Stage

Openings & Events

The Construction Zone An unhappy couple must face themselves, and a man-eating tiger, in this staged reading of Mark Chrisler’s play-in-progress Worse Than Tigers. ACT Theatre, 700 Union St., 292-7676, 
acttheatre.org. $5–$10. 7 p.m. Tues., June 24.

Family Affair Jennifer Jasper’s “sick, hilarious, and ultimately relatable” monthly cabaret on the theme of family. JewelBox/Rendezvous, 2322 Second Ave., 
jenniferjasperperforms.com. $10. 7:30 p.m. Wed., June 18.

Ladies Night Live Girls!’ sketch-comedy show. Annex Theatre, 1100 E. Pike St., 800-838-3006, lgtheater.org. $7–$10. 7:30 p.m. Sun., June 22.

Serious Play: The 18th Seattle International Festival of Improv Troupes from as far afield as Hungary and Japan gather to make it up as they go along. Unexpected Productions’ Market Theater, 1428 Post Alley, 587-2414. Single tickets $5–$15, festival pass $30. See unexpectedproductions.org for schedule, Wed., June 25–Sat., June 28.

There Once Was a Man Ricki Mason, aka Lou Henry Hoover, puts a personal spin on the image of men in current society with this new work. Lou is a husband, a father, and apparently also a cockroach, perhaps doing time as Gregor Samsa. SANDRA KURTZ Re-bar, 1114 Howell St., kittenandlou.com. $20. 8 p.m. Fri., June 20–Sat., June 21.

The Venture Bras A burlesque takeoff (nudge nudge) on the Cartoon Network’s The Venture Bros. JewelBox Theater at the Rendezvous, 2322 Second Ave., 800-838-3006, brownpapertickets.com. $18–$30. 7:30 p.m. Fri., June 20–Sat., June 21.

CURRENT RUNS

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay SEE REVIEW, PAGE 22.

The Amazing Acro-Cats From skateboarding to ball-balancing, a festival of felines. Theatre4, Seattle Center Armory, circuscats.com. $24. 8 p.m. Thurs.–Fri., 5 & 8 p.m. Sat., 2 & 5 p.m. Sun. Ends June 22.

Every Movie Is a Musical When Jet City Improv gets their hands on it, that is, and when you tell them what movie to transform. Wing-It Productions, 5510 University Way N.E., jetcityimprov.com. $12–$15. 8 p.m Thurs.–Fri. Ends June 20.

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Funny Girl In the starring role of this revival, directed by Steve Tomkins, Sarah Rose Davis has to be exhaustively gawked up and geeked out by her costumers to match the song “If a Girl Isn’t Pretty.” But by the time the show reaches “I’m the Greatest Star,” Davis owns the part of the legendary stage performer Fanny Brice (1891–1951), whose talent famously surpassed her looks. Davis bounces from pushy to pleading to soulful to catty, bratty, soulful, and back again. Good, because Funny Girl is a show that lives and dies on its Brice. However, the one dull spot in this practically Technicolor production is the central romance between Brice and the hit-and-miss gambler Nick Arnstein (Logan Benedict). Davis and Benedict have talent but no chemistry—perhaps because they and everyone else are so busy rushing from one number to the next. DANIEL NASH Village Theatre, 303 Front St. N., Issaquah, 425-392-2202. $30–$65. Runs Wed.–Sun.; see villagetheatre.org for exact schedule. Ends July 6. (Runs in Everett July 11–Aug. 3.)

The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess SEE ARTICLE, PAGE 20.

The Hunchback of Seville SEE REVIEW, PAGE 22.

The Lisbon Traviata Art imitates life in Terrence McNally’s play about opera obsessives. Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave., 800-838-3006, theatre22.org. 8 p.m. Thurs.–Sat., plus 2:30 p.m. Sat., June 28. Ends June 28.

Love in the Time of Zombies Damian Trasler’s play examines marriage in a post-social-media apocalypse. Ballard Underground, 2200 Market St., vagabondalley.com. $10–$14. 10 p.m. Sat. Ends June 28.

Passing Strange SEE REVIEW, PAGE 22.

Peter Pan He still won’t grow up! Studio East, 11730 118th Ave. N.E., Kirkland. $12–$18. Runs Fri.–Sun.; see studio-east.org for exact schedule. Ends June 22.

The Price Arthur Miller’s psychologically astute mid-career (1968) drama is given a deeply satisfying production, with four great performances you should go out of your way to see, sensitively steered by Victor Pappas. Its themes feel bespoke for today: the emotional fallout from economic distress; the fear of one’s own idealism; and the life-shaping rationalizations we invent to justify our past misjudgments. The gist: Policeman Victor (Charles Leggett) and surgeon Walter (Peter Lohnes) converge in their childhood bedroom after many years to dispose of their Depression-wrecked parents’ belongings, aided by elderly Jewish furniture dealer Mr. Solomon (Peter Silbert). Each brother sees the past through an entirely distinct lens, with Victor’s good-sport-whose-patience-is-wearing-thin wife Esther (Anne Allgood) rounding out the play’s Rashomon-esque trifocal vision. The delectable Solomon is the wise, mythical nudge who catalyzes the inevitable blowout between brothers and has the last laugh—though not how you might think. ACT Theatre, 700 Union St., 292-7676. $20–$61. Runs Tues.–Sun.; see acttheatre.org for exact schedule. Ends June 22. MARGARET FRIEDMAN

