OPENING AND CURRENT RUNS


ACTION MOVIE: THE PLAY!

"Action Movie: The Play! is littered with talented people, is rather uninspired, and not funny. " (Bradley Steinbacher) Consolidated Works, 500 Boren Ave N, 860-5245. $10-$15. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm (no show Aug 23). Through Aug 30.

ALEGRĂŤA

Opening. How much Lycra can one building comfortably house? That alone's gotta be worth the cheap seats. Cirque du Soleil at the Grand Chapiteau, Renton, 1-800-678-5440. $31.50-$165. Tues-Thurs at 8 pm, Fri-Sat at 4 and 8 pm, Sun at 1 and 5 pm. Through Sept 14.

AN AMERICAN BOOK OF THE DEAD

This week only. A workshop preview of Annex's upcoming production, the premise of which is something about a game show in which contestants compete for perfect enlightenment, with an eternity of endless reincarnation as the potential parting gift. Annex Theatre at Union Garage, 1418 10th Ave, 720-1942. $5. Tues-Wed Aug 26-27 at 7:30 pm.

ANYTHING GOES

This week only. Silliness on board an ocean liner, set to exquisite Cole Porter tunes. ArtsWest, 4711 California Ave SW, 938-0339. $7-$10. Thurs-Fri at 7:30 pm, Sat-Sun at 2:30, 7:30 pm.

BLUE/ORANGE

Final week. "Joe Penhall's Blue/Orange aspires to the ambiguity of a David Mamet production, but the play is largely too consumed by its own outrage to develop narratively." (Emily Hall) Intiman Theatre, 201 Mercer St, 269-1900. $27-$42. Tues-Thurs at 7:30 pm, Fri at 8 pm, Sat at 2 and 8 pm, Sun at 2 and 7:30 pm. Through Aug 24.

BODYBODY: APHRODITE RAVES

Final week. "BodyBODY stretches far beyond the expected parade of plus-size, freaky-looking women wrestling with their ostensibly socially imposed self-hatred. Sure, it feels like a work in progress at moments--but, all said, bodyBODY entertainingly proves beyond a doubt that heavy girls are beautiful too." (Adrian Ryan) bodyBODY at Theatre Off Jackson, 409 Seventh Ave S, 877-278-4842. $12. Thurs-Sun at 8 pm. Through Aug 24.

THE DEBUTANTE BALL

Final week. "It's overblown, way too talky (playwright Beth Henley crams the unbelievably complex history of at least two extended Southern families into casual drawing-room conversation), and the characters? Right off the rack. " (Adrian Ryan) Northwest Actors Studio, 1100 E Pike St, 324-6328. $8-$10. Fri-Sat at 8 pm. Through Aug 23.

EXTROPIA

This week only. A musical about a world without music as performed by Collaborator Productions (formerly the Stuntmen). Collaborator Productions at Re-bar, 1114 Howell St, 723-1945. $10. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm.

GULLIVER'S TRAVELS

This week only. The four funhouse-mirrored chapters of Jonathan Swift's epic satire as explored in two bite-sized programs. Seattle Children's Theatre, 201 Thomas St, 443-0807. $5-$9. Program one plays Thurs-Sat at 7 pm, with matinee performance Fri at 1 pm; program two plays Thurs-Sat at 8 pm.

THE HASTY HEART

To describe Pulitzer Prize-winner John Patrick's The Hasty Heart, tale eye-gougingly described with the following: "soldier learns the true meaning of friendship, love and the value of life." But don't shoot the messenger. ReAct at Bathhouse Theatre, 7312 W Green Lake Dr N, 364-3283. $6-$12. Fri-Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through Aug 31.

* JOHN LENNON'S GARGOYLE

"Sometimes funny and constantly reeling from one improbable scenario to the next, Gargoyle suffers only when held in comparison to its inspiration. Where Voltaire invokes hilarious violence to indict monarchies, religion, and nationalism, Playwright Bryan Willis settles for a shrugging 'shit happens' resignation. " (Brendan Kiley) Theater Schmeater, 1500 Summit Ave, 325-6500. $12-$15. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm. Through Sept 6.

LOVE LETTERS

One night only. A one-time-only benefit performance of the A. R. Gurney play, with Julie McCoy from The Love Boat! Proceeds benefit the ALS Association. ACT Theatre, 700 Union St, 425-656-1650. $50. Sun Aug 24 at 2 pm.

THE MERCHANT OF VENICE

Who couldn't stand to lose a few pounds? GreenStage Theater Company. Call for locations, dates, and times, 748-1551, www.greenstage.org. Free. Through Aug 31.

POINT BREAK LIVE!

