* 21 DOG YEARS: DOING TIME @ AMAZON.COM
See review this issue. Mike Daisey at Intiman Theatre, 201 Mercer St, 269-1900. $27-$42. Thurs-Fri at 8 pm, Sat at 2 and 8 pm, Sun at 2 and 7:30 pm, Tues-Wed at 7:30 pm. Through Nov 22.
ABSTRACT EXPRESSION
Opening. Theresa Rebeck's tale of a pudding-spined artist, and his bid to rise out of obscurity. Mirror Stage Company at Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, 322-7030. $22-$25. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through Nov 23.
THE AMERICAN DREAM
Final week. "Edward Albee's The American Dream is an absurdist parody--and a relic. Stone Soup's version was adequate--with suitably deranged if one-dimensional caricatures--but not sufficient to keep our attention. The production was erratic and sometimes random, as if director Therese Diekhans wasn't sure what to do, so had Daddy shout his lines into the mirror for a while." (Brendan Kiley) Stone Soup Theatre, 4035 Stone Way N, 633-1883. $15. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm. Through Nov 8.
CAUCASIAN CHALK CIRCLE
Opening. A pared-down vision of Bertolt Brecht's King Solomon parable--set in the context of post-WWII Soviet Union. Theater Simple at Freehold's East Hall Theatre, 1529 10th Ave, 325-6500. $10-$15. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm. Through Dec 6.
THE CRUMPLE ZONE
Opening. Fresh from Los Angeles (where it won the Los Angeles Times critic's choice award), Buddy Thomas' The Crumple Zone follows the confused love lives of five gay men in Staten Island. Capitol Hill Arts Center, 1621 12th Ave, 568-8585. $12-$22. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm. Through Dec 6.
* DRACULA: JONATHAN HARKER'S JOURNAL
"Adapted into a play by David Quicksall, Book-It's Dracula is near perfect. Under the direction of Quicksall, the count isn't interesting or complex or modern but simply cold; a night creature whose body is entirely drained of all warmth or humanity. In all honesty, I found no defect in this production of Bram Stoker's most famous novel. " (Charles Mudede) Book-It Repertory Theatre at Seattle Center House, 305 Harrison St, 216-0833. $15-$22. Thurs-Sat at 7:30 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through Nov 16.
FAR AWAY
Opening. New City presents Caryl Churchill's tale of a woman coming of age, told in three incremental jumps through several years of her life. New City Warehouse, 2110 Airport Way S, 271-4430. $12. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm. Through Nov 15.
GINGERBREAD MAN
A group of cleverly personified kitchen utensils face an ungodly, molasses-infused threat to their secure way of life. Seattle Children's Theatre, 201 Thomas St, 441-3322. $12-$26. Fri at 7 pm, Sat-Sun at 2 and 5:30 pm. Through Dec 21.
GOOD LUCK DIRT
One day only. Under the guise of political statement, performance artist/lunatic and Stranger Genius Award shortlister Matt Fontaine wheelbarrows a cart of dirt from Northgate Mall to the Rainer Valley. Yeah, me neither. Matt Fontaine at Northgate Mall. Free. Sat Nov 8 at dawn.
* THE HORROR IN THE THEATER: AN H. P. LOVECRAFT TRIPTYCH OF TERROR
Final week. Each piece is darkly fun, singular, surprising, and smartly presented in its own right, due in no small part to the collective efforts of way too many cast and crew to be mentioned here. And did I mention the monstrous puppets and demonic marionettes? Fabulous. If you see one show this season featuring giant, thousand-headed octopi attacking from beyond, make it The Horror in the Theater. " (Adrian Ryan) Open Circle Theater, 429 Boren Ave N, 382-4250. $13. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 7 pm. Through Nov 8.
THE HOUSE OF YES
Opening. Incest is best (and if it rhymes, it must be true...) in Wendy MacLeod's Hollywood quip-fest of affluence, insanity, and murder. Theater Schmeater, 1500 Summit Ave, 325-6500. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm. Through Dec 7.
* HUIS CLOS
See review this issue. Steeplechase at Liberty Deli, 2722 Alki Ave SW, 935-8420. $14, $29 with dinner. Fri-Sat at 8 pm. Through Nov 22.
