OPENING AND CURRENT RUNS


* 21 SHOTS
"Deron Bos has written a classic farce, but a farce about creativity rather than the usual romance. Oh, there's love in it, and envy, and disappointment but the whole delightful kit and caboodle supports an interesting take on why people want to make things--interesting and even, in its own boisterous way, inspiring. All ends well, as in any proper farce, but not as you may think." (Barley Blair) Printer's Devil Theatre at Rendezvous, 2320 Second Ave, 860-7163. $12. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm. Through Oct 26.
AMERICAN VOICES: BUKOWSKI, MICHELINE, AND THE FIRST AMENDMENT
"Vincent Balestri's new one-man show, American Voices, examines writers Jack Micheline and Charles Bukowski, Bukowski's column "Notes from a Dirty Old Man" in the San Francisco magazine Open City, and the 1968 obscenity charges that closed the publication." (Brendan Kiley) Union Garage, 1418 10th Ave, 720-1942. $12-$14. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm. Through Oct 26.
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

Final week.
A foxy bookworm finds love in the arms of a hideous monster who once tried to kill her father in this Disney-fried musical. Paramount Theatre, 911 Pine St, 467-5510. $20-$60. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 1 pm and 6:30 pm, with matinee performances Sat at 2 pm. Through Oct 13.
THE BIG FRIENDLY GIANT
A kind vegan suffering from a crippling speech impediment and an extraordinary case of acromegaly befriends an orphan, meets the Queen of England, and saves the continent. Seattle Children's Theatre, 201 Thomas St, 443-0807. $12-$26. Fri at 7 pm, Sat-Sun at 2 and 5:30 pm. Through Dec 22.
CHARLEY'S AUNT
Three turn-of-the-century drag queens run amok--but with a comic twist: The trio is trying to get all up under the bustle cage of the same... woman? ArtsWest, 4711 California Ave SW, 938-0339. $10-$26. Wed-Sat at 7:30 pm, Sat matinees Oct 12 and 26, and Sun matinee Oct 20 at 3 pm. Through Oct 26.
COPENHAGEN

See review this issue.
Seattle Repertory Theatre, 155 Mercer St, 443-2222. $15-$40. Tues-Sun at 7:30 pm, Sat-Sun matinees at 2 pm. Through Oct 26.
COWBOYS ARE MY WEAKNESS
Book-It Repertory gallops toward cowboy romance with a remount of its adaptation of Pam Houston's short stories "For Bo," "Selway," and "How to Talk to a Hunter." Book-It Repertory at Seattle Center House Theatre, 305 Harrison St, 325-6500. $15-$22. Thurs-Sat at 7:30 pm, Sun matinee at 2 pm. Through Oct 20.
FIRES IN THE MIRROR

Opening. Inspired by the events of New York's 1991 Crown Heights riot, Fires in the Mirror (originally a one-women show penned by Anna Deavere Smith) is a series of vignettes exploring the tensions surrounding the racially charged disturbance. Cornish North Campus, 1501 10th Ave E, room 200, 726-5011. Free. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm, Sun matinee Oct 20 at 2 pm, no show Oct 12. Through Oct 20.

FUDDY MEERS

Final week.
"Nothing sucks the air out of a comedy more than self-conscious zaniness, and there is not a single character in this clattering claptrap of a play whose behavior is not oh-so-exhaustingly wacky. (Tamara Paris) ACT Theatre, 700 Union St, 292-7676. $32.50-$44. Thurs at 7:30 pm, Fri-Sat at 8 pm, matinees at 2 pm Sat-Sun Oct 12 and 13. Through Oct 13.
HOTHOUSE ROSE

Opening. "The story of a girl raised on dance halls and booze, where women teach that men are to be used as tools if they are to survive. Rose longs for an escape, but will she be able to survive outside the Hothouse?" Live Girls! Theater, 620 Alaskan Way, second floor, 568-1985. $10. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm. Through Oct 26.
IN PURSUIT OF AN INKLING

See review this issue. Mind-Shattering Productions at Odd Duck Studio, 1214 10th Ave, 324-1062. $10-$15. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 7 pm. Through Oct 19.
INVADERS FROM EARTH
Consolidated Works continues its multimedia exploration of duality with Invaders from Earth, Dawson Nichols' original adaptation of the eponymous pulp sci-fi novel. An interweaving triumvirate of narratives having something to do with space travel and deception. Consolidated Works, 500 Boren Ave N, 381-3218. $10-$14. Fri-Sun at 8 pm. Through Nov 3.
LES LIAISONS DANGEREUSES

Opening. Cruel Intentions, only in fancier pants. Stepping Stone Productions at Nippon Kan Theatre, 628 S Washington St, 325-6500. $30. Fri-Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 7 pm. Through Nov 10.

