lee has chosen it as a backdrop for examining his sexuality. This deeply personal performance marries Lee’s childhood fixation on legendary professional wrestler Bill Goldberg with Bach’s classical compositions known as the Goldberg Variations, resulting in an exploration of power dynamics, desire, and identity. Lee is the artistic director of Fierce Festival in Birmingham, UK and served as the director of the experimental Rhubarb Festival in Canada from 2019–2023, so you can trust him to get real weird with it—the On the Boards website describes the show as “unhinged” and “thoroughly unconventional,” and executive and artistic director Megan Kiskaddon says it “brings toxic relationships to a new level.” (On the Boards, 7:30 pm) JULIANNE BELL
Emerald City Kings Ball
Sept 17–19
The Kings are back in town! Summoning a whopping 60 performers from drag scenes across North America, this annual festival enters its fourth year with a jaw-dropping, swoon-worthy, swashbuckling explosion of brilliant entertainment. Rusty Hammer is on the bill, and I have a crush on his five-o’clock shadow alone. The festivities span three days of vendors, headliners, featured local talent, and a fierce competition for the ultimate title of High King Supreme. My favorite thing is when they release application statistics as teasers. This year’s top submitted act themes were “gender liberation, religion (the pope), musical theatre, and devils.” Sign me up! (Broadway Performance Hall, 8 pm, ASL interpreted, 18+) NICO SWENSON
Seattle Sketchfest
Sept 24–27
The longest-running sketch comedy festival in the US and a certifiably good way to spend an evening underneath Pike Market, Sketchfest 2026 has everything from deranged live sketches to musical numbers and celebrity impressions from local and touring groups. Unlike improv, sketch comedy somewhat mercifully involves skits that have been rehearsed, and someone has actually checked that they are funny and cohesive before performing them live in front of strangers. It’s hosted at the Unexpected Productions Market Theater in Post Alley, and features 20-plus different acts across four nights including solo performances by touring comedians like Cam Wyllie and sketches by writers/producers of The Daily Show and The Tonight Show! (Unexpected Productions, times vary) DYLAN BUECHE
More
Jurassic Parking Lot Through Sept 24, Seattle Public Theater, times vary
Hannibal Buress Sept 4, Neptune Theatre, 7 pm, all ages
Queen Andrew Scott: Rhythm & Horror Sept 4, Triple Door, 7:30 pm
Francesca Fiorentini and Matt Lieb Sept 4–5, Laughs Comedy Club, times vary
Duncan Trussell Sept 4–6, Emerald City Comedy Club, times vary
Much Ado About Nothing Sept 10–26, Theatre Off Jackson, times vary
TUSH: Chance Hazard, Queen Andrew Scott, Quincy Yeoman, Miss Texas 1988, Amora Namor, Angel Baby Kill Kill Kill, DJ Dark Wiley Sept 10, Clock-Out Lounge, 7 pm
Leah Rudick Sept 11–12, Laughs Comedy Club, 7:15 and 9:30 pm, 21+
Off Book: The Improvised Musical Sept 12, Neptune Theatre, 8 pm, all ages
The Lauren & Mary Show! Sept 14, Emerald City Comedy Club, 7 and 9:30 pm
Conscience Sept 16–Oct 17, Taproot Theatre, times vary
Leslie Liao Sept 17–19, Emerald City Comedy Club, times vary
The Chinese Lady Sept 17–Oct 11, ArtsWest, times vary
Luke Severeid Sept 18–19, Laughs Comedy Club, 7:15 and 9:30 pm, 21+
Josh Thomas Sept 19, Neptune Theatre, 7:30 pm
Union Arts Center Presents: Hamlet Sept 19–Oct 11, Allen Theatre, times vary
Cynthia Brothers and Shannon Koyano Present: The Vanishing Seattle Variety Show Sept 15, Clock-Out Lounge, 8 pm, 21+
A Chorus Line Sept 15–27, 5th Avenue Theatre, times vary
Chrissa Sparkles Sept 20, Emerald City Comedy Club, 4 pm, 21+
Double Indumbnity: John Coons and Jonah Wheeler Sept 20, Rabbit Box Theatre, 7 pm, 18+
Open Michael: A Storytelling Stand Up Strangeness Open Mic! hosted by Emmett Montgomery Sept 22, Rabbit Box Theatre, 6 pm, all ages
Honey Pluton and Spike Einbinder Sept 23, Clock-Out Lounge, 7 pm, 21+
TUSH: Betty Wetter, Beau Degas, Honey Wong, Ruby Mimosa, Moscato Sky, Pussy Willow, DJ Dark Wiley Sept 24–25, Clock-Out Lounge, times vary
Dylan Carlino Sept 24–26, Emerald City Comedy Club, times vary, 21+
Eulogy or How to Play Your Own Funeral (And Have Fun Doing It!) Sept 24–Oct 11, PONCHO Forum, times vary
Seattle Rep Presents: Eureka Day Sept 24–Nov 15, Leo K. Theater, times vary
Pacific Northwest Ballet Presents Serenade Sept 25–Oct 4, McCaw Hall, times vary
The Ghost of Buena Vista Past: Shadow Theater and Songs by Michelle Lassaline Sept 26–27, Rabbit Box Theatre, times vary, all ages
Hokus Pokus Live! Sept 27, Moore Theatre, 8 pm, all ages
Peter Antoniou Sept 29, Emerald City Comedy Club, 7:30 pm, 21+
Chris O’Connor Sept 30, Emerald City Comedy Club, 7:30 pm, 21+
References to Salvador Dalí Make Me Hot Oct 1–17, Center Theatre at the Seattle Center Armory, times vary
Pete Holmes Oct 2, Moore Theatre, 8 pm, all ages
Jim Gaffigan Oct 2–4, Paramount Theatre, times vary
Brian Posehn Oct 3, Neptune Theatre, 8 pm, all ages
Rocky Horror Drag Brunch Oct 4, Emerald City Comedy Club, 3 pm, 21+
Seattle’s Funniest: Finals! Oct 4, Emerald City Comedy Club, 7 pm, 21+
Ilana Glazer Oct 6, Moore Theatre, 7 pm, all ages
Water for Elephants Oct 6–11, Paramount Theatre, times vary
Find all these listings and more on our sister site, EverOut Seattle! EverOut.com/Seattle
