OPENING AND CURRENT RUNS
* 21 DOG YEARS: DOING TIME @ AMAZON.COM
Opening. Mike Daisey is coming back to Seattle–the solo performer and author returns with 21 Dog Years, his smart and hilarious vivisection of the boom years at Amazon, and dot-com cult(ure) as a whole. Mike Daisey at Intiman Theatre, 201 Mercer St, 269-1900. $27-$42. Fri at 8 pm, Sat at 2 and 8 pm, Sun at 2 and 7:30 pm, Tues-Wed at 7:30 pm. Through Nov 22.
THE AMERICAN DREAM
A production of Edward Albee’s 1961 dark comedy whose press release likens the PATRIOT Act to Temptation Island. Good luck with that. Stone Soup Theatre, 4035 Stone Way N, 633-1883. $15. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm. Through Nov 8.
BABY: THE MUSICAL
The terrifying threat of parasitic invasion haunts three couples faced with potential infestation in Richard Maltby Jr.’s 20-year-old musical, Baby. ArtsWest, 4711 California Ave SW, 938-0963. $10-$28. Thurs-Sat at 7:30 pm, Sun at 3 pm, Wed at 7:30 pm. Through Nov 1.
* CANDIDA
Final week. George Bernard Shaw examines the question of love–by way of broken homes and love triangles. “It’s a serviceable presentation of the play, if not an exciting or challenging one. ” (Bret Fetzer) Taproot Theatre, 204 N 85th St, 781-9707. $18-$26. Wed-Thurs at 7:30 pm. Fri at 8 pm. Sat at 2 and 8 pm. Through Oct 25.
DRACULA: JONATHAN HARKER’S JOURNAL
Opening. Book-It recounts the filthiest parts of Bram Stoker’s original text–in the form of young Harker’s accounts of the count. Blleehhh! BLLEEHHH! Book-It Repertory Theatre at Seattle Center House, 305 Harrison St, 216-0833. $15-$22. Thurs-Sat at 7:30 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through Nov 16.
ESCAPE FROM HAPPINESS
George F. Walker’s dark comedy about the struggle against the forces of happiness we face every day. Sight Nine Theatre at Theatre Off Jackson, 409 Seventh Ave S, 325-6500. $14. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm. Through Nov 1.
FLOWER DRUM SONG
Final week. A revival of the Rodgers & Hammerstein production, concerning the schism betwixt first-generation Chinese immigrants and their offspring. 5th Avenue Theatre, 1308 Fifth Ave, 625-1418. $18-$67. Thurs-Fri at 8 pm, Sat at 2 and 8 pm, Sun at 1 and 7 pm. Through Oct 26.
GINGERBREAD MAN
A group of cleverly personified kitchen utensils faces an ungodly, molasses-infused threat to their secure way of life. Seattle Children’s Theatre, 201 Thomas St, 441-3322. $12-$26. Fri at 7 pm, Sat-Sun at 2 and 5:30 pm. Through Dec 21.
* THE HANGING MAN
This week only. See Stranger Suggests. Improbable Theatre Group at Moore Theatre, 1932 Second Ave, 628-1414. $24-$43. Wed-Thurs at 7:30 pm, Fri at 8 pm, Sat at 2 and 8 pm, Sun at 2 and 7 pm. Through Oct 26.
* THE HORROR IN THE THEATER: AN H. P. LOVECRAFT TRIPTYCH OF TERROR
“If you see one show this season featuring giant, thousand-headed octopi attacking from beyond, make it The Horror in the Theater. ” (Adrian Ryan) Open Circle Theater, 429 Boren Ave N, 382-4250. $13. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 7 pm. Through Nov 8.
HUIS CLOS
Opening. Steeplechase presents a fancified version of Sartre’s No Exit. Hell is other bloated people. Steeplechase at Liberty Deli, 2722 Alki Ave SW, 935-8420. $14, $29 with dinner. Fri-Sat at 8 pm. Through Nov 22.
