Stage

Openings & Events

August Wilson Monologue Competition High-school actors vie for cash and a trip to the national finals in NYC. Seattle Repertory Theatre, Seattle Center, 443-2222, seattlerep.org. Free. 7:30 p.m. Tues., March 17.

Carnival An innocent young woman joins a French circus in this musical based on the film Lili (not to be confused with Carousel, based on the play Liliom). Carlson Theater, Bellevue College campus, 3000 Landerholm Circle S.E., Bellevue, 800-838-3006, brownpapertickets.com. $10–$12. 7:30 p.m. Wed., March 11–Sat., March 14.

Carousel The 5th Avenue’s Rising Star Project education program gives students the opportunity to produce and perform a show on the mainstage. 5th Avenue Theatre, 1308 Fifth Ave. ,625-­1900, 5thavenue.org. $15–$25. 10 a.m. & 7 p.m. Fri., March 13, 2 p.m. Sat., March 14.

The Comparables Strong and glamorous high-end real-estate agents Bette, Monica, and Iris are faced with a tough decision after Bette’s reputation is questioned in a new play by Laura Schellhardt. Seattle Repertory Theatre, Seattle Center, 443-2222. $17–$102. Opens March 11. 7:30 p.m. Wed.–Sun. plus some Wed. & weekend matinees; see seattlerep.org for exact schedule. Ends March 29.

Family Affair Jennifer Jasper’s “hilarious, twisted, and ultimately relatable” cabaret on the theme of family. JewelBox Theater at the Rendezvous, 2322 Second Ave., jenniferjasperperforms.com. $10. 7:30 p.m. Wed., March 18.

House of Thee UnHoly This rock/burlesque extravaganza celebrates the ’70s. The Triple Door, 216 Union St., 838-4333, thetripledoor.com. $20–$45. 7 & 10 p.m. Wed., March 11–Sat., March 14; 5 & 8 p.m. Sun., March 15. (Early shows 17 and over, late shows 21 and over.)

Human Identity Christopher Vened’s solo show asks the questions “What does it mean to be human? Who am I?” Oh, is that all? Annex Theatre, 1100 E. Pike St., annex
theatre.org. $22. 8 p.m. Fri., March 13–Sat., March 14.

Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well & Living in Paris Well, he was when this revue celebrating the Belgian songwriter opened in 1968. ACT Theatre, 700 Union St., 292-7676, acttheatre.org. $15–$49. Preview March 11, opens March 12. 7:30 p.m. Tues.–Wed., 8 p.m. Thurs.–Fri., 2 & 8 p.m. Sat., 2 & 7 p.m. Sun. Ends May 17.

March Is Cabaret Month Classic cabaret from a variety of artists; see ballardjamhouse.com for lineup. Egan’s Ballard Jam House, 1707 N.W. Market St., 789-1621. $15 for one show, $25 for both (+ $10 food/drink min.). 7 & 9 p.m. Fri.–Sat. Ends March 28.

Purple Rain The Prince movie is sent up as part of the Brown Derby Series: “ridiculously staged readings of your favorite screenplays—heavily edited and immaturely adapted.” Re-bar, 1114 Howell St. $20–$25. 8 p.m. Thurs., March 12–Sat., March 14.

Snow Falling on Cedars A stage version of David Guterson’s Puget Sound-set play. Bainbridge Performing Arts, 200 Madison Ave. N., Bainbridge Island, 842-8569, bainbridgeperformingarts.org. $19–$27. Preview March 12, opens March 13. 7:30 p.m. Fri.–Sat., 3 p.m. Sun., plus 7:30 p.m. Mon., March 23. Ends March 29.

Tartuffe Seattle Shakespeare Company is resetting, to 1947, Moliere’s enduring farce about swindlers and hypocrisy. Center House Theatre, Seattle Center Armory, ­733-­8222. $25–$48. Previews March 17–19, opens March 20. 7:30 p.m. Wed.–Sat. plus some weekend matinees; see seattleshakespeare.org for exact schedule. Ends April 12.

Y-­WE Speak A theater piece built from the personal stories of 13 teenage girls. Seattle Repertory Theatre, Seattle Center, 443-2222, seattlerep.org. Free. 2 p.m. Sat., March 14.

CURRENT RUNS

Avenue Q (School Edition) From what I remember of this show, a version with the diciest stuff removed would last about 12 minutes. I may be wrong. Youth Theatre Northwest, TPS Studio 4, Seattle Center Armory, 232-4145 x109, youththeatre.org. $10–$17. 
7 p.m. Fri.–Sat., 2 p.m. Sun. Ends March 22.

Blood/Water/Paint Live Girls! premieres Joy McCullough-Carranza’s drama about baroque painter Artemisia Gentileschi. Theatre Off Jackson, 409 Seventh Ave. S., 800-838-3006, lgtheater.org. $15–$22. 8 p.m. Thurs.–Sat. Ends March 14.

Chinglish SEE REVIEW, PAGE 19.

Cirque du Soleil “KURIOS—Cabinet of Curiosities” asks “What if by engaging our imagination and opening our minds we could unlock the door to a world of wonders?” Marymoor Park, 6046 W. Lake Sammamish Pkwy. N.E., Redmond, 800-450-1480, cirquedusoleil.com/kurios. $35–$156. 8 p.m. Tues.–Sat., 4:30 p.m. Sat. (& some Fri.), 1:30 & 5 p.m. Sun. Ends March 22.

The Flick SEE REVIEW, PAGE 19.

The God of Hell Outraged by the Bush administration, the Iraq War, the Patriot Act, Gitmo, Abu Ghraib, etc., Sam Shepard hastily composed this absurdist and somewhat awkward farce in 2004. In a plot combining elements from FOX News and Star Trek, the uncomplicated existence of Wisconsin dairy farmers Frank (Edwin Scheibner) and Emma (Maureen Miko) is upended when they host Mr. Haynes (Keith Dahlgren), a presumed scientist on the run from a secret U.S. plutonium project. In pursuit, masquerading as a door-to-door salesman hawking patriotic products, the government henchman Welch (Gianni Truzzi) comes knocking. From there we are taken on a rugged route reconnoitering torture, politics, and democracy. Near the end, long after Verfremdungseffekt has morphed into unmitigated indifference, Frank says sincerely, “I miss the Cold War.” Yet every epoch has its atrocities and political rationales to ridicule, as the playwright (and theatergoer) knows. Why doesn’t God of Hell (directed by Joanna Goff Sunde) raise my hackles in the year 2015? Perhaps because it does not incite the intended ire; and, damn it, I wanted to be outraged—not bored by more partisan sniping. ALYSSA DYKSTERHOUSE Stone Soup Theatre, 4029 Stone Way N., 633-1883, stonesouptheatre.org. $15–$25. 8 p.m. Thurs.–Sat. Ends March 14.

Good Morning Campers Jet City Improv “lets audiences relive the wonders of summer camp without any of the homesickness.” Yes, you will sing along. 5510 University Way N.E., jetcityimprov.org. $12–$15. 8 p.m. Thurs.–Fri. Ends March 20.

Goodnight Moon Based on the bedtime book by Margaret Wise Brown and Clement Hurd, this musical debuted here in 2007. Now a new wave of kids can enjoy it. Seattle Children’s Theatre, Seattle Center, 441-3322. $20 and up. Runs Thurs.–Sun.; see sct.org for exact schedule. Ends April 26.

The Hostage Brendan Behan’s play about a British solddier held to be exchanged for an IRA prisoner includes slapstick, satire, and musical numbers. Jones Playhouse, 4045 University Way N.E., 543-4880, drama.washington.edu. $10–$18. 7:30 p.m. Wed.–Sat., 2 p.m. Sun. Ends March 15.

I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change Joe DiPietro’s long-running off-Broadway hit about the vagaries of love. Burien Actors Theatre, 14501 Fourth Ave. S.W., Burien, 242-­5180, burienactorstheatre.org­. $7–$20. 
8 p.m. Fri.–Sat., 2 p.m. Sun. Ends March 22.

The Long Road/Nine Two gripping one-act dramas, presented by Arouet. Eclectic Theater, 1214 10th Ave., 800-838-3006, arouet.us. $12–$40. 7:30 p.m. Thurs.–Sat. Ends March 14.

Next to Normal A “typical” American family is anything but because of the mother’s 16-year battle with manic depression. SecondStory Rep, 16587 N.E. 74th St., Redmond, 425-881-6777, secondstoryrep.org. $27. 8 p.m. Thurs.–Sat. plus 2 p.m. Sun., March 15. Ends March 15.

Seven Ways to Get There Here’s an earnest new comedy of hybrid parentage: Dwayne J. Clark, a local businessman, is the newbie fictionalizing his past experiences in a men’s therapy group; writer Bryan Willis is the stage professional who helped him shape that circular sharing into a two-act structure. (John Langs directs at a brisk, welcome pace.) With a female shrink running herd on seven neurotic dudes with various maladies, the laughs here ought to come quick. This is a situation verging on sitcom, where you need the experienced joke-smithery of a Neil Simon. Yet the writing just isn’t there; instead we have easy male put-downs, talk of a porn co-op, the guys bursting into pirate banter, spontaneous dance parties, even a fart joke or two. Therapist Michelle (Kirsten Potter) implores her rather typical patients to open up and take more risks. Would that the play did the same. BRIAN MILLER ACT Theatre, 700 Union St., 292-7676. $20–$65. Runs Thurs.–Sun.; see acttheatre.org for exact schedule. Ends March 15.

Teatro ZinZanni: The Hot Spot Frank Ferrante and Dreya Weber return for TZ’s new show, in which “love and magic in the digital age collide.” Teatro ZinZanni, 222 Mercer St., 802-0015. $99 and up. Runs Thurs.–Sun. plus some Wed.; see zinzanni.com/seattle for exact schedule. Ends June 7.

Dance

• 

Michelle Ellsworth SEE THE PICK LIST, PAGE 17.

• 

PNB: The Vertiginous Thrill of Forsythe 
SEE THE PICK LIST, PAGE 18.

AJnC Dance Amy Johnson has a quirky sense of humor—her new Believe Me or Not should give her plenty of scope for silliness. 12th Avenue Arts, 1620 12th Ave., 800-838-3006, brownpapertickets.com. $15. 8 p.m. Fri.–Sun. Ends March 14.

International Ballet Theater

Alice in Wonderland is guaranteed to enchant. Meydenbauer Center, 11100 N.E. Sixth St., Bellevue, 425-284-0444, ibtbellevue.org. $25–$40. Noon & 3 p.m. Sat., March 14–Sun., March 15.

Carmona Flamenco Traditional music and dance. Cafe Solstice, 4116 University Way N.E., 932-4067, carmona@comcast.net. $15–$20. 8 & 9:30 p.m. Sat., March 14.

Classical, Etc.

UW Choirs The

Chamber Singers and University Chorale perform. Meany Hall, UW campus, 543-4880, music.
washington.edu. $10–$15. 7:30 p.m. Wed., March 11.

• 

Seattle Symphony SEE EAR SUPPLY, THIS PAGE.

• 

Olga Kern From this pianist, music by oddball hyper-virtuoso Charles-Valentin Alkan, plus Beethoven, Chopin, and Rachmaninoff. Meany Hall, UW campus, 543-4880, uwworldseries.org. $40–$45. 7:30 p.m. Thurs., March 12.

• 

UW Campus Philharmonia UW’s energetic new orchestra for non-majors plays Mozart, Rossini, and Schubert.. Room 130, Kane Hall, UW campus. Free. 7:30 p.m. Thurs., March 12.

Northwest Sinfonietta Cuban jazz with pianist Aldo Gavilan and the Harlem quartet. Benaroya Recital Hall, Thurd Ave. & Union St., 215-4747, northwestsinfonietta.org. $20–$55. 7:30 p.m. Fri., March 13.

Hans-Jurgen Schoor From this German harpsichordist, Bach’s “Goldberg” Variations. Christ Episcopal Church, 4548 Brooklyn Ave. N.E., 633-1611, salishseafestival.org. $15–$25. 7:30 p.m. Fri., March 13.

UW Symphony Winners of the student Concerto Competition perform Faure, Reinecke, and more. Meany Hall, UW campus, 543-4880, music.washington.edu. $10–$15. 7:30 p.m. Fri., March 13.

• 

Torch This quartet is “poised between progressive jazz, post-rock, and contemporary classical.” Chapel Performance Space, 4649 Sunnyside Ave. N. $5–$15. 
8 p.m. Fri., March 13.

The Met: Live in HD Joyce DiDonato and Juan Diego Florez, two of today’s biggest bel canto stars, sing Rossini’s La donna del lago. See fathomevents.com for participating theaters. 10 a.m. Sat., March. 14, encored 6:30 p.m. Wed., March 18.

• 

Northwest Symphony Sean Osborn is the soloist in Gerald Finzi’s Clarinet Concerto; Anthony Spain also conducts music by Peter Seibert and Vaughan-Williams. Holy Rosary Church, 4142 42nd Ave. S.W., 242-6321, northwest
symphonyorchestra.org. $12–$15. 8 p.m. Sat., March 14.

• 

Coppice This Chicago duo of bellows (i.e., pump organ) and electronics performs, sharing a bill with Mathieu Ruhlmann & Joda Clement (from Vancouver) and John Teske & Neil Welch (Seattle). Chapel Performance Space, 4649 Sunnyside Ave. N. $5–$15. 8 p.m. Sat., March 14.

Gallery Concerts Chamber music by Bach’s contemporaries. Queen Anne Christian Church, 1316 Third Ave. W., 726-6088, galleryconcerts.org. $15–$30. 7:30 p.m. Sat., March 14, 3 p.m. Sun., March 15.

Catalin Rotaru Music for double bass from this Arizona State faculty musician. Brechemin Auditorium, School of Music, UW campus, 685-8384, music.washington.edu. $15. 2 p.m. Sun., March 15.

Seattle Youth Symphonies All four orchestras perform. Benaroya Hall, Third Ave. & Union St., 362-2300, syso.org. $15–$48. 3 p.m. Sun., March 15.

Seattle Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra Wind-quintet music from SMCO players. Kent Lutheran Church, 336 Second Ave. S., Kent, seattlemetropolitan
chamberorchestra.com. $12.50. 3 p.m. Sun., March 15.

Music Northwest Schubert’s “Trout” Quintet and Mozart’s divertimento for string trio. Olympic Recital Hall, 6000 16th Ave. S.W., 937-2899, musicnorthwest.org. $16–$18. 3 p.m. Sun., March 15.

Northwest Chamber Choir/Concord Chamber Choir Frank Martin’s Mass for Double Choir, plus Gorecki, Messiaen, and more. Phinney Ridge Lutheran Church, 7500 Greenwood Ave. N., 3 p.m. Sun., March 15; and Bellevue Presbyterian Church, 1717 Bellevue Way N.E., Bellevue, 7:30 p.m. Sat., March 21. $12–$22. northwestchamberchorus.org.