* MATCHSTALK MAN
"Matchstalk Man is Billy Woods' near-farcical play set in London's South End, dealing with four small-time criminal punks who manage, out of sheer luck, to score big on a crack deal. They also manage, out of sheer bad luck, to lose the money. Hiding from the police in a warehouse, the group spends the entire time accusing each other of stealing the money. Everyone thinks the other is lying. The problem is, they all are." (Gregory Zura) New City Theater Zero & Strike Anywhere Productions at South End Warehouse, 2110 S Airport Way, 328-4683. $8. Fri-Sat at 8 pm. Through Oct 26.
OIL CITY SYMPHONY
Heavy on faded '80s ambiance and light on story, revelation, or thought-provoking material, Symphony is charmingly lighthearted, sometimes funny, and sometimes musically interesting, in a novelty-show kind of way." (Brendan Kiley) Taproot Theatre, 204 N 85th St, 781-9707. $18-$26. Wed-Thurs at 7:30 pm, Fri-Sat at 8 pm, with additional Sat matinee at 2 pm. Extended through Oct 26.
OKLAHOMA!
"Where the corn's as high as an elephant's eye... " Village Theatre, 303 Front St N, Issaquah, 425-392-2202. $25-$42. Wed-Sat at 8 pm, Sun matinees at 2 pm. Through Oct 27.
OLEANNA

Opening. He said, she said, he loses his tenure.
Vagabond Alley, 1518 First Ave S, fifth floor, 280-6854. $12. Fri-Sat at 9 pm. Through Oct 26.
OUR ONLY MAY AMELIA
Based on the works of Jennifer L. Holm, Our Only May Amelia is the tale of an outspoken young girl finding her way in the wilderness of 19th-century Oregon Territory. Seattle Children's Theatre, 201 Thomas St, 441-3322. $12-$26. Fri at 7 pm, Sat-Sun at 2 pm and 5:30 pm. Through Oct 26.

ROAD MOVIE

See review this issue. Final week. Open Circle Theater, 429 Boren Ave N, 382-4250. $15. Thurs-Sun at 8 pm. Through Oct 13.
SCAPIN
"Scapin's basic plot is stocker-than-stock, loaded with star-crossed young lovers, miserly fathers, tricky servants, and tons of pie-in-the-face-type physical humor. But between all the ad-libs, the cute anachronisms (Ron Sims jokes!), and the mercilessly repeated physical and word gags (if you miss something, don't worry--they're gonna do the exact same gag 20 more times), the story line is almost impossible to follow. (Adrian Ryan) Intiman Theatre, 201 Mercer St, 269-1900. $27-$42. Tues-Thurs & Sun at 7:30 pm, Fri-Sat at 8 pm, matinees Sat-Sun at 2 pm. Through Oct 19.

SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD

Final week. Jason Robert Brown's acclaimed "musical journey" of loosely related songs and scenes--all of which gained resonance after 9/11, the press release reports. Raggedy Z productions at Crêpe de Paris, 1333 Fifth Ave, second floor, 623-4111. $21-$48. Thurs at 8 pm, Fri-Sat at 8:30 pm. Through Oct 12.

* STAGE DOOR

Final week. "If all you know of Stage Door is that "classic" (ha!) 1936 film adaptation starring Katherine Hepburn and Ann Miller--well, those old hacks just butchered it. Stage Door: Feel the magic again... for the first time." (Adrian Ryan)
Empty Space Theatre, 3509 Fremont Ave N, 728-0933. $14. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through Oct 13.

