THEATER
OPENING THIS WEEK
HOUSE OF BERNARDA ALBA/CROCODILE EYES · Freehold
ONE WEEK ONLY
ANGELA CARTER’S PUSS IN BOOTS · Odd Duck Studio
AN EVENING WITH ELLEN DEGENERES · Paramount Theatre
FORUM THEATRE · Mandala Center
LA ISLA · Peru Fusion Teatro
LIQUID GIRLS · Seattle Experimental Opera
A NIGHT OF SHITTY THEATRE · Theater Schmeater
SHAVE AND A HAIRCUT · Consolidated Works
SUMMER TANGO BALL · Sonny Newman’s Dance Hall
CLOSING THIS WEEK
CRUMBS FROM THE TABLE OF JOY · Intiman Theatre
CRY, GODDESS, RAGE · EXITheatre
I, BOHEMIA · Theatre Babylon
ON THE VERGE · GREX
RAIN CITY ROLLERS · House of Dames
OPENING AND CURRENT RUNS
*ALL ABOUT MEDEA
An original comedy about backstage hijinks at a drag production of Medea.
“The play is light, charming, smart, sexy, and always in the twilight of
saying something profound or falling apart into laughter.” (Charles Mudede)
Re-bar, 1114 E Howell, 323-0388. Fri-Sun at 8, $12. Through Aug 6.
ANGELA CARTER’S PUSS IN BOOTS
Savvy, tone-deaf cat struck by boots, love. Adapted by Emily Gardner. Odd
Duck Studio, 1214 10th Ave, 861-0249. Thurs-Sat June 29-July 1, 8 pm. $10.
BANG THE DRUM SLOWLY
Third-string catcher gets fatal disease, star pitcher helps him cover it up
so he can stay with the team. Sounds maudlin to me–but I never played baseball
with my dad as a kid, so latent hostility must be coloring my perceptions. Seattle
Theatre Project at the Union Garage, 1418 10th Ave, 382-4250. Thurs-Sat
at 8, Sun at 7, $15. Through July 15.
THE BOUFFANTS
Big wigs, pop songs. Cabaret de Paris, second level of Rainier Square,
1333 Fifth Ave, 623-4111. Thurs at 8, Fri-Sat at 8:30. $16 for just the show,
$42 for dinner too. Through Sept 30.
CRUMBS FROM THE TABLE OF JOY
Nostalgic but socially conscious play about two African American sisters from
the South adjusting to life in the North in 1950s America. Intiman Theatre,
Seattle Center, 269-1900. Thurs-Sat at 8; Tues-Wed, Sun, at 7; Sat-Sun matinees
at 2. $27.50-$42. Through July 1.
CRY, GODDESS, RAGE
A retelling of the Trojan War by EXITheatre, who staged a play in a ’71 Mercedes
Benz in the last Fringe Fest. “Without any of the formal choices tied into
a deeper consideration of theme, the play becomes an untethered exercise in
manipulating the basic story…. The show as performed is slightly better than
its scary, run-the-other-way title.” (Tom Spurgeon) Nu Black Arts West,
153 14th Ave, 779-2284. Thurs-Sat at 8, $10. Through July 1.
FORUM THEATRE
An interactive presentation shaped by Augusto Boal’s techniques for a Theatre
of the Oppressed. Chamber Theatre, 915 E Pine St, Fourth Floor, 297-5059.
Fri June 30, 7:30 pm. Free.
THE HOUSE OF BERNARDA ALBA/CROCODILE EYES
Two plays look at the same tale of sexual repression in 1930s Spain from different
perspectives. Presented by the Ensemble Training Intensive. Freehold,
East Hall Theatre, 1525 10th Ave, Second Floor. Thurs-Sat at 8, Sun at 7. Admission
by donation. Through July 9.
I, BOHEMIA
This satire of a left-wing theater collective is based on playwright Marcy
Redenborn’s own experiences as an apprentice with the San Francisco Mime Troupe,
a left-wing theater collective. “Redenborn explains a story rather than tells
one; the audience is trapped in overheard conversations among old friends not
their own.” (Tom Spurgeon) Theatre Babylon at the Union Garage, 1418
10th Ave, 720-1942. Thurs-Sat at 8, $12. Through July 1.
*INTELLIGENCE
The latest play by Scot “Sgt. Rigsby & His Amazing Silhouettes” Augustson,
about a gay man blackmailed by the State Department into getting information
out of a visiting Russian physicist. “A solid and tight piece, peppered with
enough clever plot twists and dimensions to satisfy and surprise the most seasoned
(read: jaded) audience member.” (Adrian Ryan) Annex Theatre, 1916
Fourth Ave, 728-0933. Thurs-Sat at 8, Sun at 7. $12 regular, $7 students. Through
July 15.
