OPENING THIS WEEK
Nothing is opening this week. It's post-Christmas. Bah humbug.
ONE WEEK ONLY
THE DEADLY MANTIS · Wing-It Twisted Flicks
THE HEAVEN AND HELL BALL · Consolidated Works
THE NEW YEAR'S BASH · Hokum Hall
SING-A-LONG SOUND OF MUSIC · The 5th Ave Theatre
TOAD TALES · Shorty's Sideshow
CLOSING THIS WEEK
APPALACHIAN CHRISTMAS HOMECOMING · Taproot Theatre
THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER · The Bathhouse Theater
CARLOTTA'S LATE NIGHT HOLIDAY WING DING · Ursa Major Theatre
THE HOTHOUSE · Liberty Deli
I LOVE BEING ABROAD · Thumpers
INSPECTING CAROL · Seattle Repertory Theatre
NUTCRACKER · Pacific Northwest Ballet
OPENING AND CURRENT RUNS
* APPALACHIAN CHRISTMAS HOMECOMING
The holiday deluge: forbidden hillbilly love. "The storyline is pretty much secondary to the hauntingly beautiful and touching music... the true accolades must go to Theresa Holmes as endearing momma Sharon. Her angelic voice made this spoiled city-dwelling shit-head's eyes well up a time or two." (Adrian Ryan) 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 Dec 29.
THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER
The holiday deluge: cute kids goof up. Kill me now. The Bathhouse Theater, 7312 W Green Lake Dr N, 325-6500. $12 adults, $8 kids, $5 per additional kid after two kids with paying adult. Thurs-Sat at 7:30 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through Dec 30.
THE HOBOKEN CHICKEN EMERGENCY
Reviewed this issue. The conflict between small-town small-mindedness and a giant chicken. A musical. Seattle Children's Theatre, Seattle Center, 441-3322. $14.50-$22.50. Fri at 7 pm, Sat-Sun at 2 & 5:30 pm. Through Jan 5.
* THE HOTHOUSE
The holiday deluge: I didn't know there was such a thing as "Harold Pinter's zany holiday classic," but that's how the press release describes this show. "Tight performances, a seldom seen work by an important playwright, and kick-ass coleslaw--trust me, that is worth a trip over the bridge." (Tamara Paris) Liberty Deli, 2722 Alki Ave SW, 935-8420. $29 ($15 show only, tickets limited). Fri-Sat and selected Sun; dinner at 6:30 pm, show starts at 7:30 pm. Through Dec 29.
INSPECTING CAROL
The holiday deluge: Dickens + Gogol. Seattle Repertory Theatre, Second Ave & Mercer St, 443-2222. $15-$44 ($20 for anyone under 25). Tues-Sun at 7:30 pm, Sat-Sun at 2 pm. Through Dec 30.
DANCE
NUTCRACKER
The holiday deluge: the deeply Freudian children's tale, en pointe. Pacific Northwest Ballet at Seattle Center Opera House, 301 Mercer St, 292-ARTS. $15-$84. Sat at 2 & 7:30 pm, Sun at 1 & 5:30 pm, call in advance for weekday shows. Through Dec 27.
FESTIVALS, CABARET, & COMEDY
I LOVE BEING ABROAD
Julie Cascioppo sings about travel. Thumpers, 1500 E Madison, 328-3800. $10 cover. Sun at 8:30. Through Dec 30.
THE HEAVEN AND HELL BALL
See Stranger Suggests. A big-ass party with that noisy rock and roll you kids are so fond of these days. Consolidated Works, 500 Boren Ave N; tickets available at TicketWeb (866) 468-7623. $30 in advance, $40 (!) day-of. Mon Dec 31 at party time.
THE NEW YEAR'S BASH
See Stranger Suggests. An old-fashioned New Year's Eve. Hokum Hall, 7904 35th Ave SW, 937-3613. $20 general, $25 table seats. Mon Dec 31 starting at 8 pm.
SING-A-LONG SOUND OF MUSIC
The sensation that's sweeping the nation: The Julie Andrews cinematic juggernaut with subtitles, so you can join in. Also featuring costume contest and other pre- and post-show activities. The 5th Ave Theatre, 1308 Fifth Ave, 292-ARTS. $20 adults, $10 children 12 or younger. Fri at 7 pm, Sat at 1 pm. This weekend only.
LATE NIGHT
* CARLOTTA'S LATE NIGHT HOLIDAY WING DING
The delightful alter ego of Troy Mink returns with a late-night talk show, featuring a wealth of local talent. Ursa Major Theatre at Northwest Actor's Studio Cabaret Space, 1100 E Pike St, 325-6500. $8 general, $7 students/seniors. Fri-Sat at 10 pm. Through Dec 29.
THE DEADLY MANTIS
Improvisers make up new dialogue for campy horror flick. Wing-It Productions at the Paradox Theater, 5510 University Way NE, 781-3879. $7. Fri-Sat at 10:30 pm, this weekend only.
TOAD TALES
I don't know what this is, but it sounds great: Some kind of combination of slides, film, recorded soundtrack, and live narration, all about a family of toads as they shop for hats and wander into gambling halls. DJ T-1-11 spins after the show. Shorty's Sideshow, 2222A Second Ave, 441-5449. Free admission. Mon Dec 31 at 9 pm, this week only.
