Stage

Openings & Events

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. Opens May 9. 7:30 p.m. Fri.–Sat. Ends May 31.

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.

Tony Kushner The eminent playwright appears in anticipation of Intiman’s staging of his Angels in America (Aug. 12–Sept. 21). Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., intiman.org. $10. 2 p.m. Sat., May 10.

One-Minute Play Festival Several dozen people (Elizabeth Heffron, Marya Sea Kaminski, and K Brian Neel, to pick a few names randomly) contribute tiny new work. ACT Theatre, 700 Union St., 292-7676, acttheatre.org. $20. 8 p.m. Sat., May 10, 2 & 8 p.m. Sun., May 11.

Shostakovich A reading of Jason Grote’s new play about the composer and his anguished relationship with the Soviet regime. ACT Theatre, Free. 7 p.m. Mon., May 12–Tues., May 13.

Trouble in Fairytalezania & Wild Wes Two lively children’s shows from Taproot’s touring company. Isaac Studio Theatre, 208 N. 85th St., 781-9707, taproottheatre.org. $5–$12. Opens May 10. Noon & 2 p.m. Sat. Ends May 17.

Current Runs

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.

Gone Wild! The Libertinis add music, burlesque, and comedy to this zoology lesson. Annex Theatre, $5–$10. 11 p.m. Fri.–Sat.Ends May 10.

Hair The smash ’60s musical is full of hippie goodness and song. ArtsWest, 4711 California Ave. S.W., 938-0339, arts
west.org. 7:30 p.m. Wed.–Sat., 3 p.m. Sun. Ends June 7.

I Saw U Unexpected Productions’ new show is inspired by personals: What happens when a “missed connection” connects? Unexpected Productions Market Theater, 1428 Post Alley, 800-838-3006, unexpectedproductions.org. $12–$15. 8:30 p.m. Fri.–Sat. Ends June 21.

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.

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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., macha
monkey.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.

Quickies, vol. 15 Live Girls! Theater presents short plays on the themes of science and magic. Theater Off Jackson, 409 Seventh Ave. S., 800-838-3006, lgtheater.org. $5–$20. 8 p.m. Thurs.–Sat. Ends May 10.

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Returning to Albert Joseph SEE PAGE 20.

A Room With a View Virginal heroine Lucy is traveling through Italy with her chaperone; there she’s courted by the romantic George, which threatens a potential match back in England with uptight Cecil. Whom will she choose?!? Well, you’ve seen the 1985 movie, so you know. 5th Avenue Theatre, 1308 Fifth Ave., 625-1900. $29 and up. Runs Tues.–Sun., see 5thavenue.org for exact schedule. Ends May 11.

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.

For many more Current Runs, see seattleweekly.com.

Dance

Full Tilt 2014 New contemporary-dance works by Noelle Chun, Bryon Carr, and others. Velocity Dance Center, 1621 12th Ave., 800-838-3006, evokeproductions.org. $15–$18. 
7 & 9 p.m. Fri., May 9–Sat., May 10.

Baron Samedi SEE THE PICK LIST, PAGE 18.

Classical, Etc.

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Seattle Jazz Composers Ensemble All kinds of new work on this fifth-anniversary celebration evening. The Royal Room, 5000 Rainier Ave. S., 906-9920, thefrank
agency.org. Pay what you can. 8 p.m. Wed., May 7.

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Club Shostakovich Dmitri’s 10th (of 15) string quartets, plus music by Rebecca Clarke and Brahms.Kenyon Hall, 7904 35th Ave. S.W., triopardalote.com. $5–$14. 7:30 p.m. Fri., May 9.

Ensign Symphony & Chorus Crawford Gates’ Vision of Eternity and other works by Bernstein, Haydn, and more. Benaroya Hall, 200 University St., 215-4747. $16–$36. 7:30 p.m. Fri., May 9.

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Seattle Symphony Young Composers’ Workshop The annual, and always fascinating, concert of new student work, played by SSO members. Benaroya Recital Hall, Third Ave. and Union St., 215-4800, seattlesymphony.org. Free. 7:30 p.m. Fri., May 9.

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The Esoterics Music by Ravel in “SYLVANA: Music of the forests, flowers, and trees.” At St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 4805 N.E. 45th St., 8 p.m. Fri., May 9; Grace Episcopal Church, 8595 N.E. Day Road, Bainbridge Island, 2 p.m. Sat., May 10; and Holy Rosary Catholic Church, 4142 42nd Ave. S.W., 2 p.m. Sun., May 11. $10–$20. theesoterics.org.

Seattle Symphony On a “Discover Music” family concert, environmentally aware music by Eric Banks (excerpts from his Our Earth opera trilogy) and others. Benaroya Hall, 200 University St., 215-4747, seattle
symphony.org. $15–$20. 11 a.m. Sat., May 10.

Hilary Field Music by Villa-Lobos and others for guitar, sponsored by the Seattle Classic Guitar Society. Frye Art Museum, 704 Terry Ave., 365-0845, fryemuseum.org. Free. 2 p.m. Sat., May 10.

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Orchestra Seattle/Seattle Chamber Singers SEE PREVIEW, PAGE 18.

Tudor Choir Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Blessed Sacrament Church, 5050 Eighth Ave. N.E., tudor
choir.org. 7:30 p.m. Sat., May 10.

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American String Project Chamber Players Quintets by Brahms and Dvorak played by bassist Barry Lieberman and friends. Brechemin Auditorium, School of Music, UW campus, 685-8384, music.washington.edu. $15. 2 p.m. Sun., May 11.

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Seattle Youth Symphony SEE PAGE 19.

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Music of Remembrance The 1918 silent The Yellow Ticket, with a new score, performed live, by Alicia Svigals. Benaroya Hall, 200 University St., 365-7770, musicof
remembrance.org. $40. 7:30 p.m. Mon., May 12.