Stage
Openings & Events
Arcadia Tom Stoppard’s dense history play is revived. Seattle Public Theater at the Bathhouse, 7312 W. Green Lake Ave. N., 524-1300. $10–$30. Preview May 15, opens May 16. Runs Thurs.–Sun.; see seattlepublic theater.org for exact schedule. Ends June 8.
Aunt Dottie’s Sing-Along Cabaret I can’t quite tell if “Aunt Dottie” is a drag character or not, but this seems to be that sort of show. Renton Civic Theater, 507 S. Third St., Renton, 425-226-5529, renton civictheater.org. $10–$15. 2 p.m. Sun., May 18.
Diana of Dobson’s Cicely Hamilton’s 1908 English comedy about a class-jumping young heroine during the Edwardian period. Taproot Theatre, 204 N. 85th St., 781-9707, taproottheatre.org. $15–$40. Previews May 14–15, opens May 16. 7:30 p.m. Wed.–Thurs., 8 p.m. Fri., 2 & 8 p.m. Sat. Ends June 14.
Don Juan in Chicago Arouet presents David Ives’ play about the classic womanizer, updated. The Ballard Underground, 2220 N.W. Market St., 800-838-3006, arouet.us. $12–$20. Opens May 16. 7:30 p.m. Thurs.–Sat. plus 7:30 p.m. Tues., May 20 and 2 p.m. Sun., May 18. Ends May 31.
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., May 21.
Funny Girl The popular 1960s musical, forever associated with Barbra Streisand, uses Jule Styne’s memorable score to relate the life of vaudeville legend Fanny Brice. Village Theatre, 303 Front St. N., Issaquah, 425-392-2202. $30–$65. Opens May 15. Runs Wed.–Sun.; see villagetheatre.org for exact schedule. Ends July 6. (Runs in Everett July 11–Aug. 3.)
Gigi Lerner & Loewe’s frothy Parisian fantasy, in concert. 5th Avenue Theatre, 1308 Fifth Ave., 625-1900, 5th avenue.org. $33.75 and up. 8 p.m. Fri., May 16, 2 & 8 p.m. Sat., May 17, 1:30 p.m. Sun., May 18.
The Grimaldis: A Musical Ghost Story “An audience-immersion party/theatre event . . . a unique mix of burlesque, cabaret, circus, improv, and musical theatre.” Plus ghosts! And hors d’oeuvres! Hale’s Palladium, 4301 Leary Way N.W., 800-838-3006, thegrimaldisaredead.com. $35–$45. Opens May 16. 7 p.m. Thurs., Fri., & Sun., 2 & 7 p.m. Sat. Ends May 25.
Hedgebrook Women Playwrights’ Festival Readings of new work by Mia Chung, Alexa Junge, Evangeline Ordaz, and Tracey Scott Wilson. ACT Theatre, 700 Union St., 292-7676, acttheatre.org. 7:30 p.m. Mon., May 19.
KAZOKU! In this improv game-show spoof, actual audience members get to play. Pershing Hall, 3618 S.W. Alaska St., 800-838-3006, kazoku.brownpapertickets.com. $10. Opens May 16. 8 p.m. Fri.–Sat. Ends May 24.
Terre Haute Bridges Stage Company presents Edmund White’s prison drama based on the actual letters between Gore Vidal and homegrown domestic terrorist Timothy McVeigh. ACT Theatre, 700 Union St., 292-7676. $15–$25. Preview May 15, opens May 16. Runs Thurs.–Sat., plus Sun. starting June 1, plus Mon., June 9; see acttheatre.org for exact schedule. Ends June 15.
25,000 Posts Jim Lapan’s solo show explores what exactly constitutes “the American dream” these days. West of Lenin, 203 N. 36th St., 800-838-3006, jameslapan.com. $20. Opens May 16. 8 p.m. Fri.–Sat., 2 p.m. Sun., plus 8 p.m. Thurs., May 29. Ends May 31.