"After a week of hot anticipation for Point Break Live!, I'm sorry to say that the performance was disappointing. Co-directors Jaime Keeling and Jamie Hook have a wonderful vision, but their play failed to achieve terminal velocity. " (Brendan Kiley) Little Theatre, 610 19th Ave E, 329-2629. $10-$12. Thurs-Sun at 8 pm. Through Aug 31.

* ROSEMARY'S BABY

This week only. See Stranger Suggests. "He has his father's eyes." Brown Derby at Re-bar, 1114 Howell St, 723-1945. $10. Mon-Wed Aug 25-27 at 8 pm.

THE SPITFIRE GRILL

"It flopped on Broadway and they blamed 9/11--but the excuse might hold water. Something this derivative and formulaic should have been far more commercially successful. " (Adrian Ryan) Taproot Theatre, 204 N 85th St, 781-9707. $10-$26. Wed-Thurs at 7:30 pm, Sat at 2 and 8 pm. Through Aug 30.

FESTIVALS, CABARET, & COMEDY


BEING MABO: SINGING JANIS IAN

Opening. Solo performer Mary Ann Boyd (51 and Counting, The Resurrection and Marketing of Mabo) resurrects the work of Janis Ian (composer of the acoustic-guitar suicide note "At Seventeen") in song-a-logue. Thumper's Restaurant and Bar, 1500 E Madison St, 328-3800. Fri-Sat at 9 pm. Through Aug 29.

BROADS OF BROADWAY

Two acts, three courses, and four women--Crepe de Paris hosts another diva-worshiping cabaret over crab cakes, with four women belting show tunes under various celebrity guises. Cabaret de Paris, 1333 Fifth Ave, 623-4111. $45 with dinner. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm. Through Sept 13.

CABARET OF DR. CALIGARI

One night only. I'm not too sure what a bunch of parlor magicians have to do with Robert Wiene's film, but tonight's production features the talents of Czech magician Vaclav (alright, so he sounds a little creepy), Roger Needham, and Philemon Vanderbeck. Rendezvous, 2320 Second Ave, 441-5823. $10. Sun Aug 24 at 7 pm.

HILARITY ON THE HILL

One night only. A trio of comedians make your life worth living again. Featuring Debbie Wooten, Brad Brake, and Rosalie Bahmer. Thumper's Restaurant and Bar, 1500 E Madison St, 328-3800. $5. Thurs Aug 21 at 10 pm.

KEIRA McDONALD BENEFIT

One night only. Local actor McDonald is making her way to the UK to attend something described as a "Buddhist Clown School," and needs your money to move. What's in it for you? Performances by Sarah Rudinoff, Matt Whitman, and Erin Jorgensen's new Devo cover band. Nippon Kan Theatre, 628 S Washington St, 325-6500. $10. Sat Aug 23 at 8 pm.

MEOW

One night only. Macha Monkey's quarterly themed cabaret Meow returns all tight-lipped and monochromatic with A Black and White Silent Cabaret. Macha Monkey at Open Circle Theater, 429 Boren Ave N, 860-2970. $10. Sat Aug 23 at 7:30 pm.

SEATTLE NEUTRINO PROJECT

This weekend only.The Seattle Neutrino Project proposes a bridge between the gap of improvised theater and film--with location-specific productions beamed in live to the viewing audience. Wing-It Production at Historic University Theater, 5510 University Way NE, 240-6937. Fri-Sat Aug 22-23 at 8 pm.

THEATERSCHWARTZ

Classical improvisers the Spolin Players present improv the way it's meant to be... you know, without scripts. Northwest Actors Studio, 1100 E Pike St, 425-417-5667. $8-$10. Sat at 10 pm. Through Aug 30.

DANCE


INFUSION TRIBAL BELLY DANCE

One night only. Bask in the glow of hypnotically undulating flesh. Whoa. InFusion Tribal Belly Dance at Capitol Club, 414 E Pine St, 325-2149. Free. Thurs Aug 21 at 8 and 9 pm.

INTIMATE STAGE

This weekend only. With all of the grace and octane speed of a weeping willow, intimate stage heats up with its most rapid show to date, the tellingly titled Merging with the Forest. Dappin' Butoh at a home in Green Lake, 2353 N 64th St, 526-5756. $5-$10. Sat Aug 23 at 8 pm, Sun Aug 24 at 7 pm.

LOCATE PERFORMANCE GROUP

One night only. An informal discussion and demonstration by Locate members Paige Barnes and Pablo Cornejo, previewing the group's soon-to-premiere production. Locate Performance Group at On the Boards, 100 W Roy St, 706-5422. Free. Sat Aug 23 at 3 pm.

LATE NIGHT


TWILIGHT ZONE

Opening. The cash co w returns... and it's thirsty for blood! This round's episodes: "Little Girl Lost" and "The Eye of the Beholder." Theater Schmeater, 1500 Summit Ave, 325-6500. $10. Thurs-Sat at 11 pm. Through Sept 6.