* CLAUDIA KELLY'S 500 HATS
The return of Donna Rae Davidson's (Women with Balls) Fringe Fest crowd-pleaser (hell, even Adrian Ryan liked it) about a woman with an obsessive compulsion to purchase, own, and wear hats. Bathhouse Theatre, 7312 W Green Lake Dr N, 325-6500. $16-$22. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm, Sat-Sun at 2 pm. Through July 12.
FREEHOLD'S ENSEMBLE TRAINING INTENSIVE PRESENTS SHAKESPEARE
In the culmination of Freehold's concentrated theatrical training course, the Ensemble Training Intensive presents The Tempest and Twelfth Night. ETI at Freehold Studio/Theatre Lab, 1525 10th Ave, 323-7499. $10. See www.freeholdtheatre.org for specific dates and times.
THE GAS MAN
See review this issue. A rock opera by the highly esteemed Herbert Bergel, about a couple with a gas leak in their apartment, some kids looking to start a rock band, and a love quadrangle between characters named Chainsaw, Feather Flower, John McGuane, and Susan Schnegelfoose. Empty Space Theatre, 3509 Fremont Ave N, 860-7163. $5-$10. Fri-Sat at 11 pm. Through July 19.
* IN FLAGRANTE GOTHICTO
See Stranger Suggests. "Simultaneous satire and tribute, In Flagrante is a Frankenstein's comedy of Gothic romance novels, performed with a clinical eye for accuracy and timing. While the story is an amusing mishmash of romantic clichés, watching the shtick-rich cast charge through the plot is most of the fun. Balancing ironic ribaldry with Victorian chastity, the well-directed production turned what might have been a tedious evening of Brontë-dork in-jokes into a great evening for everyone. " (Brendan Kiley) Empty Space Theatre, 3509 Fremont Ave N, 547-7500. $25-$40. Tues-Thurs at 7:30 pm, Fri-Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 7:30 pm. Through July 20.
IPHIGENIA
Final week. Poet's Theater presents a modern adaptation of two plays by Euripides. Poet's Theater at Center House Theatre 4, Seattle Center, 335-5132. $8. Fri-Sat at 8 pm. Through July 5.
LEFTOVER FUTURE
Written by W. David Hancock, New City Theater presents a play under the premise of an archeological find. New City Warehouse, 2110 Airport Way S, 328-4683. $8. Sat July 5, Fri July 11, Sat July 12 at 8 pm.
* THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA
"Transporting Elizabeth Spencer's meticulously witty novella to the musical stage would be a risky venture for anyone, but Intiman (with production help from Chicago's Goodman Theatre) has pulled it off beautifully, thanks to Adam Guettel's lovely score, an elegantly canny book by Craig Lucas, and some brilliant casting, particularly Victoria Clark, who should end her journey as Piazza's Margaret Johnson with a Tony in her hand. " (David Schmader) Intiman, 201 Mercer St, 269-1900. $35.50-$45. Tues-Thurs at 7:30 pm, Fri-Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 2 and 7:30 pm. Through July 19.
LUDIKER
See review this issue. Comic actor Fred Knipe ("the speaker of choice for the nation's largest law firms!") presents his debut solo show, as Merlin F. Ludiker, a self-help lecturer and misguided "expert on all things." Solo Voce Productions at the Leo K. Theatre, Seattle Center, Mercer St at Second Ave, 325-6500. $20. Wed-Sat at 7:30 pm. Through July 13.
MURDER AT CRAGGY ROCK
A Wild West musical-mystery-comedy set to steak, featuring characters with names like Slappy, Hap Hazard, El Gatito, and Fifi. Northwest Murder Mysteries at Crepe de Paris, 1333 Fifth Ave, 623-4111. $45-$47. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm. Through Aug 2.
* STARBALL
Solo performer John Kaufmann returns with his stab at combining Jungian theory, astronomy, and dramatic performance in this act of planetary spectacle. John Kaufmann at Pacific Science Center's Smith Planetarium, Seattle Center, 634-9018. $8-$12. Thurs-Fri at 8 pm, Sat at 8 and 10 pm, Sun at 7 pm. Through July 13.
FESTIVALS, CABARET, & COMEDY
AMERICAN GOTHIC
One night only. BurningHearts presents its latest evening of smut, with a flesh-fueled burlesque tribute to Americana in American Gothic. BurningHearts Burlesque at Rendezvous, 2320 Second Ave, 898-9067. $10. Sat July 5 at 9 and 10:30 pm.
GUN STREET GIRLS
One night only. The summer heats are here, and the Gun Street Girls just can't seem to keep their clothes on. Skin and sin, let them in. Rendezvous, 2320 Second Ave, 441-5823. $TK. Sun July 6 at 7 and 10 pm.
A GUIDE TO VISITORS
One night only. Seattle's theater community responds to the nation's current ardor for the voyeuristic with another in the recent trend of "real life stories" performed in an "engaging narrative." Rendezvous, 2320 Second Ave, 441-5823. $TK. Mon July 7 at 7:30 pm.
LONG RUNS
BROADVILLE CARNIVAL at Cafe Venus, 624-4516.
BUBBA AND BITCH at the Bar, 322-1788.
CABARET: THE ResERECTION at Coffee Messiah, 861-8233.
* THE HOKUM SHOW at Hokum Hall, 937-3613.
JET CITY IMPROV at Ethnic Cultural Theatre, 781-3879.
LATE NIGHT CATECHISM from Seattle Theatre Project at ACT, 292-7676.
QUEER AS A THREE-DOLLAR BILL at the Comedy Underground, 800-992-8499.
TEATRO ZINZANNI 2301 Sixth Ave, 802-0015.
