Want more? Here’s everything we recommend this month: Music, Visual Art, Literature, Performance, Film, Food & Drink, This & That.
Seattle Opera Presents: Salome
Oct 17–31
The Seattle Opera is kicking off the season with Richard Strauss’s single-act opera Salome, adapted to German from Oscar Wilde’s play, which was originally written in French. Strauss’s take on the play famously strips down Wilde’s original story, removing Wilde’s motifs and leaving its most thrilling and shocking elements. What remains is an hour-and-a-half tragedy (which is actually short by opera standards). The piece shocked audiences when it premiered back in 1905 because of its Biblical nature blended with erotic and murderous elements. Don’t miss the Seattle Opera’s production, which will be brought to life through stunning sets from Leslie Travers, 80-plus members of the Seattle Symphony, and Grammy-nominated soprano Brenda Rae. (McCaw Hall, times vary) AUDREY VANN
Oh, Mary!
Nov 3–8
I was lucky enough to catch Cole Escola’s award-winning play Oh, Mary! at New York’s Lyceum Theatre last month, during Meg Stalter’s administration, and it was every bit as hilarious, joyous, and irreverent as critics and fans have claimed since it first hit Broadway in 2024. I mean, you don’t need me to tell you that: It won two Tonys, a Laurence Olivier Award, and it was nominated for a Pulitzer. Stalter—who already won my heart as Kayla in Hacks—was utterly delightful, perfectly balancing the brattiness, confidence, and naivety of Escola’s Mary Todd Lincoln as she struggled to accept that she was the President’s wife and not a cabaret superstar. I’ll be honest, my enthusiasm for catching the touring production when it rolled through Seattle was slightly tempered when I learned Escola would not be starring, but the casting is still impressive, with Alaska Thunderfuck as Mary and Tony Award-winner J. Harrison Ghee as Lincoln (aka Mary’s husband). Besides, we’ll all get to see Escola in the role when HBO premieres stage filming of Oh, Mary in 2027. (Paramount Theatre, times vary) MEGAN SELING
More
Seattle Rep Presents: Eulogy or How to Play Your Own Funeral (And Have Fun Doing It!) Through Oct 11, PONCHO Forum, times vary
Union Arts Center Presents: Hamlet Through Oct 11, Allen Theatre, times vary
The Chinese Lady Through Oct 11, ArtsWest, times vary
Rocky Horror Picture Show Starring Izzy Access and Friends Oct 11, Unicorn Bar, 7 pm and 10 pm
Water for Elephants Through Oct 11, Paramount Theatre, times vary
References to Salvador Dalí Make Me Hot Through Oct 17, Center Theatre at the Seattle Center Armory, times vary
Conscience Through Oct 17, Taproot Theatre, times vary
Emerald City Slasher: An Improvised Mystery Play Through Oct 31, West of Lenin, all ages
Zombie Cheerleaders From Hell Through Nov 1, Can Can, times vary, 21+
Seattle Rep Presents: Fancy Dancer Through Nov 2, Leo K. Theater, times vary
Seattle Rep Presents: Eureka Day Through Nov 15, Leo K. Theater, times vary
Tush: Inga & Queen Andrew Scott, Amora Namor, Pussy Willow, Stasia Coup, Betty Wetter, DJ Dark Wiley Oct 8, Clock-Out Lounge, 8 pm
Uncle Basement’s Attic of Horrors Oct 8–10, Theatre Off Jackson, times vary
Sam Jay Oct 8–10, Laughs Comedy Club, times vary
Rat Cage Oct 8–24, Annex Theatre, times vary
Call Your Mom Tour With Max and Alexis Oct 9, Vermillion, 9 pm
Washington Ensemble Theatre Presents: Xquisite Corpse Oct 9–31, Base Camp Studios, times vary
Holland Andrews and yuniya edi kwon: How does it feel to look at nothing Oct 15–17, On the Boards, 7:30 pm
This Is Halloween Oct 15–31, Triple Door, times vary, 21+ and all ages shows
Save Her: Pattie Gonia, Sequoia, VERA Oct 16, Showbox SoDo, 8 pm, 21+
Bosco Presents: GRINDHAUS Oct 16–17, Crocodile, times vary
Fussy Cloud Puppet Slam Volume 32: Neon Nightmares Oct 16–17, Theatre Off Jackson, times vary
Circus of Steam & Shadows: Paranormal Archives Oct 16–25, Georgetown Steam Plant, times vary, all ages
Neha and Neel Oct 16–Nov 8, Seattle Public Theater, times vary
Maria Bamford Oct 17, Neptune Theatre, 4 and 8 pm, all ages
Joey Dardano Oct 18, Rabbit Box Theatre, 6:30 pm, all ages
George Civeris Oct 21, Emerald City Comedy Club, 7:30 pm
Alex Falcone Oct 22–24, Laughs Comedy Club, times vary
Pandora’s Playpen Oct 23, Kremwerk, 7 pm, 21+
SENSORIUM3 Oct 23–Dec 13, Base Camp Studios 2, times vary
International Ballet Theatre: Dracula Oct 25, 5th Ave Theatre, 7 pm
Marie Faustin Oct 25, Emerald City Comedy Club, 7 pm
Hocus Pocus Drag Brunch Oct 25, Emerald City Comedy Club, 3 pm, 21+
International Ballet Theatre: Dracula Oct 25, 5th Avenue Theatre, 7 pm, all ages
Nate Varrone: Interesting Perspectives Tour Oct 28, Rabbit Box Theatre, 7:30 pm, all ages
Tush: Betty Wetter, Drama Tops, Keyes Wiley, Beau Degas, Miss Texas 1988, Moscato Sky Oct 29–30, Clock-Out Lounge, times vary
Carnevolar XIV: Ascension: Halloween Circus Show and Dance Party Oct 29–31, Emerald City Tapreze Arts, times vary, 21+
Freakshow: Kali Kobra, Sid Seedy, Dyyke Otomy, Feather Fatale, Lamina Moon, Estrogina Jolie, Absinthe Father, Kymera D’Vil Oct 31, Cherry, 6 pm
Queen Andrew Scott: Rhythm and Horror Oct 31–Nov 1, Triple Door
Find all these listings and more on our sister site, EverOut Seattle! EverOut.com/Seattle
