Stage

Openings & Events

Assisted Living Local playwright Katie Forgette’s new comedy about elder care and dementia. ACT Theatre, 700 Union St., 292-7676. $41 and up. Previews begin April 19, opens April 25. Runs Tues.–Sun.; see acttheatre.org for exact schedule. Ends May 12.

Bodacious Vaudeville Old-school vaudeville by women of all sizes. Vertical World, 2123 W. Elmore St., bodaciousvaudeville.com. $30. 8 p.m. Sat., April 20.

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Boeing Boeing SEE THE WIRE, PAGE 21.

The Construction Zone WET and ACT team up to sponsor staged play readings. First up, Michael Mitnick’s Sex Lives of Our Parents. ACT Theatre, 700 Union St., 
292-7676, acttheatre.org. $10–$20. 7 p.m. Tues., April 23.

The Devil and Billy Markham Jonah Weston makes a solo show out of Shel Silverstein’s epic poem. JewelBox/Rendezvous, 2322 Second Ave., 691-5161, 
jonahweston.com. $12–$15. 8 p.m. Fri., April 19.

42nd Street The quintessential backstage musical. Youth Theatre Northwest, 8805 S.E. 40th St., Mercer Island, 232-4145 x109, youththeatre.org. $15–$17. Opens April 19. 
7 p.m. Fri.–Sat., 2 p.m. Sun. Ends May 5.

The Hairy Ape O’Neill’s examination of the class divide aboardship: the privileged above, workers below. Ballard Underground, 2220 N.W. Market St., 395-5458, ghostlight
theatricals.org. $12–$15. Opens April 19. 7:30 p.m. Thurs.–Sat. plus 7:30 p.m. April 29 and 2 p.m. May 5. Ends May 5.

Once Upon a Time 6X in The West An avant-musical take on myths of the old West. Jones Playhouse Theatre, 4045 University Way N.E., 543-4880, drama.uw.edu. $10–$20. Previews April 17–18, opens April 19. 7:30 p.m. Wed.–Sat., 2 p.m. Sun. Ends April 28.

Pericles/Moliere Joint productions of Shakespeare’s adventure and two Moliere one-acts. Center House Theatre, Seattle Center. Free. See cornish.edu for exact schedule, April 18–28.

Working A musical revue about the job world in all its oft-overlooked forms, based on Studs Terkel’s book. Raisbeck Performance Hall, 2015 Boren Ave., cornish.edu. $5–$10. 
8 p.m. Tues., April 23–Thurs., April 25, 2 p.m. Sun., April 28.

Current Runs

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: Uncensored Book-It regularly transforms great fiction into enlightening theater, but when the novel in question is Mark Twain’s 1885 Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, moving from page to stage means working overtime on the language. Specifically one word. You know the one. Thus Judd Parkin’s script, conceived with director Jane Jones, arrives in a production accompanied by several special post-show talk-backs. STEVE WIECKING Center House Theatre, Seattle Center, 216-0833. $25–$45. Previews through April 19; opens April 20; runs Wed.–Sun through May 12; see book-it.org for exact schedule.

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August: Osage County SEE REVIEW, PAGE 22.

The Diary of Anne Frank Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett’s classic adaptation. Renton Civic Theater, 507 S. Third St., Renton, 425-226-5529, rentoncivictheater.org. $17–$22. 7:30 p.m. Thurs., 8 p.m. Fri.–Sat., 2 p.m. Sun. Ends April 27.

Dina Martina: Spring in Seattle The indescribable diva in an all-new show with pianist Chris Jeffries. Re-bar, 1114 Howell St., 800-838-3006, brownpapertickets.com. $20–$25. 8 p.m. Fri.–Sat., 2 p.m. Sun. Ends May 5.

