Opening and Current Runs

ARMS AND THE MAN
"Soldiering, my dear madam, is the coward's art of attacking mercilessly when you are strong, and keeping out of harm's way when you are weak." Taproot Theatre, 204 N 85th St, $15-$30. Thurs, 7:30 pm, Fri, Sat, 8 pm, Sat, 2 pm and Wed, 2 & 7:30 pm. Through Oct 21.

BOMBAY DREAMS
A Bollywood-flavored musical with Technicolor costumes and big-ass dance numbers. 5th Avenue Theatre, 1308 Fifth Ave, 292-2787. $20-$73. Thurs-Sat, 8 pm, Sat, 2 pm and Sun, 1:30 & 7 pm. Through Oct 1.

THE BRIDGE OF SAN LUIS REY
See review this issue. Strawberry Theatre Workshop at Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, 322-7030. $20. Thurs-Sat, 7:30 pm and Sun, 2 pm. Through Oct 8.

BROKEN FOR YOU
The story of a wealthy old Seattle woman and her "feisty young boarder." Based on a novel by—and adapted by—local author Stephanie Kallos. Center House Theatre, Seattle Center, 684-7200. $15-$32. Thurs-Sat, 7:30 pm, Sat, Sun, 2 pm and Wed, 7:30 pm. Through Oct 15.

DELIRIUM
One weekend only. A music-circus spectacular by Cirque de Soleil, whose name produces the following anagrams: "I secede liquor," "I queer cod isle" and "eel is curio, Q.E.D." KeyArena, Seattle Center, 684-7200. $70-$125. Tues, Wed, 8 pm.

DINNER & DREAMS
Ongoing. The European-style dinner theater with cirque performers as garnish. Teatro ZinZanni, 2301 Sixth Ave, 802-0015. $99-$125. Thurs-Sat, 6:30 pm, Sun, 5:30 pm and Wed, 6:30 pm.

DOUBT
The Pulitzer- and Tony-winning play about a priest, a nun, a Catholic school in the Bronx, and a suspicion of sexual abuse. Directed by Warner Shook. Seattle Repertory Theatre, 155 Mercer St, 443-2222. $10-$48. Thurs-Sat, 7:30 pm and Sat, Sun, 2 pm. Through Oct 21.

FALL OFF NIGHT
See review this issue. Macha Monkey at LiveGirls!, 2220 NW Market St, 800-838-3006. $12-$15. Thurs-Sat. Through Oct 7.

HANDS
A new play by Jennifer Anderson about matriarchs, death, and a dangerous family secret. Northwest Actors Studio, 1100 E Pike St, 324-6328. $8-$10. Fri-Sun, 8 pm. Through Sept 30.

LINE ONE
Opening. "Like other John Kaufmann joints, Line One is a beautifully choreographed ride on the edge of utter chaos. Six actors wearing earpieces and cell phones take calls from a variety of anonymous people who answer questions, tell stories, or perform missions." (Brendan Kiley) Capitol Hill Arts Center, 1621 12th Ave, 388-0569. $7-$25. Thurs-Sat, 7:30 pm. Through Oct 21.

LOUIS SLOTIN SONATA
"While handling a plutonium-bomb core in his laboratory, lead scientist Louis Slotin accidentally exposed himself and seven others to a massive dose of radiation. Slotin died nine days later, his body and mind corroding with poison and morphine. In Sonata, written by Paul Mullin and directed by John Langs, the actors repeatedly reenact the disaster—in styles ranging from 1950s comic book to hero-making propaganda—intercut with scenes from the hospital where Slotin is dying and visions from his morphine fantasies." (Jen Graves) Empty Space Theatre, 901 12th Ave, 547-7500. $20-$30. Thurs, 7:30 pm, Fri, Sat, 8 pm and Wed, 7:30 pm. Through Oct 7.

MOONLIGHT AND MAGNOLIAS
"Movie producer David O. Selznick has a problem called Gone with the Wind. He passionately wants to make the movie, but can't get a decent script out of anybody, so he hires Ben Hecht, the Chicago newspaperman and script doctor, to rewrite the screenplay, in five days, in Selznick's office. Hecht's problem is that he hasn't read the book. The audience's problem is that Moonlight and Magnolias is all borrowed glory." (Brendan Kiley) Intiman Theatre, 201 Mercer St, 269-1900. $27-$46. Thurs, 7:30 pm, Fri, Sat, 8 pm, Sat, Sun, 2 pm, Sun, 7:30 pm and Tues, Wed, 7:30 pm. Through Oct 8.

