Fall Arts Preview - Theater

A contemporary theater—The theater's new artistic director, Gordon Edelstein, continues his efforts to revitalize ACT with some impressive efforts, including its current offering, A Summer Moon by John Olive, a world-premiere play about a Japanese salesman given the unenviable task of trying to sell his country's first cars to the newly opened American market (ends 9/27). Then the theater gets down and dirty with Quills, Doug Wright's acerbic new play (with an Obie to recommend it) about the last days of everyone's favorite philosophical pervert, the Marquis de Sade (9/18-10/18). This is followed by Violet by Jeanine Tesori and Brian Crawley, an unusual musical that tells the story of a disfigured mountain woman who seeks healing at the hands of a televangelist, and sets off on a journey to discover the Deep South (10/16-11/15). If all this is sounding a little radical for the theater's tried-and-true audience, never fear, there's always the annual production of A Christmas Carol in an adaptation by ACT founder Gregory Falls (dates TBA). 700 Union, 292-7676.

A Theater Under the Influence—Only two shows this fall from this smart group of fringe artists who specialize in revivals of little-known or rarely done texts. The first is a preview of Steve Tesich's comedy Square One, a two-hander bound for a tour of Germany at the Union Garage (10/2-4). Then, as a Halloween treat, the company presents a staged reading of the original War of the Worlds radio script, which was so effective it led to widespread panic when it was broadcast 50 years ago. Adapted by Howard Koch (10/29-31). Union Garage, 1418 10th, 720-1942.

Annex Theater—Seattle's flagship fringe theater has had a so-so season so far, but it will be finishing the year with some likely looking prospects. One undeniable pleasure is the theater's monthly late-night slot Spin the Bottle, curated by Bret Fetzer and hosted by the imperturbably suave Bruce Hall, a cabaret with a gloriously unpredictable edge to it. It plays the third Friday of every month at 11. On the mainstage, you can still catch the world premiere of Little Rootie Tootie, Erik Ehn's strange and poetic play about a mother and her magical baby who are pursued by a secret society of policemen (ends 9/12). Up next is Keri Healey's Penetralia, a domestic drama that's also a thriller about love and loss (9/9-11/7). Following hot on its heels is the holiday tradition of lewdness, silliness, and crazed show stallions, this time titled Lippizzaner? I Don't Even Know Her!, curated by Bret Fetzer (12/4-19). As a special late-night offering with Lippizzaner is Futz by Rochelle Owens, a play about a man who likes pigs. I mean really likes pigs. (12/5-19). Fri-Sat at 11. 1916 Fourth, 728-0933.

ArtsWest—The first season for this new (and still homeless, while waiting for money to renovate its Alaska Junction venue) theater company is a bevy of comedies and comedy-dramas, starting with local boy Steven Dietz's poetic two-hander about friendship during the AIDS crisis, Lonely Planet (9/24-10/17), followed by Terrance McNally's sweet comedy about midlife love between a waitress and a short-order cook, Frankie and Johnny at the Claire de Lune (10/29-11/21). 42nd SW and SW Alaska, 938-0339.

Bathhouse Theater—Finally putting all things Fulghum behind it, the Bathhouse gets bitter and Beckett-y with Endgame, the Irish playwright's nihilistic vision of old age and dementia at the end of our lives and the end of the world (9/8-10/11). Then as its annual tribute to the Bard, Bathhouse founder Arne Zaslove directs the pastoral comedy As You Like It, filled with a bunch of lovers knocking into trees and each other as they tra-la-la (dates TBA). 7312 W Green Lake Dr N, 524-9108.

Belltown Theater Center—Artistic director Larry Silverberg directs the first fall offering of the company, David Rabe's In the Boom Boom Room, which charts the victimization of a go-go dancer (10/9-31). Then it's a visit from the Clay Martin Puppet Theater with its production of Faust, the timeless tale of a man who makes what is, when you think about it, a fairly shortsighted deal with the Devil (11/6-29). Finally the season wraps up with John Patrick Shanley's trenchant yet touching comedy Savage in Limbo (12/4-19). 115 Blanchard, 728-7609.

Book-It Repertory Theater—This fall features three selections from its theatrical bookshelves, starting with BOOO-kit's Scary Stories, featuring ghostly selections from Stephen King (shriek!), Shirley Jackson (shiver!), and R. Chetwynd-Hayes (who?) (10/2-31). Then there's a workshop of J.M. Coetzee's novel The Age of Iron with esteemed director Nikki Appino at the helm (11/20-22), and finally as a Christmas treat it's a revival of An Owen Meany Christmas, the tale of a Christmas pageant gone seriously wrong, written by John Irving, whose recent comments about trailer parks and public schools seem downright Ebenezerly (12/3-23). Book-It Repertory Theater, 1219 Westlake N, third floor, 216-0833.

Cabaret De Paris—The Cabaret continues its time-honored tradition of light musical fare to go with your elegant meal at its downtown locale. You can still catch the satirical revue Geoducks, Broken Domes & Billionaire Nerds through 9/26, the company's jokey send-up of all things Seattle. Next up is a celebration of the 100th birthday of a great American composer (no, he's not still around) with Music by Gershwin, a musical revue featuring more than 30 songs such as "Someone to Watch Over Me"and "I Got Rhythm" (10/1-11/21, see also Kirkland Performance Center). Finally it's the return of the cash cow with the kick, Forbidden Xmas '98, a collection of old and new seasonal parodies by Richard Gray including "Steve Pool the Weatherman" and "The Bon Star Blues" (11/27-12/27). Rainier Square, Fourth and Union, 623-4111.