I AM AN ARTIST
Opening. Greg Lundgren faces up to a post-Genius Award public with I Am An Artist, a new play about a murderous female installation artist. Consolidated Works, 500 Boren Ave N, 325-6500. $15. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm. Through Nov 22.
IMAGINARY INVALID
Final week. Molière's hypochondria classic, produced as a master's thesis. UW School of Drama at Playhouse Theatre, University of Washington campus, 543-4880. $5-$12. Thurs at 7 pm, Fri-Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 2 pm, Wed at 7 pm. Through Nov 9.
THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE
Opening. An old wardrobe becomes a portal and Christ becomes a lion in this ambitious staging of C. S. Lewis' Jesus-freak classic. Seattle Children's Theatre, Seattle Center, 441-3322. $12-$30. Fri at 7 pm, Sat-Sun at 2 and 5:30 pm. Through Jan 11.
MING THE RUDE
Final week. Empty Space exhumes a mess of old playwrights for a new, family-friendly science-fiction comedy. "They say you can't polish a turd, but Ming the Rude begs to differ--it's a shiny, well-executed piece of crap." (Brendan Kiley) Empty Space Theatre, 3509 Fremont Ave N, 547-7500. $10-$40. Thurs at 7:30 pm, Fri at 8 pm, Sat at 2 and 8 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through Nov 9.
PARTY
The stupidest gay play ever, in the klutziest production imaginable--now extended through December! "Party is the long, drawn-out gay porn flick you never wanted to see, live. The production is lacking in almost everything, save clichés and predictability. " (Adrian Ryan) Gaydar Productions at Northwest Actors Studio, 1100 E Pike St, 267-2750. $25. Fri at 8 pm, Sat at 7 and 10 pm, Sun at 7 pm. Through Dec 7.
* PULP VIXENS
Opening. Local comedy heroines Pulp Vixens bring their lesbian-love-triangle-murder-mystery-on-a-train comedy, Derailed Desires, coupled with Innocent Heat, back-to-back at Re-bar. Re-bar, 1114 Howell St, 323-0388. $12. Fri-Sat Nov 7-8 at 8 pm, Sun Nov16, 23. Through Nov 23.
RADIUM GIRLS
This week only. A high-school production of D. W. Gregory's carcinogenic crack-up. Holy Names Academy, 728 21st Ave E, 323-4272 . $8. Sat at 7:30 pm, Sun at 2 pm.
sCARRIE: THE MUSICAL
See review this issue. Ghost Light Theatricals at Rendezvous, 2320 Second Ave, 722-9569. $17. Thurs-Fri at 8 pm, Sat at 8 and 10:30 pm. Through Dec 13.
SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK LIVE!
Final week. A musical based on the public-service cartoons of yore. Lolly, Lolly, Lolly, get your ironic throwbacks here. ReAct at Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center, 104 17th Ave S, 364-3283. $12-$18. Fri-Sat at 7:30 pm, Sun at 2 and 7:30 pm. Through Nov 9.
SEX IN SEATTLE EPISODE 8: DOIN' IT AGAIN
Opening. The popular episodic soap opera about the absurdly tangled love affairs of four sassy Asian American chicks (did I just say "chicks"?) returns. Sex in Seattle at Theatre Off Jackson, 409 Seventh Ave S, 323-9443. $8-$12. Thurs at 8 pm, Fri-Sat 8 and 10 pm. Through Nov 22.
A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE
Tennessee Williams' timeless classic of abusive Polacks, drunken whores, and love letters yellowing with antiquity. Now with more shouting! Theatre Babylon at Union Garage, 1418 10th Ave, 720-1942. $10. Fri-Sat at 8 pm. Through Dec 6.
THE SYRINGA TREE
See review this issue. ACT Theatre, 700 Union St, 292-7676. $35-$45. Thurs at 7:30 pm, Fri at 8 pm, Sat at 2 and 8 pm, Sun at 2 and 7:30 pm, Tues-Wed at 7:30 pm. Through Nov 23.
FESTIVALS, CABARET, & COMEDY
CROONER
Cabaret!--comic and crooned. Jesse Garnee sings the songs of the dead and very nearly dead to those praying for a quick death. Jesse Garnee at Crepe de Paris, 1333 Fifth Ave, 623-4111. $15-$42. Fri-Sat at 8 pm. Through Nov 22.
DAMES!
