Stage

Openings & Events

Bach at Leipzig Itamar Moses’ play, structured like a fugue, examines the intrigue surrounding an open Kapellmeister post. Taproot Theatre, 204 N. 85th St., 781-9707, taproottheatre.org. $20–$40. Previews May 15–16, opens May 17. 7:30 p.m. Wed.–Thurs., 8 p.m. Fri., 2 & 8 p.m. Sat. Ends June 15.

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Mike Birbiglia SEE THE WIRE, PAGE 23.

A Celebration of Clayton Corzatte Honoring the recently deceased Seattle theater veteran. 5th Avenue Theatre, 1308 Fifth Ave., 625-1900, 5thavenue.org. Free. 7 p.m. Mon., May 20.

Family Affair Jennifer Jasper hosts this monthly performance-art cabaret on the theme of family. JewelBox/Rendezvous, 2322 Second Ave., jewelboxtheater.com. $10. 7:30 p.m. Wed., May 15.

The Frog Prince SPU presents the Grimm fairy tale. 
E.E. Bach Theatre, McKinley Hall, 3307 Third Ave. W., 
281-2959, spu.edu. $6. 7:30 p.m. Tues., May 21–Fri., May 24, 2 & 7:30 p.m. Sat., May 25.

Hedgebrook Women Playwrights Festival Readings of new work by participants. ACT Theatre, 700 Union St., acttheatre.org. Free. 4 p.m. Sun., May 19.

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Jay & Silent Bob’s Super Groovy Cartoon Movie SEE THE WIRE, PAGE 23.

Jet City Improv Turns 21 Finally able to legally drink! Celebrate with two special birthday shows. Wing-It Productions, 5510 University Way N.E., 781-3879, jetcity
improv.com. 8 7 10:30 p.m. Sat., May 18.

The Language Archive Julia Cho’s play explores love and communication. Seattle Public Theater at the Bathhouse, 7312 W. Green Lake Ave. N., 524-1300, seattle
publictheater.org. $15–$30. Preview May 16, opens May 17. 7:30 p.m. Thurs.–Sat., 2 p.m. Sun. Ends June 9.

Ross Mathews The Chelsea Lately regular and author of Man Up!: Tales of My Self-Delusional Self-Confidence performs stand-up. The Neptune, 1303 N.E. 45th St., 
stgpresents.org. $28.50. 8 p.m. Sat., May 18.

The Neverending Story Journey with Atreyu in this stage adaptation of Michael Ende’s novel. Youth Theatre Northwest, 8805 S.E. 40th St., Mercer Island, 232-4145 x109, youththeatre.org. $13–$17. Opens May 17. 7 p.m. Fri.–Sat., 2 p.m. Sun. Ends June 2.

Not All Clowns Are Bozos V: Not Our First Rodeo Ear to the Ground’s Western-themed clown cabaret. Center House Theatre, Seattle Center, eartothe
groundtheatre.org. $15–$20. 7:30 p.m. Thurs., May 16–Sun., May 19.

Paradisiacal Rites Theatrical troupe Saint Genet presents a work inspired by “hysteria, elastic moral codes, conformity, the Jonestown Massacre, and the Manson trials.” On the Boards, 100 W. Roy St., 217-9886, ontheboards.org, saintgenet.org. $12–$20. 8 p.m. Thurs., May 16–Sun., May 19.

Teatro ZinZanni: Lucky in Love The spiegeltent becomes Casino ZinZanni in this Vegas-themed show. Teatro ZinZanni, 222 Mercer St., 802-0015. $106 and up. Runs Thurs.–Sun.; see dreams.zinzanni.org for exact schedule. Ends Sept. 8.

Through the Looking Glass: The Burlesque Alice in Wonderland Lily Verlaine and Jasper McCann bring Lewis Carroll’s tale to life, bawdily. The Triple Door, 216 Union St., 838-4333, tripledoor.net. $30–$38. 6:30 & 9:30 p.m. Wed., May 15–Thurs., May 16, 7 & 10:30 p.m. Fri., May 17–Sat., May 18.

The Twilight Zone: LIVE! Schmeater’s annual revisit to the land of Serling, with three new stage adaptations of the original TV scripts. Theater Schmeater, 1500 Summit Ave., 800-838-3006, schmeater.org. $15–$18. Opens May 17. 8 p.m. Thurs.–Sat. Ends June 15.

Y-WE Speak A theater piece—exploring race, gender identity, social pressures, and more—generated by participants in the Young Women Empowered program. Seattle Repertory Theatre, Seattle Center, seattlerep.org. Free, but RSVP at 443-2222. 6 p.m. Sat., May 18.

Zooman and the Sign Brownbox Theatre presents Charles Fuller’s drama about a murder in an African-American neighborhood. Rainier Valley Cultural Arts Center, 3515 S. Alaska St., 800-838-3006, brownpaper
tickets.com. $15–$20. Opens May 16. 7:30 p.m. Thurs., 
plus Fri., May 24 & 31. Ends June 6.

