Stage

Openings & Events

and, and, and, Isabella Bootlegs In Samantha Cooper’s play, 17-year-old Brooklyn has to deal with a paranoid, isolated mother. Cornish Playhouse, Seattle Center, machamonkey.org. $18–$20. Opens May 8. 8 p.m. Thurs.–Sat. plus Mon., May 18. Ends May 22.

The Chalk Garden A reading of Enid Bagnold’s 1955 comedy of “wild intrigue, wicked secrets, and hard-won gardening tips,” presented by the Endangered Species Project. ACT, 700 Union St., 292-7676, endangered
speciesproject.org. $10–$15. 7 p.m. Mon., May 11.

Complex Movements: Beware of the Dandelions is an interactive “pod” performance, in which small audiences (limit 35) become survivors in a post-apocalyptic community. On the Boards, 100 W. Roy St., 217-9886. $12–$23. Runs Thurs., May 7–Sun., May 10; see ontheboards.org for exact schedule.

The Drowsy Chaperone A sendup of/homage to high-stepping ’20s musicals. Bainbridge Performing Arts, 200 Madison Ave. N., Bainbridge Island, 842-8569, bainbridge
performingarts.org. $19–$27. Preview May 7, opens May 8. 7:30 p.m. Fri.–Sat., 3 p.m. Sun., plus 7:30 p.m. Mon., May 18. Ends May 24.

El Hijo Prodigo In Jose Amador’s solo memoir, he returns to Puerto Rico after 22 years. West of Lenin, 203 N. 36th St., 352-­1777, westoflenin.com. $10–$15. Opens May 7. 7:30 p.m. Thurs.–Sat. Ends May 16.

The MemoryCare Plays Three poignant one-acts on the theme of coping with Alzheimer’s. Isaac Studio Theatre, 212 N. 85th St., 800-838-3006, taproottheatre.org. 7:30 p.m. Fri., May 8 ($50–$100) & Sat., May 9 ($15–$25).

Mother’s Day Improv Moms are the topic of Unexpected Productions’ comedy show. Market Theater, 1428 Post Alley, unexpectedproductions.org. $15 ($5 for moms). 7 p.m. Sun., May 10.

CURRENT RUNS

Bunnies SEE REVIEW, PAGE 18.

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Cat on a Hot Tin Roof The choice of Laura Griffith and Brandon O’Neill for Maggie and Brick—two examples of the superb casting in this Tennessee Williams revival, directed by Kurt Beattie—was for me a revelation, since I’d only ever seen them in musicals. O’Neill’s portrait of the multiply wounded ex-athlete is a cocktail of bitterness and dry, resigned wit, wringing an amazing amount out of few words. Yet if Brick were merely an ice-cold villain, you’d never buy that Maggie could still be so hot for him; it’s a tightrope O’Neill walks expertly. Griffith’s Maggie and John Aylward’s breathtakingly good Big Daddy come off as fascinating mirror images, partly because of their easy physicality; they seem analogously comfortable in their skins. Only an occasional hint of caricature—which leads to laughs, which leads to a slight emotional distancing—keep Marianne Owen’s Big Mama and Morgan Rowe’s Mae, both performances full of panache, from perfection. Charles Leggett, as Mae’s husband Gooper (Brick’s older brother), is highly effective in his character’s ineffectuality. Testament to the skill of the acting is that the play’s frankness of language and subject matter became startling, even shocking, 60 years after its premiere. GAVIN BORCHERT ACT, 700 Union St., 292-7676. $15–$44. Runs Tues.–Sun.; see acttheatre.org for exact schedule. Ends May 17.

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Outside Mullingar SEE REVIEW, PAGE 18.

The Tall Girls SEE REVIEW, PAGE 19.

For more Current Runs, see seattleweekly.com.

Dance

Girl Gods A work-in progress preview of Pat Graney’s new show (to be premiered in October at On the Boards) which “explores the ancestry of women, individuals and family—and the idea of rage . . . influenced by Judy Chicago’s installation projects and the Earth-Body work of Ana Mendieta.” Century Ballroom/West Hall, 915 E. Pine St., patgraney.org. $7. 8 p.m. Thurs., May 7.

Kaleidoscope Wade Madsen and Anna Mansbridge are among the contributors to this mixed bill. Broadway Performance Hall, 1625 Broadway, 800-838-3006, creative
dance.org. $8–$35. 7:30 p.m. Fri., May 8; 2 & 7:30 p.m. Sat., May 9; 3:30 p.m. Sun., May 10.

Carmona Flamenco Traditional music (with vocalist Samir Osorio) and dance. Cafe Solstice, 4116 University Way N.E., 932-­4067, carmona2@comcast.net. $15–$20. 
8 & 9:30 p.m. Sat., May 9.

Nightcap at The Triple Door: L’Edition Noire The debut of Lily Verlaine’s new dance company House of Verlaine, which combines classical dance (from alumni of Spectrum Dance Theatre, Whim w’Him, Coriolis Dance, and others) and sophisticated burlesque. The Triple Door, 216 Union St., 838-4333, thetripledoor.net. $25–$30. 7 & 10 p.m. Sat., May 9.

Classical, Etc.

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Seattle Opera SEE REVIEW, PAGE 18.

