Stage Openings & Events American Wee-Pie Lisa Dillman’s comedy, set in

By By Gavin Borchert • January 21, 2014 3:54 pm

Stage

Openings & Events

American Wee-Pie Lisa Dillman’s comedy, set in a cupcake boutique. Seattle Public Theater at the Bathhouse, 7312 W. Green Lake Ave. N., 524-1300, seattlepublic
theater.org. Preview Jan. 23, opens Jan. 24. 7:30 p.m. Thurs.–Sat., 2 p.m. Sun. Ends Feb. 16.

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Elaine Stritch: Shoot Me SEE THE PICK LIST, PAGE 19.

The Equation Theatre9/12 presents Charles S. Waxberg’s Depression-set “examination of a capitalistic economy and what it does to humanity.” Trinity Episcopal Church, 609 Eighth Ave., 332-7908, theatre912.com. Pay what you can. Opens Jan. 24. 8 p.m. Fri.–Sat., plus some weekend matinees; see website for exact schedule. Ends Feb. 15.

The Foreigner In Larry Shue’s comedy about a shy man who poses as [the title], “people say the most extraordinary things when they think no one can understand them.” Village Theatre, 303 Front St. N., Issaquah, 425-392-2202, villagetheatre.org. $34–$65. Preview Jan. 22, opens Jan. 23. 7:30 p.m. Wed.–Thurs. (plus some Tues.), 8 p.m. Fri., 2 & 8 p.m. Sat., 2 & 7 p.m. Sun. Ends March 2.

A Great Wilderness The premiere of Samuel D. Hunter’s play about a pray-the-gay-away camp in Idaho. Seattle Repertory Theatre, Seattle Center, 443-2222. $12–$65. Opens Jan. 22. 7:30 p.m. Wed.–Sun. plus some Wed. & weekend matinees; see seattlerep.org for exact schedule. Ends Feb. 16.

The Little Dog Laughed Douglas Carter Beane’s inside-Hollywood tale of a closeted actor, his agent, a rent boy, and the rent boy’s girlfriend. ArtsWest, 4711 California Ave. S.W., 938-0339, artswest.org. Opens Jan. 22. 7:30 p.m. Wed.–Sat., plus 3 p.m. Sun., Jan. 26. Ends Feb. 8.

Medicine Ball: Playwrights v. Poets Seattle Playwrights Collective presents a literary battle. Inscape, 815 Seattle Blvd. S. $10–$20. 7 p.m. Fri., Jan. 24, 2 & 7 p.m.; Sat., Jan. 25.

current Runs

Disney’s Little Mermaid Jr. Youth Theatre Northwest presents this stage adaptation. Youth Theatre Northwest, 8805 S.E. 40th St., Mercer Island, 232-4145 x109, youththeatre.org. $13–$17. 7 p.m. Fri., 2 & 7 p.m. Sat., 2 p.m. Sun. Ends Feb. 9.

The Doctor Seattle Experimental Theater’s improvised Doctor Who spoof. Theater Off Jackson, 409 Seventh Ave. S., seattleexperimentaltheater.com. $12–$15. 8 p.m. Fri.–Sat., plus 2 p.m. Sun., Jan. 26. Ends Jan. 26.

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Jerry Springer: The Opera British creators Stewart Lee and Richard Thomas aim less at the talk-show host and trash TV than at the country that made him a star. Act 1 is a sendup of a typical Springer episode; in Act 2, Jerry’s sent to Hell to emcee a showdown between good and evil. The fearless and intensely hard-working Balagan Theatre ensemble is directed by Shawn Belyea. GAVIN BORCHERT The Moore, 1932 Second Ave., 877-784-4849, stgpresents.org. $17.50. 7:30 p.m. Thurs.–Sat., 
2 & 6:30 p.m. Sun. Ends Jan. 26.

The Normal Heart Larry Kramer’s groundbreaking 1985 AIDS drama, presented by Strawberry Theatre Workshop. Erickson Theatre Off Broadway, 1524 Harvard Ave., 800-838-3006, strawshop.org. $18–$36. 7:30 p.m. Thurs.–Sat. Ends Feb. 15.

The Northwest Orca Cannery Presents: Dr. Thaddeus Q. Ballard’s Musical Follies & Comedy Revue Ghost Light Theatricals’ neo-vaudeville show. The Ballard Underground, 2220 N.W. Market St., 395-5458, ghostlighttheatricals.org. $12–$20. 7:30 p.m. Thurs.–Sat. Ends Jan. 25.

Peter Pan Broadway Bound’s production, full of energetic young talent. Shoreline Center, 18560 First Ave. N.E., 526-5437. $17.50. Runs Fri.–Sun.; see broadwaybound.org for exact schedule. Ends Jan 25.

Richard II On Carol Wolfe Clay’s austere set, George Mount’s embattled King Richard II dwindles from a coddled jackass prince to a naked nobody controlling nothing. Forget pathos, director Rosa Joshi goes for cynical laughs—and the approach does work; perhaps it’s the best way to get a modern audience to connect with the somewhat bureaucratic play. MARGARET FRIEDMAN Center House Theatre, Seattle Center, 733-8222. $25–$48. 7:30 p.m. Wed.–Sat., plus some weekend matinees; see seattleshakespeare.org for exact schedule. Ends Feb. 2.