Current Runs

Bill & Peggy Hunt Playwrights Festival One-acts and full-lengths by Washington playwrights. Burien Little Theater, S.W. 146th St. and Fourth Ave. S.W., Des Moines, 242-5180. $10. 7:30 p.m. Fri.–Sat., 2 p.m. Sun. Ends May 26. See burienlittletheatre.org for lineup.

Boeing Boeing Everything good about this period piece comes from the Rep. Playboy Bernard (Richard Nguyen Sloniker, radiant with charm) is juggling three stewardess girlfriends: Bhama Roget, Angela DiMarco, and Cheyenne Casebier, who pile loads of zip and personality upon playwright Marc Camoletti’s stale ethnic stereotypes. Mark Bedard stirs the pot as Bernard’s Wally Coxian friend Robert; Anne Allgood makes the very most of the testy maid Berthe. It’s a bubbly exercise in sheer theatrical style in the service of one of the weakest scripts I’ve ever seen on a stage. Allison Narver directs. GAVIN BORCHERT Seattle Repertory Theatre, Seattle Center, 443-2222. $12–$80. 7:30 p.m. Wed.–Sun. plus some matinees; see seattlerep.org for exact schedule. Ends May 19.

Cafe Nordo: SMOKED! Their new culinary/theater experience bites off a lot, “channel[ing] the spaghetti Westerns of Sergio Leone and the oppression of Monsanto-style agribusiness with lawyers and lobbyists portrayed as gun-toting sociopathic thugs.” The Kitchen by Delicatus, 309 First Ave. S., cafenordo.com. 7:30 p.m. Thurs. & Sat. ($70), 8 p.m. Fri.–Sat. ($80). Ends June 16.

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Chicago Maurine Dallas Watkins had an early and prescient take on America’s celebrity obsession. Transfixed as two vampy murderesses had their way with the courts and media, she turned their tale into a satirical 1926 play. And what mileage her Chicago would get. The 1996 Broadway revival of the 1975 Bob Fosse/Kander and Ebb musical adaptation is still playing—the third-longest running Broadway musical ever. Director Steve Tomkins would like Village Theatre’s staging to bring back the edgy flash the Broadway production lacks. “There’s no sense of period, of where it’s taking place,” he says. “We want to get some of the feeling of the era and the town . . . something very Art Deco, classy but trashy underneath.” STEVE WIECKING Village Theatre, 303 Front St. N., Issaquah, 425-392-2202. $24–$63. Runs Tues.–Sun.; see villagetheatre.org for exact schedule Ends July 28.

A Chorus Line Marvin Hamlisch’s record-setting musical about the lives of Broadway gypsies. 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. Ends May 26.

Frank Oliver’s Twisted Cabaret Magic, juggling, knife-throwing, and more in this one-man vaudeville evening. Hale’s Palladium, 4301 Leary Way N.W., twisted
cabaret.com. $14–$35. 7:30 p.m. Thurs., 7:30 & 10:30 p.m. Fri.–Sat., 3 p.m. Sun. Ends May 26.

Grey Gardens Based on the 1975 documentary about Jackie O’s relatives who lived in a decrepit Long Island mansion. Doug Wright’s book for this 2006 musical does what the Maysles brothers could not: We get to see 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.

Gypsy The Styne/Sondheim/Laurents classic about the stage mom to end all stage moms. Seattle Musical Theatre, 7400 Sand Point Way N.E. #101N, 363-2809, 
seattlemusicaltheatre.org. $35–$40. 7:30 p.m. Fri.–Sat. plus Thurs., May 16; 2 p.m. Sun. Ends May 19.

The Harrowing Haunting of Apparition Falls Blood Squad and Balagan co-produce this improvised trilogy of ghost stories. Balagan Theatre, 1117 E. Pike St., 800-838-3006, balagantheatre.org. $10. 11 p.m. Sat. Ends May 18.

Othello Shakespeare’s tragedy of manipulation and jealousy. Eclectic Theater, 1214 10th Ave., 679-3271, eclectic
theatercompany.org. $15–$25. 8 p.m. Thurs.–Sat., 2 p.m. Sun. Ends May 26.

Team of Heroes: No More Heroes The finale of Alexander Harris’ superhero satire. Annex Theatre, 1100 E. Pike St., 728-0933, annextheatre.org. $5–$20. 8 p.m. Thurs.–Sat. Ends May 25.

The Temperamentals Jon Marans’ docudrama about the birth of the gay-rights movement. The Ballard Underground, 2220 N.W. Market St., 800-838-3006, arouet.us. $12–$20. 7:30 p.m. Thurs.–Sat., plus 2 p.m. Sun., May 19. Ends May 25.

33 Variations Moises Kaufman’s play time-leaps between two ailing individuals: Beethoven and a modern-day musicologist studying him. ArtsWest, 4711 California Ave. S.W., 938-0339, artswest.org. $10–$34.50. 7:30 p.m. Wed.–Sat., 3 p.m. Sun. Ends May 25.

World’s Fair In this improvised crime thriller, a serial killer is on the loose at the Columbian Exposition of 1893. Wing-It Productions, 5510 University Way N.E., jetcity
improv.com. 8 p.m. Thurs.–Fri. Ends June 21.

