OPENING THIS WEEK
A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC · The 5th Ave Theatre
ANOTHER AMERICAN: ASKING AND TELLING · Seattle Repertory Theatre
BRIGADOON · Village Theatre
FASCINATION · Figaro Bistro
THE GIN GAME · RipTide Dinner Theatre
GISELLE · American Ballet Theatre
MR. FRUMPYPANTS AND THE FREAKYDINKS · Serious Dogs Productions
THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES · The Moore Theatre
ONE WEEK ONLY
FALL FUNDRAISER SHOWCASE · XODO Dance Productions
FALLING WOMEN, LOST BOYS · On the Boards
INTIMATE STAGE · Dappin' Butoh
THE TRADEWINDS DANCE PROJECT · acornDance
CLOSING THIS WEEK
52 PICK UP · theater simple
FROM BUDDHA TO BROADWAY · Chamber Theatre
THE LADY FROM THE SEA · Intiman Theatre
ON THE SIDE · Freehold Theatre
OPENING AND CURRENT RUNS
* 52 PICK UP
Fifty-two scenes in the rise and fall of a relationship, the order of presentation determined by the fall of a deck of cards. "Within moments, these two actors have created a bond so intimate that the audience actually cares about these hapless, bumbling lovers... Perfect show for anybody who's ever been destroyed by love." (Tamara Paris) theater simple at the Union Garage, 1418 10th Ave, 784-8647. $10-$12 (pay what you can Thurs, Sept 20). Thurs-Sat at 8, Sun at 2 on Sept 23. Through Sept 23.
A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC
Co-produced by A Contemporary Theatre. The musical responsible for "Send in the Clowns"--lush romanticism or trite trash? Discuss. Featuring Hayley Mills, former child star of The Parent Trap and Polyanna. Gosh, she was cute. *Sigh* The 5th Ave Theatre, 1308 5th Ave, 292-ARTS. $18-$58. Tues-Sat at 8, Sat-Sun at 2, Sun at 7:30. Through Oct 14.
A SUBWAY FARCE
Social misfits trapped on a subway that won't stop. "In [playwright Anthony] Curry's hands, the play veers as wildly as the runaway car, entering a weird territory of political allegory that kind of works, though it takes some confusing turns along the way." (Stacey Levine) Northwest Actors Studio, 1100 E Pike St, 324-6328. $12 general, $10 students/seniors. Fri-Sat at 8. Through Sept 29.
ANOTHER AMERICAN: ASKING AND TELLING
See Stranger Suggests. Marc Wolf's one-man docu-drama culled from interviews on the American military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy. Seattle Repertory Theatre, 155 Mercer St, 443-2222. $31-$44 ($10 for anyone under 25). Tues-Sun at 7:30, Sat-Sun at 2. Previews through Sept 23. Through Oct 26.
THE DANUBE
Maria Irene Fornes' elliptical tale of nuclear and environmental decay, filtered through a Hungarian language instruction tape. Defibrillator Productions at the space above the Northwest Actors Studio, 1100 E Pike St, 3rd flr, 931-5629. $12 general, $8 students (pay what you can Wed). Wed-Thurs at 8, Fri-Sat at 10. Through Sept 29.
FALLING WOMEN, LOST BOYS
Or The Death of Peter Pan. Is it just me, or is anyone else creeped out by Gregg Loughridge's obsession with Peter Pan? He's been writing about the boy who never grows up for, what, eight? Nine? Ten years? Yeesh. On the Boards' Behnke Center, 100 W Roy St, 217-9888. $10. Fri-Sat at 8, Sun at 7. This weekend only.
THE GIN GAME
Two nursing home residents play gin rummy to combat loneliness. "A card game becomes a metaphor for life," says the press release. Back when you were knee-high to a grasshopper, this won the Pulitzer Prize. Features a catered dinner. RipTide Dinner Theatre at ArtsWest, 4711 California Ave SW, 938-9793. $26. Fri-Sat at 7 pm for dinner, 8 pm show (also Sun on Oct 7 & 14). Through Oct 20.