IMAGINARY INVALID
Opening. Molière’s hypochondria classic, produced as a master’s thesis. UW School of Drama at Playhouse Theatre, University of Washington Campus, 543-4880. $5-$12. Thurs at 7 pm, Fri-Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 2 pm, Wed at 7 pm. Through Nov 9.
IN BETWEEN BLISS
See review this issue. Outcast Productions at Odd Duck Studio, 1214 10th Ave, 325-2080. $12. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm. Through Nov 1.
THE JANUARY BOOK
Final week. Das Barbecü playwright Scott Warrender presents his latest musical, charting four generations at a coastal hotel in Maine. “For all of its minor foibles and flaws, this production has a certain warmth and good humor that I found ultimately charming. ” (Adrian Ryan) Seattle Public Theater, 7312 W Green Lake Dr N, 524-1300. $10-$18. Thurs-Sat at 7:30 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through Oct 26.
LADY FROM THE SEA
Final week. See review this issue. Ghost Light Theatricals at Seattle Center House, 305 Harrison St, 325-6500. $10-$12. Thurs-Sat at 7:30 pm. Through Oct 25.
MING THE RUDE
Empty Space exhumes a mess of old playwrights for a new, family-friendly science-fiction comedy. “They say you can’t polish a turd, but Ming the Rude begs to differ–it’s a shiny, well-executed piece of crap.” (Brendan Kiley) Empty Space Theatre, 3509 Fremont Ave N, 547-7500. $10-$40. Thurs at 7:30 pm, Fri at 8 pm, Sat at 2 and 8 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through Nov 9.
MISALLIANCE
Seattle Repertory Theatre presents George Bernard Shaw’s comedy of a dissatisfied, upper-class brat and her aviatory escapades, directed by Sharon “Perhaps you saw me in the E! True Hollywood Story of Justine Bateman” Ott. Seattle Repertory Theatre, Second Ave and Mercer St, 443-2222. $15-$40. Thurs-Fri at 7:30 pm, Sat-Sun at 2 and 7:30 pm. Through Nov 1.
* OMNIUM-GATHERUM
See review this issue. ACT Theatre, 700 Union St, 292-7676. $10-$45. Thurs at 2 and 7:30 pm, Fri at 8 pm, Sat at 2 and 8 pm, Sun at 2 pm, Tues-Wed at 7:30 pm. Through Nov 2.
* OUR LADY OF SLIGO
Final week. See review this issue. Gael Force Theatre at Union Garage, 1418 10th Ave, 720-1942. $7-$14. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm. Through Oct 25.
PARTY
“Party is the long, drawn-out gay porn flick you never wanted to see, live. The production is lacking in almost everything, save clichés and predictability. “ (Adrian Ryan) Gaydar Productions at Northwest Actors Studio, 1100 E Pike St, 267-2750. $25. Fri at 8 pm, Sat at 7 and 10 pm, Sun at 7 pm. Through Nov 9.
PILEDRIVER!
Final week. A comedy about sexually confused pro wrestlers. “This frantically energetic production is fun and smart, boasts a flawless cast and the hottest simulated stage sodomy I’ve ever seen. ” (Adrian Ryan) Bald Faced Lie at Re-bar, 1114 Howell St, 323-0388. $12. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm. Through Oct 25.
* SATAN’S BITCH: POLTERGEIST
This week only. See Stranger Suggests. Brown Derby at Re-bar, 1114 Howell St, 323-0388. $10. Mon-Wed at 8 pm.
SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK LIVE!
A musical based on the public-service cartoons of yore. Lolly, Lolly, Lolly, get your ironic throwbacks here. ReAct at Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center, 104 17th Ave S, 364-3283. $12-$18. Fri-Sat at 7:30 pm, Sun at 2 and 7:30 pm. Through Nov 9.
TINO DOES TIME
Final week. Fiona J. Torres’ black comedy about a family coping with the arrest of one of its members. “Something about this quirky, bighearted little show alternately warmed my cockles and blew my skirt up, even if it wasn’t going much of anywhere. ” (Adrian Ryan) Live Girls! Theater, 620 Alaskan Way, second floor, 568-1985. $12. Fri-Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through Oct 26.
