Opening and Current Runs
365 DAYS/365 PLAYS
A short play a day, written by Suzan-Lori Parks (Topdog/Underdog, the first black woman to win a Pulitzer Prize for drama), performed throughout the city by companies from the Seattle Rep to WET. See www.365seattle.com for schedule and details. Various Locations, Across Seattle. Daily. Through Nov 13, 2007.
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 Thurs, 8:15 pm. Through Dec 2.
ARE WE SCARED?
A remount of the hit show based on stories by and interactions between preschoolers. Childlike, not childish. Open Circle Theater, 429 Boren Ave N, 382-4250. $6-$12. Fri, Sat, 8 pm and Sat, Sun, 3 pm. Through Dec 16.
THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER
Seattle Public Theater, 7312 W Green Lake Dr N, 524-1300. $14-$24.
BLACK NATIVITY
The annual gospel song play by Langston Hughes that makes atheists wish they believed. With Reverend Dr. Samuel B. McKinney and Pastor Patrinell Wright, directed by Jacqueline Moscou. Intiman Theatre, 201 Mercer St, 269-1900. $10-$42. Thurs, 7:30 pm, Fri, 8 pm, Sat 2 and 8 pm, Sun, 2 and 7:30 pm, Tues, Wed, 7:30 pm.
THE BOOK OF NATHAN
"Its little web of stories orbits around Nathan Burrell, an African-American Vietnam veteran and chaplain, visiting his estranged son on death row. Both father and son are murderers—their respective crimes unfold intermittently, via flashback, on the periphery of the stage. The play is good: Its two-plus hours go down smoothly. The writing is solid and compelling—funny, lively, and never boring. But our accumulated dialogue on race in America is big and complicated—exhausted, though never exhaustive. An American artist who chooses racism as his topic absolutely must have something new to say, or at least a new way to say it. There's plenty going on here, but The Book of Nathan leaves it to the audience to parse its significance." (Lindy West) Theater Schmeater, 1500 Summit Ave, 325-6500. $18. Thurs-Sat, 8 pm. Through Dec 9.
BUD, NOT BUDDY
Based on the children's book about a Depression-era boy who sets out to find bandleader Herman E. Calloway, who may or may not be the boy's father. Adapted by Reginald Andre Jackson. Book-It Theater at Center House Theatre, Seattle Center, 216-0833. $15-$32. Wed-Sat, 7:30 pm and Sat, Sun, 2 pm. Through Dec 23.
BYE BYE BIRDIE
A 1960 musical about a 1950s Elvis-ish rocker and teens furiously trying to pick the locks on 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.
CHILDREN OF EDEN
The 1986 Stephen Schwartz musical loosely based on the book of Genesis. Civic Light Opera at Magnuson Park, 400 Sand Point Way NE, 363-2809. $25—$35. Fri, Sat, 8 pm and Sun, 2 pm. Through Dec 3.
A CHRISTMAS CAROL
Ongoing. A viciously insensitive comedy about a schizophrenic old man. Directed by Robert Mugabe. (No whites allowed.) ACT Theatre, 700 Union St, 292-7676. $15-$44. Fri—Sat at 7 pm, Sun at 1 and 4 pm, Tues at 1 and 7:30 pm, Wed at 10 am and 12:30 pm. Through Dec 24.
THE CODY RIVERS SHOW: TANGLE
The Cody Rivers show is, nominally, a comedy duo, but they sometimes push past funny ("ha-ha") and into funny ("that's fucking weird"), which is why they were shortlisted for The Stranger's 2006 Genius Award. Rendezvous, 2320 Second Ave, 877-278-4842. $10. Fri, Sat, 8 pm. Through Dec 23.
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.