GOOSED
Sort of a fairy tale about an irresistibly attractive guy. "Contains adult content," we are promised. Planet Earth Multi-Cultural Theatre Seattle at the Odd Duck Studio, 1214 10th Ave, 243-6773. $8. Thurs-Sat at 8. Through Sept 21.
HERBERT MATTHEWS GOES TO THE SIERRA
A damn charming new rock musical from Herbert Bergel. Printer's Devil Theatre at various venues: Ground Zero (w/ the Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players & Sgt. Rigsby and His Amazing Silhouettes) on Fri Sept 21; Re-bar (w/ Trachtenburgs & Sgt. Rigsby) on Sat-Sun Sept 22-23; University Library (w/ Peter Parker). Times and ticket prices will vary by venue. Go to www.printersdevil.org or call 860-7163 for complete information. Through Sept 29.
* I LOVE YOU, YOU'RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE
A musical revue described by some reviewer as "Seinfeld set to music." He said it, I didn't. "Like the majority of musical revues, I Love You... forsakes plot for vibrato, character development for bouncy jingles, and story line for "jazz hands." Sixty-five percent of it will evaporate from your mind the second the houselights come up. But the remaining 35% makes this show worth seeing.... Mostly frilly, sometimes fun, but ultimately forgettable first-date fare." (Adrian Ryan) Broadway Performance Hall, 1625 Broadway, 325-6500. $23-$25. Fri-Sat at 8. Through Oct 6.
JOHNNY TREMAIN
A young silversmith loses his job and starts throwing tea into Boston Harbor. Seattle Children's Theatre, Seattle Center, 441-3322. $14.50-$22.50. Fri at 7, Sat-Sun at 2 & 5:30. Through Oct 27.
LADY CHATTERLEY'S LOVER
Featuring naked people tucking flowers into each other's pubic hair--or at least Book-It's original production did. Book-It at the New Performance Studio, Seattle Center House, 325-6500. $19 general, $17.25 seniors/groups ($15 students on Thurs & Sun). Thurs-Sat at 7:30, Sun at 2. Through Oct 7.
* THE LADY FROM THE SEA
Middle-class wife gets ants in pants for hunky sailor. "Director Kate Whoriskey's production is a lush visual spectacle... [Though the main] story bogs down in Ibsen's relentless explication of his themes, the subplots display a striking degree of subtlety and vigor.... A few days after seeing the show, its many pleasures grow even richer in my memory." (Bret Fetzer) Intiman Theatre, 201 Mercer St, 269-1900. $10-$42. Tue-Wed-Thurs & Sun at 7:30, Fri-Sat at 8, Sat-Sun at 2. Through Sept 22.
OUR COUNTRY'S GOOD
Australian convicts in the late 1700s put on a show. Theater Schmeater, 1500 Summit Ave, 325-6500. $12 (anyone under 18 gets in free). Thurs-Sat at 8, Sun matinee on Sept 30 at 2. Through Oct 13.
* STRAIGHT
The Stranger's own David Schmader whips out his smart and witty exploration of conversion therapy. Northwest Asian American Theater, 409 7th Ave S, 340-1049. $12. Fri-Sat at 7:30. Through Oct 6.
UNFAIR ARGUMENTS WITH EXISTENCE/ROUTINES
A collection of short theater pieces by aging Beat poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti, who recently tried to get into my friend's pants--but that's another story. Directed by Vincent "Kerouac: The Essence of Jack" Balestri. A Theatre Under the Influence at the Union Garage, 1416 10th Ave, 720-1942. $12, pay what you can Thurs. Thurs-Sat at 8. Through Oct 6.
THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES
Movie stars from Meryl Streep to Whoopi Goldberg have been lining up to perform Eve Ensler's smart, funny, and touching monologues. We're getting Tracey Leigh and Amy Love, who are no doubt perfectly talented, but maybe not worth $46. The Moore Theatre, Virginia & 2nd, 292-ARTS. $26-$46. Tues-Sat at 8, Sat-Sun at 2, Sun at 7. Through Oct 7.
* WHAT HAPPENED WAS...
