OPENING AND CURRENT RUNS

9 PARTS OF DESIRE
Opening. Lives of Iraqi women, pre- and post-Saddam, based on 11 years of interviews conducted by playwright Heather Raffo. Starring Najla Said, daughter of the late, great Edward Said! Seattle Repertory Theatre, 155 Mercer St, 443-2222. $10–$46. Preview performances Sat at 7:30 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Opening Wed March 22 at 7:30 pm. Through April 15.

BEAT THE SUNSET
Final week. The American premiere of a Canadian play about friendship and HIV. ArtsWest, 4711 California Ave SW, 938-0339. $10–$24. Thurs–Sat at 7:30 pm. Through March 18.

recommended BURNING BRIDGET CLEARY
Final week. "Burning's greatest strength is its haunting story—of the fatal storm of fairy lore, Christian fervor, Irish nationalism, and the small-town resentments that converged over Bridget Cleary and set her on fire." (Brendan Kiley) Ladykillers' Productions at Capitol Hill Arts Center, 1621 12th Ave, 800-838-3006. $8–$15. Thurs–Sat at 7:30 pm. Through March 18.

recommended THE COMPENDIUM OF NASTINESS
Extended. The Womb, tickets and directions available at 800-838-3006. $20. Sat at 8:30 pm. Through April 7.

CUT!
"Cut! is good improv—it's funny, it's smart, it's quick. But even good improv is still, you know, improv." (Lindy West) Wing-It Productions at Historic University Theater, 5510 University Way NE, 352-8291. $8–$10. Thurs–Fri at 8 pm. Through April 21.

CYRANO DE BERGERAC
Opening. "True; all my elegances are within. I do not prank myself out, puppy-like; My toilet is more thorough, if less gay." Seattle Shakespeare Company at Center House Theater, Seattle Center, 733-8222. $18–$30. Previewing Thurs March 16 at 7:30 pm. Opening Fri March 17 at 7:30 pm. Sat at 7:30 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through April 9.

DAME EDNA: BACK WITH A VENGEANCE
Opening. "I'm not racist. I love all races, particularly white people. You know, I even like Roman Catholics." Moore Theatre, 1932 Second Ave, 292-2787. $33.50–$63.50. Opening Wed March 22 at 7:30 pm. Through March 26.

DEFENDING THE CAVEMAN
Ongoing. A mid-'90s relic about the supposed prehistoric propensities of the two sexes. ACT Theatre, 700 Union St, 292-7676. $39.50–$45. Fri at 7:30 pm, Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 3 pm. Tickets available through April 16.

recommended THE DEVIL AND DANIEL WEBSTER
"The devil had gray hair. Some fire stuff came out his hands. I didn't like him and he didn't scare me." (Ebenezer Drake-Mudede, age 9) Seattle Children's Theatre, 201 Thomas St, 441-3322. $10–$31. Fri at 7 pm, Sat–Sun at 2 and 5:30 pm. Through April 1.

recommended DINA MARTINA
See Stranger Suggests, page 21. Rendezvous, 2320 Second Ave, 448-8464. $12. Fri–Sat at 8 pm. Through March 25.

EVERY TIME A BELL RINGS
Opening. A play about four couples making a radio version of It's a Wonderful Life. Written and directed by PJ Perry. Northwest Actors Studio, 1100 E Pike St, 324-6328. $8–$12. Opening Fri March 17 at 8 pm. Sat at 8 pm. Through April 1.

A HOTEL ON MARVIN GARDENS
Two nights only. Monopoly as metaphor (for greed, corporate gamesmanship, etc.): a play reading. Mirror Stage Company at Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, 686-3729. $5. Sun at 2 pm, Mon at 7 pm.

recommended THE IKEA CYCLE: TINY DOMESTIC DRAMAS
Keri Healey's micro-dramas staged in the IKEA showrooms. Printer's Devil Theatre at IKEA, 600 SW 43rd St, Renton. Free, no reservations required. Sat and Mon at 7 pm. Through April 1.

