Opening and Current Runs

recommended 14/48: THE WORLD'S QUICKEST THEATER FESTIVAL
"A punishing artistic exercise in speed and endurance, 14/48 invites playwrights, actors, et al., to crank out 14 original short plays in 48 hours. The results are usually disastrous or hilarious or both." (Brendan Kiley) 3-Card Monty and One World Theatre at Capitol Hill Arts Center, 1621 12th Ave, 800-838-3006. www.1448fest.com. $14.48. Fri-Sat at 8 pm. Through Jan 13.

THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE
A Tony-winning musical comedy capitalizing on the national spelling-bee craze. Paramount Theatre, 911 E Pine St, 292-2787. $22-$70. Tues-Wed at 7:30 pm. Through Jan 14.

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.

AMAHL AND THE NIGHT VISITORS
One week only. A short opera by Gian Carlo Menotti about the three kings on their way to Bethlehem. Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, 4408 Delridge Way SW, 800-838-3006. $7-$12. Fri at 7:30 pm, Sat at 3 and 7:30 pm, Sun at 3 pm. Through Jan 7.

THE COMEDY OF ERRORS
"Every why hath a wherefore." Seattle Shakespeare Company at Center House Theatre, Seattle Center, 684-7200. $18-$33. Thurs-Sat at 7:30 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through Jan 28.

DINNER & DREAMS
Ongoing. The European-style dinner theater with cirque performers as garnish. Teatro ZinZanni, 2301 Sixth Ave, 802-0015. $99-$125. Thurs-Sat at 6:30 pm, Sun at 5:30 pm, Wed at 6:30 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 at 8 pm, Sun at 2 pm.

MENOPAUSE: THE MUSICAL
Ongoing. "Ninety tight minutes of an insane, colorful, and sometimes actually laugh-worthy little train wreck that stops just before it starts to hurt." (Adrian Ryan) ACT Theatre, 700 Union St, 292-7676. $45. Thurs-Fri at 7:30 pm, Sat-Sun at 2 and 5:30 pm, Wed at 7:30 pm.

recommended THE SHOW
"Leroy wants Juliana to love him, but he also has to appease Vinnie, a butterfly-knife-wielding gangster with an expensive-shoe fetish. Frank, a hobo, wants to go fishing with Leroy. Izzy wants to write a hit song and perform daredevil stunts with a Coupe de Ville. All of this is being told to us by Nature Man, an ecoterrorist—' dirt, mud, and earth are my three favorite things'—trying to black out New York City in his battle against technology and, specifically, wires. The Show is a one-man show that could've been produced—and I mean this in only the very best, the RAWK-inest, sense—by Jerry frickin' Bruckheimer." (Paul Constant) Washington Ensemble Theatre, 608 19th Ave E, 800-838-3006. $10-$15. Thurs-Fri at 8 pm, Sat at 2:30 and 8 pm, Sun at 2:30 pm, Wed at 8 pm. Through Jan 7.

recommended THE SORCERER'S APPRENTICE
"The magic looks realistic. The sets are cool. I liked the vines in the background when they are down in the evil guy's place. The actors work hard." (Eben Drake-Mudede, age 10) Seattle Children's Theatre, 201 Thomas St, 441-3322. $16-$32. Fri at 7 pm, Sat at 2 pm, Sun at 2 and 5:30 pm. Through Jan 27.

TWELFTH NIGHT
"Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them." Two Hours' Traffic at Chamber Theater, 915 E Pine St. $10-$30, pay what you can. Fri-Sat at 7:30 pm. Through Jan 20.

WALLFLOWERS: TOO COOL FOR SCHOOL
An improv show about two geeks daydreaming at a middle-school dance. Historic University Theater, 5510 University Way NE, 352-8291. $8-$10. Thurs-Fri at 8 pm. Through Feb 9.

WHITEOUT
One night only. A one-act play about a Montana blizzard that strands William in a dark, empty motel. Written by Nick Stokes, directed by Skye Moody. Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, 322-7030. $5. Sat Jan 6 at 7:30 pm.

Dance

THREE
The Red Tent (inspired by an Anita Diamant novel), Americanism (a multimedia piece), and something new by Jill Leversee. NorthWest Dance Syndrome at Velocity Dance Center, 915 E Pine St, 325-8773. $10-$12. Fri-Sat at 8 pm. Through Jan 13.

Cabaret

THE BEDROOM CLUB Last Supper Club, 124 S Washington St, 748-9975. $10. Wed at 9 pm. BURLESQUE BEHIND THE PINK DOOR Pink Door, 1919 Post Alley, 443-3241. $10. Sat at 10:30 pm. COLUMBIA CITY CABARET Columbia City Theatre, 4916 Rainier Ave S, 605-9920. $20. Fri at 8 pm. LIVE BURLESQUE SeaMonster Lounge, 2202 N 45th St, 633-1824. Free. Tues at 11 pm. THE SINNER SAINT BURLESQUE REVUE Noc Noc, 1516 Second Ave, 223-1333. $10. Thurs at 10 pm.

LOVE LESSONS
Exploring the progress of a relationship through dance, from salsa (first date!) to tap (divorce court). Century Ballroom, 915 E Pine St, second floor, 324-7263. $25-$60. Sat at 6 pm. Through Jan 27.

Improv & Comedy

BROTHERS FROM DIFFERENT MOTHERSOne weekend only. Comedy and juggling by half brothers who do stunts with their feet, chop vegetables in midair, and "catch a horse" using one of their faces. (We don't get it either.) Second Story Repertory, 16587 NE 74th St, Redmond, 425-881-6777. $10. Fri at 7 pm, Sat at 2 and 7 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through Jan 7.

THE COMEDY SHOPColumbia City Theatre, 4916 Rainier Ave S, 723-0088. $12 adv/$15 DOS. Sat at 8:30 and 10:30 pm.

COMEDY UNDERGROUND222 S Main St, 800-325-7328. $6-$15. Fri-Sat at 8:30 and 10:30 pm.

GIGGLES COMEDY CLUB5220 Roosevelt Way NE, 526-5653. $12. Fri-Sat at 8:30 and 10:30 pm.

recommended LAFF HOLE!The People's Republic of Komedy at Capitol Hill Arts Center, 1621 12th Ave, 38 8-0569. $5. Wed at 9 pm.

JET CITY IMPROVHistoric University Theater, 55 10 University Way NE, 352-8291. $8-$10. Fri at 10:30 pm, Sat at 8 and 10:30 pm.

THEATRESPORTSMarket Theater, 1428 Post Alley, 587-2414. $8-$12. Fri at 10:30 pm, Sat at 8 and 10:30 pm.

Late Night

SPIN THE BOTTLE
One night only. Annex Theatre's monthly cabaret, this time featuring dance from Monica Gilliam and Tamin Totzke, characters by Joe Von Appen, and comedy by Mark Siano. Freehold's East Hall Theater, 915 E Pine St, 856-9751. $9. Fri Jan 5 at 11 pm.

WINTER WEEKEND SLUMBER SLAUGHTER
An improvised show in the style of a slasher movie, where the house is snowed in, the phones are dead, and teens get killed—and gratuitously naked. Odd Duck Studio, 1214 10th Ave, 800-838-3006. $10. Fri-Sat at 11 pm. Through Jan 13.