* THE SWAN TOOL

This week only. See Stranger Suggests. Miranda July at On the Boards, 100 W Roy St, 217-9888. $18. Fri-Sat Oct 11-12 at 8 pm.
THE TROJAN WOMEN
With every press release prominently displaying the luridness of this show's content ("rated NC-17," "contains strong language, violent situations, and partial nudity," etc.), one has no choice but to assume that The Trojan Women, a modern adaptation of Greek myth, will be the most poignant show of the season. And fuck, don't forget the nudity!
Theater Schmeater, 1500 Summit Ave, 325-6500. $12-$15. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm, Sun matinees Oct 20, 27 at 2 pm. Through Nov 2.
WHEN WE DEAD AWAKEN

Opening. A curried-goat-enhanced performance of Henrik Isben's final play. Steeplechase Productions at Liberty Deli, 2722 Alki Ave SW, 935-8420. $29 with dinner and show, $15 show only. Thurs-Sat at 7:30 pm. No dinner Thurs. Through Nov 9.

FESTIVALS, CABARET, & COMEDY

CAMPFIRE
Long-form improvisation, based on audience experiences with unexplained--i.e., spooooooky!--phenomena. Unexpected Productions at Market Theater, Post Alley, 781-9273. $10. Fri-Sat at 8 pm. Through Oct 26.
BILL MAHER

One night only. Opinionated, uninformed, and smug: three great tastes.... Bill Maher at Pantages Theater, 901 Broadway Ave, Tacoma, (253) 591-5894. $26-$60. Fri at 7:30 pm.
* SKETCHFEST

Final week. Now in its fourth year, Seattle's SketchFest--North America's first comedy fest devoted entirely to sketch comedy--has grown from a two-night forum for local talent to a two-weekend blowout featuring name-brand acts from across the nation. Among Week #2's delights: L.A.'s The Class Project, Chicago's Superpunk, NYC's The Midwesterners, Austin, Texas' Catch 24, and Portland's Hoskins & Breen, described by our friends at the Portland Mercury as "funnier than shit." (Check out www.sketchfest.org for a complete schedule.)
Broadway Performance Hall, 1625 Broadway Ave, 325-6500. $7 per show. Fri-Sat at 7 pm. Through Oct 12.

DANCE

AGAINST THE GRAIN/MEN IN DANCE

This week only. Too gay. Freehold East Hall Theater, Odd Fellows Building, 1525 10th Ave, second floor, 557-2448. $12-$14. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 7 pm.

* BOOTY AUCTION

One night only. Benefiting celebrated local dance company 33 Fainting Spells, this fundraiser is the perfect opportunity to get shitfaced and dance the night away--but, you know, for the cause. 33 Fainting Spells at Zeitgeist, 171 S Jackson, 583-0497. $20. Sat Oct 12 at 7 pm.

* RIGGED

Final week. Watch in amusement as six poised, professional dancers attempt to sustain some semblance of grace as they dangle from 15-foot ropes. d9 Dance Collective at Velocity Mainspace Theater, 915 E Pike St, second floor, 781-7746. $12-$14. Fri-Sun at 8 pm. Through Oct 13.

LATE NIGHT

BASSPROV

This week only. A self-described "white trash version of My Dinner With Andre" (how's that for an accolade?), Chicago improvisers Joe Bill and Mark Sutton perform an improvised one-act play about two bass fisherman deliberating on weighty philosophical concerns at the audience's suggestion. Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, 723-8164. $7-$9. Fri-Sat Oct 11-12 at 10:30 pm, with additional performance Sun Oct 13 at 7 pm at Market Theater, Post Alley, 781-9273.
COMEDY COURT
Improv comedy... in a courtroom setting. Motion denied. Odd Duck Studios, 1214 10th Ave, 442-2044. $7-$10. Sat at 10:30 pm. Through Oct 26.
FRICKER'S FOLLIES

One night only.
A slapdash assortment of subtle entertainment, with blood, boobs, and a chicken cannon. Ricochet Biscuit at Rendezvous, 2320 Second Ave, 441-5823. $10. Wed Oct 16 at 10 pm.
PUSH

Final week. Seattle SketchFest's inebriated, deviant non sequitur of a cousin--featuring SketchFest participants playing with "raw, daring, experimental" (read: dirty and senseless [read: just the way we like 'em]) works meant to push (get it?) the bounds of contemporary sketch in less contrived, more artful directions. Serious Dogs at Center on Contemporary Art, 1420 11th Ave, 728-1980. $5. Sat Oct 11 at 12:30 am. Through Oct 11.