Stage

Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute Teen Summer Musical and Academy TEEN SUMMER MUSICAL AND ACADEMY: 13-18 YEARS (19 IF STILL ENROLLED IN HS)

Youth ages 13-18 years (19 if still enrolled in HS) will embark on an intensive eight week journey which will include an intensive Academy curriculum introducing youth to the fundamentals of Acting (anatomy, voice, improvisation, writing, and ensemble work), Movement (African, hip hop, break dancing, jazz, modern and ballet) and Voice (song). Students will be introduced to simple costuming and set design while highlighting the history of great African American artists.

Summer Musical dates: June 24 to August 17 (8 weeks).

Tuesday-Friday, 9:30 A.M. – 4:30 P.M. Fee: $165

Auditions for the Teen Summer Musical at Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute begin June 12.

Audition dates include:

* Thursday, June 12: 3:30 – 7 P.M. * Friday, June 13: 3:30 – 7 P.M.

* Saturday, June 14: 9:30 A.M. – 2:30 P.M.

For more information, registration, and audition reservation, please contact Kristi Matsuda at kristi.matsuda@seattle.gov or (206) 684-5741. Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute, 104 17th Ave S

Seattle, WA 98144 $165 Ongoing through Sunday, August 17, 2014, 6pm

Laugh!Riot! Seattle’s NEWEST and BEST indoor, brewery sponsored, monthly Stand-up showcase. Hosted by Derek Sheen and Ryan Casey. Featuring some of the coolest people from around the Country, short films and sing-alongs!. Every 2nd Saturday of EVERY month at 10pm @Naked City Brewery in Greenwood. $10 Naked City Brewery, 8564 Greenwood Ave NSeattle,WA 98103 $10 Ongoing through Friday, June 27, 2014, 11:30pm

Can Can Cabarets Seattle’s center for neo-burlesque presents shows and/or live music nearly every night; see website for full details and ticket prices. Can Can, 94 Pike St. Downstairs from Matts & Chez Chea, Seattle see website Monday, June 23, 2014

Comedy Underground See website for complete schedule, including their “Monday Madness” open-mike night, 8 p.m. Comedy Underground, 109 S. Washington St., Seattle $6 Monday, June 23, 2014

Laughs Stand-up and other comedy. See website for complete schedule, including open-mike night.  Laughs Comedy Spot, 12099 124th Ave. N.E., Kirkland $10-$20 Monday, June 23, 2014

Pink Door Cabaret Trapeze performances (6:15-8:45 p.m.) by Bridget Gunning (Sun.) and Tanya Brno (Mon.). Saturdays, go “Behind the Pink Door” (11 p.m.,). See website for full details.   The Pink Door, 1919 Post Alley, Seattle $20 cover Monday, June 23, 2014

• 

The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess “Summertime,” meet summertime. But why the name change for this touring production? Why is this revival no longer called Porgy and Bess, as it was when developed in 1935 by George and Ira Gershwin and DuBose Heyward (who wrote the source novel and a subsequent play with his wife Dorothy)? Suzan-Lori Parks and Diane Paulus earned a Tony two years ago for their abridgement-er, ahem, adaptation, cough cough-of a busy stage extravaganza that originally ran four hours (one reason it was seldom performed; it took a whole lot of union actors to fill Catfish Row). Dialogue replaces recitative, much of the orchestral score is gone (but none of the songs, obvs), and Catfish Row is more implied than built out with expensive sets. What was originally “an American folk opera” (per George Gershwin) is now a slenderized popular musical. When this show took form at Boston’s American Repertory Theater, with the full permission and expected future profit of the Gershwin estate, it got some harsh criticism from high quarters. No less a figure than Stephen Sondheim accused the producers of having “disdain” for the original by creating character backstories and adding a happy ending. He wrote in a letter to the Times, “Ms. Paulus says that in the opera you don’t get to know the characters as people. Putting it kindly, that’s willful ignorance. These characters are as vivid as any ever created for the musical theater.” He argued for tragic operatic archetypes, but the Parks/Paulus version proved quite popular with audiences. And, irony of ironies, it beat out a revival of Sondheim’s Follies to win its Tony. Nathaniel Stampley plays crippled Porgy; Alicia Hall Moran is his faithful Bess. (Previews Weds. & Thurs. Opens Fri. Runs through June 29.) BRIAN MILLER 5th Ave Theatre, 1308 Fifth Ave., Seattle, WA 98101 $39.25 and up Monday, June 23, 2014

The Hunchback of Seville Produced by the ever-daring Washington Ensemble Theatre, Charise Castro Smith’s new one-act clocks in at mere 90 minutes, but it runs at the pace of an interminable SNL sketch. The Miami playwright’s farce is set in the wake of Columbus’ discovery of the New World. Back in Spain, circa 1504, his patron Queen Isabella (Maria Knox) is profoundly concerned about the survival of her empire, and rightly so. For starters, she’s dying of some mysterious malady. Worse, next in line for the throne is her schizoid brat of a daughter, the Infanta Juana (Libby Barnard). Who’s the hunchback? Up in her bedchamber-a masterpiece of economy from set designer Cameron Irwin-is Isabella’s brilliant but godless sister, Maxima (Samie Detzer). Isabella could die peacefully if only she can convince Maxima to renounce atheism to become counselor to her daughter, the next queen. Are there laughs? Yes, there are. But Hunchback packs 10 minutes of humor into an hour and a half. And director Jen Wineman’s reins are too slack: Jokes are consistently overplayed, and the acting styles are all over the map. (7:30 p.m. Thurs.-Mon. Ends June 30.) KEVIN PHINNEY The Little Theatre, 608 19th Ave. E. $15-$20 Monday, June 23, 2014, 7:30pm

To the Naked Eye Innocence or dirtiness-what does nakedness mean? A half-dozen comic shorts try to find out. Opens June 6. 8 p.m. Thurs.-Sat. plus Mon., June 16. (Thurs. performances are clothing-optional.) Ends June 28. Cornish Playhouse at Seattle Center, Seattle Center $20-$25 Monday, June 23, 2014, 8pm

Can Can Cabarets Seattle’s center for neo-burlesque presents shows and/or live music nearly every night; see website for full details and ticket prices. Can Can, 94 Pike St. Downstairs from Matts & Chez Chea, Seattle see website Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Comedy Underground See website for complete schedule, including their “Monday Madness” open-mike night, 8 p.m. Comedy Underground, 109 S. Washington St., Seattle $6 Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Comedy Womb This “female-focused but not female-exclusive” show includes a headliner and an open-mike segment, in the Grotto underneath the Rendezvous. JewelBox Theater at the Rendezvous, 2322 Second Ave., Seattle, WA 98121 $5 Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Laughs Stand-up and other comedy. See website for complete schedule, including open-mike night.  Laughs Comedy Spot, 12099 124th Ave. N.E., Kirkland $10-$20 Tuesday, June 24, 2014

• 

The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess “Summertime,” meet summertime. But why the name change for this touring production? Why is this revival no longer called Porgy and Bess, as it was when developed in 1935 by George and Ira Gershwin and DuBose Heyward (who wrote the source novel and a subsequent play with his wife Dorothy)? Suzan-Lori Parks and Diane Paulus earned a Tony two years ago for their abridgement-er, ahem, adaptation, cough cough-of a busy stage extravaganza that originally ran four hours (one reason it was seldom performed; it took a whole lot of union actors to fill Catfish Row). Dialogue replaces recitative, much of the orchestral score is gone (but none of the songs, obvs), and Catfish Row is more implied than built out with expensive sets. What was originally “an American folk opera” (per George Gershwin) is now a slenderized popular musical. When this show took form at Boston’s American Repertory Theater, with the full permission and expected future profit of the Gershwin estate, it got some harsh criticism from high quarters. No less a figure than Stephen Sondheim accused the producers of having “disdain” for the original by creating character backstories and adding a happy ending. He wrote in a letter to the Times, “Ms. Paulus says that in the opera you don’t get to know the characters as people. Putting it kindly, that’s willful ignorance. These characters are as vivid as any ever created for the musical theater.” He argued for tragic operatic archetypes, but the Parks/Paulus version proved quite popular with audiences. And, irony of ironies, it beat out a revival of Sondheim’s Follies to win its Tony. Nathaniel Stampley plays crippled Porgy; Alicia Hall Moran is his faithful Bess. (Previews Weds. & Thurs. Opens Fri. Runs through June 29.) BRIAN MILLER 5th Ave Theatre, 1308 Fifth Ave., Seattle, WA 98101 $39.25 and up Tuesday, June 24, 2014

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., Seattle, WA 98101 $5-$10 Tuesday, June 24, 2014, 7pm

Can Can Cabarets Seattle’s center for neo-burlesque presents shows and/or live music nearly every night; see website for full details and ticket prices. Can Can, 94 Pike St. Downstairs from Matts & Chez Chea, Seattle see website Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Comedy Underground See website for complete schedule, including their “Monday Madness” open-mike night, 8 p.m. Comedy Underground, 109 S. Washington St., Seattle $6 Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Comedy Womb This “female-focused but not female-exclusive” show includes a headliner and an open-mike segment, in the Grotto underneath the Rendezvous. JewelBox Theater at the Rendezvous, 2322 Second Ave., Seattle, WA 98121 $5 Wednesday, June 25, 2014

