Stage

Openings & Events

Family Affair Jennifer Jasper hosts this monthly performance-art cabaret on the theme of family. JewelBox/Rendezvous, 2322 Second Ave., 441-5823, jewelboxtheater.com. $10. 7:30 p.m. Wed., June 19.

Hairspray: In Concert The Seattle Men’s Chorus presents the Broadway lollipop, starring award-winning drag queen Jinkx Monsoon. 5th Avenue Theatre, 1308 Fifth Ave., 625-1900, flyinghouse.org. $23–$73. 8 p.m. Thurs., June 20–Fri., June 21; 2 & 8 p.m. Sat., June 22; 
2 & 7:30 p.m. Sun., June 23.

The Importance of Being Earnest Actors from SPT’s Summer Youth Program take on Wilde’s exquisite farce. Seattle Public Theater at the Bathhouse, 7312 W. Green Lake Ave. N., 524-1300, seattlepublictheater.org. Free. Opens June 22. 7 p.m. Fri.–Sat.; also 2 p.m. Sun., June 23 & Sat., June 29. Ends June 29.

International Festival of Improv A showcase of troupes from Australia to Slovenia. See unexpected
productions.org for exact lineup. Market Theater, 1428 Post Alley, 587-2414. $15/$30 pass. 8:30 p.m. Wed., June 19–Sat., June 22.

Intiman Theatre Festival Four shows in repertory, including Stu for Silverton, a new musical about a small Oregon town’s transgender mayor. Intiman Theatre, Seattle Center. $70–$250. Opens June 21. See intiman.org for full lineup and schedule details. Ends Sept. 15.

Lotus Eaters EP Reggie Watts wrote the music for this “video-heavy multimedia piece,” with text by Tommy Smith and vocal work by author Neil Gaiman. West of Lenin, 203 N. 36th St., 352-1777, westoflenin.com. $15. 
8 p.m. Wed., June 19–Thurs., June 20.

Bill Maher SEE THE WIRE, PAGE 15.

Out & In: A Pride Comedy Showcase Queer (and “queer-affiliated,” whatever that means) stand-up. The Neptune, 1303 N.E. 45th St., 877-STG-4TIX, stgpresents.org. Free. 8 p.m. Tues., June 25.

Teatro ZinZanni: Let’s Hear It for the Boys A boylesque revue to celebrate Pride. Teatro ZinZanni, 222 Mercer St., 802-0015, dreams.zinzanni.org. $45–$55. Doors 10:30 p.m., show 11:15, Sat., June 22.

Worlds’ End Burlesque Revue Inspired by the works of sci-fi writer Neil Gaiman. Re-bar, 1114 Howell St., 800-838-3006, brownpapertickets.com. $20–$75. Opens June 21. 7:30 p.m. Fri.–Sat. Ends June 29.

Current Runs

All in the Timing Experimental productions of David Ives’ short plays. Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave., 800-838-3006, seattlestageright.org. $15. 7:30 p.m. Thurs.–Sat. Ends June 29.

An Evening With Groucho Actor/comedian Frank Ferrante reprises his popular partly scripted, partly improvised tribute show to Groucho Marx. ACT Theatre, 700 Union St., 292-7676. $25–$35. Runs Wed.–Sun.; see 
acttheatre.org for exact schedule. Ends June 30.

Cafe Nordo: SMOKED! Their new culinary/theater experience “channels the spaghetti Westerns of Sergio Leone and the oppression of Monsanto-style agribusiness.” The Kitchen by Delicatus, 309 First Ave. S., cafenordo.com. 7:30 p.m. Thurs. & Sat. ($70), 8 p.m. Fri.–Sat. ($80). Extended through June 23.

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Chicago Desiree Davar makes an excellent Velma Kelly, one of the two bombshells in Kander and Ebb’s musical

She leads a fine cast: As Roxie Hart, Taryn Darr balances trashy and adorable as adroitly as she handles Kristin Holland’s razzmatazz choreography; Timothy McCuen Piggee has serpentine moves to match his portrayal of snake-in-the-grass lawyer Billy Flynn; and Shaunyce Omar brings a dazzling vocal versatility to Mama Morton, from puma-in-heat growls to a full-on Jennifer Hudson. GAVIN BORCHERT Village Theatre, 303 Front St. N., Issaquah, 425-392-2202. $24–$63. Runs Tues.–Sun.; see 
villagetheatre.org for exact schedule. Ends July 28.

Dogg’s Hamlet, Cahoot’s Macbeth Shakespeare reimagined by Tom Stoppard in a British school and Cold War Czechoslovakia. Center House Theatre, Seattle Center, 800-838-3006, soundtheatrecompany.org. $5–$25. 7:30 p.m. Thurs.–Sat., 2 p.m. Sun. Ends June 23.

