Stage Openings & Events The Garden of Rikki Tikki Tavi Friendship and

By By Gavin Borchert • September 18, 2014 11:06 am

Stage

Openings & Events

The Garden of Rikki Tikki Tavi Friendship and cooperation are the messages in this adaptation of a classic Kipling tale. Seattle Children’s Theatre, Seattle Center, 441-3322. $15–$36. Opens Sept. 25. Runs Thurs.–Sun.; 
see sct.org for exact schedule. Ends Nov. 9.

Go, Dog. Go! A musical version of P.D. Eastman’s classic children’s book. Second Story Repertory, 16587 N.E. 74th St., Redmond, 425-881-6777, secondstoryrep.org. $5–$10. Opens Sept. 27. 1 & 3 p.m. Sat.–Sun. Ends Oct. 19.

Out of Sterno No, it’s not about a camping cookout mishap; Sterno is the mythical place the heroine escapes from in Deborah Zoe Laufer’s absurdist fairy tale. Burien Actors Theatre, 14501 Fourth Ave. S.W., Burien, 242-5180, burienactorstheatre.org. $7–$20. Opens Sept. 26. 8 p.m. Fri.–Sat., 2 p.m. Sun. Ends Oct. 19.

Slip/Shot SEE THE PICK LIST, PAGE 19.

Teatro ZinZanni: Beaumount & Caswell in Hacienda Holiday TZ favorites Christine Deaver and Kevin Kent return for a slapstick holiday adventure. Teatro ZinZanni, 222 Mercer St., 802-0015. $99 and up. Opens Sept. 26. Runs Thurs.–Sun. plus some Wed.; see zinzanni.com/seattle for exact schedule. Ends Jan. 31.

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Tomoe + Yoshinaka New and ancient takes on Noh drama, as the Takeda Noh Troupe presents the story of a 12th-century woman warrior and Seattle’s Garrett Fisher premieres his opera on the same tale. ACT Theatre, 700 Union St., 292-7676, acttheatre.org. $35. 7 p.m. Fri., Sept. 26; 2 & 7 p.m. Sat., Sept. 27; 2 p.m. Sun., Sept. 28. (The Takeda Noh Troupe will preview this performance at the Seattle Japanese Garden, 1075 Lake Washington Blvd. S., 684-4725. $10. 6:30 p.m. Thurs., Sept. 25.)

CURRENT RUNS

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, athena
theatreproject.org. $15–$22. 8 p.m. Wed.–Sat. plus Mon., Sept. 29, 2 p.m. Sun. Ends Oct. 5.

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, sound
theatrecompany.org. $15–$25. 7:30 p.m. Thurs.–Sat., 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 The opening number of A Chorus Line ripples with imperfection—as it should, of course. The legendary 1975 musical offers a view of the unrefined side of musical theater. Framed in a day of auditions, aspiring stage performers desperately vie for a spot in the chorus line—on a bare stage, missing their steps, falling out of rhythm, fading into the background, and comically overacting to move to the fore. You feel real empathy for these artists struggling under the critical eye of director Zach (the commanding, stentorian Andrew Palermo). Director David Bennett manages that messy process with aplomb, though some flaws show here. Almost all 17 performers are treated as equals, pretty much requiring that each be a triple threat: able to sing, dance, and act. (The 5th’s mostly native production relies on the original Michael Bennett choreography.) It’s a nearly impossible standard, but A Chorus Line reminds you that these performers are fallible human beings. MARK BAUMGARTEN 5th Avenue Theatre, 308 Fifth Ave., 625-1900. $29 and up. Runs Tues.–Sun.; see 5thavenue.org for schedule. Ends Sept. 28.

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.

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. Runs Wed.–Sat.; see taproot
theatre.org for exact schedule. Ends Oct. 18.

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.

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. Runs Wed.–Sun.; see book-it.org for exact schedule. Ends Oct. 12.

