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.

BETRAYAL
Opening. Harold Pinter's 1978 play about an affair, which sometimes goes backwards. Featuring Shawn Belyea, Heather Hawkins, and Bob Borwick. Bathhouse Theater, 7312 W Green Lake Dr N, 524-1300. $14-$24. Thurs-Sat, 7:30 pm and Sun, 2 pm. Through Oct 29.

recommended THE BRIDGE OF SAN LUIS REY
"This adaptation of Thornton Wilder's novel—about five people killed in 1714 Peru when the eponymous bridge broke, flinging them into a gorge—is nearly three hours long, extraordinarily talky, and involves Japanese-style puppets. But the actors are great (especially Amy Thone as a stern abbess), the language is beautiful, and the story—featuring clergy, actresses, orphans, and sea captains—is about human frailties amplified by relentless cosmic irony." (Brendan Kiley) 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. Book-It Theatre at 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.

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
See review this issue. Seattle Repertory Theatre, 155 Mercer St, 443-2222. $10-$48. Thurs-Sat, 7:30 pm and Sat, Sun, 2 pm. Through Oct 21.

recommended FALL OFF NIGHT
"There is some monologue heaviness, but the story—an uptight, frightened ophthalmological photographer has the worst night of her life—is full of vivid caricatures. And the acting in this show is really quite phenomenal. Even the scene changes are fun to watch. Everything goes so smoothly, the production practically hums." (Paul Constant) Macha Monkey at LiveGirls!, 2220 NW Market St, 800-838-3006. $12-$15. Thurs-Sat. Through Oct 7.

H.P. LOVECRAFT: THE COLOUR OUT OF SPACE
Opening. Two Lovecraft shorts adapted for the stage—"The Thing on the Doorstep," "The Color Out of Space"—and an original piece, inspired by Lovecraft, entitled "Strange Magicks." Open Circle Theater, 429 Boren Ave N, 382-4250. $13. Thurs-Sat, 8 pm. Through Nov 11.

recommended LINE ONE
"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, make music, tell intimate stories, or narrate their way through the city, performing missions." (Brendan Kiley) Capitol Hill Arts Center, 1621 12th Ave, 388-0569. $7-$25. Thurs-Sat, 7:30 pm. Through Oct 21.

recommended 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, culminating in the Jewish scientist's delusion, rendered in a big song-and-dance number, that he is Nazi 'physician' Josef Mengele." (Jen Graves) Empty Space Theatre, 901 12th Ave, 547-7500. $20-$30. Thurs, 7:30 pm and Fri, Sat, 8 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 and Sun, 7:30 pm. Through Oct 8.

recommended SARAKASI: AMAZING AFRICAN ACROBATS
One day only. An all-African circus from Mombasa, Kenya. Meany Hall, UW Campus, 543-4882. $20-$34. Sun, Oct 8, 2 & 7 pm.

SLOW CHILDREN
See review this issue. Re-bar, 1114 Howell St, 233-9873. $12-$15. Thurs-Sat, 8 pm. Through Oct 21.

recommended SOUL OF A WHORE: PART III OF THE CASSANDRA CYCLE
"Denis Johnson's play is a down-and-dirty baroque, a work of excess, and a stoned phantasmagoria in cursing verse, where strippers, criminals, and executioners stumble through a seedy, apocalyptic vision of Texas. At nearly three hours, the play is an endurance contest, but it's worth getting lost in the dense, mystical fog of Johnson's rich wordplay and gallows humor." (Brendan Kiley) Theater Schmeater, 1500 Summit Ave, 325-6500. $18. Thurs-Sat, 8 pm. Through Oct 21.

THOM PAIN (BASED ON NOTHING)
Opening. An angsty solo comedy by Will Eno, performed Todd Jefferson Moore. Seattle Repertory Theatre, 155 Mercer St, 443-2222. $10-$48. Thurs-Sat, 7:30 pm, Sat, Sun, 2 pm and Tues, Wed, 7:30 pm. Through Nov 5.