Current Runs
Avenue Q The lives of young New Yorkers in a Sesame Street format, including puppet sex and perky music. Bainbridge Performing Arts, 200 Madison Ave. N., Bainbridge Island, 842-8569, bainbridgeperformingarts.org. $19–$27. 7:30 p.m. Fri.–Sat., 3 p.m. Sun., plus 7:30 p.m. May 19 & 22. Ends May 25.
Chaos Theory In Courtney Meaker’s new absurdist tragicomedy, the audience is dropped, mid-despair, into the living room of Frannie (Keiko Green) as she’s coping with the loss of her lover. She and her quirky friends, male-identifying Bach (Evelyn Dehais) and dim-witted Seth (Drew Highlands), build what seems to be an alternate-reality machine; all three have their motives for using it. IRFAN SHARIFF Annex Theatre, 1100 E. Pike St., 728-0933, annextheatre.org. $5–$20. 8 p.m. Thurs.–Sat. Ends May 17.
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Control Strawberry Theatre Workshop takes on the gun issue in a “living newspaper” production. Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., strawshop.org. $10–$15.7:30 p.m. Fri.–Sat., 1 p.m. Sun. Ends May 18.
Creeps In David Freeman’s 1972 play, five men with cerebral palsy in a men’s room talk frankly about their lives. Seattle Subversive Theatre is staging this in, yes, an actual men’s room. The Ballard Underground, 2220 N.W. Market St., seattlesubversivetheatre.org. $25. 7:30 p.m. Fri.–Sat. Ends May 31.
End Days In Deborah Zoe Laufer’s comedy, “16-year-old Rachel Stein is having a bad year. Her father won’t get dressed, her mother is newly born again, her Elvis impersonator neighbor has fallen for her, and Jesus has moved in with the family. Plus the Apocalypse is coming Wednesday. Her only hope is Stephen Hawking will save the day.” Burien Little Theater, S.W. 146th St. & Fourth Ave. S.W., Des Moines, 242-5180, burienactorstheatre.org. $7–$20. 8 p.m. Fri.–Sat., 2 p.m. Sun. Ends June 1.
Grease Return to Rydell High with Broadway Bound Children’s Theatre. Shoreline Center, 18560 First Ave. N.E., 800-838-3006, broadwaybound.org. $17.50. 7 p.m. Fri.; noon and 5 p.m. Sat.; 2 p.m. Sun. School version (less naughty) through May 18. Uncensored version, May 23–June 8.
Hair The smash ’60s musical is full of hippie goodness and song. ArtsWest, 4711 California Ave. S.W., 938-0339, artswest.org. 7:30 p.m. Wed.–Sat., 3 p.m. Sun. Ends June 7.
Keely and Du The abortion wars are dramatized in Jane Martin’s wrenching ’90s play. Second Story Repertory Theatre, 16587 N.E. 74th St., Redmond, 425-881-6777, secondstoryrep.org. $27. Preview May 8, opens May 9. 8 p.m. Thurs.–Sat., plus 2 p.m. Sun., May 25. Ends May 25.
King Lear Seattle Shakespeare Company’s fine acting is in ample evidence, but this overly cerebral take on a cathartic tale made me want to run outside and gasp for the saturated hues of messy real life. Dan Kremer’s Lear, tall and sardonic, does more with the humorous and witty situations than with the tragic ones. Beneath him, the characters soon sift into two camps: supporters of nefarious sisters Goneril (Linda K. Morris) and Regan (Debra Pralle); and supporters of Lear and exiled Cordelia (Elinor Gunn). The most memorable performance is from Eric Riedmann as evil Edmund, who narrates his intentions to the audience like a stand-up comedian. Sheila Daniels directs this rather desaturated tragedy, which runs three hours with two intermissions. MARGARET FRIEDMAN Cornish Playhouse at Seattle Center, 733-8222. $25–$48. Runs Wed.–Sun.; see seattleshakespeare.org for exact schedule. Ends May 17.
