Stage

Openings & Events

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. Opens May 2. 8:30 p.m. Fri.–Sat. Ends June 21.

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. Opens May 2. 8 p.m. Fri.–Sat. 
Ends May 24.

The Lost Boys Ian Bell’s Brown Derby Series—stage send-ups of cult films—takes on this teen vampire classic. Re-bar, 1114 Howell St., rebarseattle.com. $20. 8 p.m. Thurs., May 1–Sat., May 3.

Maggie’s Diner SPT’s Youth Program premieres Frank Garland’s play about a cafe’s plan to save itself. Seattle Public Theater at the Bathhouse, 7312 W. Green Lake Ave. N., 524-1300, seattlepublictheater.org. Donation. 7 p.m. Fri., May 2; 2 & 7 p.m. Sat., May 3; 2 p.m. Sun., May 4.

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. Opens May 2. 7:30 p.m. Thurs.–Sat. plus Mon., May 12. Ends May 17.

Prince of Pears Jacob Schiffler’s new fairy-tale play about a prince’s quest. Hutchinson Hall, UW campus, drama.uw.edu. Donation. 8 p.m. Thurs., May 1–Sun., May 4.

Returning to Albert Joseph Satori Group member Spike Friedman’s new show “drops us into a society where heroes are rational and inefficiency has been eliminated.” Inscape, 815 Seattle Blvd. S., 800-838-3006, satori–group.com. $15. Opens May 2. 8 p.m. Thurs.–Sun., plus Mon., May 12. Ends May 25.

The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window The Endangered Species Project reads Lorraine Hansberry’s socially conscious 1964 play. ACT Theatre, 700 Union St., 292-7676, acttheatre.org. $10–$15. 7 p.m. Mon., May 5.

Spin the Bottle Annex Theatre’s variety show includes “buoyant banjo-plucking,” “entertaining introspection,” and much more. Annex Theatre, 1100 E. Pike St., 728-0933, annextheatre.org. $5–$10. 11 p.m. Fri., May 2.

Current Runs

The Beggar’s Opera Vaclav Havel’s non-musical take on John Gay’s 18th-century slum story (not the usual Weill/Brecht version). Jones Playhouse Theatre, 4045 University Way N.E., 543-4880, drama.uw.edu. $10–$20. 7:30 p.m. Wed.–Sat., 2 p.m. Sun. Ends May 4.

Bethany Laura Marks’ hasty 2013 thriller presents a fresh set of characters in recession-afflicted America circa 2008. Crystal (Emily Chisholm) is squatting in an abandoned home in a neighborhood ravaged by foreclosures; Gary is a seemingly friendly homeless man (played dexterously by Darragh Kennan) who coaxes out her backstory. Crystal’s desperation is the engine of the drama, but also its flaw. With Bethany clocking in at 80 minutes, the players—directed by John Langs—sometimes feel in a rush to enact their doom. MARK BAUMGARTEN ACT Theatre, 700 Union St., 292-7676. $55 and up. Runs Tues.–Sun.; see acttheatre.org for exact schedule. Ends May 4.

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 goofy, dim-witted Seth (Drew Highlands), build what seems to be an alternate-reality machine, and all three have their motives for using it. The set and character asides give the eerie feeling of being stuck inside a sitcom (there’s even a laugh track), but there’s nothing funny about being trapped in a situation you can never escape. Pamala Mijatov directs. 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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Ernest Shackleton Loves Me During most of this new pocket musical, Valerie Vigoda gets to demonstrate her chops. Yet in the show’s first half-hour, the energetic score (music and lyrics are co-credited to her and Brendan Milburn) turns her into the quiet person at a loud party. It’s an odd start to an otherwise successful show. Kat (Vigoda) is an unsuccessful opera composer saddled with a newborn in a Brooklyn apartment after her baby daddy Bruce (Wade McCollum) departs. Somehow she finds herself receiving mysterious online romantic overtures from explorer Ernest Shackleton (also McCollum), who crosses a century and a refrigerator door to be with his lady love. Joe DiPietro’s script never attempts to hide the unreality of this time-travel romance, which is part of the show’s charm. DANIEL NASH Seattle Repertory Theatre, Seattle Center, 329-1050, balagantheatre.org. $5–$45. 7:30 p.m. Wed.–Sun., 2 p.m. Sat.–Sun. Ends May 3.

Gone Wild! The Libertinis add music, burlesque, and comedy to this zoology lesson. Annex Theatre, 1100 E. Pike St., 728-0933, annextheatre.org. $5–$10. 11 p.m. Fri.–Sat., plus 8 p.m. Mon., May 5. 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.