• 

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. The first-time lead, raised in Bellevue, demonstrates a remarkable agility of performance and comic timing. Good, because Funny Girl is a show that lives and dies on its Brice. Even the primary plot points of the vaudevillian’s fictionalized biography are mere vehicles to truck the audience toward the next song-and-dance spectacular. And of those there are many in this three-hour show (with intermission), with Davis wonderfully supported by the large ensemble. 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. But if it’s romance you want, you can always rent the movie with Barbra Streisand and Omar Sharif. (Runs Wed.-Sun.; see website for exact schedule. Ends July 6. Runs in Everett July 11-Aug. 3.) DANIEL NASH [See Daniel’s full <a href=”http://www.seattleweekly.com/arts/952755-129/opening-nights-funny-girl” target=”_blank”>review</a>.] Village Theatre, 303 Front St. N., Issaquah $30-$65 Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Laughs Stand-up and other comedy. See website for complete schedule, including open-mike night.  Laughs Comedy Spot, 12099 124th Ave. N.E., Kirkland $10-$20 Wednesday, June 25, 2014

• 

Passing Strange This local revival of the 2008 Tony winner works really well, conveying the life-altering qualities of sex, drugs, and rock & roll without needing to turn the volume up to 11. The inaugural production of Sidecountry Theatre, directed by Tyrone Brown, this show is ambitious and, at times, rushed during its two and one-half hours (with intermission). And occasionally, yes, the band overwhelms the dialogue. But when it takes time to breathe-particularly when its young protagonist is exploring his art or when the characters are experimenting with drugs-the stage floods with a powerful mix of emotion, angst, and humor. Created by the musician-turned-playwright named Stew (with Heidi Rodewald and Annie Dorsen), Passing Strange is basically his life story, though his character is never named. His journey starts in 1976 South Central L.A. before twisting through the marijuana cafes of Amsterdam and the riot-torn streets of Berlin. Our protagonist narrates his path, interspersed with songs and episodes from his life (enacted by a cast of six). The main role originated with Stew, obviously, and here his shoes are remarkably filled by first-time actor LeRoy Bell, the veteran local R&B singer who had a moment of fame on The X Factor some years back. The fact that Bell, a professional musician, can sing these songs with nuance and grace is easy to take for granted. You’d almost think they were his own, not written by Stew and Rodewald. That ease continues into Bell’s droll narration, so comfortable and relaxed that it’s easy to think he’s riffing on his own life-until a reference to a New York street gives the script away. (Runs Wed.-Sun.; see acttheatre.org for exact schedule. Ends June 29.) MARK BAUMGARTEN ACT Theatre, 700 Union St., Seattle, WA 98101 $20-$40 Wednesday, June 25, 2014

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. See unexpectedproductions.org for schedule, Wed., June 25-Sat., June 28. Unexpected Productions Market Theater, 1428 Post Alley, Seattle Single tickets $5-$15, festival pass $30 Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Teatro ZinZanni: When Sparks Fly Maestro Voronin headlines this mad-scientist-themed show. Opens June 6. Runs Thurs.-Sun. plus some Wed.; see zinzanni.com/seattle for exact schedule. Ends Sept. 21. Teatro ZinZanni, 222 Mercer St., Seattle $99 and up Wednesday, June 25, 2014

• 

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay Book-It’s adaptation of Michael Chabon’s Pulitzer-winning novel arrives in one five-hour mega-serving. This production-in which two superhero-obsessed cousins encounter the harsh and exhilarating realities of the real world (1938-’50s) through a comic-book filter-brings emotional KAPOW!s aplenty. Incredibly, after four one-hour acts separated by two intermissions and a dinner break, you could even ask for more. Here we have a dream team of moxie and melancholy from David Goldstein, as Brooklyn-born Sammy Clay, and Frank Boyd, as Czech-born Josef Kavalier. Boyd in particular goes from strong to extraordinary as Josef alters his ambitions to fit wartime and postwar circumstances. Nate Kelderman, who plays Kavalier’s younger brother in the old country (and later his son), perfectly mirrors Kavalier’s wary intelligence. Other memorable performances among the 18-member cast include Opal Peachey as shared romantic interest and activist Rosa Saks and Robert Hinds as the radio actor who voices one of the superheroes. Directed by Myra Platt from an abridged script by Jeff Schwager, Kavalier & Clay obviously requires some audience endurance. The third act is where the setups start to pay off in spades, so if the early acts seem slow, hang in there. The clockwork precision of this complicated adaptation seems a feat of magic in itself. It’s like a trick Kavalier might have tucked up his sleeve to dazzle a captor long enough to escape with his life. (6 p.m. Wed.-Sat., 2 p.m. Sun. Ends July 13.) MARGARET FRIEDMAN Center Theatre at the Armory, Seattle Center, $25-$43 Wednesday, June 25, 2014

• 

The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess “Summertime,” meet summertime. But why the name change for this touring production? Why is this revival no longer called Porgy and Bess, as it was when developed in 1935 by George and Ira Gershwin and DuBose Heyward (who wrote the source novel and a subsequent play with his wife Dorothy)? Suzan-Lori Parks and Diane Paulus earned a Tony two years ago for their abridgement-er, ahem, adaptation, cough cough-of a busy stage extravaganza that originally ran four hours (one reason it was seldom performed; it took a whole lot of union actors to fill Catfish Row). Dialogue replaces recitative, much of the orchestral score is gone (but none of the songs, obvs), and Catfish Row is more implied than built out with expensive sets. What was originally “an American folk opera” (per George Gershwin) is now a slenderized popular musical. When this show took form at Boston’s American Repertory Theater, with the full permission and expected future profit of the Gershwin estate, it got some harsh criticism from high quarters. No less a figure than Stephen Sondheim accused the producers of having “disdain” for the original by creating character backstories and adding a happy ending. He wrote in a letter to the Times, “Ms. Paulus says that in the opera you don’t get to know the characters as people. Putting it kindly, that’s willful ignorance. These characters are as vivid as any ever created for the musical theater.” He argued for tragic operatic archetypes, but the Parks/Paulus version proved quite popular with audiences. And, irony of ironies, it beat out a revival of Sondheim’s Follies to win its Tony. Nathaniel Stampley plays crippled Porgy; Alicia Hall Moran is his faithful Bess. (Previews Weds. & Thurs. Opens Fri. Runs through June 29.) BRIAN MILLER 5th Ave Theatre, 1308 Fifth Ave., Seattle, WA 98101 $39.25 and up Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Jay Hollingsworth’s True Story Hollingsworth asks visiting and local comics to actually explain the stories behind their supposedly true stories. 7:30 p.m., last Wednesday of every month.  The Parlor Collection, 700 Bellevue Way N.E., Bellevue see website Wednesday, June 25, 2014, 7:30pm

Flipside Comedy Show Stand-up every Wednesday at this bastion of old-school Seattle charm. 13 Coins, 125 Boren Ave. N., Seattle See website Wednesday, June 25, 2014, 8pm

Duos Comedy Showcase Unexpected Productions presents comedians two at a time. Unexpected Productions Market Theater, 1428 Post Alley, Seattle $5 Wednesday, June 25, 2014, 8:30pm

Can Can Cabarets Seattle’s center for neo-burlesque presents shows and/or live music nearly every night; see website for full details and ticket prices. Can Can, 94 Pike St. Downstairs from Matts & Chez Chea, Seattle see website Thursday, June 26, 2014

Comedy Underground See website for complete schedule, including their “Monday Madness” open-mike night, 8 p.m. Comedy Underground, 109 S. Washington St., Seattle $6 Thursday, June 26, 2014

• 

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. The first-time lead, raised in Bellevue, demonstrates a remarkable agility of performance and comic timing. Good, because Funny Girl is a show that lives and dies on its Brice. Even the primary plot points of the vaudevillian’s fictionalized biography are mere vehicles to truck the audience toward the next song-and-dance spectacular. And of those there are many in this three-hour show (with intermission), with Davis wonderfully supported by the large ensemble. 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. But if it’s romance you want, you can always rent the movie with Barbra Streisand and Omar Sharif. (Runs Wed.-Sun.; see website for exact schedule. Ends July 6. Runs in Everett July 11-Aug. 3.) DANIEL NASH [See Daniel’s full <a href=”http://www.seattleweekly.com/arts/952755-129/opening-nights-funny-girl” target=”_blank”>review</a>.] Village Theatre, 303 Front St. N., Issaquah $30-$65 Thursday, June 26, 2014

Laughs Stand-up and other comedy. See website for complete schedule, including open-mike night.  Laughs Comedy Spot, 12099 124th Ave. N.E., Kirkland $10-$20 Thursday, June 26, 2014

Parlor Live Comedy Club See website for schedule. The Parlor Collection, 700 Bellevue Way N.E., Bellevue $15-$30 Thursday, June 26, 2014

• 

Passing Strange This local revival of the 2008 Tony winner works really well, conveying the life-altering qualities of sex, drugs, and rock & roll without needing to turn the volume up to 11. The inaugural production of Sidecountry Theatre, directed by Tyrone Brown, this show is ambitious and, at times, rushed during its two and one-half hours (with intermission). And occasionally, yes, the band overwhelms the dialogue. But when it takes time to breathe-particularly when its young protagonist is exploring his art or when the characters are experimenting with drugs-the stage floods with a powerful mix of emotion, angst, and humor. Created by the musician-turned-playwright named Stew (with Heidi Rodewald and Annie Dorsen), Passing Strange is basically his life story, though his character is never named. His journey starts in 1976 South Central L.A. before twisting through the marijuana cafes of Amsterdam and the riot-torn streets of Berlin. Our protagonist narrates his path, interspersed with songs and episodes from his life (enacted by a cast of six). The main role originated with Stew, obviously, and here his shoes are remarkably filled by first-time actor LeRoy Bell, the veteran local R&B singer who had a moment of fame on The X Factor some years back. The fact that Bell, a professional musician, can sing these songs with nuance and grace is easy to take for granted. You’d almost think they were his own, not written by Stew and Rodewald. That ease continues into Bell’s droll narration, so comfortable and relaxed that it’s easy to think he’s riffing on his own life-until a reference to a New York street gives the script away. (Runs Wed.-Sun.; see acttheatre.org for exact schedule. Ends June 29.) MARK BAUMGARTEN ACT Theatre, 700 Union St., Seattle, WA 98101 $20-$40 Thursday, June 26, 2014