IN THE WABE
Opening. An absurdist reimagining of Alice in Wonderland—with pirates! By Aaron Allshouse. Open Circle Theater, 429 Boren Ave N, 382-4250. $12. Opening Fri March 17 at 8 pm. Sat at 8 pm. Through April 15.

JULES DOT COM
Opening. The Caesar story in a modern corporate context. Next Step Theater at Seattle Center House, Seattle Center, www.brownpapertickets.com. $8–$10. Opening Fri March 17 at 7:30 pm. Sat–Mon at 7:30 pm, Wed at 7:30 pm. Through March 25.

THE LAST FALLEN LEAF
"It's a traditional holiday season at the Whitmans' until a stranger pays a visit. Questions are asked and answers are expected." By Tanja Pineda. Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, brownpapertickets.com. $10–$12.50. Fri–Sat at 4 and 8 pm. Through March 18.

LATE NITE CATECHISM
Ongoing. Cloud 9 Productions at ACT Theatre, 700 Union St, 292-7676. $24.50–$29.50. Thurs–Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Tickets available through April 30.

MENOPAUSE THE MUSICAL™
Ongoing. "What makes this toweringly formulaic crap about dusty uteruses even moderately bearable? The consummate cast was ferocious and fast." (Adrian Ryan) ACT Theatre, 700 Union St, 292-7676. $45. Thurs–Fri at 8 pm, Sat at 4 and 8 pm, Sun at 2 pm, Tues–Wed at 8 pm. Tickets available through April 30.

'NIGHT MOTHER
A Pulitzer Prize–winning play about a daughter describing her imminent suicide to her mother. Sight Nine Theatre at Bathhouse Theater, 7312 W Green Lake Dr N, 524-1300. $12–$20. Thurs–Sat at 7:30 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through March 25.

NOTORIOUS WOMEN
Opening. A parade of winsome wimmin, from Hawaiian Senator Patsy Mink to Billie Holiday to Aung San Suu Kyi. Live Girls!, 2220 NW Market St, brownpapertickets.com. $9–$18. Opening Fri March 17 at 8 pm. Sat at 4 and 8 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through April 2.

PASSPORT
One night only. A reading of Bret Fetzer's new play. Open Circle Theater, 429 Boren Ave N, 720-0083. $2. Mon March 20 at 7 pm.

recommended THE PILLOWMAN
Previewing. See Stranger Suggests, page 21. ACT Theatre, 700 Union St, 292-7676. $10–$54, Sun by donation. Previewing Fri–Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 7:30 pm, Tues–Wed at 7:30 pm. Through April 16.

PRIVATE LIVES
Fact: Noel Coward wrote this comedy about couples (and coupling) in four days while recovering from the flu in a Shanghai hotel. Seattle Repertory Theatre, 155 Mercer St, 443-2222. $10–$46. Thurs–Fri at 7:30 pm, Sat at 2 and 7:30 pm, Sun at 2 pm, Tues–Wed at 7:30 pm. Through April 1.

SALOMÉ
Opening. Oscar Wilde's version of the Biblical story in which John the Baptist gets his head lopped off. Straight-Edge Theatrics at Chamber Theater, 915 E Pine St, 632-9800. $8–$10. Opening Fri March 17 at 8 pm. Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through April 1.

THE SECRET LIFE OF BUGS
Dung beetles, spiders, and caterpillars rendered in black-light puppetry! Spyglass Theatre at 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 March 26.

STOP KISS
Two nights only. I don't know what this play is about, but it will include a post-play discussion with the Safe Schools Coalition, if that tells you anything. Theater Off Jackson, 409 Seventh Ave S, 324-0698. Free for ages 25 and under. Thurs–Fri at 7:30 pm.

THE VOICE OF THE PRAIRIE
Previewing. A radio celebrity, the heart of the Midwest, and young love and adventure. Taproot Theatre, 204 N 85th St, 781-9707. $15–$30. Previewing Wed March 22 at 7:30 pm. Through April 22.

WONDERFUL TOWN: A MADCAP MANHATTAN ROMP
Previewing. Inspired by the stories of Ruth McKenney, which first appeared in the New Yorker. Scored by Leonard Bernstein and starring Stranger Genius Sarah Rudinoff. 5th Avenue Theatre, 1308 Fifth Ave, 292-2787. $19–$71. Previewing Tues–Wed at 7:30 pm. Through April 9.

