Opening and Current Runs

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

ANYTHING GOES
The musical inspired by the opening number in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom: "Yi wang si-i wa ye kan dao/Xin li bian yao la jing bao jin tian zhi dao/Anything goes." Second Story Repertory, 16587 NE 74th St, Redmond, 425-881-6777. $20-$26. Fri, Sat, 8:15 pm and Sun, 2 pm. Through Dec 2.

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.

THE BOOK OF NATHAN
Opening. A story about Nathan Burrell, a black army chaplain and Vietnam veteran imprisoned for killing a superior officer whom Burrell believed to be a racist. By Joe Mitchell. (Free preview Thursday night.) Theater Schmeater, 1500 Summit Ave, 325-6500. $18. Thurs-Sat, 8 pm. Through Dec 9.

BYE BYE BIRDIE
A 1960 musical about teens furiously trying to figure out how to unlock their chastity belts. Village Theatre, 303 Front St N, Issaquah, 425-392-2202. $25-$49. Wed-Sat, 8 pm, Sat, Sun, 2 pm, Sun, 7 pm and Tues, 7:30 pm. Through Dec 31.

THE COMPENDIUM OF NASTINESS
"The solo play, written by Ki Gottberg and starring Elizabeth Kenny, is a big romance in a small garage. Splicing boilerplate Gothic romance with topical references, Compendium is a mess of sexuality and revenge: a virgin lusting after a junkie monk, an uncle slavering over his niece, and a sodomy-loving demon queen." (Brendan Kiley) The Womb, call for directions, 800-838-3006. $25. Fri, Sat, 8:15 pm. Through Dec 9.

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.

A DANGEROUS AGE
Opening. The U.S. premiere of a one-man comedy by Godfrey Hamilton, performed by Mark Pinkosh, about a gay Hollywood actor whose lover is sent to fight in Iraq. Balagan Theatre at Capitol Hill Arts Center, 1621 12th Ave, 800-838-3006. $12—$15. Thurs-Sat, 7:30 pm and Sun, 2 pm. Through Dec 2.

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.

DRUGS
One weekend only. "Short, sinister comedies about foot soldiers in the War on Drugs." By Tom Scanlon. Waffle Theatre at Theater4, Seattle Center House, fourth floor, 888-8791. $5. Fri, Sat, 8 pm. Through Nov 18.

AN EVENING OF THORNTON WILDER ONE ACTS
The Long Christmas Dinner, Pullman Car Hiawatha, and The Happy Journey to Trenton and Camden, directed by John Abramson. East Hall Theatre, 1529 10th Avenue, 683-2749. $12-$15. Thurs-Sat, 8 pm. Through Nov 18.

THE GREAT GATSBY
See review this issue. 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
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.

IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE: A LIVE RADIO PLAY
Five actors play 50 characters in this 1940s-style radio broadcast. Directed by Karen Lund. Taproot Theatre, 204 N 85th St, 781-9707. $15-$30. Fri, Sat, 8 pm and Wed, 7:30 pm. Through Dec 30.

LOVE IS LOVE
One weekend only. A new musical, generated at the Village Theatre in Issaquah, adapted from stories in the Modern Love column in the New York Times. Directed by Martin Charnin. Moore Theatre, 1932 Second Ave, 292-2787. $20. Tues, Wed, 7:30 pm and Wed, 2 pm. Through Nov 22.

MEMORY HOUSE
Opening. Mom bakes a pie, daughter tries to finish a college essay, and their unresolved fears and resentments run roughshod over each other's egos. Directed by Allison Narver. (Previews Nov 16—19.) Seattle Repertory Theatre, 155 Mercer St, 443-2222. $10-$40. Thurs-Sat, 7:30 pm and Tues, Wed, 7:30 pm. Through Dec 17.

NATIVE SON
"Ato Essandoh as Bigger Thomas is the right choice. He has a disturbing laugh, far from happy or jovial. When a man laughs like that—all gums and teeth—you don't want to laugh with him, but run away. The director, Kent Gash, emphasizes Bigger's inhumanity (it's hard to tell whether the other characters are calling him "Bigger" or "nigger"), the color of his skin (which is very black), and his raw physicality—a body that invades white space in much the same way the rat invades the black space of Bigger's one-room slum apartment." (Charles Mudede) Intiman Theatre, 201 Mercer St, 269-1900. $10-$46. Fri, Sat, 8 pm, Sat, Sun, 2 pm and Sun, 7:30 pm. Through Nov 19.

THE PHAEDRA PROJECT
See review this issue. Ghost Light Theatricals at Chamber Theater, 915 E Pine St. $10-$12. Fri, Sat, 7:30 pm and Sun, 2 pm. Through Nov 19.

TRAGEDY OF CARMEN
One night only. Seattle Opera Young Artists' version of Peter Brook's version of Bizet's version of Prosper Mérimée's short story about a doomed gypsy temptress. Capitol Hill Arts Center, 1621 12th Ave, 388-0569. $20. Fri, Nov 17, 8 pm.

