Opening and Current Runs

THE AIR IS PEOPLED WITH CRUEL AND FEARSOME BIRDS
A dance-theater spectacular featuring dance by Jessie Smith (Dead Bird Movement) and unspecified sonic contributions by Sam Mickens (the Dead Science). Villville, 1534 First Ave S, 340-2703. $5-$15. Fri, Sat, 8 pm. Through Nov 18.

AMATEURS
Opening. A "bittersweet and touching" comedy about a community theater group's opening-night party. Next Step Theater at Theater4, Seattle Center House, 4th floor, 1-800-838-3006. $10-$15. Fri-Sun, 7:30 pm, Sun, 2 pm and Tues-Thurs, 7:30 pm. Through Nov 11.

BEDROOM FARCE
Alan Ayckbourn's comedy about the volcanic relationship of a married couple and how it ruins parties, spoils friendships, and keeps everyone—parents, friends—awake into the small hours of the night. Stone Soup Theatre, 4035 Stone Way N, 633-1883. $10-$22. Thurs-Sat, 7:30 pm and Sat, 3:30 pm. Through Nov 25.

CARLOTTA AND THE CURSE OF WOLF MANOR: A WING-DING MUSICAL
Carlotta Sue Philpott (Troy Mink), her son Slaw (David Nixon), her crass Irish friend Nellie (Órla Mc Govern), and the rest of the Wing-Ding gang run around, freak out, and sing songs inside a werewolf-infested mansion. Theater Off Jackson, 409 Seventh Ave S, 340-1049. $7.50-$15. Thurs-Sat, 8 pm. Through Nov 4.

COMPANY
Sondheim's 1970 musical about five married couples viewed through the eyes of a chronic bachelor. 5th Avenue Theatre, 1308 Fifth Ave, 292-2787. $20-$73. Thurs-Fri at 8 pm, Sat at 2 and 8 pm, Sun at 2 and 7 pm, Tues-Wed at 7:30 pm. Through Nov 5.

COWBOY VERSUS SAMURAI
A romantic comedy about a Korean-American woman and her dating life. SiS Productions at Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, 322-7030. $8-$12. Fri, 8 pm and Sat, 3 and 8 pm. Through Nov 18.

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

THE GREAT GATSBY
Opening. "So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past." Adapted by Simon Levy. Directed by David Esbjornson. Seattle Repertory Theatre, 155 Mercer St, 443-2222. $10-$34. Thurs-Sun, 7:30 pm, Sat, Sun, 2 pm and Tues, Wed, 7:30 pm. Through Dec 10.

THE HOUSE OF YES
Opening. Wendy Macleod's gallows comedy about incest, Jackie O, a hurricane, and a family for whom time stopped when JFK got shot. Absurd Reality Theater at Odd Duck Studio, 1214 10th Ave, 800-838-3006. $12-$15. Fri, Sat, 8 pm. Through Nov 18.

recommended H.P. LOVECRAFT: THE COLOUR OUT OF SPACE
"If you've never enjoyed Lovecraft's pulp-horror pleasures, Colour is not for you. But if, as a pissy teenager, you browsed a copy of the Necronomicon for the playing-with-imaginary-fire fun of it, it's essential viewing. The only bad part of the show is the runtime: two and a half hours of horrible things squanders the audience's eager complicity long before the final curtain." (Paul Constant) Open Circle Theater, 429 Boren Ave N, 382-4250. $13. Thurs-Sat, 8 pm. Through Nov 11.

recommended MAJOR BANG OR: HOW I LEARNED TO STOP WORRYING AND LOVE THE DIRTY BOMB
One week only. Part magic show, part comedy, part mashup between Dr. Strangelove and the true story of David Hahn, the Boy Scout who built a nuclear reactor in his parents' garage to earn a merit badge. Featuring members of Wooster Group, Big Dance Theater, Radiohole, and the Rude Mechs. (Note: Currently sold out, call for waiting list information.) Foundry Theatre at On the Boards, 100 W Roy St, 217-9888. $22. Thurs-Sun, 8 pm. Through Nov 5.

recommended NATIVE SON
See review this issue. Intiman Theatre, 201 Mercer St, 269-1900. $10-$46. Fri, Sat, 8 pm, Sat, Sun, 2 pm, Sun, 7:30 pm and Wed, Thurs, 7:30 pm. Through Nov 18.