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. See unexpectedproductions.org for schedule, Wed., June 25-Sat., June 28. Unexpected Productions Market Theater, 1428 Post Alley, Seattle Single tickets $5-$15, festival pass $30 Thursday, June 26, 2014

Teatro ZinZanni: When Sparks Fly Maestro Voronin headlines this mad-scientist-themed show. Opens June 6. Runs Thurs.-Sun. plus some Wed.; see zinzanni.com/seattle for exact schedule. Ends Sept. 21. Teatro ZinZanni, 222 Mercer St., Seattle $99 and up Thursday, June 26, 2014

• 

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay Book-It’s adaptation of Michael Chabon’s Pulitzer-winning novel arrives in one five-hour mega-serving. This production-in which two superhero-obsessed cousins encounter the harsh and exhilarating realities of the real world (1938-’50s) through a comic-book filter-brings emotional KAPOW!s aplenty. Incredibly, after four one-hour acts separated by two intermissions and a dinner break, you could even ask for more. Here we have a dream team of moxie and melancholy from David Goldstein, as Brooklyn-born Sammy Clay, and Frank Boyd, as Czech-born Josef Kavalier. Boyd in particular goes from strong to extraordinary as Josef alters his ambitions to fit wartime and postwar circumstances. Nate Kelderman, who plays Kavalier’s younger brother in the old country (and later his son), perfectly mirrors Kavalier’s wary intelligence. Other memorable performances among the 18-member cast include Opal Peachey as shared romantic interest and activist Rosa Saks and Robert Hinds as the radio actor who voices one of the superheroes. Directed by Myra Platt from an abridged script by Jeff Schwager, Kavalier & Clay obviously requires some audience endurance. The third act is where the setups start to pay off in spades, so if the early acts seem slow, hang in there. The clockwork precision of this complicated adaptation seems a feat of magic in itself. It’s like a trick Kavalier might have tucked up his sleeve to dazzle a captor long enough to escape with his life. (6 p.m. Wed.-Sat., 2 p.m. Sun. Ends July 13.) MARGARET FRIEDMAN Center Theatre at the Armory, Seattle Center, $25-$43 Thursday, June 26, 2014

• 

The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess “Summertime,” meet summertime. But why the name change for this touring production? Why is this revival no longer called Porgy and Bess, as it was when developed in 1935 by George and Ira Gershwin and DuBose Heyward (who wrote the source novel and a subsequent play with his wife Dorothy)? Suzan-Lori Parks and Diane Paulus earned a Tony two years ago for their abridgement-er, ahem, adaptation, cough cough-of a busy stage extravaganza that originally ran four hours (one reason it was seldom performed; it took a whole lot of union actors to fill Catfish Row). Dialogue replaces recitative, much of the orchestral score is gone (but none of the songs, obvs), and Catfish Row is more implied than built out with expensive sets. What was originally “an American folk opera” (per George Gershwin) is now a slenderized popular musical. When this show took form at Boston’s American Repertory Theater, with the full permission and expected future profit of the Gershwin estate, it got some harsh criticism from high quarters. No less a figure than Stephen Sondheim accused the producers of having “disdain” for the original by creating character backstories and adding a happy ending. He wrote in a letter to the Times, “Ms. Paulus says that in the opera you don’t get to know the characters as people. Putting it kindly, that’s willful ignorance. These characters are as vivid as any ever created for the musical theater.” He argued for tragic operatic archetypes, but the Parks/Paulus version proved quite popular with audiences. And, irony of ironies, it beat out a revival of Sondheim’s Follies to win its Tony. Nathaniel Stampley plays crippled Porgy; Alicia Hall Moran is his faithful Bess. (Previews Weds. & Thurs. Opens Fri. Runs through June 29.) BRIAN MILLER 5th Ave Theatre, 1308 Fifth Ave., Seattle, WA 98101 $39.25 and up Thursday, June 26, 2014

The Lisbon Traviata Art imitates life in Terrence McNally’s play about opera obsessives. Preview June 5, opens June 6. 8 p.m. Thurs.-Sat., plus 2:30 p.m. Sat., June 21 & 28 and 8 p.m. Mon., June 23. Ends June 28. Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave., Seattle, WA 98122 See Website Thursday, June 26, 2014

The Very Super Special Feelings Show Sinner Saint Burlesque members bare their souls and bodies: Confessional readings from old diaries are accompanied by improvised strip routines. Re-bar, 114 Howell St $15 Thursday, June 26, 2014, 7pm

The Hunchback of Seville Produced by the ever-daring Washington Ensemble Theatre, Charise Castro Smith’s new one-act clocks in at mere 90 minutes, but it runs at the pace of an interminable SNL sketch. The Miami playwright’s farce is set in the wake of Columbus’ discovery of the New World. Back in Spain, circa 1504, his patron Queen Isabella (Maria Knox) is profoundly concerned about the survival of her empire, and rightly so. For starters, she’s dying of some mysterious malady. Worse, next in line for the throne is her schizoid brat of a daughter, the Infanta Juana (Libby Barnard). Who’s the hunchback? Up in her bedchamber-a masterpiece of economy from set designer Cameron Irwin-is Isabella’s brilliant but godless sister, Maxima (Samie Detzer). Isabella could die peacefully if only she can convince Maxima to renounce atheism to become counselor to her daughter, the next queen. Are there laughs? Yes, there are. But Hunchback packs 10 minutes of humor into an hour and a half. And director Jen Wineman’s reins are too slack: Jokes are consistently overplayed, and the acting styles are all over the map. (7:30 p.m. Thurs.-Mon. Ends June 30.) KEVIN PHINNEY The Little Theatre, 608 19th Ave. E. $15-$20 Thursday, June 26, 2014, 7:30pm

To the Naked Eye Innocence or dirtiness-what does nakedness mean? A half-dozen comic shorts try to find out. Opens June 6. 8 p.m. Thurs.-Sat. plus Mon., June 16. (Thurs. performances are clothing-optional.) Ends June 28. Cornish Playhouse at Seattle Center, Seattle Center $20-$25 Thursday, June 26, 2014, 8pm

Improv Anonymous: The Harold A narrative improv format created by legendary improv teacher Del Close.  Unexpected Productions Market Theater, 1428 Post Alley, Seattle $7 Thursday, June 26, 2014, 8:30pm

Can Can Cabarets Seattle’s center for neo-burlesque presents shows and/or live music nearly every night; see website for full details and ticket prices. Can Can, 94 Pike St. Downstairs from Matts & Chez Chea, Seattle see website Friday, June 27, 2014

Comedy Underground See website for complete schedule, including their “Monday Madness” open-mike night, 8 p.m. Comedy Underground, 109 S. Washington St., Seattle $6 Friday, June 27, 2014

ComedySportz Seattle Comedy Group moves their improv show to the former Empty Space. 8 & 10 p.m. Fri.-Sat. Atlas Theater, 3509 Fremont Ave N., Seattle $14 Friday, June 27, 2014

• 

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. The first-time lead, raised in Bellevue, demonstrates a remarkable agility of performance and comic timing. Good, because Funny Girl is a show that lives and dies on its Brice. Even the primary plot points of the vaudevillian’s fictionalized biography are mere vehicles to truck the audience toward the next song-and-dance spectacular. And of those there are many in this three-hour show (with intermission), with Davis wonderfully supported by the large ensemble. 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. But if it’s romance you want, you can always rent the movie with Barbra Streisand and Omar Sharif. (Runs Wed.-Sun.; see website for exact schedule. Ends July 6. Runs in Everett July 11-Aug. 3.) DANIEL NASH [See Daniel’s full <a href=”http://www.seattleweekly.com/arts/952755-129/opening-nights-funny-girl” target=”_blank”>review</a>.] Village Theatre, 303 Front St. N., Issaquah $30-$65 Friday, June 27, 2014

Laughs Stand-up and other comedy. See website for complete schedule, including open-mike night.  Laughs Comedy Spot, 12099 124th Ave. N.E., Kirkland $10-$20 Friday, June 27, 2014

Parlor Live Comedy Club See website for schedule. The Parlor Collection, 700 Bellevue Way N.E., Bellevue $15-$30 Friday, June 27, 2014

• 

Passing Strange This local revival of the 2008 Tony winner works really well, conveying the life-altering qualities of sex, drugs, and rock & roll without needing to turn the volume up to 11. The inaugural production of Sidecountry Theatre, directed by Tyrone Brown, this show is ambitious and, at times, rushed during its two and one-half hours (with intermission). And occasionally, yes, the band overwhelms the dialogue. But when it takes time to breathe-particularly when its young protagonist is exploring his art or when the characters are experimenting with drugs-the stage floods with a powerful mix of emotion, angst, and humor. Created by the musician-turned-playwright named Stew (with Heidi Rodewald and Annie Dorsen), Passing Strange is basically his life story, though his character is never named. His journey starts in 1976 South Central L.A. before twisting through the marijuana cafes of Amsterdam and the riot-torn streets of Berlin. Our protagonist narrates his path, interspersed with songs and episodes from his life (enacted by a cast of six). The main role originated with Stew, obviously, and here his shoes are remarkably filled by first-time actor LeRoy Bell, the veteran local R&B singer who had a moment of fame on The X Factor some years back. The fact that Bell, a professional musician, can sing these songs with nuance and grace is easy to take for granted. You’d almost think they were his own, not written by Stew and Rodewald. That ease continues into Bell’s droll narration, so comfortable and relaxed that it’s easy to think he’s riffing on his own life-until a reference to a New York street gives the script away. (Runs Wed.-Sun.; see acttheatre.org for exact schedule. Ends June 29.) MARK BAUMGARTEN ACT Theatre, 700 Union St., Seattle, WA 98101 $20-$40 Friday, June 27, 2014