The Kitty Cat Club New naughtiness from The Heavenly Spies. Can Can, 94 Pike St. 652-0832, the cancan.com. $35–$75. 9:30 p.m. Fri. Ends June 27.
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Little Shop of Horrors Alan Menken & Howard Ashman’s musical toys affectionately with two of America’s enduring infatuations: cheesy monster movies and jukebox pop. Appropriately, this co-production of ACT and the 5th Avenue cranks the fun dial up to 11. KEVIN PHINNEY ACT Theatre, $20–$50. See acttheatre.org for exact schedule. Ends June 15.
Lollyville In Bret Fetzer and Juliet Waller Pruzan’s new show, a ghost bent on revenge “returns to the site of his fatal heartbreak: an isolated village inhabited entirely by women.” Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave., machamonkey.org. $18–$20. 8 p.m. Fri.–Sat. Ends May 24.
A New Brain William Finn’s semi-memoirish musical about a songwriter and his medical issues. Cornish Playhouse at Seattle Center, 800-838-3006, seattle stageright.org. $15–$20. 7:30 p.m. Thurs.–Sat. plus Mon., May 12. Ends May 17.
Peter Pan Youth Theatre Northwest presents the classic. Youth Theatre Northwest, 8805 S.E. 40th St., Mercer Island, 232-4145 x100, youththeatre.org. $13–$17. 7 p.m. Fri.–Sat., 2 p.m. Sat.–Sun. Ends May 18.
Returning to Albert Joseph A fondness for sci-fi may help you better navigate the terrain of Spike Friedman’s confounding new laboratory concoction, created with The Satori Group. There’s some sort of three-way war being waged among 1) a faction called “statists,” 2) rebels of some sort, who are reprogramming our weak human brains to accept rationalist theories of charismatic leader/brainwasher Albert Joseph, and 3) counter-rebels whose vestigial tattered memories make them nostalgic for emotions and the pre-rationalist regime. Recently transplanted from L.A., LoraBeth Barr plays Andrea, our rather stiff, strident guide to the struggle. Quinn Franzen is Leo, Andrea’s sensitive, brain-damaged charge. Information ekes out through their interactions, and from Andrea’s rants at and pleas to her captors, colleagues, and the shaky video image of Albert Joseph himself. The torrent of details, accusations, buzzwords, and narrative shards makes for a fun puzzle, but Barr and Franzen don’t quite sell an emotional connection between them. Maybe they’re not supposed to, as the setting is a universe of distrust and disconnection, but the story seems to set up that expectation. If this is the future, it’s an artificial one, drained of humanity’s errata, including war, joy, caring. I wouldn’t want to live there, but Returning to Albert Joseph succeeds in planting bugs in your head that will be hard to override. MARGARET FRIEDMAN Inscape, 815 Seattle Blvd. S., 800-838-3006, satori–group.com. $15. Runs 8 p.m. Thurs.–Sun. Ends May 25.
Teatro ZinZanni: On the Air Their new radio-themed show features the return of emcee Kevin Kent and stars Anki Andersson. Teatro ZinZanni, 222 Mercer St., 802-0015. $99 and up. Runs Wed.–Sun.; see zinzanni.com/seattle for exact schedule. Ends June 1.
Trouble in Fairytalezania & Wild Wes Two lively children’s shows from Taproot’s touring company. Isaac Studio Theatre, 208 N. 85th St., 781-9707, taproot theatre.org. $5–$12. Noon & 2 p.m. Sat. Ends May 17.
Truth Like the Sun Local writer Jim Lynch set this recent novel during our 1962 World’s Fair. Now see Book–It Repertory Theatre’s stage adaptation. Center House Theatre, Seattle Center, 216-0833. $23–$45. Runs Wed.–Sun.; see book-it.org for exact schedule. Ends May 18.