THE MUSEUM PLAY
Extended. "The Museum Play's museum is of the natural-history variety and it's weird: The chairman of its board is a girl who was abandoned inside the museum and never left. Mastodon bones disappear, mounted butterflies rearrange themselves on the wall, and 'the suggested donation is the contents of your wallet; the suggested donation is nonnegotiable.' Some performers are better than others, but the play—which is really about lost lovers—is imaginative and strong." (Brendan Kiley) Little Theatre, 608 19th Ave E, 675-2055. $10-$18. Thurs-Sun, 8 pm and Mon, 8 pm. Through Oct 2.

A NUMBER
"Cloning technology may be complex, but the questions raised by cloning are elemental. In the context of genetic reduplication, 'who am I?' and 'why am I here?' take on a painfully literal significance. In Caryl Churchill's schematic, hour-long play, answers are trotted out almost as quickly as the questions are asked. These hypotheses are played by actors—Kevin Tighe as a father and Peter Crook as several sons—who trip over Churchill's free-verse nursery rhyme but expend quite a lot of effort to prove that concepts are people, too." (Annie Wagner) ACT Theatre, 700 Union St, 292-7676. $10-$54. Thurs, 7:30 pm, Fri, Sat, 8 pm and Sun, 2 & 7:30 pm. Through Oct 1.

SLOW CHILDREN
Opening. A hair-metal melodrama with low-rent rockers, groupies, a cop left handcuffed in an apartment, and a band called Fisting the Missus. Directed by Ian Bell, featuring Brandon Whitehead, Tim Gouran, Imogen Love, and others. Re-bar, 1114 Howell St, 233-9873. $12-$15. Thurs-Sat, 8 pm. Through Oct 21.

SOUL OF A WHORE: PART III OF THE CASSANDRA CYCLE
See Theater News. Theater Schmeater, 1500 Summit Ave, 325-6500. $18. Thurs-Sat, 8 pm. Through Oct 21.

TELL ME ON A SUNDAY
A gayed-up version of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical about the loves and life of a young Brit in New York. Gaydar Productions at Thumper's, 1500 E Madison St, 328-3800. $13.50. Thurs, 8:30 pm and Sun, 7:30 pm. Through Oct 8.

TICK, TICK...BOOM!
Opening. A musical by Jonathan Larson, the creator of Rent, about a young man trying to write the Great American Musical before his 30th birthday. (Larson himself died suddenly, 10 days before his 36th birthday and mere hours before Rent opened off Broadway.) ArtsWest, 4711 California Ave SW, 938-0339. $29. Wed, 7:30 pm. Through Nov 4.

UNCLE HIDEKI & THE EMPTY NEST
A gentle comedy about family and retirement in the Suyama family. A world-premiere sequel of 1995's Uncle Hideki, both by local children's author Jean Davies Okimoto. Theater Off Jackson, 409 Seventh Ave S, 340-1049. $9-$15. Thurs, 7:30 pm, Fri, Sat, 8 pm and Sun, 4 pm. Through Oct 8.

WICKED
See review this issue. Paramount Theatre, 911 E Pine St, 292-2787. $27-$70. Thurs, 1 & 7:30 pm, Fri, Sat, 8 pm, Sat, 2 pm and Sun, 1 & 6:30 pm. Through Oct 1.

Dance

DIRECTOR'S CHOICE
Music by Leonard Bernstein, Thom Willems, and Tchaikovsky; choreography by Jerome Robbins, William Forsythe, and George Balanchine. McCaw Hall, 321 Mercer St, 684-7200. $18-$145. Thurs-Sun, 7:30 pm. Through Oct 1.

Cabaret

12 MINUTES MAX
One weekend only. A collection of short performances, including Mary Purdy (physical theater about bosoms), Bret Fetzer (storytelling about a shark and a witch), Forgotten Sol (songs with nice harmonies), and others. On the Boards, 100 W Roy St, 217-9888. $7. Sun, Oct 1, 7 pm and Mon, Oct 2, 7 pm.

CHANTEUSE ON THE LOOSE
One night only. It's Elise Kloter! Thumper's, 1500 E Madison St, 328-3800. $10. Wed, Oct 4, 7:30 pm.

