Stage Picks

Miss Witherspoon

Christopher Durang's story of playful comic sacrilege follows the afterlife of recently self-deceased Veronica, a stubborn soul who'd rather spend eternity in perpetual anesthesia than attain nirvana through rebirth. Aided by a bubbly Indian woman named Maryamma and a bizarre entourage of modern-day prophets, Veronica must accept her destiny: to overcome her distrust of living (by facing incarnations as an abused teen and a dog, among others) and ultimately save the world. Under M. Burke Walker's direction, the four-person cast delivers Veronica's hard-learned lessons with a lighthearted glee that surpasses her morbid circumstances, tackling the twists of Durang's pop-culture pastiche from post-apocalyptic revelations to New-Age aura cleansing and back in classic deadpan. Though not exactly profound, Miss Witherspoon's tongue-in-cheek treatment of potentially heavy material makes for a laugh-out-loud look at life in limbo. Contrary to the bromide that "dead men tell no tales," Miss Witherspoon has plenty to say. ACT Theatre, 700 Union St., 206-292-7676, www.acttheatre.org. $10-$54. 7:30 p.m. Tues.-Thurs., 8 p.m. Fri.-Sat., 2 & 7:30 p.m. Sun.; also 2 p.m. matinees Thurs. May 11 (pay-what-you-can) & Sat. May 20. Ends Sun. May 28. KAT ORTLAND

Kaleidoscope Dance Company

One of Seattle's oldest dance companies has some of its youngest members. For 25 years Anne Green Gilbert has been leading this crew of children and young teens, performing with skill, integrity, and zest, whether in work by a young company member or a renowned choreographer. Some of her alums have gone on to dance professionally, but all of them have brought the experience of dancing and love of the artform with them. Kaleidoscope's spring show is always a blast, but this special anniversary concert will reunite a group of "grads" in a unique finale. Broadway Performance Hall, 1625 Broadway Ave., 206-363-7281, www.creativedance.org. $8-$12. 7:30 p.m. Fri. May 12-Sat. May 13, 2 p.m. Sat. May 13, 3:30 p.m. Sun. May 14. SANDRA KURTZ