THE PHAEDRA PROJECT
Opening. An combination of the Racine and Euripides versions of the myth of forbidden love, revenge, and the son of an Amazon. Ghost Light Theatricals at Chamber Theater, 915 E Pine St, fourth floor. $10-$12. Fri, Sat, 7:30 pm. Through Nov 19.

recommended THOM PAIN (BASED ON NOTHING)
The short, tight, literary monologue about angst and heartbreak, written by Will Eno and performed by Todd Jefferson Moore. Representative passages: "Does it scare you? Being face to face with the modern mind? It should." And: "I'm disgusted with myself so that makes me angry, makes me lash out... or lash in." Seattle Repertory Theatre, 155 Mercer St, 443-2222. $10-$48. Thurs-Sat, 7:30 pm and Sat, Sun, 2 pm. Through Nov 5.

TICK, TICK...BOOM!
"This musical was written by Jonathan Larson (Rent) as a one-man show. After Larson's sudden death, it was adapted by David Auburn (Proof) into a production for three actors. With that pop-theater dream-team pedigree, it's unclear why the script is so fucking bad. Seriously, this play should never be produced again, ever." (Paul Constant) ArtsWest, 4711 California Ave SW, 938-0339. $29. Thurs-Sat, 7:30 pm. Through Nov 4.

THE UNDERPANTS
"The first of a six-play cycle called Comedies from the Heroic Life of the Middle Class by German playwright Carl Sternheim, The Underpants has been adapted and modernized by Steve Martin. A German bureaucrat (chauvinistic, arrogant, dreary) loses his shit when his wife (dreamy, smart, charming) accidentally loses her underpants in public. She was at a parade, it was before elastic was invented, and her untied knickers drifted down to her ankles, delighting dozens of witnesses. It is, allegedly, a farce." (Brendan Kiley) ACT Theatre, 700 Union St, 292-7676. $10-$54. Fri, Sat, 8 pm, Sun, 7:30 pm and Tues-Thurs, 7:30 pm. Through Nov 12.

recommended WAITING FOR GODOT
One week only. See Theater News. Paramount Theatre, 911 E Pine St, 292-2787. $38.50-$43.50. Wed, 8 pm. Through Nov 12.

recommended W(H)ACKED: AN IMMORALITY PLAY
"W(h)acked begins with the tale of Lottie Limerick-Peevy, a sweet 19th-century Irish lass charged by God to aid womankind by dispatching of wicked men. Cut to the present, when Lottie's cause is adopted by the Underground Very Secret Hush Hush Ladies' Serial Killer Club (more frequently rattled off as U.V.S.H.H.L.S.K.C.), a group of gals seeking to 'become the victimizer.' The writing is tight, the comic timing impeccable, the denouement satisfying but sad." (Lindy West) LiveGirls!, 2220 NW Market St, 800-838-3006. $10-$15. Thurs, Fri, 8 pm and Sat, 4 and 8 pm. Through Nov 18.

THE WINTER'S TALE
Brrr. Seattle Shakespeare Company at Center House Theatre, Seattle Center, 684-7200. $18-$32. Thurs-Sat, 7:30 pm and Sat, Sun, 2 pm. Through Nov 19.

Dance

ALL PREMIERE
Opening. A series of new-at-PNB dances, including work by Ulysses Dove, Peter Martins, Twyla Tharp, and Victor Quijada. Pacific Northwest Ballet at McCaw Hall, 321 Mercer St, 684-7200. $18-$145. Thurs-Sat, 7:30 pm and Sat, 2 pm. Through Nov 4.

recommended BATSHEVA DANCE COMPANY
One night only. Shalosh is an evening-length work in three parts by the monstrously talented Israeli choreographer Ohad Naharin. Moore Theatre, 1932 Second Ave, 292-2787. $35.50. Thurs, Nov 2, 7:30 pm.

EBB AND FLOW
One weekend only. Six new dance works by Karen Brown and Amy Weaver. Velocity Dance Center, 915 E Pine St, 325-8773. $10-$13. Fri, Nov 3, 8 pm and Sat, Nov 4, 3 and 8 pm.