TICK, TICK...BOOM!
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.

THE TRANSYLVANIAN CLOCKWORKS
Opening. A gothic riff on the Dracula story by contemporary playwright Don Nigro, featuring Roy Stanton as Dracula. Capitol Hill Arts Center, 1621 12th Ave, 388-0569. $9-$15. Thurs-Sat, 7:30 pm and Sun, 2 pm. Through Oct 21.

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.

Dance

recommended BACK TO THE PRESENT

One weekend only. "This promising season opener at On the Boards is by Constanza Macras and her Berlin-based company, Dorky Park, which includes 18 'dorks' from France, Argentina, Peru, Israel, Australia, Iceland, and Iowa. Back to the Present's subject matter is loss and the corrosion of memory, but its aesthetic is a frenetic combination of experimental dance, pop, and trash: Grieg's 'In the Hall of the Mountain King' smashed against a karaoke 'Shot Through the Heart'; toy cows and eagles; an acrobatic beat-down; a woman in a red dress and heels falling, spinning, and undulating like a graceful spastic; another woman in her underwear, on the edge of a roof, crying, looking like she's going to jump, suddenly hit by a barrage of stuffed animals. There is cacophony. And nudity. It's gonna be awesome." (Brendan Kiley) On the Boards, 100 W Roy St, 217-9888, $24. Fri—Sun, 8 pm. Through Oct 8.

DEBRIS FROM OUR YOUTHFUL YEARS
Opening. Dance works by André Bouchard, Sarah Parton, and Jana Kincl. Walrus Performance at R.E.D. Loft, 89 Yesler Way, 331-6673. $12-$15. Fri, Sat, 8 pm. Through Oct 14.

recommended THE MIRACULOUS MANDARIN/PETRUCHSKA
One weekend only. Two dance pieces by the controversial and award-winning Donald Byrd, set to Bela Bartok and Stravinsky. Spectrum Dance Theater at Moore Theatre, 1932 Second Ave, 292-2787. $29.50. Sat, Sun, 8 pm. Through Oct 7.

Cabaret

COLUMBIA CITY CABARET
Ongoing. A "saucy cabaret," hosted by Tamara the Trapeze Lady. Columbia City Theatre, 4916 Rainier Ave S, 723-0088. $15. Fri, 9 pm.

FREAK SHOW: AN OFF-BEAT CABARET
The Chicken Girl, the Jungle Queen, 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.

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.

Improv & Comedy

CLUES
Opening. An improvised murder mystery. Wing-It Productions at Historic University Theater, 5510 University Way NE, 352-8291. $10. Thurs, Fri, 8 pm. Through Nov 17.

CUPCAKE
Making the audience's dirtiest fantasies come through with the magic of improv. Wing-It Productions at Rendezvous, 2320 Second Ave, 441-5823. $10. Fri, 8 pm and Historic University Theater, 5510 University Way NE, 352-8291. $8. Sat, 12:30 am. Through Nov 17.

FUH-GEDDABOUDIT: AN INTERACTIVE MAFIA MUSICAL
The name says it all. Julia's Restaurant, 300 Broadway E, 860-1818. $44.90. Sun, 6:30 pm.

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

CAPITOL HILL HIGH, EPISODE THREE
"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.

SPIN THE BOTTLE
One night only. Ukulele music by Rachel Jackson, dancing by Jessie Sawyers, opera singing by Sarah Alfreda Roberts, and smut from Scot Augustson. Freehold's East Hall Theater, 915 E Pine St, 856-9751. $9. Fri, Oct 6, 11 pm.

SUAVE
A new show 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

ACCOUNTABILITY AND THE ARTS: WHO'S THE BOSS?
A panel discussion about leadership and structure in small arts organizations, with speakers from Washington Ensemble Theatre, Rivet magazine, and others. Seattle Center House, 305 Harrison St. Free. Mon, Oct 9, 7 pm.

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.