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In The Heights SEE REVIEW, PAGE 20.

The Invisible Hand There are many reasons to go to the theater, but to see something that feels like a film or a TV episode usually isn’t one. That’s the main problem with Ayad Akhtar’s new play about a bright young money guy, Nick (Connor Toms), who has been kidnapped in Karachi by Islamic terrorists. Because his employer doesn’t negotiate with terrorists, Nick offers to earn his ransom by trading on the volatile Pakistani financial markets. Nick’s captors include Dar (the boyish Erwin Galan), Dar’s ambitious supervisor Bashir (the apt Elijah Alexander), and their commander Imam Saleem (William Ontiveros), an older cleric. Though Akhtar’s given each one an affable side as well as a ruthless one, they still come off as cartoonish, probably because they spend so much time in well-coached accents explaining things you would learn in The Economist. MARGARET FRIEDMAN ACT Theatre, 700 Union St., 292-7676. $55 and up. Runs Tues.–Sun.; see acttheatre.org for exact schedule. Ends Sept. 28.

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.

Mary’s Wedding SEE REVIEW, PAGE 20.

The Mountaintop SEE REVIEW, PAGE 20.

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.

Dance

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Men In Dance The only rule for this biannual event is that men need to be involved in some aspect of each work, as performers, choreographers, or producers. Everything else, from style to substance, is up for grabs, so that you can get a slick Broadway number next to an esoteric kinetic exploration. SANDRA KURTZ Broadway Performance Hall, 1625 Broadway, 800-838-3006, creative
dance.org. $20–$25 (opening night $35). Opens Sept. 26. 
8 p.m. Fri., 2 & 8 p.m. Sat., 5 p.m. Sun. Ends Oct. 5.

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Pacific Northwest Ballet Three separate Balanchine ballets (Emeralds, Rubies, and Diamonds) are linked by gestures and themes and set to music by Faure, Stravinsky, and Tchaikovsky. McCaw Hall, Seattle Center, 441-2424. $28–$179. Opens Sept. 26. Runs Thurs.–Sat. plus Sun. Oct. 5; see pnb.org for exact schedule. Ends Oct. 5.

Classical, Etc.

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Seattle Symphony Continuing their exploration of Dvorak’s last three symphonies, Ludovic Morlot’s grouped the Eighth with music by Dutilleux and Rachmaninoff. Benaroya Hall, Third Ave. & Union St., 215-4747, seattle
symphony.org. $20 and up. 7:30 p.m. Thurs., Sept. 25; 
8 p.m. Sat., Sept. 27; 2 p.m. Sun., Sept. 28.

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Mark Wilson This guitarist’s annual late-summer recital includes music from the medieval Cantigas de Santa Maria and other Spanish music he played on a recent concert tour there. The Chapel at St. James Cathedral, 804 Ninth Ave. $15. 7 p.m. Fri., Sept. 27.

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Stefan Litwin Ives’ “Concord” Sonata, his epic pianistic evocation of the New England transcendentalists. Brechemin Auditorium, School of Music, UW campus, 685-8384, music.washington.edu. $15. 7:30 p.m. Fri., Sept. 26.

Roland Dyens Program TBA. Presented by the Seattle Classic Guitar Society. Benaroya Recital Hall, Third Ave. and Union St., 297-8788. $28–$38. 7:30 p.m. Sat., Sept. 27.

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Octava Chamber Orchestra Opening their season with Handel, Beethoven, and Greg Bartholomew’s Sunshine Music. Maple Park Church, 17620 60th Ave. W., Lynnwood, 425-743-2288, octavachamberorchestra.org. $5–$15. 7:30 p.m. Sat., Sept. 27.

Geisa Dutra Mostly Latin-American music from this pianist, but also a bit of Albeniz and a bouquet of Brahms waltzes. Frye Art Museum, 704 Terry Ave., 800-838-3006. $20. 2:30 p.m. Sun., Sept. 28.