Teatro ZinZanni: Hail Caesar: Forbidden Oasis Frank Ferrante returns as the flamboyant, omnisexual chef Caesar; slinky Dreya Weber, equally skilled as an aerialist and singer, plays a resurrected Cleopatra. Teatro ZinZanni, 222 Mercer St., 802-0015. $108 and up. Runs Wed.–Sun.; see dreams.zinzanni.org for exact schedule. Ends Jan. 26. (The radio-themed “On the Air” premieres Jan. 31.)

Trust Me A new musical about two friends at different boarding schools, produced by Village Theatre’s Kidstage program. Village Theatre, 303 Front St. N., Issaquah, 425-392-2202, villagetheatre.org. $16–$18. 7:30 p.m. Thurs.–Sat., 2 p.m. Sun. Ends Jan. 26.

Upside Downton Jet City Improv’s sendup of a certain PBS costume drama. Wing-It Productions, 5510 University Way N.E., 781-3879, jetcityimprov.com. $12–$15. 8 p.m. Thurs.–Fri. Ends Feb. 14.

Dance

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Frederick Gravel SEE THE PICK LIST, PAGE 19.

Grupo Corpo This Brazilian troupe “combines the sensuality of Afro-Brazilian dance forms, the liquid swing of jazz, and the technical prowess of ballet.” Meany Hall, UW campus, 543-4880, uwworldseries.org. 8 p.m. Thurs., Jan. 23–Sat., Jan. 25.

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Shirley Jenkins SEE THE PICK LIST, PAGE 20.

Classical, Etc.

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Seattle Opera Fascist imagery, deco furniture, and Marie Anne Chiment’s lovely vintage costumes place this Rigoletto in the 1930s. Portraying, grippingly, this corrupt society’s emotional toll is Marco Vratogna as the title court jester—self-loathing in his sucking-up to power, guilt and anguish running through every passionately full-voiced line. As Gilda, the daughter he cherishes and shelters (to a fault), Nadine Sierra sings with a marvelous lightness, youthful in timbre if mature in body, flexibility, and assurance. The same is true of Francesco Demuro as the Duke, who seduces her. There’s no mistaking the opera’s misanthropic view of human nature. Verdi indicts everyone—nobody in Rigoletto is honest. GAVIN BORCHERT McCaw Hall, Seattle Center, 389-7676, 
seattleopera.org. $25 and up. 7:30 p.m. Wed., Jan. 22, Fri., Jan. 24, Sat., Jan. 25. Ends Jan. 25.

Seattle Symphony Marcelo Lehninger conducts symphonies by Mozart and Prokofiev and concertos by Prokofiev and Haydn. Benaroya Hall, 200 University St., 215-4747, seattlesymphony.org. $19–$112. 7:30 p.m. Thurs., Jan. 23, 8 p.m. Sat., Jan. 25, 2 p.m. Sun., Jan. 26.

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Seattle Chamber Music Winter Festival 
SEE THE PICK LIST, PAGE 20.

UW Chamber Orchestra Haydn and Mozart in a nice intimate space. Brechemin Auditorium, School of Music, UW campus, 685-8384, music.washington.edu. $5. 7:30 p.m. Fri., Jan. 24.

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Existence Habit Sonic exploration (voice, electronics, prepared guitar, bass) from this Oregon trio; Seattle’s Bill Horist and Paul Hoskin open. Gallery 1412, 1412 18th Ave. E., existencehabit.wordpress.com. 8 p.m. Fri., Jan. 24.

Trio Paradies Early-romantic music on period instruments. Queen Anne Christian Church, 1316 Third Ave. W., 726-6088, galleryconcerts.org. $15–$30. 7:30 p.m. Sat., Jan. 25, 3 p.m. Sun., Jan. 26.

Music of Remembrance As part of their “Sparks of Glory” chamber-music series, music by Erwin Schulhoff, Hans Krasa, and others. UW Hillel, 4745 17th Ave. N.E., musicofremembrance.org. Free. 7 p.m. Mon., Jan. 27.

Jeffrey Cohan & John Lenti Music for flute and lute from the age of Louis XV. Christ Episcopal Church, 4548 Brooklyn Ave., 633-1611, salishseafestival.org. $15–$20. 7:30 p.m. Mon., Jan. 27.

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Mozart’s Birthday Toast Celebrate his 257th with sonatas, arias, and his clarinet/viola/piano trio, plus bubbles and sweets. Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., 652-4255, townhallseattle.org. $13–$18. 7:30 p.m. Mon., Jan. 27.

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Instead Of A music and dance performance from this quartet and special guests (Stuart Dempster, Steve Peters, and others). Chapel Performance Space, 4649 Sunnyside Ave. N., 789-1939, waywardmusic.blogspot.com. $10–$15. 8 p.m. Tues., Jan. 28.