A DANGEROUS AGE
"A two-character, one-man comedy performed by Mark Pinkosh, A Dangerous Age is about a gay, middle-aged Hollywood actor who falls in love with a soldier who is on the brink of being shipped off to Iraq. The play (by Pinkosh's gay, middle-aged partner, Godfrey Hamilton) is, at times, sweet and sad: one of the lovers scared in the desert, the other marching against the war in Los Angeles, each thinking of the other. The Hollywood actor tells stories about pulling weeds by Angie Dickenson's pool, taking LSD before going on stage, and writing angry letters to the White House. Hamilton's script suffers from occasional poetic excesses (the dark wartime scenes would be more powerful if they were starker), but those are overshadowed by the comedy of the unexpected courtship and Pinkosh's charm and power as a performer." (Brendan Kiley) Balagan Theatre at Capitol Hill Arts Center, 1621 12th Ave, 800-838-3006. $12—$15. Thurs-Sat, 7:30 pm. Through Dec 2.
THE DINA MARTINA CHRISTMAS SHOW
The psycho-drag sweetheart sticks her finger in your sugarplum. Re-bar, 1114 Howell St, 233-9873. $20. Thurs-Sun, 8 pm. Through Dec 30.
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.
AN EVENING OF THORNTON WILDER ONE ACTS
"The performance of three one-act plays by Thornton Wilder is respectable. The first play, The Long Christmas Dinner, is by far the best of the three. The reason why the last two plays are not as impressive as the first has nothing to do with the actors or the director (John Abramson), but the playwright himself. In sound and feel, these two plays need more work, more drafts, time, thought, and development. Against this opinion, one might argue that the playwright's style, and the style of his generation (Hemingway, Stein), was minimalistic—he wanted his plays to feel as unfinished and repetitive as life itself. But if such was the case, why does The Long Christmas Dinner feel complete? Here, the language is poetic, rather than repetitive, and the theme (the theme that dominates Wilder's work: American death) is fully developed." (Charles Mudede) East Hall Theatre, 1529 10th Avenue, 683-2749. $12-$15. Thurs-Sat, 8 pm and Wed-Fri, 8 pm. Through Dec 1.
THE EXCURSIONISTS
"The play begins from a single wild premise: England has sunk and two 19th-century explorers travel the world in an undersea train to find the new Britannia. The Excursionists is fast and funny, honed on the road as actors Jonah Von Spreecken and Christopher Bange rightly made a name for themselves on the Canadian fringe circuit." (Brendan Kiley) Theater Off Jackson, 409 Seventh Ave S, 340-1049. $12. Tues, Wed, 7:30 pm. Through Dec 20.
THE GREAT GATSBY
"It's a hell of a task, adapting a well-known piece of literature for the stage, especially a piece of literature as pleasurable and complex as F. Scott Fitzgerald's third novel, but playwright Simon Levy and director David Esbjornson have made something you'd never expect: a boring disaster. How do you make The Great Gatsby boring? You boil the novel down to a couple extremely obvious themes, cast it poorly, scrap a lot of that aforementioned complexity, and add several incomprehensible new elements. The parties, the dancing, the boozing, Gatsby's pink suit, Daisy's white dresses, the car accident, the billboard, the swimming pool, the shootings, the green light (I never saw it, but it's described)—all of these are here, but the sum total is jumbled and hollow." (Christopher Frizzelle) 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 Dec 2.
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, Wed, 7:30 pm, Thurs, 7:30 pm and Sat, 2 pm. Through Dec 30.
KASPER HAUSER'S SKYMAUL
One night only. Funny motherfuckers. See Theater News. Re-bar, 1114 Howell St, 233-9873. $12. Thurs, Nov 30, 8 pm.
LATE NITE CATECHISM
Ongoing. "The real point is not the adult-catechism monologue, but the script's gaps, in which Sister Aubrey Manning dispenses tissues to cover salacious displays of flesh and kitschy prizes to reward the dumbstruck targets of her improvisations." (Annie Wagner) ACT Theatre, 700 Union St, 292-7676. $24.50-$29.50. Fri, Sat, 8 pm and Sun, 2 pm.