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Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Edward Albee’s 1962 play is a landmark stage dissection of the American family, in which he demonstrates how it’s possible to rip flesh from bone and finally destroy a person with nothing more than verbal skills, a few marital secrets, and the firm conviction that your opponent is beneath contempt. Martha (Pamela Reed) and George (R. Hamilton Wright) hold each other responsible for ruining their lives. They’re daring each other to end their marriage—or raise the stakes with another toxic revelation. Director Braden Abraham’s production takes this circular firing-squad masterwork to Olympian heights and Stygian depths. KEVIN PHINNEY Seattle Repertory Theatre, Seattle Center, 443-2222, $12–$80. 7:30 p.m. Wed.–Sun., plus 2 p.m. some Wed, Sat., & Sun; see seattlerep.org for exact schedule. Ends May 18.
Dance
UW MFA Dance Concert UW’s “world–class” MFA candidates showcases original choreography. Meany Studio Theater, UW campus, 543-4880, dance.washington.edu. $10–$16, 7:30 p.m. Wed., May 14–Sat., May 17; 2 p.m. Sun., May 18.
Spectrum Dance Theater New work by Donald Byrd set to American string quartets, played live by musicians from Simple Measures. At Fremont Abbey Arts Center, 4272 Fremont Ave. N., 8 p.m. Thurs., May 15–Fri., May 16 & 1 p.m. Sat., May 17. At Washington Hall, 153 14th Ave., 8 p.m. Thurs., May 22–Sat., May 24. $25. spectrumdance.org.
Whim W’him SEE THE PICK LIST, PAGE 34.
Classical, Etc.
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Seattle Opera The second most vexing problem in staging Jacques Offenbach’s The Tales of Hoffmann is which version to use. The composer hadn’t finished the opera when he died in 1880; various orchestrations, inclusions, and omissions—even the order of the acts—all have to be sorted out. The most vexing problem is how to cast it. As the title suggests, the piece is based on three short stories by German fantasist E.T.A. Hoffmann. The tales parallel one another; each one, plus the framing prologue/epilogue, includes a heroine, a nemesis, and a servant role, and it can be greatly effective to cast one singer in each slot—if you can find singers who can handle it. Seattle Opera did. For their production, Norah Amsellem sings all four lost loves, which altogether demand an intimidating range of color and style, from high-flying coloratura to weighty tragedy. Few sopranos attempt it. (Leah Partridge sings the four roles in the alternate cast, May 16.) SO’s 2005 staging of Hoffmann cast three separate sopranos as three of the heroines, leaving one a mute walk-on role (see what I mean about various versions? You can even choose to leave out some characters). That stunning and adored production, directed by Chris Alexander, is being revived as an opulent farewell for Speight Jenkins, who steps down as SO’s general director in September. GAVIN BORCHERT McCaw Hall, Seattle Center, 389-7676, seattleopera.org. $25–$220. 7:30 p.m. Wed., May 14, Fri., May 16, Sat., May 17.
UW Chamber Orchestra Two serenades (one for winds, one for strings) by Dvorak. Brechemin Auditorium, School of Music, UW campus, 685-8384, music.washington.edu. $5. 7:30 p.m. Wed., May 14.
Royal Opera House at the Movies From London, Placido Domingo sings the title role in Verdi’s Nabucco. See screenvision.com for participating theaters and exact times, Thurs., May 15.
WSU Wind Ensemble Crossing the state to play Gershwin. Benaroya Recital Hall, Third Ave. and Union St., 215-4747, seattlesymphony.org. $13–$21. 7:30 p.m. Thurs., May 15.
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Clarinet/Harp Quintet Specifically, three of one and two of the other, gathering for an evening of improv. Chapel Performance Space, 4649 Sunnyside Ave. N., 789-1939, waywardmusic.blogspot.com. 8 p.m. Thurs., May 15.
Seattle Symphony Ludovic Morlot conducts Haydn’s 70th and Mozart’s 36th. Benaroya Hall, 200 University St., 215-4747, seattlesymphony.org. $19 and up. 7:30 p.m. Thurs., May 15 & Sat., May 17.