Impenetrable SIS Productions presents Mia McCullough’s play about women, society, and body image. West of Lenin, 203 N. 36th St., 800-838-3006. $12–$16. Runs Thurs.–Sat.; see brownpapertickets.com for exact schedule. Ends May 3.

King Lear SEE REVIEW, PAGE 23.

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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, 700 Union St., 292-7676. $20–$50. See acttheatre.org for exact schedule. Ends June 15.

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. plus Mon., May 5. Ends May 10.

A Room With a View It’s hard to imagine how E.M. Forster would feel about his 1908 novel becoming Broadway fodder. The 1985 movie is the more direct inspiration for writer Marc Acito and composer Jeffrey Stock. 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 movie, so you know. T. BOND 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? SEE REVIEW, PAGE 23.

For more stage events, see seattleweekly.com.

Dance

Alonzo King LINES Ballet This renowned contemporary ballet troupe draws inspiration from India, Turkey, and Italy, and performs to live tabla music.Meany Hall, UW campus, 543-4880, uwworldseries.org. $44–$49. 8 p.m. Thurs., May 1–Sat., May 3.

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Seattle Dance Project SEE PICK LIST, PAGE 22.

12 Minutes Max Yet another eclectic showcase for local stage talent, running the spectrum from dance to cabaret. Washington Hall, 153 14th Ave., ontheboards.org. $8. 7 p.m. Sun., May 4–Mon., May 5.

Classical, Etc.

John Lill Beethoven, Brahms, and more from this pianist. Benaroya Hall, 200 University St., 215-4747, seattle
symphony.org. $19 and up. 7:30 p.m. Wed., April 30.

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Seattle Symphony Out-of-town-tryouts, so to speak, for the orchestra’s NYC concerts May 5–6. At 7, the show they’re taking to Carnegie Hall: Adams, Varese and Debussy; at 10, their new-music concert to be heard at Poisson Rouge. Benaroya Hall, 200 University St., 215-4747, seattlesymphony.org. Free. Fri., May 2.

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Seattle Composers Salon On Seattle’s new-music open-mike night, works by William O. Smith, Tom Baker, John Teske, and Keith Eisenbrey. Chapel Performance Space, 4649 Sunnyside Ave. N., composer
salon.com. $5–$15. 8 p.m. Fri., May 2.

Baroque Northwest Music from New Orleans’ days as the center of French high culture in North America. Trinity Episcopal Church, 609 Eighth Ave., 276-0871, baroquenorthwest.com. $15–$30. 7:30 p.m. Sat., May 3.

LUCO Chamber Music Cabaret Music from Lake Union Civic Orchestra players. Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., luco.org. Free. 7:30 p.m. Sat., May 3.

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City Cantabile Choir The festive Gloria—re-orchestrated with rock guitar and drums added—anchors this all-Vivaldi program. Green Lake United Methodist Church, 6415 First Ave. N.E., 800-838-3006, brownpaper
tickets.com. $15–$18. 7:30 p.m. Sat., May 3–Sun., May 4.

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Seattle Opera SEE PICK LIST, PAGE 22.

Circle of Friends Chamber music by various Mendelssohns and Schumanns, hosted by pianist Robin McCabe. Brechemin Auditorium, School of Music, UW campus, 685-8384, music.washington.edu. $10. 4:30 p.m. Sun., May 4.

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Octava Chamber Orchestra A new work for trombone trio and orchestra by Michel R. Edward. Maple Park Church, 17620 60th Ave. W., Lynnwood, octava
chamberorchestra.com. $5–$15. 6 p.m. Sun., May 4.

Moscow Virtuosi Vladimir Spivakov leads this string group in a not-as-interesting-as-it-could-be program: Mozart, Piazzolla, Shostakovich, and Tchaikovsky. Benaroya Hall, 200 University St., 215-4747, seattle
symphony.org. $47–$87. 7 p.m. Sun., May 4.

Trio Brasiliero Brazil’s melting-pot-ness breaks loose in the genre called choro. With Anat Cohen and Jovino Santos Neto. Cornish College/PONCHO Concert Hall, 710 E. Roy St., cornish.edu. $10–$20. 7 p.m. Sun., May 4.

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Queen City Musicians This theater-oriented early-music ensemble debuts with Charpentier’s 1684 mini-opera Acteon (based on the myth of the hunter who saw the goddess Diana bathing—oops!), plus other French baroque works. Trinity Episcopal Church, 609 Eighth Ave., queencitymusicians.com. $10–$25. 7:30 p.m. Tues., May 6.