A Small Fire We meet the confident Emily (Teri Lazzara), who runs a construction business, trading dirty jokes with a foreman on a job site. She’s a foul-mouthed, middle-aged broad. At home, however, she’s got a cowed husband, John (Gordon Carpenter), and an exasperated adult daughter, Jenny (Sara Coates), who’s about to wed. Then—let’s get the big plot twist out of the way early—the indomitable Emily is struck by a degenerative disease, and suddenly the shit gets real. In Adam Bock’s affecting 2011 drama, directed by Julie Beckman for Sound Theatre Company, we watch Emily gradually lose her independence and dignity. In outline, I know, this sounds like a disease-of-the-week TV movie. Yet Lazzara makes Emily entertaining as hell; her lovable, cussin’ grumpiness reminds you of Melissa McCarthy. And there are unexpected laughs amid the pathos. And as Emily’s condition worsens, this parent becoming almost childlike, the cast keeps the play from drowning in despair. JENNA NAND New City Theatre, 1404 18th Ave., 800-838-3006, soundtheatrecompany.org. $15–$25. 8 p.m. Thurs.–Sat. Ends June 21.

Teatro ZinZanni: When Sparks Fly Maestro Voronin headlines this mad-scientist-themed show. Teatro ZinZanni, 222 Mercer St., 802-0015. $99 and up. Runs Thurs.–Sun. plus some Wed.; see zinzanni.com/seattle for exact schedule. Ends Sept. 21.

To the Naked Eye Innocence or dirtiness—what does nakedness mean? A half-dozen comic shorts try to find out. Cornish Playhouse, Seattle Center, playwrights-theatre.org. $20–$25. 8 p.m. Thurs.–Sat. (Thursdays are clothing-optional.) Ends June 28.

Urinetown A musical fable about a town in which “It’s a Privilege to Pee.” Renton Civic Theatre, 507 S. Third St., Renton, 425-226-5529, rentoncivictheatre.org. $20–$25. 7:30 p.m. Thurs., 8 p.m. Fri.–Sat., 2 p.m. Sun. Ends June 21.

Writers Group Showcase Readings of eight works-in-progress by Seattle Rep’s resident Writers Group. PONCHO Forum, Seattle Repertory Theatre, Seattle Center, seattlerep.org. Free. 7:30 p.m. Fri.–Sat., 4 p.m. Sat.–Sun. Ends June 22.

Dance

Seattle International Dance Festival Performances by troupes from Seattle and all over the world; see SeattleIDF.org for full lineup, schedule, and South Lake Union venues including Raisbeck Hall, 2015 Boren Ave. Through June 22.

Savannah Fuentes Flamenco Her local company is touring the Northwest with a full-blooded, foot-stomping program called La Luna Nueva. UW Ethnic Cultural Center, 3940 Brooklyn Ave. N.E., 800-838-3006, savannahfuentes.com. $10–$35. 8 p.m. Sat., June 21.

Classical, Etc.

The Met Summer Encores Favorite “Live in HD” broadcasts from past seasons, starting with 2013’s Vegas-styled Rigoletto, 7 p.m. Wed., June 18, and Puccini’s bittersweet La rondine, 7 p.m. Wed., June 25. See metopera.org for participating theaters.

Public Opera Arias and ensembles from a vocal quartet, with dinner. Ristorante Picolinos, 6415 32nd Ave. N.W., 781-8000. $35. 6:30 p.m. Thurs., June 19.

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Seattle Symphony Stravinsky’s three landmark ballets: The Firebird, Petrushka, and The Rite of Spring. Benaroya Hall, Third Ave. & Union St., 215-4747, seattlesymphony.org. $19 and up. 7:30 p.m. Thurs., June 19; 7 p.m. Fri., June 20 (The Firebird only, $17); 8 p.m. Sat., June 21. Also, hear Petrushka performed with Olympic Ballet Theatre at a “Discover Music!” family concert 11 a.m. Sat., June 21 ($15–$20).

Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra Music by Stan Kenton and Gerry Mulligan. Benaroya Recital Hall, Third Ave. and Union St., srjo.org. $15–$44. 4 p.m. (a family concert) & 7:30 p.m. Sat., June 21, and Kirkland Performance Center, 350 Kirkland Ave., Kirkland, 425-893-9900, 2 p.m. Sun., June 22.

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Old-Fashioned Love Songs New works and rethinkings of older ones (John Dowland, Norah Jones) by Aaron Grad on “electric theorbo.” Chapel Performance Space, 4649 Sunnyside Ave. N., 
aarongrad.com. $5–$15. 8 p.m. Sat., June 21.

Onyx Chamber Players Music by Debussy and Faure for two, three, and four musicians. First Church Seattle, 180 Denny Way, 800-838-3006, onyxchamber
players.com. $10–$25. 5 p.m. Sun., June 22.

Seattle Children’s Chorus A 25th anniversary celebration with all the choirs in the organization. Benaroya Hall, 200 University St., seattlechildrens
chorus.org. $20–$45. 6 p.m. Sun., June 22.

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Town Music The Joshua Roman-curated concert series presents soprano Mary Mackenzie performing music by Schoenberg and Roman himself. Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., townhallseattle.org. $10–$20. 7:30 p.m. Tues., June 24.

Northwest Mahler Festival Community-orchestra players gather to tackle large works they don’t often get a crack at. See nwmahlerfestival.org to sign up. On Tues., June 24, Debussy and Chadwick; Thurs., June 26, Bruckner’s 4th; Mon., June 30, Strauss’ Alpine Symphony; Wed., July 2, Berlioz’ Symphonie fantastique. All readings 7 p.m. St. Mark’s Cathedral, 1245 10th Ave. E.