Tom Noonan's play about a date gone horribly awry. The performance includes a three-course meal. "Actors Kady Douglas and NYC transplant Thomas Hewitt Brooks both imbue their parts with vibrant energy, and while the mismatched pair eat dinner (at a table shared by two audience members who can observe the actors literally at arm's length), we see how lonely and screwed up they are." (Stacey Levine) Liberty Deli, 2722 Alki Ave SW, 935-8420. $29. Fri-Sat, dinner starts at 6:30, show follows. Through Oct 6.
DANCE
FALL FUNDRAISER SHOWCASE
Work from choreographers Camille Baldwin-Bonney and Kelly Lobello, poet Justin McDavid, and hiphop artist Yonnas Tesfai. With food. XODO Dance Productions at Rain Dancer Cafe, 4217 University Way NE, 568-5367. $10 suggested donation. Mon at 8:30. This week only.
FROM BUDDHA TO BROADWAY
A "comically inclined dance/theater/video project." ArtsyFartsyTheatre at the Chamber Theater, 915 E Pine St, 4th Flr, 329-4218. $10 general, $7 student/seniors/reservations. Thurs-Sat at 8. Through Sept 22.
GISELLE
Insane peasant girl dies and comes back to haunt her noble lover. Sort of the Stephen King novel of ballets. The American Ballet Theatre at the Paramount Theatre, 9th & Pine, 292-ARTS. $20-$100. Wed-Fri at 7:30, Sat at 8, Sat-Sun at 2. Through Oct 30.
INTIMATE STAGE
Butoh, Butoh, Butoh! Presented stealth-style. Featuring Joan Laage's White Sanctuary. Location only revealed to those who call 526-5756 and make reservations. $10. Sat at 8, Sun at 7. This weekend only.
ON THE SIDE
Rockhopper's annual showcase of short works, featuring new work by Alethea Adsitt, Richard Ayres, Pablo Cornejo, Freya Wormus, Jenny Gerber, and much more. Rockhopper Dance at Freehold Theater, 1525 10th Ave (Oddfellows Hall, 2nd floor), 325-6500. $14 at the door, $12 in advance. Thurs-Sat at 8. Through Sept 22.
THE TRADEWINDS DANCE PROJECT
Work by merging choreographer Hiromi Miyakita from Japan, as well as work from local artists Cheronne Wong, Aiko Kinoshita, and Christy Fisher. acornDance at Velocity MainSpace, 915 E Pine St, 2nd floor, (425) 378-2786. $10 in advance, $12 at the door ($10 students/seniors). Fri-Sat at 8. This weekend only.
FESTIVALS, CABARET, & COMEDY
7 BLONDES
A tribute to blond icons, ranging from Marilyn Monroe to Britney Spears, performed by Sunny. "It was tragically apparent that this entire show and perhaps poor Sunny herself are merely three-dimensional advertisements for the vacuous schlock that Greg Thompson parades upon the slick stages of casinos and cruise ships." (Tamara Paris) Greg Thompson Productions at the Crepe de Paris, Rainier Square, 1531 Fifth Ave, 623-4111. $20 for the show alone, $49 with dinner. Thurs-Sun at 9. Through Sept 30.
CAMPFIRE
Long form improvisation, based on audience experiences with unexplained--i.e. spooooooky!--phenomena. Unexpected Productions at the Market Theatre, Post Alley below the Pike St. Market, 781-9273. $10. Fri-Sat at 8. Through Oct 27.
COMEDY COURT
Improv comedy. University Heights Center, 5031 University Way NE, 442-2044. $7 general, $5 students. First and third Friday of each month at 7:30. Through Nov 16.
FASCINATION
Cabaret featuring Zazou and singers from Seattle Opera. Figaro Bistro, 11 Roy St. $15 cover at the door, dinner/drinks additional. Wed at 9. Through Sept 26.
LATE NIGHT
MR. FRUMPYPANTS AND THE FREAKYDINKS
Perverse puppet theater from the overheated brain of Cory Jess Nealy and James L. Martin II. Serious Dogs Productions at the Union Garage, 1418 10th Ave, 444-4315. $7. Fri-Sat at 11. Through Oct 6.