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. See unexpectedproductions.org for schedule, Wed., June 25-Sat., June 28. Unexpected Productions Market Theater, 1428 Post Alley, Seattle Single tickets $5-$15, festival pass $30 Friday, June 27, 2014

Teatro ZinZanni: When Sparks Fly Maestro Voronin headlines this mad-scientist-themed show. Opens June 6. Runs Thurs.-Sun. plus some Wed.; see zinzanni.com/seattle for exact schedule. Ends Sept. 21. Teatro ZinZanni, 222 Mercer St., Seattle $99 and up Friday, June 27, 2014

• 

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay Book-It’s adaptation of Michael Chabon’s Pulitzer-winning novel arrives in one five-hour mega-serving. This production-in which two superhero-obsessed cousins encounter the harsh and exhilarating realities of the real world (1938-’50s) through a comic-book filter-brings emotional KAPOW!s aplenty. Incredibly, after four one-hour acts separated by two intermissions and a dinner break, you could even ask for more. Here we have a dream team of moxie and melancholy from David Goldstein, as Brooklyn-born Sammy Clay, and Frank Boyd, as Czech-born Josef Kavalier. Boyd in particular goes from strong to extraordinary as Josef alters his ambitions to fit wartime and postwar circumstances. Nate Kelderman, who plays Kavalier’s younger brother in the old country (and later his son), perfectly mirrors Kavalier’s wary intelligence. Other memorable performances among the 18-member cast include Opal Peachey as shared romantic interest and activist Rosa Saks and Robert Hinds as the radio actor who voices one of the superheroes. Directed by Myra Platt from an abridged script by Jeff Schwager, Kavalier & Clay obviously requires some audience endurance. The third act is where the setups start to pay off in spades, so if the early acts seem slow, hang in there. The clockwork precision of this complicated adaptation seems a feat of magic in itself. It’s like a trick Kavalier might have tucked up his sleeve to dazzle a captor long enough to escape with his life. (6 p.m. Wed.-Sat., 2 p.m. Sun. Ends July 13.) MARGARET FRIEDMAN Center Theatre at the Armory, Seattle Center, $25-$43 Friday, June 27, 2014

• 

The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess “Summertime,” meet summertime. But why the name change for this touring production? Why is this revival no longer called Porgy and Bess, as it was when developed in 1935 by George and Ira Gershwin and DuBose Heyward (who wrote the source novel and a subsequent play with his wife Dorothy)? Suzan-Lori Parks and Diane Paulus earned a Tony two years ago for their abridgement-er, ahem, adaptation, cough cough-of a busy stage extravaganza that originally ran four hours (one reason it was seldom performed; it took a whole lot of union actors to fill Catfish Row). Dialogue replaces recitative, much of the orchestral score is gone (but none of the songs, obvs), and Catfish Row is more implied than built out with expensive sets. What was originally “an American folk opera” (per George Gershwin) is now a slenderized popular musical. When this show took form at Boston’s American Repertory Theater, with the full permission and expected future profit of the Gershwin estate, it got some harsh criticism from high quarters. No less a figure than Stephen Sondheim accused the producers of having “disdain” for the original by creating character backstories and adding a happy ending. He wrote in a letter to the Times, “Ms. Paulus says that in the opera you don’t get to know the characters as people. Putting it kindly, that’s willful ignorance. These characters are as vivid as any ever created for the musical theater.” He argued for tragic operatic archetypes, but the Parks/Paulus version proved quite popular with audiences. And, irony of ironies, it beat out a revival of Sondheim’s Follies to win its Tony. Nathaniel Stampley plays crippled Porgy; Alicia Hall Moran is his faithful Bess. (Previews Weds. & Thurs. Opens Fri. Runs through June 29.) BRIAN MILLER 5th Ave Theatre, 1308 Fifth Ave., Seattle, WA 98101 $39.25 and up Friday, June 27, 2014

The Lisbon Traviata Art imitates life in Terrence McNally’s play about opera obsessives. Preview June 5, opens June 6. 8 p.m. Thurs.-Sat., plus 2:30 p.m. Sat., June 21 & 28 and 8 p.m. Mon., June 23. Ends June 28. Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave., Seattle, WA 98122 See Website Friday, June 27, 2014

PROK Open Mike Sign up for this generally zany and enjoyable evening, when professionals are also known to drop by.  The People’s Republic Kafe, 1718 12th Ave., Seattle Free Friday, June 27, 2014, 6:30pm

The Hunchback of Seville Produced by the ever-daring Washington Ensemble Theatre, Charise Castro Smith’s new one-act clocks in at mere 90 minutes, but it runs at the pace of an interminable SNL sketch. The Miami playwright’s farce is set in the wake of Columbus’ discovery of the New World. Back in Spain, circa 1504, his patron Queen Isabella (Maria Knox) is profoundly concerned about the survival of her empire, and rightly so. For starters, she’s dying of some mysterious malady. Worse, next in line for the throne is her schizoid brat of a daughter, the Infanta Juana (Libby Barnard). Who’s the hunchback? Up in her bedchamber-a masterpiece of economy from set designer Cameron Irwin-is Isabella’s brilliant but godless sister, Maxima (Samie Detzer). Isabella could die peacefully if only she can convince Maxima to renounce atheism to become counselor to her daughter, the next queen. Are there laughs? Yes, there are. But Hunchback packs 10 minutes of humor into an hour and a half. And director Jen Wineman’s reins are too slack: Jokes are consistently overplayed, and the acting styles are all over the map. (7:30 p.m. Thurs.-Mon. Ends June 30.) KEVIN PHINNEY The Little Theatre, 608 19th Ave. E. $15-$20 Friday, June 27, 2014, 7:30pm

Carnevil In Blood Squad’s new show, danger lurks behind a traveling fair. 8 p.m. Fri., June 27-Sat., June 28. Annex Theatre, 1110 Pike St., Seattle, WA 98122 $10 Friday, June 27, 2014, 8pm

To the Naked Eye Innocence or dirtiness-what does nakedness mean? A half-dozen comic shorts try to find out. Opens June 6. 8 p.m. Thurs.-Sat. plus Mon., June 16. (Thurs. performances are clothing-optional.) Ends June 28. Cornish Playhouse at Seattle Center, Seattle Center $20-$25 Friday, June 27, 2014, 8pm

Searching for the Super Scene Fast-paced improv from Unexpected Productions. 8:30 p.m. Fri.-Sat. Unexpected Productions Market Theater, 1428 Post Alley, Seattle $12-$15 Friday, June 27, 2014, 8:30pm

The Kitty Cat Club New naughtiness from The Heavenly Spies. 9:30 p.m. Fri. Ends June 27. Can Can, 94 Pike St. Downstairs from Matts & Chez Chea, Seattle $35-$75 Friday, June 27, 2014, 9:30pm

TheatreSports Unexpected Productions’ long-running (since 1983!) improv comedy show, pitting two teams against each other in front of a panel of judges. 10:30 p.m. Fri.-Sat. Unexpected Productions Market Theater, 1428 Post Alley, Seattle $15 Friday, June 27, 2014, 10:30pm

Can Can Cabarets Seattle’s center for neo-burlesque presents shows and/or live music nearly every night; see website for full details and ticket prices. Can Can, 94 Pike St. Downstairs from Matts & Chez Chea, Seattle see website Saturday, June 28, 2014

Comedy Underground See website for complete schedule, including their “Monday Madness” open-mike night, 8 p.m. Comedy Underground, 109 S. Washington St., Seattle $6 Saturday, June 28, 2014

ComedySportz Seattle Comedy Group moves their improv show to the former Empty Space. 8 & 10 p.m. Fri.-Sat. Atlas Theater, 3509 Fremont Ave N., Seattle $14 Saturday, June 28, 2014

• 

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. The first-time lead, raised in Bellevue, demonstrates a remarkable agility of performance and comic timing. Good, because Funny Girl is a show that lives and dies on its Brice. Even the primary plot points of the vaudevillian’s fictionalized biography are mere vehicles to truck the audience toward the next song-and-dance spectacular. And of those there are many in this three-hour show (with intermission), with Davis wonderfully supported by the large ensemble. 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. But if it’s romance you want, you can always rent the movie with Barbra Streisand and Omar Sharif. (Runs Wed.-Sun.; see website for exact schedule. Ends July 6. Runs in Everett July 11-Aug. 3.) DANIEL NASH [See Daniel’s full <a href=”http://www.seattleweekly.com/arts/952755-129/opening-nights-funny-girl” target=”_blank”>review</a>.] Village Theatre, 303 Front St. N., Issaquah $30-$65 Saturday, June 28, 2014

Laughs Stand-up and other comedy. See website for complete schedule, including open-mike night.  Laughs Comedy Spot, 12099 124th Ave. N.E., Kirkland $10-$20 Saturday, June 28, 2014

Parlor Live Comedy Club See website for schedule. The Parlor Collection, 700 Bellevue Way N.E., Bellevue $15-$30 Saturday, June 28, 2014