DANCE

recommended ALVIN AILEY AMERICAN DANCE THEATER
Two nights only. Performing Revelations and Shining Star. Paramount Theatre, 911 Pine St, 292-2787. $19–$45. Fri at 8 pm, Sat at 2 and 8 pm.

CHOREOGRAPHERS' SHOWCASE
One night only. Works by PNB dancers. Pacific Northwest Ballet at McCaw Hall, 321 Mercer St, 441-2424. $10–$32. Wed March 22 at 7:30 pm.

NOURISH
See Chow, page 68. Lingo dancetheater at Velocity, 329-6999. $18. Fri–Sat at 8 pm. Through March 18.

POINTS OF VIEW
Opening. Dumais, Balanchine, and Caniparoli. Pacific Northwest Ballet at McCaw Hall, 321 Mercer St, 441-2424. $20–$134. Opening Thurs March 16 at 7:30 pm. Fri at 7:30 pm, Sat at 2 and 7:30 pm. Through March 26.

recommended THE VIVIAN GIRLS
See Theater News. Pat Graney Company at Broadway Performance Hall, 1625 Broadway, 325-6500. $14–$22. Thurs–Sat at 8 pm. Through March 18.

CABARET

recommended 12 MINUTOS MÁXIMOS
Solo dos noches. Juzgaron de SuttonBeresCuller, con B'Dörk, Pepé Quick, Pilar Villanueva, y otros. On the Boards (o Sobre las Tablas), 100 W Roy St, 217-9888. $7. Domingo–Lunes a 7 pm.

LADY SINGS THE BREWS
A remount of the nostalgic coffee-themed cabaret Sylvia O'Stayformore performed at Re-bar. Thumpers, 1500 E Madison St, 328-3800. $15, 21+ w/ID. Fri–Sat at 8 pm. Through March 25.

recommended MOISTURE FESTIVAL
Opening. An incredible assemblage of old- and new-school vaudeville talent from Fyodor Karamazov to Frank Olivier to Circus Contraption. Hale's Palladium, 4301 Leary Way NW, 800-838-3006. $7.50–$20. Opening Tue March 21 at 7:30 pm. Wed at 7:30 pm. See www.moisturefestival.com for details. Through April 9.

SONDHEIM, NEWMAN, AND WEILL
Opening. That's Randy Newman, one of the greatest songwriters ever. Black Box Opera at Columbia City Theatre, 4916 Rainier Ave S, 800-838-3006. $15 adv/$20 DOS. Opening Fri March 17 at 7:30 pm. Through April 21.

XTREME THEATER LEAGUE
One night only. Stage combat. Without weapons. Capitol Hill Arts Center, 1621 12th Ave, no reservations taken. $8. Tues March 21 at 10 pm.

IMPROV & COMEDY

Rob Pue at Comedy Underground, 222 Main St, 800-325-7328. $6–$15 (21+ w/ID required). Thurs at 8:30 pm, Fri–Sat at 8:30 and 10:30 pm. Funny stuff at Giggles Comedy Club, 5220 Roosevelt Way NE, 526-5653. $12. Fri at 8 and 10:15 pm, Sat at 6 and 10:15 pm. Jet City Improv at Historic University Theater, 5510 University Way NE, 325–6500. $8–$10. Fri at 8 and 10:30 pm. Sat at 10:30 pm. Theatresports at Market Theater, 1428 Post Alley, 781-9273. $8–$12. Fri–Sat at 8 pm. Comedy Night at Mirabeau Room, 529 Queen Anne Ave N, www.prokomedy.com. $5. Wed at 9 pm.

LATE NIGHT

THE STAY UP LATE SHOW
One night only. "Boozy talk-show antics." Capitol Hill Arts Center, 1621 12th Ave, no reservations taken. $10. 21+ w/ID. Sat March 18 at 10 pm.

SPECIAL EVENTS

SPIRIT AND FLESH
One night only. A spoken-word performance by Michele Dalton. Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, 322-7030. By donation. Sat March 18 at 7:30 pm.