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Machinations Musical, Divers, & Sundry I.e., new experimental works by UW students and alumni. Chapel Performance Space, 4649 Sunnyside Ave. N., 
waywardmusic.org. $5–$15. 8 p.m. Thurs., May 7.

Seattle Symphony Imogen Cooper conducts and plays two Mozart piano concertos (#17 & 24). 7. Benaroya Hall, Third Ave. & Union St., 215-4747, seattlesymphony.org. $35–$120. 7:30 p.m. Thurs., May 7, 8 p.m. Sat., May 9.

Ten Grands Pianos, that is, in a multi-genre benefit concert. Benaroya Hall, Third Ave. & Union St., 215-4747, seattlesymphony.org. $42 and up. 7 p.m. Fri., May 8.

Hiroaki Tohgi From this Chief Court Musician of the Japanese imperial household, a demo of gagaku music and dance. Seattle Asian Art Museum, 1400 E. Prospect St., seattleartmuseum.org. Free. 7:30 p.m. Fri., May 8.

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Seattle Composers Salon A new-music open-mic night, with works by Matthew James Briggs, Jessi Harvey, Ian McKnight, and Michael Owcharuk. Chapel Performance Space, 4649 Sunnyside Ave. N., composer
salon.com. $5–$15. 8 p.m. Fri., May 8.

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Seattle Pro Musica John Muehleisen’s Eternity Passing Over—An Arctic Requiem was commissioned in memory of the parents, killed in a 2005 bear attack, of an SPM member. Plus music by Part and MacMillan. St. James Cathedral, 804 Ninth Ave., 800-838-3006, seattle
promusica.org. $12–$38. 8 p.m. Fri., May 8–Sat., May 9.

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UW Opera Co-producing, with Pacific MusicWorks, Mozart’s a-bit-of-everything fairy tale The Magic Flute. Stratospheric soprano Cyndia Sieden sings the Queen of the Night. Meany Hall, UW campus, 543-4880, pacific
musicworks.org. $10–$40. 7:30 p.m. Fri., May 9–Sat., May 9, 2 p.m. Sun., May 10.

Seattle Symphony Exploring rhythm in a family concert entitled “The Orchestra Rocks.” Benaroya Hall, Third Ave. & Union St., 215-4747, seattlesymphony.org. $15–$20. 11 a.m. Sat., May 9.

Octava Chamber Orchestra Schumann, Respighi, and more. Maple Park Church, 17620 60th Ave. W., Lynnwood, octavachamberorchestra.com. $13–$20. 
7:30 p.m. Sat., May 9.

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B’Shnorkestra “Global Concertos” is Samantha Boshnack’s name for her quintet of new works written for five musicians from diverse traditions. Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute, 104 17th Ave. S., bshnorkestra.com. Suggested donation $5–$15. 8 p.m. Sat., May 9. (Open dress rehearsal with Q&A, 8 p.m. Fri., May 8.)

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Peter Hallock Tribute Concert Music of this composer, long associated with St. Mark’s Cathedral, who died last year. 1245 10th Ave. E., 800-838-3006, saintmarks.org. $20–$25. 8 p.m. Sat., May 9.

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FHTAGN An immersive experience from members of this experimental spatial-music collective. Chapel Performance Space, 4649 Sunnyside Ave. N., wayward
music.org. $5–$15. 8 p.m. Sat., May 9.

Seattle Symphony Chamber Music Prokofiev, Schumann, and Tchaikovsky from SSO musicians. Benaroya Recital Hall, Third Ave. & Union St., 215-4747, seattlesymphony.org. $39. 2 p.m. Sun., May 10.

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American String Project Chamber music (Brahms and Mendelssohn) adapted for string orchestra. Brechemin Auditorium, School of Music, UW campus, 685-8384, music.washington.edu. $15. 2 p.m. Sun., May 10.

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Seattle Youth Symphony Mahler’s Song of the Earth and bits from La traviata. Benaroya Hall, Third Ave. & Union St., 362-2300, syso.org. $15–$48. 3 p.m. Sun., May 10.

Opera on Tap Opera moms are saluted tonight in this informal revue. Paragon, 2125 Queen Anne Ave. N., 
operaontap.org. 7 p.m. Sun., May 10.

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Music of Remembrance Picasso and Gertrude Stein debate art and morality in the premiere of Tom Cipullo’s chamber opera After Life. Benaroya Recital Hall, Third Ave. & Union St., 365-7770, musicofremembrance.org. $30–$40. 7:30 p.m. Mon., May 11.

Douglas Cleveland Mozart, Rorem, and more for organ. Benaroya Hall, Third Ave. & Union St., 215-4747, seattlesymphony.org. $20–$31. 7:30 p.m. Mon., May 11.

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Harry Partch Instrumentarium SEE THE PICK LIST, PAGE 17.

Winds of the Renaissance Music for (self-explanatory) instruments from the (self-explanatory) era. Christ Episcopal Church, 4548 Brooklyn Ave., N.E., 633-1611, 
salishseafestival.org. $15–$25. 7:30 p.m. Tues., May 12.

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Philip Glass In conversation with cellist Rajan Krishnaswami about his memoir Words Without Music. Town Hall, 1119 Eighth St., 624-6600, elliottbaybook.com. $37–$42 (incl. book). 7:30 p.m. Wed., May 13.