LA ISLA
A Spanish-language version of Athol Fugard’s The Island, presented
with simultaneous translation. This production has been touring to theater festivals
all over the world; acting and directing workshops are also being presented,
call for details. Seattle Public Theatre at the Greenlake Bathhouse Theatre,
7312 W Greenlake Dr N, 328-4848 ext. 2. Sat-Sun July 1-2, 8 pm. $12.
LATE NIGHT CATECHISM
“While non-Catholics will find Sister’s pathological disdain of chewing
gum and broken rulers amusing, members of the faith will find it hilarious.“
(Adrian Ryan) A Contemporary Theatre, 700 Union St, 292-7676. Thurs-Sat
at 8, Sun at 2. $24.50-$29.50. Extended for eternity.
LIQUID GIRLS
SEXO (Seattle Experimental Opera) returns with a new opera by Christian Asplund
and Lara Candland. See Stranger Suggests. Nippon Kan Theater,
628 S Washington, 888-424-2525. Fri June 30 at 8 and 10; Sat July 1 at 2, 8,
and 10. $15, $10 students/seniors.
*MEDEA, THE MUSICAL
The Greek tragedy Medea presented as a gay musical, also featuring
backstage shenanigans. A big hit in San Francisco and L.A. “A comedy with
lots of laughs, music, and flamboyant acting, but it wants to do much more than
simply entertain us–it also wants to address feminist concerns within the context
of contemporary queer theater.” (Charles Mudede) ArtsWest Theatre Company,
4711 California Ave SW, 938-0339. Thurs-Sat at 8, $18-$22. Runs for as long
as they can milk it.
A NIGHT OF SHITTY THEATRE
A bunch of terrible but short plays, presented as a benefit for Naugahyde
Productions. Theater Schmeater, 1500 Summit Ave, 729-4839. Fri-Sat June
30-July 1, 8 pm. $10 suggested donation.
ON THE VERGE
Eric Overmeyer’s highly verbal adventure of three Victorian women traveling
from 19th-century New England to 1955 Las Vegas, produced by GREX. Book-It
Repertory Theater, 1219 Westlake Ave N, Suite 301, 985-1019. Thurs-Sat at
8, $12. Extended through July 1.
RAIN CITY ROLLERS
Bitchin’ babes on skates tell the tale of Orpheus and Eurydice through song
and competitive roller derby. “Nikki Appino knows everything there is to
know about putting together a completely realized, excellently produced, well-designed,
well-funded, stuffed-with-talented-actors show. Everything, that is, except
how to make a satisfying, pleasurable piece of art out of all that.” (Eric
Fredericksen) House of Dames at Sand Point Naval Base, Hangar 2S, 7400
Sand Point Way NE, 720-5252. Thurs-Sun at 8, with 10:30 pm performances on Fri-Sat
nights. $16-$20. Through July 2.
*THE SCANDAL!
“Kristen Kosmas is a remarkably restrained performer…. If her voice wasn’t
so clear and listenable one could almost accuse her of muttering…. the
scandal! is a solid show from a mature, confident performer, and deserves
to be seen.” (Tom Spurgeon) New City Theatre, First Christian Church,
1632 Broadway, 328-4683. Thurs-Sat at 8, $10-$12. Through July 8.
THE SEAGULL
Seattle’s cutest and feistiest theater troupe tackles Chekhov, staging the
play on the Kalakala ferry. Printer’s Devil Theatre at the Kalakala,
2555 N Northlake Way (note: street parking only), 328-2690. Wed-Sun at 8. Fri-Sat,
$12 suggested donation; other nights, $10. Pay-what-you-can on Wed July 12.
Through July 21. Reviewed this issue.
UNDER THE GASLIGHT
“It’s hard to believe any theater company in the year 2000 would produce
a two-hour Carol Burnett sketch and attempt to pass it off as a celebration
of a discarded theatrical form.” (Tom Spurgeon) Empty Space, 3509
Fremont Ave, 547-7500. Tues-Sun, times vary. $18-$26. Through July 9.
DANCE
SUMMER TANGO BALL
The Ninth Annual Tango Ball hosted by Sonny Newman, featuring Nito and Elba
Garcia from Argentina, as well as tango dancers from the Puget Sound area. Nito
and Elba will also be presenting workshops; call for details. Temple DeHirsch
Sinai, 1512 Union, 784-3010. Sat July 1, 8 pm. $25 in advance, $30 at the
door.