• 

Passing Strange This local revival of the 2008 Tony winner works really well, conveying the life-altering qualities of sex, drugs, and rock & roll without needing to turn the volume up to 11. The inaugural production of Sidecountry Theatre, directed by Tyrone Brown, this show is ambitious and, at times, rushed during its two and one-half hours (with intermission). And occasionally, yes, the band overwhelms the dialogue. But when it takes time to breathe-particularly when its young protagonist is exploring his art or when the characters are experimenting with drugs-the stage floods with a powerful mix of emotion, angst, and humor. Created by the musician-turned-playwright named Stew (with Heidi Rodewald and Annie Dorsen), Passing Strange is basically his life story, though his character is never named. His journey starts in 1976 South Central L.A. before twisting through the marijuana cafes of Amsterdam and the riot-torn streets of Berlin. Our protagonist narrates his path, interspersed with songs and episodes from his life (enacted by a cast of six). The main role originated with Stew, obviously, and here his shoes are remarkably filled by first-time actor LeRoy Bell, the veteran local R&B singer who had a moment of fame on The X Factor some years back. The fact that Bell, a professional musician, can sing these songs with nuance and grace is easy to take for granted. You’d almost think they were his own, not written by Stew and Rodewald. That ease continues into Bell’s droll narration, so comfortable and relaxed that it’s easy to think he’s riffing on his own life-until a reference to a New York street gives the script away. (Runs Wed.-Sun.; see acttheatre.org for exact schedule. Ends June 29.) MARK BAUMGARTEN ACT Theatre, 700 Union St., Seattle, WA 98101 $20-$40 Saturday, June 28, 2014

Pink Door Cabaret Trapeze performances (6:15-8:45 p.m.) by Bridget Gunning (Sun.) and Tanya Brno (Mon.). Saturdays, go “Behind the Pink Door” (11 p.m.,). See website for full details.   The Pink Door, 1919 Post Alley, Seattle $20 cover Saturday, June 28, 2014

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. See unexpectedproductions.org for schedule, Wed., June 25-Sat., June 28. Unexpected Productions Market Theater, 1428 Post Alley, Seattle Single tickets $5-$15, festival pass $30 Saturday, June 28, 2014

Teatro ZinZanni: When Sparks Fly Maestro Voronin headlines this mad-scientist-themed show. Opens June 6. Runs Thurs.-Sun. plus some Wed.; see zinzanni.com/seattle for exact schedule. Ends Sept. 21. Teatro ZinZanni, 222 Mercer St., Seattle $99 and up Saturday, June 28, 2014

• 

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay Book-It’s adaptation of Michael Chabon’s Pulitzer-winning novel arrives in one five-hour mega-serving. This production-in which two superhero-obsessed cousins encounter the harsh and exhilarating realities of the real world (1938-’50s) through a comic-book filter-brings emotional KAPOW!s aplenty. Incredibly, after four one-hour acts separated by two intermissions and a dinner break, you could even ask for more. Here we have a dream team of moxie and melancholy from David Goldstein, as Brooklyn-born Sammy Clay, and Frank Boyd, as Czech-born Josef Kavalier. Boyd in particular goes from strong to extraordinary as Josef alters his ambitions to fit wartime and postwar circumstances. Nate Kelderman, who plays Kavalier’s younger brother in the old country (and later his son), perfectly mirrors Kavalier’s wary intelligence. Other memorable performances among the 18-member cast include Opal Peachey as shared romantic interest and activist Rosa Saks and Robert Hinds as the radio actor who voices one of the superheroes. Directed by Myra Platt from an abridged script by Jeff Schwager, Kavalier & Clay obviously requires some audience endurance. The third act is where the setups start to pay off in spades, so if the early acts seem slow, hang in there. The clockwork precision of this complicated adaptation seems a feat of magic in itself. It’s like a trick Kavalier might have tucked up his sleeve to dazzle a captor long enough to escape with his life. (6 p.m. Wed.-Sat., 2 p.m. Sun. Ends July 13.) MARGARET FRIEDMAN Center Theatre at the Armory, Seattle Center, $25-$43 Saturday, June 28, 2014

• 

The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess “Summertime,” meet summertime. But why the name change for this touring production? Why is this revival no longer called Porgy and Bess, as it was when developed in 1935 by George and Ira Gershwin and DuBose Heyward (who wrote the source novel and a subsequent play with his wife Dorothy)? Suzan-Lori Parks and Diane Paulus earned a Tony two years ago for their abridgement-er, ahem, adaptation, cough cough-of a busy stage extravaganza that originally ran four hours (one reason it was seldom performed; it took a whole lot of union actors to fill Catfish Row). Dialogue replaces recitative, much of the orchestral score is gone (but none of the songs, obvs), and Catfish Row is more implied than built out with expensive sets. What was originally “an American folk opera” (per George Gershwin) is now a slenderized popular musical. When this show took form at Boston’s American Repertory Theater, with the full permission and expected future profit of the Gershwin estate, it got some harsh criticism from high quarters. No less a figure than Stephen Sondheim accused the producers of having “disdain” for the original by creating character backstories and adding a happy ending. He wrote in a letter to the Times, “Ms. Paulus says that in the opera you don’t get to know the characters as people. Putting it kindly, that’s willful ignorance. These characters are as vivid as any ever created for the musical theater.” He argued for tragic operatic archetypes, but the Parks/Paulus version proved quite popular with audiences. And, irony of ironies, it beat out a revival of Sondheim’s Follies to win its Tony. Nathaniel Stampley plays crippled Porgy; Alicia Hall Moran is his faithful Bess. (Previews Weds. & Thurs. Opens Fri. Runs through June 29.) BRIAN MILLER 5th Ave Theatre, 1308 Fifth Ave., Seattle, WA 98101 $39.25 and up Saturday, June 28, 2014

The Lisbon Traviata Art imitates life in Terrence McNally’s play about opera obsessives. Preview June 5, opens June 6. 8 p.m. Thurs.-Sat., plus 2:30 p.m. Sat., June 21 & 28 and 8 p.m. Mon., June 23. Ends June 28. Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave., Seattle, WA 98122 See Website Saturday, June 28, 2014

Midsummer Night’s Dream Cabaret

El Gaucho, 2505 First Ave $150 Saturday, June 28, 2014, 7pm

The Hunchback of Seville Produced by the ever-daring Washington Ensemble Theatre, Charise Castro Smith’s new one-act clocks in at mere 90 minutes, but it runs at the pace of an interminable SNL sketch. The Miami playwright’s farce is set in the wake of Columbus’ discovery of the New World. Back in Spain, circa 1504, his patron Queen Isabella (Maria Knox) is profoundly concerned about the survival of her empire, and rightly so. For starters, she’s dying of some mysterious malady. Worse, next in line for the throne is her schizoid brat of a daughter, the Infanta Juana (Libby Barnard). Who’s the hunchback? Up in her bedchamber-a masterpiece of economy from set designer Cameron Irwin-is Isabella’s brilliant but godless sister, Maxima (Samie Detzer). Isabella could die peacefully if only she can convince Maxima to renounce atheism to become counselor to her daughter, the next queen. Are there laughs? Yes, there are. But Hunchback packs 10 minutes of humor into an hour and a half. And director Jen Wineman’s reins are too slack: Jokes are consistently overplayed, and the acting styles are all over the map. (7:30 p.m. Thurs.-Mon. Ends June 30.) KEVIN PHINNEY The Little Theatre, 608 19th Ave. E. $15-$20 Saturday, June 28, 2014, 7:30pm

Carnevil In Blood Squad’s new show, danger lurks behind a traveling fair. 8 p.m. Fri., June 27-Sat., June 28. Annex Theatre, 1110 Pike St., Seattle, WA 98122 $10 Saturday, June 28, 2014, 8pm

To the Naked Eye Innocence or dirtiness-what does nakedness mean? A half-dozen comic shorts try to find out. Opens June 6. 8 p.m. Thurs.-Sat. plus Mon., June 16. (Thurs. performances are clothing-optional.) Ends June 28. Cornish Playhouse at Seattle Center, Seattle Center $20-$25 Saturday, June 28, 2014, 8pm

Searching for the Super Scene Fast-paced improv from Unexpected Productions. 8:30 p.m. Fri.-Sat. Unexpected Productions Market Theater, 1428 Post Alley, Seattle $12-$15 Saturday, June 28, 2014, 8:30pm

Love in the Time of Zombies Damian Trasler’s play examines marriage in a post-social-media apocalypse. Opens June 7. Sat. Ends June 28. The Ballard Underground, 2220 N.W. Market St., Seattle $10-$14 Saturday, June 28, 2014, 10pm

TheatreSports Unexpected Productions’ long-running (since 1983!) improv comedy show, pitting two teams against each other in front of a panel of judges. 10:30 p.m. Fri.-Sat. Unexpected Productions Market Theater, 1428 Post Alley, Seattle $15 Saturday, June 28, 2014, 10:30pm

Can Can Cabarets Seattle’s center for neo-burlesque presents shows and/or live music nearly every night; see website for full details and ticket prices. Can Can, 94 Pike St. Downstairs from Matts & Chez Chea, Seattle see website Sunday, June 29, 2014

Comedy Underground See website for complete schedule, including their “Monday Madness” open-mike night, 8 p.m. Comedy Underground, 109 S. Washington St., Seattle $6 Sunday, June 29, 2014

• 

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. The first-time lead, raised in Bellevue, demonstrates a remarkable agility of performance and comic timing. Good, because Funny Girl is a show that lives and dies on its Brice. Even the primary plot points of the vaudevillian’s fictionalized biography are mere vehicles to truck the audience toward the next song-and-dance spectacular. And of those there are many in this three-hour show (with intermission), with Davis wonderfully supported by the large ensemble. 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. But if it’s romance you want, you can always rent the movie with Barbra Streisand and Omar Sharif. (Runs Wed.-Sun.; see website for exact schedule. Ends July 6. Runs in Everett July 11-Aug. 3.) DANIEL NASH [See Daniel’s full <a href=”http://www.seattleweekly.com/arts/952755-129/opening-nights-funny-girl” target=”_blank”>review</a>.] Village Theatre, 303 Front St. N., Issaquah $30-$65 Sunday, June 29, 2014