Cabaret

THE BEDROOM CLUB
Burning Hearts Burlesque at Last Supper Club, 124 S Washington St, 748-9975. $10. Wed, 9 pm.

BURLESQUE BEHIND THE PINK DOOR
Novelty acts, puppets, crooners, and old-fashioned burlesque. With Paula the Swedish Housewife. Pink Door, 1919 Post Alley, 443-3241. $10. Sat, 10:30 pm.

SEVEN DELIGHTFUL SINS
From the press release: "Burlesque and old-school vaudeville are back together," which is a welcome development. Rendezvous, 2320 Second Ave, 441-5823. $7-$10. Thurs, Nov 2, 8 pm.

Improv & Comedy

27TH ANNUAL SEATTLE INTERNATIONAL STANDUP COMEDY COMPETITION
The competition plays in a variety of vividly-named venues, including the Liberty Theater in Puyallup, the Moonraker in Kent, and some club in Tacoma called Jazzbones. The first Seattle event is at Capitol Hill Arts Center, 1621 12th Ave, 388-0569. $10. Fri, Nov 3, 7:30 pm.

CAMPFIRE
Scary campfire stories about ghosts, UFOs, monsters, and strange dreams, generated by ideas from the audience. Unexpected Productions at Market Theater, 1428 Post Alley, 587-2414. $10. Fri, Sat, 8 pm. Through Nov 4.

THE CAPITOL STEPS
The political satire choir. Paramount Theatre, 911 E Pine St, 292-2787. $22.50-$72.50. Wed, Nov 8, 7:30 pm.

CLUES
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.

THE COMEDY SHOP Columbia City Theatre, 4916 Rainier Ave S, 723-0088. $12 adv/$15 DOS. Sat, 8:30 and 10:30 pm. COMEDY UNDERGROUND 222 S Main St, 800-325-7328. $6-$15. Fri, Sat, 8:30 and 10:30 pm. GIGGLES COMEDY CLUB 5220 Roosevelt Way NE, 526-5653. $12. Fri, Sat, 8:30 and 10:30 pm. PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOMEDY PRESENTS: LAFF HOLE! Capitol Hill Arts Center, 1621 12th Ave, 388-0569. $5. Tues, Nov 7, 9 pm. JET CITY IMPROV Historic University Theater, 5510 University Way NE, 352-8291. $8-$10. Fri, Sat, 10:30 pm and Sat, 8 pm. THEATRESPORTS Market Theater, 1428 Post Alley, 587-2414. $8-$12. Fri, Sat, 10:30 pm and Sat, 8 pm.

Late Night

CUPCAKE
"Cupcake, featuring Ethan Newberry and Justin Sund, isn't adult-naughty; it's kid-naughty. Newberry and Sund seem smart, with the capacity for comedy somewhere deep inside, but it's so easy to make this late-night, college-kid crowd laugh, they don't have to work very hard. A few Hitler jokes, a few Jesus jokes, a few dick 'n' pussy jokes and they're done." (Brendan Kiley) Historic University Theater, 5510 University Way NE, 352-8291. $8. Sat, 12:30 am. Through Nov 17.

recommended SPIN THE BOTTLE
One night only. The annual 60 Seconds Max, featuring minute-or-less performances by Erin Jorgensen, Matt Briggs, Rick Miller, Crispin Spaeth, stop-motion porn, Seattle School, a professional Britney Spears impersonator, and dozens more. Freehold's East Hall Theater, 915 E Pine St, 856-9751. $9. Fri, Nov 3, 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.

Special Events

THE CROSSROADS PROJECT
One weekend only. The Washington Ensemble Theatre and a movable set will perform scenes, based on interviews and encounters with Crossroads Mall patrons, about the Crossroads Mall. Crossroads Shopping Center, NE Eighth St and 156th Ave NE, Bellevue, 425-644-1111. Free. Fri, Sat, 11 am and 1:30 pm. Through Nov 4.

LITTLE BOOKSTORE RIOTS
A reading of a new play by Josh Beerman. Capitol Hill Arts Center, 1621 12th Ave, 388-0569. $5. Mon, Nov 6, 7:30 pm.