Stage

Openings & Events

The Bunner Sisters The Athena Theatre Project’s inaugural show is this Edith Wharton adaptation. Theater Off Jackson, 409 Seventh Ave. S., 800-838-3006, athenatheatreproject.org. $15–$22. Preview Sept. 18, opens Sept. 19. 8 p.m. Wed.–Sat. plus Mon., Sept. 29, 
2 p.m. Sun. Ends Oct. 5.

The Fabulous Lipitones When one member of a barbershop quartet drops dead (I love it already!), they have to scramble for a replacement in John Markus and Mark St. Germain’s comedy with music. Taproot Theatre, 204 N. 85th St., 781-9707. $15–$40. Previews Sept. 17 & 18, opens Sept. 19. Runs Wed.–Sat; see 
taproottheatre.org for exact schedule. Ends Oct. 18.

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

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Hari Kondabolu SEE THE PICK LIST, PAGE 46.

I Am of Ireland Subtitled “A Celebration in Story, Song, and Dance,” Book-It stages tales by Yeats and others. Center Theatre at the Armory, Seattle Center, 216-0833. $25. Previews begin Sept. 17, opens Sept. 20. Runs Wed.–Sun.; see book-it.org for exact schedule. Ends Oct. 12.

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In The Heights SEE THE PICK LIST, PAGE 46.

Mary’s Wedding New Century Theatre Company presents Stephen Massicotte’s reality-blurring play about a WWI romance. West of Lenin, 203 N. 36th St., wearenctc.org. $15–$30. Preview Sept. 18, opens Sept. 19. 8 p.m. Thurs.–Sun. plus Mon., Oct. 6. Ends Oct. 11.

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Seattle Fringe Festival 22 companies offer 
88 performances (at press time) in five venues (Annex, Eclectic, two stages at Northwest Film Forum, and Calamus Auditorium at Gay City). See seattle
fringefestival.org for complete info. All performances $10. Sept. 17–21.

CURRENT RUNS

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Angels in America The messier, more action-packed second half of Tony Kushner’s epic arrives with a whole panel of angels, talking Mormon statues, even worse sickness, and death. Part I’s rather unconvincing flirtation between runaway lover Louis (Quinn Franzen) and closeted Mormon Republican Joe (Ty Boice) has morphed into a full-blown affair, with substantial sexual heat and nudity. Likewise, the AIDS-afflicted Prior gains depth from Adam Standley, who awkwardly stepped in and out of his illness in Millennium Approaches. And the unraveling housewife Harper—abandoned by Joe—finally finds a hard, defiant voice in Alex Highsmith’s performance. The intensity of Perestroika benefits them all; as stakes rise and their characters fall, these performers meet the challenge. Getting a twitchy viewer like me to sit through such a long show, and raptly, is a feat. The tight acting propels the plot forward, with each scene building momentum, so that even Kushner’s metaphysical-intellectual passages are entertaining (thanks also to Marya Sea Kaminski’s well-played Angel). Credit ultimately belongs to director Andrew Russell for this fast-paced, well-oiled production. Otherwise, the four-hour Perestroika could’ve felt like a millennium. NICOLE SPRINKLE Cornish Playhouse, Seattle Center, 441-7178. $25 and up. Millennium Approaches and Perestroika run Sept. 3–21. See intiman.org for complete schedule.

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Black Comedy Back in 1965, this one-act farce was a hit, though playwright Peter Shaffer later said that “there really was no play, merely a convention.” Black Comedy opens in complete darkness. We can only hear the action until Brindsley Miller’s apartment suffers a short circuit. The stage lights up for us, but it’s a blackout for struggling artist Brindsley (Richard Nguyen Sloniker) and his guests. (Shaffer borrows the device from Chinese opera.) The blown fuse betokens disaster for Brindsley and his paltry apartment on what ought to be an important occasion: meeting his spoiled fiancee’s father and an important art collector. Complicating matters further, he and fiancee Carol (Brenda Joyner) have “borrowed” his neighbor’s furniture, guaranteeing a future twist in this comedy of errors. Soon to arrive are Carol’s father, the stuffy Colonel Melkett (Michael Patten); the rich collector; an electrician (MJ Sieber); and other unannounced guests. After a slow start, Black Comedy devolves into havoc, yet ends deftly (if arbitrarily), as if amused by itself. Director Kelly Kitchens brings to her Strawberry Theatre Workshop cast a comic synergy that evokes tears of laughter. IRFAN SHARIFF Erickson Theatre, 1524 Harvard Ave., 800-838-3006, strawshop.org. $18–$36. 8 p.m. Thurs.–Sat. Ends Sept. 20.

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. 7:30 p.m. Thurs.–Sat. plus Mon., Sept. 22; 2 p.m. Sun. Ends Sept. 27.

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

The Break of Noon Neil LaBute’s seriocomic story of the survivor of a mass shooting. Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, 4408 Delridge Way S.W., reacttheatre.org. $9–$20. 8 p.m. Fri.–Sat. 7 p.m. Sun. Ends Sept. 28.

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A Chorus Line SEE REVIEW, PAGE 47.

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

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

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. 7:30 p.m. Fri.–Sat., 2 p.m. Sat.–Sun. Ends Sept. 21.

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 SEE REVIEW, PAGE 47.

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. 7:30 p.m. Fri.–Sat. plus Thurs., Sept. 25; 2 p.m. Sun. Ends Sept. 28.

