Fall Arts Calendar

THEATER

SEPTEMBER

15 South Pacific Rodgers and Hammerstein moon over some enchanted evening during WWII. Village Theatre, 425-257-8600.

17 Forbidden Hollywood Tinseltown gets a wicked musical spoofing from the creators of New York's fiendish Forbidden Broadway. Kirkland Performance Center, 425-893-9900.

17 The Magic City A world-premiere adaptation of the book by E. Nesbit finds two children escaping into a fantastical land built out of household objects. Seattle Children's Theatre, 206-441-3322.

18 Who's Funnier: The Right or the Left? Guests including Janeane Garofalo and Sherman Alexie ponder the titular question for Foolproof. Paramount Theatre, 206-628-0888.

22 A . . . My Name Is Alice Women's Issues meet the Musical in Joan Micklin Silver and Julianne Boyd's seminal satirical revue. Tacoma Actors Guild, 253-272-2145.

22 Frankenocchio A decapitated marionette boy searches for his head in this revamp of Monkey Wrench Theatre's wonderfully wild adult puppet spectacular. Empty Space Theatre, 206-547-7500.

24 Good Boys Jane Martin's world-premiere drama concerns two fathers and a dark exploration of American life. ACT Theatre, 206-292-7676.

25 The Guys L.A.-based the Actors' Gang performs the heartbreaking drama of a journalist who helps a fire captain eulogize the men he lost on 9/11. Kirkland Performance Center, 425-828-0422.

28 Oliver! That greedy little orphan boy asks for more—and can't stop singing about it. Paramount Theatre, 206-292-ARTS.

OCTOBER

2 Anna in the Tropics Sharon Ott directs Nilo Cruz's Pulitzer Prize–winning play in which some cigar factory workers in 1920s Florida have their lives changed by an encounter with a man who reads them Anna Karenina. Seattle Repertory Theatre, 206-443-2222.

6 Romance/Romance Two one-act musicals—one in 1900 Vienna, the other in a present-day Hamptons haven—look at love. ArtsWest Playhouse, 206-938-0339.

8 Bunnicula The rabbit has fangs! Kids bite into the musical mystery, based on the book. Seattle Children's Theatre, 206-441-3322.

8 Cabaret Sally Bowles gets into trouble in 1930s Berlin, old chum. The Playhouse, 206-842-8569.

8 Strega Nona A magic pasta pot wreaks havoc in an Italian village in this children's tale from Paul Mesner Puppets. Northwest Puppet Center, 206-523-2579.

8 Waxwings Book-It adapts Jonathan Raban's acclaimed Seattle dot-com contemplation. Seattle Center House Theatre, 206-216-0877.

14 As You Like It Stephanie Shine directs the Bard's tale of love in the Forest of Arden for Seattle Shakespeare Company. Seattle Center House Theatre, 206-733-8222.

15 This Land Puppets and actors join forces in a play derived from the work of folk hero Woody Guthrie. Richard Hugo House, 800-838-3006.

19 Smokey Joe's Cafe The songs of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller form the basis of a musical revue that features the fabulous Sarah Rudinoff in its ensemble. The 5th Avenue, 206-292-ARTS.

20 Walk With Me . . . The Lone Twin duo uses just two mikes, a monitor, and a clipboard in this performance retrospective of its conceptual artworks. On the Boards, 206-217-9888.

22 Fiction A look at married life is conjoined with a sophisticated whodunit in Steven Dietz's world- premiere new play. ACT Theatre, 206-292-7676.

29 Arsenic and Old Lace Two old broads keep exterminating their lodgers in this comedy chestnut. SecondStory Repertory, 425-881-6777.

NOVEMBER

5 In or Out TheatreRun, a young, international physical-performance troupe, considers the theme of beginnings and endings in this newly commissioned piece. Consolidated Works, 206-625-0500.

5 Q'we-ti: Tales of the Makah Tribe The Carter Family Marionettes perform a selection of fanciful American Indian legends. Northwest Puppet Center, 206-523-2579.

10 The Secret Garden The Tony-winning musical version of the tale comes to Issaquah. Village Theatre, 425-257-8600.

19 The Secret Garden Little Mary Lennox's snooping pays off big time in a new adaptation of the Frances Hodgson Burnett classic. Seattle Children's Theatre, 206-441-3322.

19 Paula Poundstone The stand-up comedian, always quick on her feet, returns for another round of her singularly frank humor. ACT Theatre, 206-325-3554.

20 Bad Dates A restaurant manager re-enters the dating scene and looks for love in a new comedy by Theresa Rebeck (Omnium Gatherum). Seattle Repertory Theatre, 206-443-2222.

26 The Pied Piper of Hamelin The titular musician rids a town of its rats and gets peeved when he doesn't get paid. SecondStory Repertory, 425-881-6777.

DECEMBER

11 Noises Off Michael Frayn's gut-busting farce-within-a-farce concerns a dysfunctional company of actors attempting to survive the performance of a disastrous stage comedy. Seattle Repertory Theatre, 206-443-2222.

SEPTEMBER

17–23 Ross McElwee Retrospective The NWFF salutes the director of personal documentaries like Sherman's March and the new Bright Leaves. 2 p.m. Northwest Film Forum, 206-267-5380.

17 Silver City John Sayles goes after Dubya in this elaborate parable of the president's early, unlikely rise in politics. It's reportedly even meaner and more scathing than Fahrenheit 9/11.

17 Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow The special-effects movie of the season, it was shot entirely with actors (including Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law, and Angelina Jolie) performing in front of a blue screen; the retro-style space invaders were later added via computer.

17 Wimbledon For those who still can't get enough of Kirsten Dunst after Spider-Man 2 and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, she's back in a tennis-themed romantic comedy opposite unlikely romantic lead Paul Bettany.

24 Shaun of the Dead From England, a boy falls in love with a zombie in this dark comedy. Can they make it work? Where will they go for dinner dates?