Edith Can Shoot Things and Hit Them Two Filipino teens have to bring themselves up in A. Rey Pamatmat’s play. Seattle Public Theater at the Bathhouse, 7312 W. Green Lake Ave. N.,524-1300, seattlepublictheater.org. $20–$30. 7:30 p.m. Thurs.–Sat., 2 p.m. Sun. Ends April 21.

The Final Tribunal Into the Mysterious Death of Senor Dali For Pony World Theatre’s new ensemble-generated show, the title is all the synopsis you need. Theater Off Jackson, 409 Seventh Ave. S., ponyworld.org. $10–$15. 8 p.m. Thurs.–Sat. plus Mon., April 22. Ends May 4.

Flashdance All your fave songs from the movie, plus 16 new ones. The Paramount, 911 Pine St., 877-STG-4TIX, stgpresents.org. $25 and up. 7:30 p.m. Wed., April 17–Thurs., April 18; 8 p.m. Fri., April 19; 2 & 8 p.m. Sat., April 20; 1 & 6:30 p.m. Sun., April 21.

The Gingerbread House In Mark Schultz’ dark comedy, two parents seeking some alone time sell their kids. Theater Schmeater, 1500 Summit Ave., 324-5801, schmeater.org. $15–$23. 8 p.m. Thurs.–Sat. Ends April 20.

Grey Gardens Based on the eponymous 1975 documentary about Jackie O’s relatives who lived in a decrepit Long Island mansion of the same name. Doug Wright’s book for this 2006 musical does what the Maysles brothers could not: We get to see firsthand the lofty roost from which the Beale/Bouviers fell to earth. The music—score by Scott Frankel, lyrics by Michael Korie—is full of haunting contrasts between the frivolous then and the fallen now. KEVIN PHINNEY ACT Theatre, 700 Union St., 292-7676, $55–$77. Runs Tues.–Sun.; see acttheatre.org for exact schedule. Ends June 2.

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Jersey Boys Based on actual interviews with the Four Seasons’ founders, Jersey Boys is the story of runaway egos, Catholic upbringings undone by the sexual revolution, and the singular falsetto of Frankie Valli. The book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice is a taut, well-told tale, and the songs and score, by original band member Bob Gaudio, are surprisingly resilient and as crisp as a new tuxedo. KEVIN PHINNEY 5th Avenue Theatre, 1308 Fifth Ave., 625-1900, 5thavenue.org. $29–$123. Runs Tues.–Sun.; see 5thavenue.org for exact schedule. Ends May 4.

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“Master Harold” . . . and the Boys Athol Fugard’s autobiographical 1982 drama, about two middle-aged black men in 1950 South Africa and their relationship with the white child of their employer, is a delicate powder keg that needs to go off. MARGARET FRIEDMAN West of Lenin, 203 N. 36th St., westoflenin.com. $12–$20. 
8 p.m. Thurs.–Sat., 2 p.m. Sun. Ends April 21.

Riding in Cars with Black People & Other Newly Dangerous Acts Subtitled “A Memoir in Vanishing Whiteness,” Chad Goller-Sojourner’s new solo show takes off from the SPD’s use-of-force investigations in its exploration of identity and racial profiling. Rainier Valley Cultural Arts Center, 3515 S. Alaska St., 800-838-3006, ridingincarswithblackpeople.com. $12–$14. 8 p.m. Fri.–Sat. plus 2 p.m. Sun., April 21. Ends April 21.

Smudge Rachel Axler attempts to put a darkly seriocomic spin on an abnormal birth— baby with one eye, no limbs, and questionable genitalia—to strangely little effect. The edgy subject matter is not what’s offensive, but rather its refusal to let anything authentically human take root in it. MARGARET FRIEDMAN Washington Ensemble Theatre, 608 19th Ave. E., washingtonensemble.org. $15–$25. 7:30 p.m. Thurs.–Mon. Ends April 22.