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Northwest Sinfonietta Premieres of works by Gordon Chin and Thomas Pasatieri (his Symphony no. 3). Benaroya Recital Hall, Third Ave. and Union St., 866-833-4747, nwsinfonietta.org. $27–$55. 7:30 p.m. Fri., May 16.
Choral Arts Performing with the Pacifica Chamber Singers and premiering a work by John David Earnest.St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 732 18th Ave. E., choral-arts.org. $18–$25. 8 p.m. Fri., May 16.
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Seattle Symphony: Untitled Stockhausen’s creepy Gesang der Junglinge—an electronic collage of children’s voices—and more on the SSO’s final [untitled] concert of the season. Benaroya Hall, 200 University St., 215-4747, seattlesymphony.org. $20. 10 p.m. Fri., May 16.
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UW Opera In a collaboration with Pacific MusicWorks, Stephen Stubbs conducts Handel’s Semele. (We get Handel operas so rarely, it’s a shame this is the same one Seattle Opera’s doing next February.) Meany Hall, UW campus, 543-4880, music.washington.edu. $20–$40. 7:30 p.m. Fri., May 16–Sat., May 17, 2 p.m. Sun., May 18.
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Puget Sound Symphony Debussy, Rossini, and Gershwin’s Piano Concerto with soloist Sara Davis Buechner. Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., psso.org. $5–$11. 7:30 p.m. Sat., May 17.
Seattle Wind Symphony Music on an outer-space theme: Holst, Sousa, and more. First Free Methodist Church, 3200 Third Ave. W., 800-838-3006, seattlewindsymphony.org. $5–$20. 7:30 p.m. Sat., May 17.
Market Street Singers Vivaldi and more with the Earthrise Choir and the Westside Unitarian Universalist Chorale. At Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 7141 California Ave. S.W., 7:30 p.m. Sat., May 17, and First Lutheran Church Ballard, 2006 N.W. 65th St., 4 p.m. Sun., May 18. Donation. marketstreetsingers.org.
Seattle Pro Musica Brahms’ German Requiem, with full orchestra. St. James Cathedral, 804 Ninth Ave., 800-838-3006, seattlepromusica.org. $15–$38. 8 p.m. Sat., May 17–Sun., May 18.
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Seattle Symphony At Seattle Center, collaborating with players from the Seattle Youth Symphony in music by Ravel (Daphnis et Chloe) and Tchaikovsky (Romeo and Juliet). Fisher Pavilion, seattlesymphony.org. Free. 2 p.m. Sun., May 18.
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Seattle Symphony From SSO players, chamber music by Brahms, Carter, and Mozart. Benaroya Recital Hall, 215-4747, seattlesymphony.org. $39. 2 p.m. Sun., May 18.
Master Chorus Eastside Music from and inspired by Africa. Pine Lake Covenant Church, 1715 228th Ave. S.E., Sammamish, 425-392-8446, masterchoruseastside.org. $15–$20. 3 p.m. Sun., May 18.
Mostly Nordic Chamber Music Series Finnish music for cello and piano. Nordic Heritage Museum, 3014 N.W. 67th St., 789-5707, nordicmuseum.org. $22–$27 ($47–$55 w/smorgasbord). 4 p.m. Sun., May 18.
Seattle Jewish Chorale Love songs by a highly eclectic mix of composers from Salamone Rossi (b. circa 1570) on forward. Temple Beth Am, 2630 N.E. 80th St., 800-838-3006, templebetham.org. $17–$20. 7 p.m. Sun., May 18.
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UW: Music of Today SEE THE PICK LIST, PAGE, 35.
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UW Ethnomusicology Dept. Javanese music, dance, and shadow-puppet theater. Meany Hall, UW campus, 543-4880, music.washington.edu. $12–$20. 7:30 p.m. Tues., May 20.
David Finckel, Wu Han, Phil Setzer The ex-Emerson Quartet cellist, his wife, and a current Emerson Quartet violinist play Dvorak, Beethoven, and Schubert piano trios. Meany Hall, UW campus, 543-4880, uwworldseries.org. $38–$43. 7:30 p.m. Wed., May 21.