THE MARTINI BROTHER'S HOLIDAY SHOWCASE
A holiday showcase for people sick of holiday showcases, combining dozens of Christmas songs, stories, and entertainments into one steaming, slightly sarcastic, mess. Historic University Theater, 5510 University Way NE, 352-8291. $10. Thurs, Fri, 8 pm and Sat, Sun, 2 pm. Through Dec 23.
MEMORY HOUSE
See review this issue. Seattle Repertory Theatre, 155 Mercer St, 443-2222. $10-$40. Thurs-Sat, 7:30 pm, Sat, Sun, 2 pm and Tues, Wed, 7:30 pm. Through Dec 17.
MENOPAUSE: THE MUSICAL
Ongoing. "What makes this toweringly formulaic and very demographic-specific crap about dusty uteruses even moderately bearable? The consummate cast was ferocious and fast—they rush in, slap you around with jokes about memory lapses and no sex and saggy boobs that you can't help giggling at, and then they rush out just before it starts to hurt." (Adrian Ryan) ACT Theatre, 700 Union St, 292-7676. $45. Thurs, Fri, 7:30 pm, Sat, Sun, 2 and 5:30 pm and Wed, 7:30 pm.
NEVER SWIM ALONE
See review this issue. Washington Ensemble Theatre, 608 19th Ave E, 800-838-3006. $10—$18. Thurs-Mon at 8 pm. Through Dec 18.
THE SANTALAND DIARIES
The David Sedaris monologues, performed by Craig Doescher. Seattle Public Theater, 7312 W Green Lake Dr N, 524-1300. $14-$24. Fri, Sat, 7:30 pm. Through Dec 2.
SNOW WHITE AND THE THREE DWARFS
British panto plays are a Christmas tradition and involve song, slapstick, audience participation and mild sexual innuendo that goes right over the kiddies' heads. This is one of those. Hale's Palladium, 4301 Leary Way NW, 800-838-3600. $5-$10. Fri, 8 pm and Sun, 4 pm. Through Dec 10.
THE SORCERER'S APPRENTICE
An ancient Greek story filtered through jazzy mind of playwright OyamO, featuring a live four-piece band. Seattle Children's Theatre, 201 Thomas St, 441-3322. $16-$32. Fri, 7 pm and Sat, Sun, 2 and 5:30 pm. Through Jan 27.
A TERRIBLE PRICE FOR WHIMSY
A new show by Sgt. Rigsby and His Amazing Silhouettes about time travel, tequila, rampaging zebras, and sex! By Scot Augustson. Theater Off Jackson, 409 Seventh Ave S, 800-838-3006. $14. Thurs-Sat, 8 pm. Through Dec 23.
VOICES OF CHRISTMAS
ArtsWest's annual mix of Christmas stories and songs. Always "straight from the heart." Forewarned is forearmed. ArtsWest, 4711 California Ave SW, 938-0339. Wed-Sat, 7:30 pm and Sun, 1 and 5 pm. Through Dec 24.
WHIRLIGIG! THE MUSICAL
A new musical about the heart of darkness known as the holiday-season department store. LiveGirls!, 2220 NW Market St, 800-838-3006. $10-$15. Thurs-Sat, 8 pm and Sat, 4 and 8 pm. Through Dec 16.
A WHITE CHRISTMAS
Allegedly not about cocaine. 5th Avenue Theatre, 1308 Fifth Ave, 292-2787. $20-$75. Sat, 2 and 8 pm, Sun, 1:30 and 7 pm, Tues, Wed, 7:30 pm and Thurs, Fri, 8 pm. Through Dec 20.
Dance
COMPAGNIE TCHÉTCHÉ
One night only. The celebrated all-lady dance company from the Ivory Coast. Moore Theatre, 1932 Second Ave, 292-2787. $28.50-$33.50. Tues, Dec 5, 7:30 pm.