FESTIVALS, CABARETS, & COMEDY
AN EVENING WITH ELLEN DEGENERES
DeGeneres has become more famous for being queer than for being funny. Let’s
hope she’s trying to fix that. Paramount Theatre, 911 Pine St, 628-0888. Thurs June 29, 8 pm. $23.50-$36.
HOKUM’S RAGTIME NICKELODEON REVUE
Professor Hokum W. Jeebs returns with an evening of ragtime, silent cinema,
classic vaudeville, and the big sounds of the mighty 1929 WurliTzer Theatre
Pipe Organ. “I felt somehow like we were fireflies raising our tiny lights
into a shimmering chorus, sharing our voices before descending into the inevitable
darkness.“ (Tamara Paris) Hokum Hall, 7904 35th
Ave SW, 937-3613. Fri-Sat at 8. $12 general, $10 student/senior, discounts available.
Open-ended engagement.
JULIE CASCIOPPO EXPERIENCE
“Cascioppo has confidently tossed schmaltz, a Casio keyboard, a couple
of exhausted-looking wigs, naughty banter and… songs you thought you hated
into a furiously agitating blender. The cocktail concocted goes down shockingly
smooth.” (Tamara Paris) Pink Door, Pike Place Market, 1919 Post Alley,
443-3241. Tues at 8:30 & 11. No cover.
SHAVE AND A HAIRCUT
A non-stop cabaret with dance, theater, poetry, rotten fruit, and the Ottoman
Bigwigs. Other performers include the freaky Mark Boeker, the even freakier
Seanjohn Walsh, and John Kaufman, who looks completely normal but is a total
freak. Consolidated Works, 410 Terry Ave N, no reservations. Sat July
1, 8 pm. $10.
THREE DOLLAR BILL
“Like most disreputable arts, standup now offers a more compelling product
for its lack of adoration. Billed as a gay- and lesbian-oriented show, Three
Dollar Bill also works as a low-cost current comedy primer.” (Tom Spurgeon)
Comedy Underground, 222 S Main St, 628-0303. Tues at 8. $6.
LATE NIGHT
CLAUSTROPHILIA
Morbid play about Edgar Allen Poe and his child bride, by S.F. playwright
Amy Freed, whose The Psychic Life of Savages was a recent hit at the
Empty Space. Annex Theatre, 1916 Fourth Ave, 728-0933. Fri-Sat at 11
pm (no performance on July 7). $5, free if you see the prime-time show. Through
July 14.
JET CITY IMPROV
Improv comedy and music based on audience suggestions. “The show goes down
really smoothly. One only wishes for better direction.” (Tom Spurgeon) Ethnic
Cultural Theater, 3940 Brooklyn Ave NE, 781-3879. Fri-Sat at 10:30. $7,
$5 with student ID. ALSO: Through August, Jet City performs live with Fremont
Friday Night Outdoor Movies, improvising dialogue and sound-effects for
B-movies shown without sound. Adobe Parking under the Aurora Bridge in Fremont;
bring your own chair, suggested donation of $5. Fri June 30 at dusk: Tarantula!
THEATER SPORTS
“The only improvisational show I’ve ever seen where the women performers
were clearly better than the men–a welcome change from the over-aggressive
scene-stealing of many male-driven troupes.” (Tom Spurgeon) Market Theater, 1428 Post Alley, 781-9273. Fri-Sat at 10:30, $9; Sun at 7, $5.
UP IN YOUR GRILL
The Grill folks are tearing it up weekly with fast and furious comic sketches.
Speakeasy, 2304 Second Ave, 444-4336. Sat at 11 (opening acts at 10:30).
$7.
CALLS
Centerstage in Federal Way is holding auditions on August 7 & 8 for two fall
productions, including an adaptation of Little Women. Call 253-661-1444
or e-mail centerstagetheatre@yahoo.com for further information.
One World Theatre is seeking a male actor 30-50 years old for paid position.
Performances Sept 28-Oct 15. Equity or non-equity considered. Please call 264-1735
for audition details.
Queercore, a program of Gay City Health Project, is looking for writers for
an original play about gay and bi men under 30, entitled If These Queers
Could Talk. Call Robert at 860-6969 for more information.
Seattle Public Theater holds Summer Theatre Day Camps for kids, starting on
July 10; programs range from grades 3-12. Workshops held at the Bathhouse in
Green Lake; contact Lauren Marshall or Alexis Chamow at 328-4848.
A short comic film seeks male and female actors in their 20s to 40s for a
shoot in late August. Send headshot and resume with cover letter to: Dave Monks,
Beautiful Filmed Entertainment, 3612 Whitman Ave N #4, Seattle, WA 98103, or
e-mail BeautifulFilms@aol.com.