With Thumper's newly instated "exclamation point only!" production policy comes Dames!, Cheryl Serio's cabaret tribute to tough women in '30s-'50s cinema. Cheryl Serio at Thumper's Restaurant and Bar, 1500 E Madison Ave, 328-3800. $12. Nov 7, 14, 15, 21, and 28 at 9 pm. Through Nov 28.
* KATE CLINTON IS SHAMELESS!
One night only. Emerald City Arts welcomes preeminent lesbian humorist Clinton. Kate Clinton at Meany Theater, University of Washington, 323-2992. $21-$25. Sat Nov 8 at 8 pm.
MRS. TWIG & THE BIRTHDAY DOG
Opening. The Carter family and their fancy dolls return with a story of magic birds, boxing elephants, birthday dogs, and "injustice." Northwest Puppet Center, 9123 15th Ave NE, 523-2579. $7.50-$9.50. Fri at 7:30 pm, Sat-Sun at 1 and 3 pm. Through Nov 23.
THE RELAPSE
Opening. The 13th Step present an evening of knock-down, black-out funny sketch comedy. The 13th Step at Union Garage, 1418 10th Ave, 372-2046. $10. Fri-Sat at 11 pm. Through Nov 22.
DANCE
BALLET NOW!
This week only. I SAID NOW! Pacific Northwest Ballet presents four stuffy old works of dance for an overtly demanding sampler platter. Pacific Northwest Ballet at McCaw Hall, University of Washington, 441-2424. $16-$125. Sat Nov 8 at 2 pm, Sun Nov 9 at 1 and 6:30 pm.
* MORGAN THORSON, MARY SHELDON SCOTT & JARRAD POWELL
This week only. As part of Velocity's artist exchange program SCUBA, Minneapolis-based dancer Thorson presents Big Room, with the help of localites Scott and Powell. Velocity MainSpace Theater, 915 E Pine St, second floor, 325-8773. $12-$14. Fri-Sat Nov 7-8 at 8 pm.
LATE NIGHT
* CARLOTTA'S LATE NIGHT HOLIDAY WINGDING
Opening. The delightful alter ego of Troy Mink defrosts the turkey early this year, with this season's sampling of holiday delights. Ursa Major Theatre at Northwest Actors Studio, 1100 E Pike, third floor, 325-6500. $8-$10. Fri-Sat Nov 7-8 at 10:30 pm. Through Dec 20.
SPIN THE BOTTLE
One night only. Annex Theatre continues its tradition of omnibus monthly shows, this month featuring John Longenbaugh, Carys Kresny, Karyna McGlynn, and more. Annex Theatre at Oddfellows Hall, 915 E Pine St, 728-0933. $7. Fri Nov 7 at 11 pm.
STAY UP LATE SHOW
One night only. A live talk show as hosted by Rebecca Davis, featuring such Seattle luminaries as Genius Award recipient Chris Jeffries, sketch troupe Bald Faced Lie, and even JOHN CURLEY! Empty Space Theater, 3509 Fremont Ave N, 547-7500. $10. Sat Nov 8 at 11 pm.
TWILIGHT ZONE
The cash cow returns--and it's thirsty for blood! This round's episodes: The Silence and The Jeopardy Room. Theater Schmeater, 1500 Summit Ave, 325-6500. $10. Thurs-Sat at 11 pm. Through Nov 15.
UNHINGED AND LOW FLYING
Opening. The beloved K. Brian Neel directs Mark Boeker (Another Jackass Tries a One-Man Show) in a remount of the psyche-splitting Fringe favorite about (gasp!) neurotics. Shoogie Shoog at Consolidated Works, 500 Boren Ave N, 860-5245. $10. Fri-Sat Nov 7-8 at 11 pm.
EVENTS
THEATRE BABYLON ANNIVERSARY AUCTION
One night only. Dole out for the decade-old Theatre Babylon. Theatre Babylon at Union Garage, 1418 10th Ave, 720-1942. $10-$20. Sat Nov 8 at 7 pm.
LONG RUNS
CABARET: THE ResERECTION at Coffee Messiah, 861-8233.
* THE HOKUM HALL VARIETY SHOW at Hokum Hall, 937-3613.
JET CITY IMPROV at Historic University Theater, 352-8291.
LATE NIGHT CATECHISM from Seattle Theatre Project at ACT, 292-7676.
TEATRO ZINZANNI 2301 Sixth Ave, 802-0015.