THE TRUE CONFESSIONS OF CHARLOTTE DOYLE
Final week. A lone British girl learns a series of invaluable life lessons, including such fun facts as “attacking the captain is bad.” Seattle Children’s Theatre, 201 Thomas St, 441-3322. $12-$26. Fri at 7 pm, Sat-Sun at 2 and 5:30 pm. Through Oct 24.
WELL OF LIFE
This week only. Set in the Lebensborn maternity camps of the Nazi regime, Well of Life presents a real-time snapshot of the women housed in Germany’s baby factories. Shunpike Arts Collective at Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, 322-7030. $10. Thurs-Fri at 8 pm, Sat at 2 and 8 pm, Sun at 2 pm.
FESTIVALS, CABARET, & COMEDY
THE CABARET OF DR. CALIGARI
One night only. A bunch of magicians–including Philemon Vanderbeck, Roger Needham, Fredrick Turner–magicize! Rendezvous, 2320 Second Ave, 441-5823. $10. Sun Oct 26 at 7 pm.
CAMPFIRE
Long-form improvisation, based on audience experiences with unexplained–i.e., spooooooky!–phenomena. Unexpected Productions at Market Theater, Post Alley, 781-9273. $5. Fri-Sat at 8 pm. Through Nov 1.
CROONER
Cabaret!–comic and crooned. Jesse Garnee sings the songs of the dead and very nearly dead to those praying for a quick death. Jesse Garnee at Crepe de Paris, 1333 Fifth Ave, 623-4111. $15-$42. Fri-Sat at 8 pm. Through Nov 22.
DAMES!
Opening. Cheryl Serio’s cabaret tribute to tough women in ’30s-’50s cinema. Cheryl Serio at Thumper’s, 1500 E Madison Ave, 328-3800. $12. Oct 24, 25, 30, Nov 1, 7, 14, 15, 21, 28 at 9 pm. Through Nov 28.
A HALLOWEEN CABARET BAZAAR
One night only. A terrifying cabaret performance to benefit CollaboLab’s latest dance performance. CollaboLab at Cafe Standard, 527 S Main St, 718-5531. $12-$15. Wed Oct 29 at 8 pm.
HILARITY ON THE HILL
One night only. A quartet of comedians makes your life worth living again. Thumper’s, 1500 E Madison Ave, 328-3800. $8. Thurs Oct 23 at 9:30 pm.
THE HOBBIT
Final week. “It’s not that The Hobbit is without cheer, but in the book, that jubilance was carefully balanced by wit and menace–qualities appreciated as much by children as adults, and in precious small supply here.” (Bret Fetzer) Carter Family Marionettes at Northwest Puppet Center, 9123 15th Ave NE, 523-2579. $7.50. Fri at 7:30 pm, Sat-Sun at 1 and 3 pm. Through Oct 26.
2003 SEATTLE SKETCHFEST
Final week. Now in its fifth year, Seattle’s SketchFest has grown to feature name-brand acts from across the nation. Broadway Performance Hall, 1625 Broadway Ave, 325-6500. $8-$65. Thurs-Sat, see www.sketchfest.org for full details. Through Oct 25.
DANCE
d9 DANCE COLLECTIVE
Opening. Local dance troupe presents a work by honored choreographer David Dorfman, plus a remount of last year’s Tether. d9 Dance Collective at Velocity MainSpace Theater, 915 E Pine St, second floor, 325-8773. $13-$15. Fri-Sun at 8 pm. Though Nov 2.
DANCES OF THE EAST
One night only. Performers Helene Eriksen and Amelia Moore present a world-spanning jaunt of dance. Helene Eriksen at Capitol Hill Arts Center, 1621 12th Ave, 325-6500. $18-$22. Thurs Oct 23 at 8 pm.
MARTHA GRAHAM DANCE COMPANY
This week only. The nation’s most celebrated dance company embarks on its first national tour in three years with… well, a bunch of 50-year-old work. Martha Graham Dance Company at Meany Theater, University of Washington Campus, 543-4880. $40. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm.