Stage Openings & Events Blood Relations Sharon Pollock brings the saga of

By By Gavin Borchert • September 3, 2014 1:48 pm

Stage

Openings & Events

Blood Relations Sharon Pollock brings the saga of Lizzie Borden to the stage. Center Theatre at the Cornish Playhouse Studio, Seattle Center, 800-838-3006, soundtheatrecompany.org. $15–$25. Preview Sept. 11, opens Sept. 12. 7:30 p.m. Thurs.–Sat. plus Mon., Sept. 22; 2 p.m. Sun. Ends Sept. 27.

A Chorus Line Marvin Hamlisch’s iconic backstage musical, with a cast of local all-stars. 5th Avenue Theatre, 308 Fifth Ave., 625-1900, 5thavenue.org. $29 and up. Previews through Sept. 10, opens Sept. 11. 7:30 p.m. Tues.–Wed., 8 p.m. Thurs.–Fri., 2 & 8 p.m. Sat., 
1:30 & 7 p.m. Sun. Ends Sept. 28.

The Doctor Seattle Experimental Theater’s improvised Doctor Who sendup. Theatre Off Jackson, 409 Seventh Ave. S., 800-838-3006, seattleexperimental
theater.com. 8 p.m. Thurs., Sept. 11–Sat., Sept. 13, 
2 p.m. Sun., Sept. 14.

Don Quixote & Sancho PanzA: Homeless in Seattle eSe Teatro’s update of Cervantes’ picaresque is “dedicated to all the gentlemen and gentlewomen who roam the streets with dignity.” ACT Theatre, 700 Union St., 292-7676. Preview Sept. 10, opens Sept. 12. $25–$30. Runs Thurs.–Sun.; see 
acttheatre.org for exact schedule. Ends Sept. 28.

Everything but the Paper Relationships, arranged and otherwise, among Indian-Canadians are explored in Sonal Champsee’s new comedy. Bellevue Youth Theatre, 16661 Northup Way, Bellevue, pratidhwani.org. $10–$15. Opens Sept. 12. 7:30 p.m. Fri.–Sat., 2 p.m. Sat.–Sun. Ends Sept. 21.

Family Affair Jennifer Jasper’s “sick, hilarious, and ultimately relatable” monthly cabaret on the theme of family. JewelBox/Rendezvous, 2322 Second Ave., 
jenniferjasperperforms.com. $10. 7:30 p.m. Wed., Sept. 17.

The Iceman Cometh The Endangered Species Project presents a reading of O’Neill’s play set in a Greenwich Village dive. ACT Theatre, 700 Union St., 292-7676, endangeredspeciesproject.org. $15–$25. 
6 p.m. Mon., Sept. 15.

Man of La Mancha Another take on Don Quixote, this time in musical play-within-a-play form. Seattle Musical Theatre at Magnuson Park, 7120 62nd Ave. N.E., 800-838-3006, seattlemusicaltheatre.org. $20–$35. Opens Sept. 12. 7:30 p.m. Fri.–Sat. plus Thurs., Sept. 25; 2 p.m. Sun. Ends Sept. 28.

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The Mountaintop SEE THE PICK LIST, PAGE 15.

NERDZ4EVER Violet DeVille’s “Nerdlesque Gala of Geek” presents burlesque homages to video games, science, fiction, steampunk, and more. Re-bar, 1114 Howell St., 800-838-3006, purpledevilproductions.com. $15–$35. 7:30 p.m. Sat., Sept. 13.

Seascape Two couples—one of them lizards—discuss “humanity, evolution, and the concept of time” in Albee’s play. Theater Schmeater, 2125 Third Ave., 324-5801, schmeater.org. $18–$25. Preview Sept. 11, opens Sept. 12. 8 p.m. Thurs.–Sat. Ends Oct. 11.

Starstruck A movie-homage musical revue from Captain Smartypants, the Seattle Men’s Chorus’ 
comedy troupe. The Triple Door, 216 Union St., 
captainsmartypants.org. $25–$35. 8 p.m. Sat., Sept. 
13 & 20, 7 p.m. Sun., Sept. 21.

A Streetcar Named Desire From London’s National Theatre to a screen near you; see fathom
events.com for participating theaters. 7 p.m. Tues., Sept. 16.

Terminally Delightful BenDeLaCreme recounts her controversial stint on RuPaul’s Drag Race in this solo show. West Hall, OddFellows Building, 915 E. Pine St., strangertickets.com. $25–$30 (VIP table $165). 8 p.m. Thurs., Sept. 11–Fri., Sept. 12, 8 & 10:30 p.m. Sat., Sept. 13.

25,000 Posts Jim Lapan’s Seattle-set solo show in 39 monologues. Penthouse Theatre, UW campus, james
lapan.com. Pay what you can. 8 p.m. Fri., Sept. 12–Sat., Sept. 13, 2 p.m. Sun., Sept. 14.

CURRENT RUNS

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Angels in America: Millennium Approaches SEE REVIEW OF PART 2, PAGE 16.
Decades of critical praise, often laced with superlatives, have thoroughly schooled theatergoers on the intellectual and spiritual vastness of Tony Kushner’s ginormous two-part epic about politics and AIDS during the ’80s, first staged in 1993–94. But with all the gushing over the cerebral, transcendent, era-defining, every-award-winning blah-blah-blah, it can be forgotten that Part I is also a taut, absorbing story with aching, flawed characters you’ll both feel for and laugh at. For the uninitiated, infected Prior Walter (Adam Standley) fears losing squeamish lover Louis (Quinn Franzen). Mormon Joe (Ty Boice) hides his true desires, while his unhinged wife Harper (Alex Highsmith) escapes through Valium-coated dreams. Closeted Republican and real-life historical villain Roy Cohn (a wonderfully smug Charles Leggett) loses his grip to sickness after a lifetime of strong-arming. It’s Reagan’s “Morning in America,” but these folks are sick—or worse, lost. Sex, death, and lies have collided and sent ’em sprawling. No place for them at Ronnie and Nancy’s breakfast nook. (If the AIDS crisis feels less urgent today, the political arguments remain disturbingly relevant in our Tea Party era.) Directing the play, Intiman’s Andrew Russell, a former Kushner assistant, clearly understands the material, well, intimately. Part I is respectful without major changes to the text; though one or two of the younger actors might trade some of that respect for a tad more passion. Invest emotionally now, before things get super-weird. Sure, Millennium Approaches enjoys shared hallucinations, ghostly relations, and an erection-inspiring heavenly visitation, but it can’t compete with the fantastical theatricality or religious-philosophical strangeness of Part II, Perestroika. (Angel orgasms fuel creation, for starters.) Expect more blood, both figurative and literal. Prepare! STEVEN GUTIERREZ Cornish Playhouse, Seattle Center, 441-7178. $25 and up. Parts 1 and 2 run in repertory through Sept. 21; 
see intiman.org for exact schedule.

Black Comedy SEE REVIEW, PAGE 16.

VeeShapeBrainstorm One word launches a whole show 
from Improv Anonymous. Unexpected Productions’ Market Theater, 1428 Post Alley, unexpected
productions.org. $5–$7. 8:30 p.m. Thurs. Ends Sept. 25.

Death and the Maiden In Ariel Dorfman’s play, a former political prisoner confronts her captor. The Ballard Underground, 2220 N.W. Market St., latino
theatreprojects.org. $14. 8 p.m. Fri.–Sat., 2 p.m. Sun. Ends Sept. 28.

Educating Rita Willy Russell’s May/December romance comedy. Renton Civic Theatre, 507 S. Third St., Renton, 425-226-5529, rentoncivictheatre.org. $17–$22. 7:30 p.m. Thurs., 8 p.m. Fri.–Sat., 2 p.m. Sun. Ends Sept. 20.

VeeShapeHItchcock Improv in the style of the master of film 
suspense. Unexpected Productions’ Market Theater, 
1428 Post Alley, unexpectedproductions.org. $5–$7. 
8:30 p.m. Sun. Ends Oct. 12.

House of Ink In this improvised murder mystery, 
authors get bumped off one by one.Unexpected 
Productions’ Market Theater, 1428 Post Alley, 
unexpectedproductions.org. $5–$7. 10 p.m. Fri.–Sat. 
Ends Oct. 4.

The Invisible Hand An American investor is kidnapped by a militant group in Pakistan in Ayad Akhtar’s play. ACT Theatre, 700 Union St., 292-7676. $55 and up ($20 on Tues.; some performances pay-as-you-can). Opens Sept. 11. Runs Tues.–Sun.; see acttheatre.org for exact schedule. Ends Sept. 28.

Other Desert Cities In Jon Robin Baitz’s play, secrets are revealed among a powerful family. Eclectic Theater, 1214 10th Ave., 800-838-3006, localjewell.com. $18. 8 p.m. Fri.–Sat., 2 p.m. Sun. Ends Sept. 14.

The Rite of Mars Aleister Crowley’s magickal theatrical ritual reimagined as rock opera. Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave., eleusyve.com. $15–$20. 8 p.m. Thurs.–Sat. Ends Sept. 13.

Teatro ZinZanni: When Sparks Fly Maestro Voronin headlines this mad-scientist-themed show. Teatro ZinZanni, 222 Mercer St., 802-0015. $99 and up. Runs Thurs.–Sun. plus some Wed.; see zinzanni.com/seattle for exact schedule. Ends Sept. 21.

Waiting for Godot SEE REVIEW, PAGE 16.


Classical, Etc.

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Seattle Symphony Opening their season with French amuse-bouches, or amuse-oreilles, rather: Massenet, Offenbach, Satie, and more. Gil Shaham is the violin soloist; Ludovic Morlot conducts. Benaroya Hall, Third Ave. & Union St., 215-4747, seattlesymphony.org. $46–$147. 4 p.m. Sat., Sept. 13.

Russian Chamber Music Piano trios by Arensky and Tchaikovsky. Mercer Island Presbyterian Church, 3605 84th Ave. S.E., russianchambermusic.org. Donation. 7 p.m. Sat., Sept. 13.

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Paul Hoskin Spontaneous composition, 90 minutes of it, on the contrabass clarinet. Chapel Performance Space, 4649 Sunnyside Ave. N. 8 p.m. Sat., Sept. 13.