Laughs Stand-up and other comedy. See website for complete schedule, including open-mike night.  Laughs Comedy Spot, 12099 124th Ave. N.E., Kirkland $10-$20 Sunday, June 29, 2014

Parlor Live Comedy Club See website for schedule. The Parlor Collection, 700 Bellevue Way N.E., Bellevue $15-$30 Sunday, June 29, 2014

• 

Passing Strange This local revival of the 2008 Tony winner works really well, conveying the life-altering qualities of sex, drugs, and rock & roll without needing to turn the volume up to 11. The inaugural production of Sidecountry Theatre, directed by Tyrone Brown, this show is ambitious and, at times, rushed during its two and one-half hours (with intermission). And occasionally, yes, the band overwhelms the dialogue. But when it takes time to breathe-particularly when its young protagonist is exploring his art or when the characters are experimenting with drugs-the stage floods with a powerful mix of emotion, angst, and humor. Created by the musician-turned-playwright named Stew (with Heidi Rodewald and Annie Dorsen), Passing Strange is basically his life story, though his character is never named. His journey starts in 1976 South Central L.A. before twisting through the marijuana cafes of Amsterdam and the riot-torn streets of Berlin. Our protagonist narrates his path, interspersed with songs and episodes from his life (enacted by a cast of six). The main role originated with Stew, obviously, and here his shoes are remarkably filled by first-time actor LeRoy Bell, the veteran local R&B singer who had a moment of fame on The X Factor some years back. The fact that Bell, a professional musician, can sing these songs with nuance and grace is easy to take for granted. You’d almost think they were his own, not written by Stew and Rodewald. That ease continues into Bell’s droll narration, so comfortable and relaxed that it’s easy to think he’s riffing on his own life-until a reference to a New York street gives the script away. (Runs Wed.-Sun.; see acttheatre.org for exact schedule. Ends June 29.) MARK BAUMGARTEN ACT Theatre, 700 Union St., Seattle, WA 98101 $20-$40 Sunday, June 29, 2014

Pink Door Cabaret Trapeze performances (6:15-8:45 p.m.) by Bridget Gunning (Sun.) and Tanya Brno (Mon.). Saturdays, go “Behind the Pink Door” (11 p.m.,). See website for full details.   The Pink Door, 1919 Post Alley, Seattle $20 cover Sunday, June 29, 2014

Teatro ZinZanni: When Sparks Fly Maestro Voronin headlines this mad-scientist-themed show. Opens June 6. Runs Thurs.-Sun. plus some Wed.; see zinzanni.com/seattle for exact schedule. Ends Sept. 21. Teatro ZinZanni, 222 Mercer St., Seattle $99 and up Sunday, June 29, 2014

• 

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay Book-It’s adaptation of Michael Chabon’s Pulitzer-winning novel arrives in one five-hour mega-serving. This production-in which two superhero-obsessed cousins encounter the harsh and exhilarating realities of the real world (1938-’50s) through a comic-book filter-brings emotional KAPOW!s aplenty. Incredibly, after four one-hour acts separated by two intermissions and a dinner break, you could even ask for more. Here we have a dream team of moxie and melancholy from David Goldstein, as Brooklyn-born Sammy Clay, and Frank Boyd, as Czech-born Josef Kavalier. Boyd in particular goes from strong to extraordinary as Josef alters his ambitions to fit wartime and postwar circumstances. Nate Kelderman, who plays Kavalier’s younger brother in the old country (and later his son), perfectly mirrors Kavalier’s wary intelligence. Other memorable performances among the 18-member cast include Opal Peachey as shared romantic interest and activist Rosa Saks and Robert Hinds as the radio actor who voices one of the superheroes. Directed by Myra Platt from an abridged script by Jeff Schwager, Kavalier & Clay obviously requires some audience endurance. The third act is where the setups start to pay off in spades, so if the early acts seem slow, hang in there. The clockwork precision of this complicated adaptation seems a feat of magic in itself. It’s like a trick Kavalier might have tucked up his sleeve to dazzle a captor long enough to escape with his life. (6 p.m. Wed.-Sat., 2 p.m. Sun. Ends July 13.) MARGARET FRIEDMAN Center Theatre at the Armory, Seattle Center, $25-$43 Sunday, June 29, 2014

• 

The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess “Summertime,” meet summertime. But why the name change for this touring production? Why is this revival no longer called Porgy and Bess, as it was when developed in 1935 by George and Ira Gershwin and DuBose Heyward (who wrote the source novel and a subsequent play with his wife Dorothy)? Suzan-Lori Parks and Diane Paulus earned a Tony two years ago for their abridgement-er, ahem, adaptation, cough cough-of a busy stage extravaganza that originally ran four hours (one reason it was seldom performed; it took a whole lot of union actors to fill Catfish Row). Dialogue replaces recitative, much of the orchestral score is gone (but none of the songs, obvs), and Catfish Row is more implied than built out with expensive sets. What was originally “an American folk opera” (per George Gershwin) is now a slenderized popular musical. When this show took form at Boston’s American Repertory Theater, with the full permission and expected future profit of the Gershwin estate, it got some harsh criticism from high quarters. No less a figure than Stephen Sondheim accused the producers of having “disdain” for the original by creating character backstories and adding a happy ending. He wrote in a letter to the Times, “Ms. Paulus says that in the opera you don’t get to know the characters as people. Putting it kindly, that’s willful ignorance. These characters are as vivid as any ever created for the musical theater.” He argued for tragic operatic archetypes, but the Parks/Paulus version proved quite popular with audiences. And, irony of ironies, it beat out a revival of Sondheim’s Follies to win its Tony. Nathaniel Stampley plays crippled Porgy; Alicia Hall Moran is his faithful Bess. (Previews Weds. & Thurs. Opens Fri. Runs through June 29.) BRIAN MILLER 5th Ave Theatre, 1308 Fifth Ave., Seattle, WA 98101 $39.25 and up Sunday, June 29, 2014

Wicked Wiz of Oz A 45-minute mashup of your favorite Oz musicals, part of the “Mimosas With Mama” drag brunch. Narwhal, 1118 E. Pike St., Seattle $15-$20 Sunday, June 29, 2014, 1:30pm

The Hunchback of Seville Produced by the ever-daring Washington Ensemble Theatre, Charise Castro Smith’s new one-act clocks in at mere 90 minutes, but it runs at the pace of an interminable SNL sketch. The Miami playwright’s farce is set in the wake of Columbus’ discovery of the New World. Back in Spain, circa 1504, his patron Queen Isabella (Maria Knox) is profoundly concerned about the survival of her empire, and rightly so. For starters, she’s dying of some mysterious malady. Worse, next in line for the throne is her schizoid brat of a daughter, the Infanta Juana (Libby Barnard). Who’s the hunchback? Up in her bedchamber-a masterpiece of economy from set designer Cameron Irwin-is Isabella’s brilliant but godless sister, Maxima (Samie Detzer). Isabella could die peacefully if only she can convince Maxima to renounce atheism to become counselor to her daughter, the next queen. Are there laughs? Yes, there are. But Hunchback packs 10 minutes of humor into an hour and a half. And director Jen Wineman’s reins are too slack: Jokes are consistently overplayed, and the acting styles are all over the map. (7:30 p.m. Thurs.-Mon. Ends June 30.) KEVIN PHINNEY The Little Theatre, 608 19th Ave. E. $15-$20 Sunday, June 29, 2014, 7:30pm

Piggyback Stand-up and improv unite. 8:30 p.m. Sun.  Unexpected Productions Market Theater, 1428 Post Alley, Seattle $10 Sunday, June 29, 2014, 8:30pm

Can Can Cabarets Seattle’s center for neo-burlesque presents shows and/or live music nearly every night; see website for full details and ticket prices. Can Can, 94 Pike St. Downstairs from Matts & Chez Chea, Seattle see website Monday, June 30, 2014

Comedy Underground See website for complete schedule, including their “Monday Madness” open-mike night, 8 p.m. Comedy Underground, 109 S. Washington St., Seattle $6 Monday, June 30, 2014

Laughs Stand-up and other comedy. See website for complete schedule, including open-mike night.  Laughs Comedy Spot, 12099 124th Ave. N.E., Kirkland $10-$20 Monday, June 30, 2014

Pink Door Cabaret Trapeze performances (6:15-8:45 p.m.) by Bridget Gunning (Sun.) and Tanya Brno (Mon.). Saturdays, go “Behind the Pink Door” (11 p.m.,). See website for full details.   The Pink Door, 1919 Post Alley, Seattle $20 cover Monday, June 30, 2014

The Flower of England’s Face: William Shakespeare’s Henry IV Freehold’s adaptation of three history plays. Preview Luther Burbank Park, Mercer Island, 6:30 p.m. Mon., June 30. Opens Sat., July 12 at UW Penthouse Theatre, N.E. 45th St. & 17th Ave. N.E. Runs 8 p.m. July 12, 14, 16-19; 4 p.m. July 13 & 20. Luther Burbank Park, Mercer Island $15-$50 Monday, June 30, 2014, 6:30pm

