Roxanne Butterfly and Il Re Pastore.

William Anthony

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More About

• Roxanne Butterfly
• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
• Sandra Kurtz
• Opera
• Classical Music

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Roxanne Butterfly

The renowned tapper is in town to perform with the controlled chaos that is Teatro ZinZanni, but if you're looking for strictly dance, this "open mike" for tap dancers will allow you to luxuriate in Butterfly's delicate musicality without the distraction of someone juggling your dinner. Pink Door, 1919 Post Alley, 206-443-3241. Free. 11 p.m. Sat. Aug. 20. SANDRA KURTZ

Il Re Pastore

Mozart's development into one of the great opera composers was not just a matter of musical maturity; it took a while for him to find the kind of libretto that would bring out his latent talent as a dramatist and psychologist. During his lifetime, the static texts and improbable stories of baroque opera seria were beginning to fall out of favor—works that include plot twists like "The happy moment is interrupted by Agenore, who announces to the astonished couple that Aminta is no shepherd; instead, he is Abdolonymus, the King of Sidon." That line actually describes Mozart's 1775 Il re pastore, to be presented by the adventurous Off-Center Opera (featuring, left to right, Amy Paden and Maria Elena Armijo, seen here in rehearsal) in Italian with English titles and keyboard accompaniment. As a fledgling stage composer, Mozart worked with what he had, and lavished beautiful music on it. This is a rare chance to hear the teenaged Mozart on his path toward Figaro and Don Giovanni. Town Hall, 1119 Eighth, 1-800-838-3006. $18-$20. Opens Thurs. Aug. 18. 7:30 p.m. Thurs.-Sat. Ends Sat. Aug. 27. GAVIN BORCHERT