The Financial Lives of the Poets In Jess Walter’s comic novel, adapted and directed by Myra Platt, a man struggles to stay afloat. Jones Playhouse Theatre, 4045 University Way N.E., 216-0833. $25–$45. Runs Wed.–Sun.; see book-it.org for exact schedule. Ends June 30.

Homebody SEE REVIEW, PAGE 17.

The Horrible Lamb SEE REVIEW, PAGE 17.

Other Desert Cities At the Palm Springs home of proud GOPers Lyman and Polly Wyeth (Kevin Tighe and Pamela Reed), the clan gathers for Christmas. At the center is the family’s Vietnam War–era shame, which daughter Brooke (Marya Sea Kaminski) summarizes thus: “It’s about our brother, who went to war with our parents, joined a cult, disappeared, and then planted a bomb in an army recruiting station before killing himself.” If the insights in Jon Robin Baitz’s script aren’t profound, his dissection of this Reaganite clan is culturally incisive. MARGARET FRIEDMAN ACT Theatre, 700 Union St., 292-7676. $41 and up. Runs Tues.–Sun.; see acttheatre.org for exact schedule. Ends June 30.

SketchFest A month of comedy from a dozen or so ensembles. The Ballard Underground, 2220 N.W. Market St., 800-838-3006, sketchfest.org. $10. 7 & 8:30 p.m. Fri.–Sat. Ends June 29.

Tall Skinny Cruel Cruel Boys Though the writing’s somewhat simplistic and obvious in Caroline McGraw’s one-act premiere, Hannah Victoria Franklin gives a tour-de-force performance as Brandy, a children’s-party clown who doesn’t much care for kids—and who’s kept awake at night by a mangy red demon dwelling under her bed who threatens to pull her down into some hellish netherworld. In McGraw’s morality fable, sex leads just as easily to depravity as to love. Director Jane Nichols wisely substitutes a jaunty momentum and a few chills for the character development absent from McGraw’s script. It ain’t art, but it ain’t bad either. KEVIN PHINNEY The Little Theatre, 608 19th Ave. E., 325-5105, washingtonensemble.org. $15–$25. 7:30 p.m. Thurs.–Mon. Ends June 24.

World’s Fair No, not our 1962 affair: In this improvised crime thriller, a serial killer is on the loose at the Columbian Exposition of 1893. Wing-It Productions, 5510 University Way N.E., 781-3879, jetcityimprov.com. 8 p.m. Thurs.–Fri. Ends June 21.

Writers Group Showcase Readings of works in progress by Keri Healey, Stephanie Timm, and others. Seattle Repertory Theater, Seattle Center, 443-2222, 
seattlerep.org. Free; call for reservations. 7:30 p.m. Fri.–Sat., 4 p.m. Sat.–Sun. Ends June 23.

Dance

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Seattle International Dance Festival Cyrus Khambatta has done it again—packing even more action into his festival. This Wednesday’s showcase includes excerpts from Umami (including its new Constellation Half Remembered) and Kate Wallich + The YC, with a peek at their upcoming 2014 program. Consult the website to create your own mix-and-match program—there’s plenty of dance to work with. SANDRA KURTZ Raisbeck Performance Hall, 2015 Boren Ave. $15–$50. See seattle
idf.org for complete schedule and info through June 23.

Spectrum Dance Theater The premiere of Autopsy of Love, Donald Byrd’s meditation on matters of the heart, set to Schumann’s Dichterliebe. Emerald City Trapeze Arts, 2702 Sixth Ave. S., spectrumdance.org. $20–$25. Opens June 20. 8 p.m. Thurs.–Sat. Ends June 29.

Classical, Etc.

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Seattle Symphony SEE PREVIEW, PAGE 16.

Northwest Girlchoir Current members and alumnae gather to celebrate 40 years with music from Debussy to Annie. Meany Hall, UW campus, 800-838-3006, 
northwestgirlchoir.org. $8–$18. 2 p.m. Sat., June 22.

Ostad Hossein Omoumi This master of the Persian ney, or flute, is joined by vocalist Jessika Kenney. Cornish College/PONCHO Concert Hall, 710 E. Roy St., cornish.edu. $5–$20. 8 p.m. Sat., June 22.

Jean Parkin With pianist Michael Carroll, Italian songs and Mozart lieder. Haller Lake United Methodist Church, 13055 First Ave. N.E. Free. 2 p.m. Sun., June 23.

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Northwest Mahler Festival Each summer, area musicians gather to read through Mahler’s symphonies and similar late-romantic blockbusters. The first of six evenings, featuring music by Elgar and Nielsen, is June 25. Saint Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral, 1245 Tenth Ave. E. $25 session/$75 for all. See nwmahlerfestival.org to 
register. 7 p.m. Tues., June 25.