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Teatro ZinZanni: Dinner at Wotan’s It’s Ragnarok eve, aka the final battle of good vs. evil, and Wotan and the rest of the Wagnerian pantheon are ready to par-tay! Teatro ZinZanni, 222 Mercer St., 802-0015. $106 and up. Runs Thurs.–Sun. see dreams.zinzanni.org for exact schedule. Ends May 12.

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Trails In this new musical, Seth and Mike are childhood friends now grown and walking the Appalachian Trail in order to put their gradually revealed past behind them. All I found problematic about the show was Jeff Thomson’s score, which brings in only hints of the roots music you’d expect—most strongly in songs performed by longtime Seattle theater MVPs John Patrick Lowrie and Bobbi Kotula. I left wondering why a show so rooted in a specific, real place did so little to evoke it. GAVIN BORCHERT Village Theatre, 303 Front St. N., Issaquah, 425-392-2202. $22–$63. Runs Wed.–Sun., see villagetheatre.org for exact schedule. Ends April 21. (Then moves to Everett Performing Arts Center, April 26–May 19.)

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The Trial In Kenneth Albers’ new adaptation of the Kafka novel, bank clerk K. (Darragh Kennan), awakens to discover he’s “under arrest” by thugs who may or may not be “official.” Despite anchoring every scene, Kennan keeps his everyman modest, letting the supporting cast outsize him with adamant oddness. As in the book, don’t expect answers about what happens to Josef K. Paraphrasing Kafka’s notion about God, New Century Theatre Company’s mood-rich production delivers the nuts, but leaves them for you to crack. MARGARET FRIEDMAN Inscape, 815 Seattle Blvd. S., wearenctc.org. $15–$30. 8 p.m. Thurs.–Sat., 7 p.m. Sun. Ends April 28.

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The Whipping Man This unlikely and affecting Passover drama traverses the concepts of freedom, justice, faith, and family against the backdrop of post-slavery Virginia. There, a wounded Jewish Confederate soldier returns to the remnants of his family home, to be greeted by his family’s two former slaves. Directed by Scott Nolte, Matthew Lopez’s often caustic tale contains deeply scarring family secrets, slowly and expertly unpacked by the cast of three. TERRA SULLIVAN Taproot Theatre, 204 N. 85th St., 781-9707, taproottheatre.org. $20–$40. 7:30 p.m. Wed.–Thurs., 8 p.m. Fri., 2 & 8 p.m. Sat. Ends April 27.

You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown Twelfth Night Productions presents the Charles Schulz-based musical. Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, 4408 Delridge Way S.W., 800-838-3006, twelfthnightproductions.org. $15–$18. 7:30 p.m. Fri.–Sat., 3 p.m. Sun. Ends April 21.

Dance

Collision Theory: The Finale The multimedia culmination of KT Niehoff’s yearlong project. On the Boards, 100 W. Roy St., 217-9886, ontheboards.org. $20. 8 p.m. Thurs., April 18–Sun., April 21.

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Swan Lake SEE REVIEW, PAGE 22.

Battle for the Dance Belt A half-dozen local modern-dance troupes contest for this audience-determined prize. Velocity Dance Center, 1621 12th Ave., 800-838-3006, 3rdshiftdance.org. $10. 7 p.m. Sun., April 21.

Classical, Etc.

UW Saxophone Night Classical and jazz pieces. Brechemin Auditorium, School of Music, UW campus, 685-8384, music.washington.edu. $5. 7:30 p.m. Wed., April 17.

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Tokyo String Quartet SEE THE WIRE, PAGE 21.

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Inverted Space This UW student ensemble tackles formidable works by Carter, Scelsi, and Schoenberg’s Pierrot lunaire. Meany Hall, UW campus, 543-4880, music.washington.edu. $12–$20. 7:30 p.m. Thurs., April 18.

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Simone DinnerstEIn & Tift Merritt SEE EAR SUPPLY, PAGE 23.

