Bedroom Farce to Underpants

Send listings two weeks in advance to stage@seattleweekly.com.

* indicates free tickets available for some performances to celebrate Live Theater Week.

Openings & Previews

Alice in Wonderland An original musical adaptation, written and directed by Bob Gribas with original music and choreography by Angela Rinaldi-Gribas. Variety Plus at McEachern Auditorium, Museum of History and Industry, 2700 24th Ave. E, 206-368-8386. $10. 1 & 4 p.m. Sun. Nov. 5 & 12 only.

Alien Ian Bell's "Brown Derby" series of staged reenactments of cult-movie screenplays continues with Alien, starring Nick Garrison as Ripley (and if those last four words don't inspire you to immediately buy tickets to all three performances. . .) 21 and over. Re-bar, 1114 Howell St. $12. 8 p.m. Tues. Nov. 7-Thurs. Nov. 9 only.

Aloha, Say the Pretty Girls Characters both human and animal, in New York, Hawaii, and Alaska, in Naomi Iizuka's fantasia. Cornish College of the Arts Theater Department at Raisbeck Performance Hall, 2015 Boren Ave., 206-325-6500, www.ticketwindowonline.com. $5-$8. Opens Tues. Nov. 7. 8 p.m. Tues.-Thurs. & Sat., 2 p.m. Sun. Ends Sun. Nov. 12.

AmateursA backstage comedy about a community theater production, its madcap cast, and the death of a theater critic. (We do not approve.) Next Step Theater at Theatre Four, Center House, Seattle Center. 800-838-3006, www.brownpapertickets.com, www.nextsteptheater.com. $10-$15. Opens Fri. Nov. 3. 7:30 p.m. Tues.-Sat., 2 p.m. Sun. Ends Sat. Nov. 11.

* Anything GoesLove and hijinks on a transatlantic ocean liner in this Cole Porter classic. SecondStory Repertory at Redmond Town Center, 16587 N.E. 74th St., Redmond, 425-881-6777, www.SecondStoryRep.org. $20-$26. Pay-what-you-can preview 8:15 p.m. Thurs. Nov. 2. Opens Fri. Nov. 3. 8:15 p.m. Fri.-Sat. and Thurs. Nov. 30, 2:15 p.m. matinees Sun. Nov. 19 & 26. Ends Sat. Dec. 2.

Bye Bye Birdie Teen idol Conrad Birdie (think Elvis-but-not-quite) is about to join the army, but not before he turns Sweet Apple, Ohio upside down with a PR stunt in this favorite musical. Village Theatre, 303 Front St. N., Issaquah, 425-392-2202, www.villagetheatre.org. $25-$49. Opens Wed. Nov. 8. 8 p.m. Wed.-Sat., 7:30 p.m. selected Tues., 2 p.m. matinees selected Sat. & Sun., 7 p.m. selected Sun. Ends Sun. Dec. 31.

The Great GatsbyF. Scott Fitzgerald's Jazz-Age dissection of the leisure class, love, materialism, and the American dream, in Simon Levy's stage adaptation. Bagley Wright Theatre at Seattle Repertory Theater, 155 Mercer St., 206-443-2222, www.seattlerep.org. $10-$48. Opens Thurs. Nov. 2. 7:30 p.m. Tues.-Sun., 2 p.m. Sat.-Sun.; also 7:30 p.m. Mon. Nov. 6, 2 p.m. Wed. Nov. 22. Ends Sun. Dec. 10.

The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe C.S. Lewis's allegorical tale, in Joseph Robinette's adaptation. Youth Theatre Northwest, 8805 S.E. 40th St., Mercer Island, 206-232-4145 ext. 109, www.youththeatre.org. $11-$15. Opens Fri. Nov. 3. 7 p.m. Fri., 2 & 7 p.m. Sat., 2 p.m. Sun. Ends Sun. Nov. 19.

Native SonA special one-night performance by the Rough Eagles troupe, students from Cleveland and Roosevelt high schools, of their own original adaptation of this novel, concurrent with the Intiman's production. Intiman Theater, 201 Mercer St., Seattle Center, 206-269-1900, www.intiman.org. Free. 7:30 p.m. Mon. Nov. 6.

* The Phaedra Project Passion and order clash in this retelling of the Greek myth, freely adapted from both Racine and Euripides. Ghost Light Theatricals at The Chamber Theater, Oddfellows Building, 915 E. Pine St., 4th floor, 800-838-3006, www.brownpapertickets.com, www.ghostlighttheatricals.org. $10-$12. Opens Fri. Nov. 3. 7:30 p.m. Fri.-Sat., also 2 p.m. Sun. Nov. 12 & 19. Ends Sun. Nov. 19.

Waiting for Godot Beckett's existential classic, staged by a troupe from his hometown. Gate Theatre, Dublin, at The Moore Theatre, 1932 Second Ave., 206-628-0888, www.ticketmaster.com, www.themoore.com. $38.50-$43.50. 7:30 p.m. Wed. Nov. 8-Thurs. Nov. 9, 8 p.m. Fri. Nov. 10, 2 & 8 p.m. Sat. Nov. 11, 2 p.m. Sun. Nov. 12 only.

Last Chance

CampfireAudience stories of the unexplained—UFO abductions, odd coincidences, ghosts, recurring dreams—are turned into improvised campfire stories for the stage. Unexpected Productions at Market Theater, 1428 Post Alley, 206-325-6500, www.unexpected productions.org. $10. 8 p.m. Fri.-Sat. Ends Sun. Nov. 5.

Carlotta & the Curse of Wolf ManorA Halloween musical performed by the popular Wing Ding variety show troupe. Theatre Off Jackson, 409 Seventh Ave. S., 800-838-3006, www.brownpapertickets.com. $7.50-$15. 8 p.m. Thurs.-Sat. Ends Sat. Nov. 4.

CompanyIf Sondheim's 1970 "concept musical" doesn't carry the same power to startle and titillate that it did at its premiere, it remains enormously entertaining, a wry, fast-paced somersault through a string of sitcom scenarios that snap and sparkle with Sondheim's trademark wit and lyricism. Its only real weakness is the very quality that marks its historical significance: its plotlessness. The show takes more and more energy to go nowhere in particular—energy, though, which the talented cast in this production appears more than willing to expend. As Bobby, the inveterate bachelor, Hugh Panaro has undeniable star power; eyeing the romantic shenanigans and uptight neuroses of the married couples around him, he registers a wide-eyed bemusement that just hints at the commitment-phobe beneath his buttoned-down exterior. Kendra Kassebaum is delightful as Amy, the seemingly ditzy bride whose nervous veneer crumbles in the second act; her spitfire staccato delivery of "Getting Married Today" is a breathtaking virtuoso vocal performance and one of the show's finest moments. Anne Allgood lives up to the promise of her surname as the perfect Protestant housewife Jenny, and Bobbi Kotula channels Lucille Ball as Sara, an half-assedly self-denying woman who goes orgasmic over the merest mention of the foods disallowed by her diet. David Armstrong's direction shows a strong affinity for Sondheim's material, his pacing, transitions, and emphases well attuned to Company's jumpy structure. Particularly grand is his handling of the opening number, which gets the big, rousing treatment audiences crave. 5th Avenue Theatre, 1308 Fifth Ave., 206-625-1900, www.5thavenue.org. $20-$73. 7:30 p.m. Wed., 8 p.m. Thurs.-Fri., 2 & 8 p.m. Sat., 1:30 & 7 p.m. Sun. Ends Sun. Nov. 5.RICHARD MORIN