Dance

Cornish Junior Dance Company The spring student showcase. Erickson Theatre Off Broadway, 1524 Harvard Ave., 800-838-3006, cornish.edu. $14–$18. 3 & 7:30 p.m. Sat., May 18, 3 p.m. Sun., May 19.

Ezra Dickinson SEE REVIEW, PAGE 26.

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Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo SEE THE WIRE, PAGE 23.

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WHIM W’HIM SEE THE WIRE, PAGE 23.

Classical, Etc.

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Seattle Opera A splendid all-woman double bill: Poulenc and Puccini’s one-acts La voix humaine (a woman confronts her lover over the phone) and Suor Angelica (a nun confronts, or is confronted by, her past). McCaw Hall, Seattle Center, 389-7676, seattleopera.org. $25 and up. 7:30 p.m. Wed. & Sat. Ends May 18.

Cuong Vu Music from this UW faculty jazz trumpeter. Henry Art Gallery, 4100 15th Ave. N.E., 543-2280, henryart.org. Free. 7 p.m. Thurs., May 16.

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Any Ensemble Composers John Teske and Paul Kikuchi lead a performance of composed and improvised music. Chapel Performance Space, 4649 Sunnyside Ave. N., johnteskemusic.com. $5–$15. 8 p.m. Thurs., May 16.

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Seattle Symphony Gerard Schwarz leads two all-Shostakovich programs. Benaroya Hall, 200 University St., 215-4747, seattlesymphony.org. $19–$112. 7:30 p.m. Thurs., May 16, 8 p.m. Fri., May 17.

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Orchestra Seattle/Seattle Chamber Singers Jayce Ogren conducts Sibelius’ Fifth and Verdi’s Four Sacred Pieces. First Free Methodist Church, 3200 Third Ave. W., 800-838-3006, osscs.org. $10–$25. 7:30 p.m. Sat., May 18.

Puget Sound Symphony Three favorites from the Fantasia films, with pianist Sara Davis Buechner. Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., psso.org. $5–$11. 7:30 p.m. Sat., May 18.

Rahim Alhaj, Amaan & Ayaan Ali Khan Iraq meets India with the former on oud and the latter duo on sarod. Kirkland Performance Center, 350 Kirkland Ave., Kirkland, 425-893-9900, kpcenter.org. $25. 8 p.m. Sat., May 18.

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City Cantabile Choir Director/composer Frederick N. West presents his theatrical setting of the Irish legend of Diarmaid and Grainne. Green Lake United Methodist Church, 6415 First Ave. N.E., 800-838-3006, citycantabile
choir.org. $15–$20. 7:30 p.m. Sat., May 18–Sun., May 19.

Market Street Singers Singing about singing, in music from Handel to Leonard Cohen. First Lutheran Church Ballard, 2006 N.W. 65th St., marketstreetsingers.org. Donation. 7:30 p.m. Sat., May 18, 3 p.m. Sun., May 19.

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Seattle Pro Musica Karen P. Thomas conducts Jaakko Mantyjarvi’s Canticum Calamitatis Maritimae, a haunting, hard-hitting choral piece inspired by a ferry disaster, and other works. St. James Cathedral, 804 Ninth Ave., 781-2766, seattlepromusica.org. $12–$33. 8 p.m. Sat., May 18–Sun., May 19.

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Ann Cummings Piano works by Rachmaninoff and Sibelius, plus Cummings’ Broken but Not Broken. At Northwest Pianos, 13310 Bel-Red Rd., Bellevue, 7 p.m. Sat., May 18 (free), and Stage 7 Pianos, 511 Sixth St. S., Kirkland, 7 p.m. Sat., May 25 ($5–$15). insidethemusic.com.

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Seattle Youth Symphony Their season climaxes with the blockbuster La Mer and the even blockier buster Pictures at an Exhibition. Benaroya Hall, 200 University St., 362-2300, syso.org. $15–$40. 3 p.m. Sun., May 19.

French Connections From UW faculty and students, music by Debussy and his contemporaries. Brechemin Auditorium, School of Music, UW campus, 685-8384, music.washington.edu. $15. 4:30 p.m. Sun., May 19.

Geisa Dutra From this pianist, Bach, Ravel, Chopin (the 24 Preludes), and Brazilian music. Meydenbauer Center, 11100 N.E. Sixth St., Bellevue, langloispiano.com. $5. 7:30 p.m. Mon., May 20.

Shoreline Concert Band A celebration of the euphonium, the tuba’s little brother. Shorecrest Performing Arts Center, 15343 25th Ave. N.E., 393-4280. Donation. 7:30 p.m. Tues., May 21.

UW Ethnomusicology Department Hindustani singer Srivani Jade; Senegalese percussionist Thione Diop; and much more. Meany Hall, UW campus, 543-4880, music.washington.edu. $12–$20. 7:30 p.m. Tues., May 21.

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Seattle Opera’s Wagner Celebration On his 200th, a sing-along of Wagner choral favorites, a costume contest, and much more., Seattle Center Armory, 
seattleopera.org/singalong. Free. 7 p.m. Wed., May 22.