NEXT FEST NW
One weekend only. New dance work by Paige Barnes, the delightfully heretical Jessica Jobaris, and Selfick Ng-Simancas, dance films by Gaelen Hanson, Amelia Reeber, and tons more. Velocity Dance Center, 915 E Pine St, 325-8773. $15. Fri, Sat, 8 pm. Through Dec 2.
THE NUTCRACKER
Music by Tchaikovsky, sets and costumes by Maurice Sendak, choreography by Kent Stowell. McCaw Hall, 321 Mercer St, 684-7200. $18-$108. Fri, Sat, 7:30 pm, Sat, 2 pm and Sun, 1 and 5:30 pm. Through Dec 28.
SPECTRUM STUDIO SERIES
One weekend only. New work by Spectrum artistic director Donald Byrd, Thaddeus Davis, and PNB principal dancer Olivier Wevers. Madrona Dance Studios, 800 Lake Washington Blvd, 325-4161. $15—$30. Fri, Sat, 7:30 pm and Sun, 5:30 pm. Through Dec 3.
WE NEVER LIKE TALKING ABOUT THE END
One weekend only. See Stranger Suggests. On the Boards, 100 W Roy St, 217-9888. $18. Thurs-Sat, 8 pm. Through Dec 2.
Cabaret
ARABIC BEAT
One night only. A belly dance revue by Fleurs d'Égypte. Columbia City Theatre, 4916 Rainier Ave S, 877-278-4842. $18—$24. Fri, Dec 1, 8 pm.
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 Pink Door, 1919 Post Alley, 443-3241. $10. Sat, 10:30 pm. DIVINITEASE BURLESQUE TROUPE Merchant's Cafe, 109 Yesler Way, 624-1515. Sat, Dec 2, 8 pm. LIVE BURLESQUE SeaMonster Lounge, 2202 N 45th St, 633-1824. Free. Tues, 11 pm.
LOVE LESSONS
Exploring the progress of a relationship through dance, from salsa (hot honeymoon!) to tap (filing for divorce). Century Ballroom, 915 E Pine St, second floor, 324-7263. $25-$60. Fri, Sat, 6 pm. Through Dec 16.
WICKED CHRISTMAS
A wacky dinner cabaret including guest appearances by Ethel Merman and Adolf Hitler. Crepe de Paris, 1333 Fifth Ave, 623-4111. $55. Wed-Sun, 6:30 pm. Through Dec 26.
Improv & Comedy
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. LAFF-STRAVAGANZA
Capitol Hill Arts Center, 1621 12th Ave, 388-0569. $5. Wed, Dec 6, 7:30 and 9:30 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.
FUH-GEDDABOUDIT: AN INTERACTIVE MAFIA MUSICAL
Julia's Restaurant, 300 Broadway E, 860-1818. $44.90. Sun, 6:30 pm.
Late Night
THE JUDY GARLAND CHRISTMAS SPECIAL
A camped-up stage version of the notorious 1963 TV special wherein the tragic diva convinced America that she was a boozehound. Featuring Andrew Tasakos as Judy. Open Circle Theater, 429 Boren Ave N, 382-4250. $10. Fri, Sat, 10 pm. Through Dec 16.
SPIN THE BOTTLE
One night only. Annex Theatre's monthly cabaret, this time featuring dance by Amelia Reeber, hot sauciness from Miss Mamie Lavona, shadow puppets by Sgt Rigsby and His Amazing Silhouettes, and more! Freehold's East Hall Theater, 915 E Pine St, 856-9751. $9. Fri, Dec 1, 11 pm.
THE TWILIGHT ZONE
The late-night live-stage Twilight Zone episodes are back, this time featuring "A Most Unusual Camera" and "What You Need." (Free preview Nov 23 at 11 pm.) Theater Schmeater, 1500 Summit Ave, 325-6500. $12. Fri, Sat, 11 pm. Through Dec 16.