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
"At its heart, The Winter's Tale is a meditation on sex but, as a bonus, it contains the best stage direction Shakespeare ever wrote: Exit pursued by a bear." (Brendan Kiley) Center House Theatre, Seattle Center, 684-7200. $18-$32. Thurs-Sat, 7:30 pm and Sat, Sun, 2 pm. Through Nov 19.

Dance

APOSTROPHE 4
One night only. A monthly series devoted to solo artists. This time: Monica Fambrough and Travis Nichols (poetry), Beth Graczyk (dance), Leif Sundstrom (music). Gallery 1412, 1412 18th Ave, 322-1513. $5-$15. Sat, Nov 18, 8 pm.

NOCHE FLAMENCA
One week only. The University of Washington's World Series continues with this acclaimed flamenco company from Madrid. Meany Hall, UW Campus, 543-4882. $42. Thurs-Sat, 8 pm. Through Nov 18.

REPERTOIRE
One weekend only. New dance by Gail Heilbron, Mary Kay Bisignano Vadino, Janis Zetlen, and Dominique Gabella. Velocity Dance Center, 915 E Pine St, 325-8773. $15-$18. Fri, Sat, 8 pm. Through Nov 18.

SANKAI JUKU
One night only. Perhaps the world's most famous butoh troupe performs the 2000 work Kagemi: Beyond the Metaphor of Mirrors. Paramount Theatre, 911 E Pine St, 292-2787. $32.50-$42.50. Tues, Nov 21, 7:30 pm.

Cabaret

THE BEDROOM CLUB Last Supper Club, 124 S Washington St, 748-9975. $10. Wed, 9 pm. BURLESQUE BEHIND THE PINK DOOR Pink Door, 1919 Post Alley, 443-3241. $10. Sat, 10:30 pm. LIVE BURLESQUE SeaMonster Lounge, 2202 N 45th St, 633-1824. Free. Tues, 11 pm.

Improv & Comedy

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. 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.

THE CORY AND DOUG SHOW
Sketch, standup, and improv, hosted by Cory Nealy and Doug Willott. Capitol Hill Arts Center, 1621 12th Ave, 388-0569. $8. Tues, 7:30 pm. Through Nov 28.

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.

HOGWASH: AN IMPROVISED TALL TALE FOR SMALL CHILDREN
A full band and actors building a story off kids' suggestions. Jerk Alert Productions at Historic University Theater, 5510 University Way NE, 352-8291. $10. Sat, 2 pm. Through Nov 18.

TIM CONWAY AND HARVEY KORMAN
One night only. Tim Conway was Dorf. Harvey Korman was in Blazing Saddles. Paramount Theatre, 911 E Pine St, 292-2787. $50. Sat, Nov 18, 8 pm.

WINLAR!
Head writer for sketch group Kazoo! and former writer for Almost Live does solo comedy. Rendezvous, 2320 Second Ave, 441-5823. $7. Fri, Sat, 8 pm. Through Nov 18.

Late Night

THE BEST OF TRAIN OF THOUGHT
The expression "train of thought" predates the locomotive, first appearing in print in 1651. Seriously—look it up. In this context, it refers to a sketch-comedy group. Northwest Actors Studio, 1100 E Pike St, 324-6328. $8-$10. Fri, Sat, 10:30 pm. Through Nov 18.

CUPCAKE
"Cupcake, featuring Ethan Newberry and Justin Sund, isn't adult-naughty; it's kid-naughty. The introductory film sequence gets a lot of excited laughs because one guy wears a black dildo hanging out of his fly, which the other smashes with his face. It's that kind of show—and it has the fresh-faced kids rolling in the aisles." (Brendan Kiley) Historic University Theater, 5510 University Way NE, 352-8291. $8. Fri, 12:30 am. Through Nov 17.

Special Events

3RD ANNUAL BLOODSPORTS
The bruisers (Seattle Semi-Pro Wrestling) vs. the bleeders (PURE Cirkus and Suspension) with music by the Bloodclots, DJ Fucking in the Streets, and others. 21+ w/ ID. Capitol Hill Arts Center, 1621 12th Ave, 800-838-3006. $15. Sat, Nov 18, 9 pm.

INTRODUCTION TO BUTOH WORKSHOP
Learn about the dance form that began in postwar Japan when a young performer—in a movement adaptation of a Yukio Mishima story—strangled a chicken between his legs. Velocity Dance Center, 915 E Pine St, 325-8773. $5 suggested donation. Sat, Nov 18, 4:45 pm.

MAYA BEISER: ALMOST HUMAN
Fact: The cello is the sexiest instrument in the world. Especially when played by someone like Maya Beiser, an experimenter who riffs on contemporary classical composers and ancient vocal traditions (Renaissance madrigals, Armenian folk songs, Cambodian singing) with accompanying video by hot-shit Iranian artist Shirin Neshat. On the Boards, 100 W Roy St, 217-9888. $24. Fri, Sat, 8 pm. Through Nov 18.