The Hunchback of Seville Produced by the ever-daring Washington Ensemble Theatre, Charise Castro Smith’s new one-act clocks in at mere 90 minutes, but it runs at the pace of an interminable SNL sketch. The Miami playwright’s farce is set in the wake of Columbus’ discovery of the New World. Back in Spain, circa 1504, his patron Queen Isabella (Maria Knox) is profoundly concerned about the survival of her empire, and rightly so. For starters, she’s dying of some mysterious malady. Worse, next in line for the throne is her schizoid brat of a daughter, the Infanta Juana (Libby Barnard). Who’s the hunchback? Up in her bedchamber-a masterpiece of economy from set designer Cameron Irwin-is Isabella’s brilliant but godless sister, Maxima (Samie Detzer). Isabella could die peacefully if only she can convince Maxima to renounce atheism to become counselor to her daughter, the next queen. Are there laughs? Yes, there are. But Hunchback packs 10 minutes of humor into an hour and a half. And director Jen Wineman’s reins are too slack: Jokes are consistently overplayed, and the acting styles are all over the map. (7:30 p.m. Thurs.-Mon. Ends June 30.) KEVIN PHINNEY The Little Theatre, 608 19th Ave. E. $15-$20 Monday, June 30, 2014, 7:30pm

Can Can Cabarets Seattle’s center for neo-burlesque presents shows and/or live music nearly every night; see website for full details and ticket prices. Can Can, 94 Pike St. Downstairs from Matts & Chez Chea, Seattle see website Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Comedy Underground See website for complete schedule, including their “Monday Madness” open-mike night, 8 p.m. Comedy Underground, 109 S. Washington St., Seattle $6 Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Comedy Womb This “female-focused but not female-exclusive” show includes a headliner and an open-mike segment, in the Grotto underneath the Rendezvous. JewelBox Theater at the Rendezvous, 2322 Second Ave., Seattle, WA 98121 $5 Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Laughs Stand-up and other comedy. See website for complete schedule, including open-mike night.  Laughs Comedy Spot, 12099 124th Ave. N.E., Kirkland $10-$20 Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Can Can Cabarets Seattle’s center for neo-burlesque presents shows and/or live music nearly every night; see website for full details and ticket prices. Can Can, 94 Pike St. Downstairs from Matts & Chez Chea, Seattle see website Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Comedy Underground See website for complete schedule, including their “Monday Madness” open-mike night, 8 p.m. Comedy Underground, 109 S. Washington St., Seattle $6 Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Comedy Womb This “female-focused but not female-exclusive” show includes a headliner and an open-mike segment, in the Grotto underneath the Rendezvous. JewelBox Theater at the Rendezvous, 2322 Second Ave., Seattle, WA 98121 $5 Wednesday, July 2, 2014

• 

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. The first-time lead, raised in Bellevue, demonstrates a remarkable agility of performance and comic timing. Good, because Funny Girl is a show that lives and dies on its Brice. Even the primary plot points of the vaudevillian’s fictionalized biography are mere vehicles to truck the audience toward the next song-and-dance spectacular. And of those there are many in this three-hour show (with intermission), with Davis wonderfully supported by the large ensemble. 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. But if it’s romance you want, you can always rent the movie with Barbra Streisand and Omar Sharif. (Runs Wed.-Sun.; see website for exact schedule. Ends July 6. Runs in Everett July 11-Aug. 3.) DANIEL NASH [See Daniel’s full <a href=”http://www.seattleweekly.com/arts/952755-129/opening-nights-funny-girl” target=”_blank”>review</a>.] Village Theatre, 303 Front St. N., Issaquah $30-$65 Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Laughs Stand-up and other comedy. See website for complete schedule, including open-mike night.  Laughs Comedy Spot, 12099 124th Ave. N.E., Kirkland $10-$20 Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Teatro ZinZanni: When Sparks Fly Maestro Voronin headlines this mad-scientist-themed show. Opens June 6. Runs Thurs.-Sun. plus some Wed.; see zinzanni.com/seattle for exact schedule. Ends Sept. 21. Teatro ZinZanni, 222 Mercer St., Seattle $99 and up Wednesday, July 2, 2014

• 

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay Book-It’s adaptation of Michael Chabon’s Pulitzer-winning novel arrives in one five-hour mega-serving. This production-in which two superhero-obsessed cousins encounter the harsh and exhilarating realities of the real world (1938-’50s) through a comic-book filter-brings emotional KAPOW!s aplenty. Incredibly, after four one-hour acts separated by two intermissions and a dinner break, you could even ask for more. Here we have a dream team of moxie and melancholy from David Goldstein, as Brooklyn-born Sammy Clay, and Frank Boyd, as Czech-born Josef Kavalier. Boyd in particular goes from strong to extraordinary as Josef alters his ambitions to fit wartime and postwar circumstances. Nate Kelderman, who plays Kavalier’s younger brother in the old country (and later his son), perfectly mirrors Kavalier’s wary intelligence. Other memorable performances among the 18-member cast include Opal Peachey as shared romantic interest and activist Rosa Saks and Robert Hinds as the radio actor who voices one of the superheroes. Directed by Myra Platt from an abridged script by Jeff Schwager, Kavalier & Clay obviously requires some audience endurance. The third act is where the setups start to pay off in spades, so if the early acts seem slow, hang in there. The clockwork precision of this complicated adaptation seems a feat of magic in itself. It’s like a trick Kavalier might have tucked up his sleeve to dazzle a captor long enough to escape with his life. (6 p.m. Wed.-Sat., 2 p.m. Sun. Ends July 13.) MARGARET FRIEDMAN Center Theatre at the Armory, Seattle Center, $25-$43 Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Freedom Fantasia BenDeLaCreme, Kitten LaRue, and Lou Henry Hoover invite you to their “liberty-encrusted, justice-soaked, apple-pie-scented pageant of patriotism,” i.e., a drag/burlesque extravaganza. The Triple Door, 216 Union St., Seattle, WA 98101 $28-$35 Wednesday, July 2, 2014, 7:30pm

Flipside Comedy Show Stand-up every Wednesday at this bastion of old-school Seattle charm. 13 Coins, 125 Boren Ave. N., Seattle See website Wednesday, July 2, 2014, 8pm

Duos Comedy Showcase Unexpected Productions presents comedians two at a time. Unexpected Productions Market Theater, 1428 Post Alley, Seattle $5 Wednesday, July 2, 2014, 8:30pm

Freedom Fantasia BenDeLaCreme, Kitten LaRue, and Lou Henry Hoover invite you to their “liberty-encrusted, justice-soaked, apple-pie-scented pageant of patriotism,” i.e., a drag/burlesque extravaganza. The Triple Door, 216 Union St., Seattle, WA 98101 $28-$35 Wednesday, July 2, 2014, 10:30pm

Can Can Cabarets Seattle’s center for neo-burlesque presents shows and/or live music nearly every night; see website for full details and ticket prices. Can Can, 94 Pike St. Downstairs from Matts & Chez Chea, Seattle see website Thursday, July 3, 2014

Comedy Underground See website for complete schedule, including their “Monday Madness” open-mike night, 8 p.m. Comedy Underground, 109 S. Washington St., Seattle $6 Thursday, July 3, 2014

• 

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. The first-time lead, raised in Bellevue, demonstrates a remarkable agility of performance and comic timing. Good, because Funny Girl is a show that lives and dies on its Brice. Even the primary plot points of the vaudevillian’s fictionalized biography are mere vehicles to truck the audience toward the next song-and-dance spectacular. And of those there are many in this three-hour show (with intermission), with Davis wonderfully supported by the large ensemble. 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. But if it’s romance you want, you can always rent the movie with Barbra Streisand and Omar Sharif. (Runs Wed.-Sun.; see website for exact schedule. Ends July 6. Runs in Everett July 11-Aug. 3.) DANIEL NASH [See Daniel’s full <a href=”http://www.seattleweekly.com/arts/952755-129/opening-nights-funny-girl” target=”_blank”>review</a>.] Village Theatre, 303 Front St. N., Issaquah $30-$65 Thursday, July 3, 2014

Laughs Stand-up and other comedy. See website for complete schedule, including open-mike night.  Laughs Comedy Spot, 12099 124th Ave. N.E., Kirkland $10-$20 Thursday, July 3, 2014

Parlor Live Comedy Club See website for schedule. The Parlor Collection, 700 Bellevue Way N.E., Bellevue $15-$30 Thursday, July 3, 2014

Teatro ZinZanni: When Sparks Fly Maestro Voronin headlines this mad-scientist-themed show. Opens June 6. Runs Thurs.-Sun. plus some Wed.; see zinzanni.com/seattle for exact schedule. Ends Sept. 21. Teatro ZinZanni, 222 Mercer St., Seattle $99 and up Thursday, July 3, 2014

• 

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay Book-It’s adaptation of Michael Chabon’s Pulitzer-winning novel arrives in one five-hour mega-serving. This production-in which two superhero-obsessed cousins encounter the harsh and exhilarating realities of the real world (1938-’50s) through a comic-book filter-brings emotional KAPOW!s aplenty. Incredibly, after four one-hour acts separated by two intermissions and a dinner break, you could even ask for more. Here we have a dream team of moxie and melancholy from David Goldstein, as Brooklyn-born Sammy Clay, and Frank Boyd, as Czech-born Josef Kavalier. Boyd in particular goes from strong to extraordinary as Josef alters his ambitions to fit wartime and postwar circumstances. Nate Kelderman, who plays Kavalier’s younger brother in the old country (and later his son), perfectly mirrors Kavalier’s wary intelligence. Other memorable performances among the 18-member cast include Opal Peachey as shared romantic interest and activist Rosa Saks and Robert Hinds as the radio actor who voices one of the superheroes. Directed by Myra Platt from an abridged script by Jeff Schwager, Kavalier & Clay obviously requires some audience endurance. The third act is where the setups start to pay off in spades, so if the early acts seem slow, hang in there. The clockwork precision of this complicated adaptation seems a feat of magic in itself. It’s like a trick Kavalier might have tucked up his sleeve to dazzle a captor long enough to escape with his life. (6 p.m. Wed.-Sat., 2 p.m. Sun. Ends July 13.) MARGARET FRIEDMAN Center Theatre at the Armory, Seattle Center, $25-$43 Thursday, July 3, 2014