Special Events
INSATIABLE! SEATTLE'S FIRST ASIAN AMERICAN PLAYWRIGHTS' FESTIVAL
One day only. A day-long festival of readings by local Asian writers. Sex in Seattle Productions at Northwest Actors Studio, 1100 E Pike St, 323-9443. www.sis-productions.org. $5-$12. Sat, Dec 2, noon.
MAGICSNOW
Pacific Place's annual behavioral art experiment, wherein a shower of "biodegradable, nontoxic, nonstaining, eco-friendly" flakes turns the vast commercial cavern into a giant snow globe, yanking the scales from shoppers' eyes, demonstrating that they are but miniatures, trapped in a diorama of their own devising. Pacific Place, 600 Pine St, 652-2404. www.pacificplaceseattle.com. Free. Daily at 6 pm. Through Dec 24.
MONKEY SEE, MONKEY BUY
One night only. An auction and cabaret to benefit the Macha Monkey Theater company. East Hall Theatre, 1529 10th Avenue, www.machamonkey.org. $5. Sat, Dec 2, 8 pm.
PLAYWRIGHT AUCTION & WINE TASTING PARTY
One night only. Food, wine, and the chance to buy a playwright for a night. Seattle Dramatists' at Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, 720-0083. $50-$75. Sun, Dec 3, 5 pm.
STEPHANIE KALLOS
Kallos reads from her debut novel, Broken for You. Ravenna Third Place Books, 6504 20th Ave NE, 525-2347, 7:30 pm, free.
INGA MUSCIO
Muscio reads from Autobiography of a Blue-Eyed Devil: My Life and Times in a Racist, Imperialist Society. University Book Store, 4326 University Way NE, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.
"GOODBYE, MY LOVE"
A reading by local women writers. Plus wine and cheese. Santoro's Books, 7216 Greenwood Ave N, 784-2113, 7 pm, free.
NOEL FRANKLIN, GREG ZURA, CAS MCGEE, JON LONGHI, BUCKY SINISTER, JAMES TRACY, JULIETTE TORREZ
Writers and artists associated with alternative publisher Kapow! read and show their stuff. Confounded Books, 315 E Pine St, 382-3376, 7 pm, free.
DAVE EGGERS, SARAH VOWELL, DANIEL HANDLER, MIKE DOUGHTY, AND THE TRANSATLANTIC ORCHESTRA
Dave Eggers makes good omelets. Sarah Vowell is an astronaut. Daniel Handler handles things. Mike Doughty works on railroads. The Transatlantic Orchestra includes members of Death Cab for Cutie, which is a nonprofit dedicated to regional transportation issues. (For more information about this event, see page TK of The Stranger's Bumbershoot pullout.) McCaw Hall, 1020 John St, 8 pm, admission to Bumbershoot required, $28.
ARIELLE ECKSTUT & DAVID HENRY STERRY
Eckstut and Sterry (sounds like a law firm) read from Putting Your Passion Into Print: Get Your Book Published Successfully! Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 5 pm, free.
SIBYL JAMES
James reads from Ho Chi Minh's Motorbike, all about Vietnam, ghosts, war, imperialism, women, war protests, China, some other stuff. Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, 322-7030, 7 pm, free.
BRET EASTON ELLIS
See review, this page. Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.
ROBIN HOBB
Shaman's Crossing: Book One of the Soldier Son Trilogy sees the author leaving behind the Farseer world and entering "a new realm." University Book Store, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.
GREGORY BERNS
The professor of psychiatry and behavioral science talks about Satisfaction: The Science of Finding True Fulfillment. Town Hall Seattle, downstairs, 1119 Eighth Ave, 652-4255, 7 pm, $5.
KAREN FISHER
A Sudden Country is an historical novel (19th century; Oregon). Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.
ED VIESTURS
The mountain climber is the first American to climb all 14 of the world's 8,000-meter peaks. Why? How? What was he wearing? Find out. Town Hall Seattle, 652-4255, 7:30 pm, $15.