FREAK SHOW: AN OFF-BEAT CABARET
The Chicken Girl, the Queen of the Jungle, and others sing the music of Elvis Costello, Rufus Wainwright, and others. Thumper's, 1500 E Madison St, 328-3800. $10. Fri, Sat, 8:30 pm.

GIVE ME VARIETY OR GIVE ME DEATH: A JAZZGROOVTRESS VARIETY REVUE
One night only. Burlesque by Amazing Grace, aerial work by Cathy Sutherland—of the Aerialistas, spoken word and blues by Amber Flame, and other variety acts. Rendezvous, 2320 Second Ave, 441-5823. $8-$10. Sat, Sept 30, 7 & 8:30 pm.

Improv & Comedy

5 FUNNY FEMALES
They are: Zahra, Susan Alexander, Chantal Carrere, Meghan Hounshell, and Julia Jackson. Comedy Underground, 222 S Main St, 800-325-7328. $15. Sun, Oct 1, 8:30 pm.

CUPCAKE
Performers Ethan Newberry and Justin Sund make your wildest fantasies come true through the magic of improv. Rendezvous, 2320 Second Ave, 441-5823. $10. Fri, 8 pm. Through Sept 29.

HOGWASH: AN IMPROVISED TALL TALE FOR SMALL CHILDREN
A full band and a bunch of actors building a story off the kids' suggestions. Jerk Alert Productions at Historic University Theater, 5510 University Way NE, 352-8291. $10. Sat, 2 pm. Through Oct 28.

IMPROSIA: LIFE... UNKNOWN
A long-form improv show "meant to be engaging and philosophical." Historic University Theater, 5510 University Way NE, 352-8291. $10. Sun, 7 pm. Through Oct 15.

JET CITY IMPROV
Ongoing. Historic University Theater, 5510 University Way NE, 352-8291. $8-$10. Fri, Sat, 10:30 pm and Sat, 8 pm.

THEATRESPORTS
Ongoing. Market Theater, 1428 Post Alley, 587-2414. $8-$12. Fri, Sat, 10:30 pm and Sun, 7 pm.

Late Night

5 FUNNY FEMALES
One night only. They are: Susan Alexander, Chantal Carrere, Meghan Hounshell, Zahara, Julia Jackson. Comedy Underground, 222 S Main St, 800-325-7328. $15. Thurs, Sept 28, 10:30 pm.

CAPITOL HILL HIGH, EPISODE THREE: SHANIQUALA SLEEPS TONIGHT
"Bad Actor Productions' flagship serial comedy, a ramshackle parade of Pike/Pine-corridor-specific satire, teenage soap-opera spoofing, and enthusiastic crap, marked by aggressively terrible acting and shamelessly lame theatrics." (David Schmader) Bad Actor Productions at Capitol Hill Arts Center, 1621 12th Ave, 388-0569. $10. Fri, Sat, 10 pm. Through Oct 21.

CUPCAKE
Performers Ethan Newberry and Justin Sund make your wildest fantasies come true through the magic of improv. No one under 17 admitted. Historic University Theater, 5510 University Way NE, 352-8291. $8. Sat, 12:30 am. Through Nov 17.

SUAVE
A new show of by Douglas S. Willott and Ian Schempp that "will educate audiences on the sextracurricular arts, using instructional videos as well as some serious sensuous role-playing." No one under 17 admitted. Historic University Theater, 5510 University Way NE, 352-8291. $8. Sun, 12:30 am. Through Nov 17.

TRIPLE THREAT: AUDITIONING THE MUSICAL!
An exercise in American Idolatry: auditions, a panel, songs, winners, and losers. Theater Schmeater, 1500 Summit Ave, 325-6500. $12. Fri, Sat, 11:30 pm. Through Oct 7.

Special Events

CIRQUE DE FLAMBE'S CHAR-B-Q
A pyrotechnic circus. Magnuson Park, 400 Sand Point Way NE, 684-4946. $15. Fri-Sun, 8 pm. Through Oct 8.

LUCHE LIBRE!
See Stranger Suggests, pg. 31 One night only. Freeform Mexican wrestling—like modern dance, except fun! The Fenix, 1700 First Ave S. $20. Thurs, Sept 28, 9 pm.

SEATTLE SPELLING BEE
One night only. Booze and orthography. Re-bar, 1114 Howell St, 233-9873. $5. Mon, Oct 2, 8 pm.