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Seattle Symphony HK Gruber conducts his own percussion concerto Rough Music, plus music by Antheil, Bernstein, and Stravinsky. (Saturday morning’s family concert, $15–$20, includes rousing excerpts from the program.) Benaroya Hall, 200 University St., 215-4747, seattlesymphony.org. $19–$112. 7:30 p.m. Thurs., April 18, 11 a.m. & 8 p.m. Sat., April 20.

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Northwest Sinfonietta Awadagin Pratt is the guest pianist/conductor for music by Mozart and Christophe Chagnard (who usually conducts this group). Benaroya Recital Hall, Third Ave. and Union St., 866-833-4747, nwsinfonietta.org. $27–$55. 7:30 p.m. Fri., April 19.

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Simple Measures Beethoven’s “Archduke” piano trio and more on this series devoted to de-ponderous-izing chamber music. At Chapel Performance Space, 4649 Sunnyside Ave. N., 7:30 p.m. Fri., April 19, and Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., 2 p.m. Sun., April 21. $15–$30. 853-5672, simplemeasures.org.

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Our Earth In Fisher Pavilion, Earth Day performances of Heron and the Salmon Girl and Rushing Upriver, two operas in a trilogy in progress by Eric Banks. Seattle Center, syso.org, seattleopera.org. Free. 1:30 (Heron) & 
3 p.m. (Rushing), Sat., April 20.

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Music of Remembrance Music by Jake Heggie and Erwin Schulhoff in conjunction with SAM’s exhibit “Morality Tales: American Art and Social Protest, 1935-45.” Seattle Art Museum, 1300 First Ave., musicof
remembrance.org. Free. 2 p.m. Sat., April 20.

Music Northwest Vocal and chamber music by Benjamin Britten. Olympic Recital Hall, S. Seattle Community College, 6000 16th Ave. S.W., 937-2899, music
northwest.org. $16–$18. 7:30 p.m. Sat., April 20.

Musica Sacra From this chamber choir, music by Britten and other English composers. Blessed Sacrament Church, 5050 Eighth Ave. N.E., musicasacrachamber
chorale.com. $18–$25. 7:30 p.m., Sat., April 20.

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Orchestra Seattle/Seattle Chamber Singers Eric Garcia conducts Stravinsky, Weber and Beethoven. First Free Methodist Church, 3200 Third Ave. W., osscs.org. $10–$25. 7:30 p.m., Sat., April 20.

Seattle Baroque Orchestra With soprano Ellen Hargis, opera arias. Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., 325-7066, earlymusicguild.org. $15–$40. 8 p.m. Sat., April 20.

Beethoven Sonata Marathon Ten violinists play Beethoven’s 10 violin sonatas. Richmond Beach Congregational Church, 1512 N.W. 195th St., chamber
musicrichmondbeach.com. $15. 3–8 p.m. (with two intermissions), Sun., April 21.

Public Opera Favorite arias and ensembles in an informal setting. Hilton Bellevue, 300 112th Ave. S.E., Bellevue, publicopera.com. $35 incl. dinner. 6 p.m. Sun., April 21.

Kiran Ahluwalia

Ghazals and other Indian folk music from this vocalist., cornish.edu. Cornish College/PONCHO Concert Hall, 710 E. Roy St. $10–$20. 7 p.m. Sun., April 21.

Austin Huang Music for Chinese instruments and Western orchestra. Benaroya Hall, 200 University St., 
chineseculturefestival.org. $20–$100. 7 p.m. Sun., April 21.

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Denise Fillion & Chris Graham Stockhausen’s Kontakte for piano, percussion, and electronics, plus music by John Luther Adams and others. Chapel Performance Space, 4649 Sunnyside Ave. N., washington
composersforum.org. $5–$15. 8 p.m. Tues., April 23.

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Robin & Rachelle McCabe Music for two pianos from this superb duo. Meany Hall, UW campus, 543-4880, music.washington.edu. $12–$20. 7:30 p.m. Wed., April 24.