The Mountaintop Katori Hall’s portrait of Martin Luther King Jr. imagines him on the night before his assassination. ArtsWest, 4711 California Ave. S.W., 
938-0339, artswest.org. $15–$34.50. 7:30 p.m. Wed.–Sat., 3 p.m. Sun. Ends Oct. 5.

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. 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. 
20, 7 p.m. Sun., Sept. 21.

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.

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Waiting for Godot Samuel Beckett’s 1953 absurdist tragicomedy has two guys (Estragon and Vladimir) waiting for the arrival of a third. Estragon (aka Gogo, played by Darragh Kennan) has a mind and feet that are failing him. He and Vladimir (aka Didi, played by Todd Jefferson Moore) pass several days as painfully as the kidney stones Didi squeezes into a bucket offstage. The line “Nothing to be done” hangs in the air, as does the famous motif of giving birth directly into the grave. Didi and Gogo’s push-me-pull-you dynamics define both the hell and the solace of friendship. Beckett isn’t shy about inflicting the kind of tedium on audiences that his characters have to endure. But he also gives us slick lazzi opportunities, a few tender gestures, and merciful interludes with Pozzo, played past the hilt by the captivating Chris Ensweiler as a wide-eyed, craven psychopath. Despite the lumpy camaraderie of Moore and Kennan, the greatest emotional effects emerge between Didi and the unnamed boy (Alex Silva) Godot sends to postpone the meeting. George Mount directs a Seattle Shakespeare Company production that carries an unapologetic aura of “life’s a stage” theatricality. MARGARET FRIEDMAN ACT Theatre, 700 Union St., 292-7676. $25–$43. 7:30 p.m. Wed.–Sat. plus weekend matinees; see seattle
shakespeare.org. for exact schedule. Ends Sept. 21.


Dance

Spectrum Dance SEE THE PICK LIST, PAGE 46.

Carmona Flamenco Traditional music and dance, with guest dancer Ana Montes. Café Solstice, 4116 University Way N.E., 932-4067. $15–$20. 8 & 9:30 p.m. Fri., Sept. 19.

Greta Matassa & Jovon Miller Dance cabaret from this jazz singer and tap dancer. Century Ballroom, 915 E. Pine St., centuryballroom.com. $20–$25 ($55 w/dinner). 7:30 p.m. Sat., Sept. 20.

DASSdance

Lights Camera . . . ACTION!, the new show from Daniel Wilkins’ troupe, includes LED lights attached to the dancers, green screen, and other film effects. Martin Luther King F.A.M.E. Community Center, 3201 E. Republican St., 800-838-3006, dassdance.org. Donation. 8 p.m. Sat., Sept. 20, 7 p.m. Sun., Sept. 21.

Classical, Etc.

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Seattle Symphony Opening a three-weekend look at the symphonies of Dvorak with the Seventh, plus Tchaikovsky’s popular Piano Concerto no. 1 and Wagner. Ludovic Morlot conducts. Benaroya Hall, Third Ave. & Union St., 215-4747, seattlesymphony.org. $20 and up. 7:30 p.m. Thurs., Sept. 18; noon Fri., Sept. 19; 
8 p.m. Sat., Sept. 20.

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(The) Nature (of) Sound An artist talk by S. Eric Scribner about his installation combining environmental and human-made sounds. Jack Straw New Media Gallery, 4261 Roosevelt Way N.E., jackstraw.org. Free. 
7 p.m. Fri., Sept. 19.

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Tudor Choir Music in remembrance of Peter Hallock, longtime St. Mark’s Cathedral choirmaster who died in April, and John Tavener. Blessed Sacrament Church, 5041 Ninth Ave. N.E., 323-9415, tudorchoir.org. $20–$30. 7:30 p.m. Sat., Sept. 20.

Amjad Ali Khan This sarod master and his two sons perform Indian classical music. Kirkland Performance Center, 350 Kirkland Ave., Kirkland, 425-893-9900, kpcenter.org. $30. 8 p.m. Sat., Sept. 20.

Seattle Opera Season Kickoff Performances, makeup and technical demos, and other interactive activities to preview the new season. McCaw Hall, Seattle Center, seattleopera.org. Free. Noon–5 p.m. Sun., Sept. 21.

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Music Northwest Russian chamber music, including Shostakovich’s searing Piano Trio no. 2. Olympic Recital Hall, 6000 16th Ave. S.W., 937-2899, music
northwest.org. $16–$18 (free for students 25 and under). 3 p.m. Sun., Sept. 21.

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Meg Brennand & David White This cellist and pianist present the complete works by Beethoven for that duo in three concerts (also in January & June). First Church Seattle, 180 Denny Way, 800-838-3006, onyx
chamberplayers.com. $10–$25. 5 p.m. Sun., Sept. 21.

Public Opera Arias and ensembles, with dinner. Hilton Bellevue, 300 112th Ave. S.E., Bellevue, 425-452-4848, publicopera.com. $49. 5:30 p.m. Sun., Sept. 21.

Jiuta: Voice of Longing “The music of Kyoto’s pleasure quarters” for shamisen, koto, and kokyu. PONCHO Concert Hall, Cornish College of the Arts, 710 E. Roy St., jaclab.org, cornish edu. $15–$25. 7 p.m. Sun., Sept. 21.

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Byron Schenkman & Friends 17th-century works—with violinist Ingrid Matthews and the ensemble Gut Reaction—open a season of lively chamber music. Benaroya Recital Hall, Third Ave. & Union St., 215-4747, byronschenkman.com. $10–$42. 7 p.m. Sun., Sept. 21.