Freedom Fantasia BenDeLaCreme, Kitten LaRue, and Lou Henry Hoover invite you to their “liberty-encrusted, justice-soaked, apple-pie-scented pageant of patriotism,” i.e., a drag/burlesque extravaganza. The Triple Door, 216 Union St., Seattle, WA 98101 $28-$35 Thursday, July 3, 2014, 7:30pm

Improv Anonymous: The Harold A narrative improv format created by legendary improv teacher Del Close.  Unexpected Productions Market Theater, 1428 Post Alley, Seattle $7 Thursday, July 3, 2014, 8:30pm

Freedom Fantasia BenDeLaCreme, Kitten LaRue, and Lou Henry Hoover invite you to their “liberty-encrusted, justice-soaked, apple-pie-scented pageant of patriotism,” i.e., a drag/burlesque extravaganza. The Triple Door, 216 Union St., Seattle, WA 98101 $28-$35 Thursday, July 3, 2014, 10:30pm

Can Can Cabarets Seattle’s center for neo-burlesque presents shows and/or live music nearly every night; see website for full details and ticket prices. Can Can, 94 Pike St. Downstairs from Matts & Chez Chea, Seattle see website Friday, July 4, 2014

Comedy Underground See website for complete schedule, including their “Monday Madness” open-mike night, 8 p.m. Comedy Underground, 109 S. Washington St., Seattle $6 Friday, July 4, 2014

ComedySportz Seattle Comedy Group moves their improv show to the former Empty Space. 8 & 10 p.m. Fri.-Sat. Atlas Theater, 3509 Fremont Ave N., Seattle $14 Friday, July 4, 2014

• 

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. The first-time lead, raised in Bellevue, demonstrates a remarkable agility of performance and comic timing. Good, because Funny Girl is a show that lives and dies on its Brice. Even the primary plot points of the vaudevillian’s fictionalized biography are mere vehicles to truck the audience toward the next song-and-dance spectacular. And of those there are many in this three-hour show (with intermission), with Davis wonderfully supported by the large ensemble. 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. But if it’s romance you want, you can always rent the movie with Barbra Streisand and Omar Sharif. (Runs Wed.-Sun.; see website for exact schedule. Ends July 6. Runs in Everett July 11-Aug. 3.) DANIEL NASH [See Daniel’s full <a href=”http://www.seattleweekly.com/arts/952755-129/opening-nights-funny-girl” target=”_blank”>review</a>.] Village Theatre, 303 Front St. N., Issaquah $30-$65 Friday, July 4, 2014

Laughs Stand-up and other comedy. See website for complete schedule, including open-mike night.  Laughs Comedy Spot, 12099 124th Ave. N.E., Kirkland $10-$20 Friday, July 4, 2014

Parlor Live Comedy Club See website for schedule. The Parlor Collection, 700 Bellevue Way N.E., Bellevue $15-$30 Friday, July 4, 2014

Teatro ZinZanni: When Sparks Fly Maestro Voronin headlines this mad-scientist-themed show. Opens June 6. Runs Thurs.-Sun. plus some Wed.; see zinzanni.com/seattle for exact schedule. Ends Sept. 21. Teatro ZinZanni, 222 Mercer St., Seattle $99 and up Friday, July 4, 2014

• 

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay Book-It’s adaptation of Michael Chabon’s Pulitzer-winning novel arrives in one five-hour mega-serving. This production-in which two superhero-obsessed cousins encounter the harsh and exhilarating realities of the real world (1938-’50s) through a comic-book filter-brings emotional KAPOW!s aplenty. Incredibly, after four one-hour acts separated by two intermissions and a dinner break, you could even ask for more. Here we have a dream team of moxie and melancholy from David Goldstein, as Brooklyn-born Sammy Clay, and Frank Boyd, as Czech-born Josef Kavalier. Boyd in particular goes from strong to extraordinary as Josef alters his ambitions to fit wartime and postwar circumstances. Nate Kelderman, who plays Kavalier’s younger brother in the old country (and later his son), perfectly mirrors Kavalier’s wary intelligence. Other memorable performances among the 18-member cast include Opal Peachey as shared romantic interest and activist Rosa Saks and Robert Hinds as the radio actor who voices one of the superheroes. Directed by Myra Platt from an abridged script by Jeff Schwager, Kavalier & Clay obviously requires some audience endurance. The third act is where the setups start to pay off in spades, so if the early acts seem slow, hang in there. The clockwork precision of this complicated adaptation seems a feat of magic in itself. It’s like a trick Kavalier might have tucked up his sleeve to dazzle a captor long enough to escape with his life. (6 p.m. Wed.-Sat., 2 p.m. Sun. Ends July 13.) MARGARET FRIEDMAN Center Theatre at the Armory, Seattle Center, $25-$43 Friday, July 4, 2014

PROK Open Mike Sign up for this generally zany and enjoyable evening, when professionals are also known to drop by.  The People’s Republic Kafe, 1718 12th Ave., Seattle Free Friday, July 4, 2014, 6:30pm

Searching for the Super Scene Fast-paced improv from Unexpected Productions. 8:30 p.m. Fri.-Sat. Unexpected Productions Market Theater, 1428 Post Alley, Seattle $12-$15 Friday, July 4, 2014, 8:30pm

TheatreSports Unexpected Productions’ long-running (since 1983!) improv comedy show, pitting two teams against each other in front of a panel of judges. 10:30 p.m. Fri.-Sat. Unexpected Productions Market Theater, 1428 Post Alley, Seattle $15 Friday, July 4, 2014, 10:30pm

Spin the Bottle The June edition of Annex Theatre’s late-night variety show includes “futuristic noir theatre,” “acoustic Queen covers,” and much more.  Annex Theatre, 1110 Pike St., Seattle, WA 98122 $5-$10 Friday, July 4, 2014, 11pm

Can Can Cabarets Seattle’s center for neo-burlesque presents shows and/or live music nearly every night; see website for full details and ticket prices. Can Can, 94 Pike St. Downstairs from Matts & Chez Chea, Seattle see website Saturday, July 5, 2014

Comedy Underground See website for complete schedule, including their “Monday Madness” open-mike night, 8 p.m. Comedy Underground, 109 S. Washington St., Seattle $6 Saturday, July 5, 2014

ComedySportz Seattle Comedy Group moves their improv show to the former Empty Space. 8 & 10 p.m. Fri.-Sat. Atlas Theater, 3509 Fremont Ave N., Seattle $14 Saturday, July 5, 2014

• 

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. The first-time lead, raised in Bellevue, demonstrates a remarkable agility of performance and comic timing. Good, because Funny Girl is a show that lives and dies on its Brice. Even the primary plot points of the vaudevillian’s fictionalized biography are mere vehicles to truck the audience toward the next song-and-dance spectacular. And of those there are many in this three-hour show (with intermission), with Davis wonderfully supported by the large ensemble. 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. But if it’s romance you want, you can always rent the movie with Barbra Streisand and Omar Sharif. (Runs Wed.-Sun.; see website for exact schedule. Ends July 6. Runs in Everett July 11-Aug. 3.) DANIEL NASH [See Daniel’s full <a href=”http://www.seattleweekly.com/arts/952755-129/opening-nights-funny-girl” target=”_blank”>review</a>.] Village Theatre, 303 Front St. N., Issaquah $30-$65 Saturday, July 5, 2014

Laughs Stand-up and other comedy. See website for complete schedule, including open-mike night.  Laughs Comedy Spot, 12099 124th Ave. N.E., Kirkland $10-$20 Saturday, July 5, 2014

Parlor Live Comedy Club See website for schedule. The Parlor Collection, 700 Bellevue Way N.E., Bellevue $15-$30 Saturday, July 5, 2014

Pink Door Cabaret Trapeze performances (6:15-8:45 p.m.) by Bridget Gunning (Sun.) and Tanya Brno (Mon.). Saturdays, go “Behind the Pink Door” (11 p.m.,). See website for full details.   The Pink Door, 1919 Post Alley, Seattle $20 cover Saturday, July 5, 2014

Teatro ZinZanni: When Sparks Fly Maestro Voronin headlines this mad-scientist-themed show. Opens June 6. Runs Thurs.-Sun. plus some Wed.; see zinzanni.com/seattle for exact schedule. Ends Sept. 21. Teatro ZinZanni, 222 Mercer St., Seattle $99 and up Saturday, July 5, 2014

• 

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay Book-It’s adaptation of Michael Chabon’s Pulitzer-winning novel arrives in one five-hour mega-serving. This production-in which two superhero-obsessed cousins encounter the harsh and exhilarating realities of the real world (1938-’50s) through a comic-book filter-brings emotional KAPOW!s aplenty. Incredibly, after four one-hour acts separated by two intermissions and a dinner break, you could even ask for more. Here we have a dream team of moxie and melancholy from David Goldstein, as Brooklyn-born Sammy Clay, and Frank Boyd, as Czech-born Josef Kavalier. Boyd in particular goes from strong to extraordinary as Josef alters his ambitions to fit wartime and postwar circumstances. Nate Kelderman, who plays Kavalier’s younger brother in the old country (and later his son), perfectly mirrors Kavalier’s wary intelligence. Other memorable performances among the 18-member cast include Opal Peachey as shared romantic interest and activist Rosa Saks and Robert Hinds as the radio actor who voices one of the superheroes. Directed by Myra Platt from an abridged script by Jeff Schwager, Kavalier & Clay obviously requires some audience endurance. The third act is where the setups start to pay off in spades, so if the early acts seem slow, hang in there. The clockwork precision of this complicated adaptation seems a feat of magic in itself. It’s like a trick Kavalier might have tucked up his sleeve to dazzle a captor long enough to escape with his life. (6 p.m. Wed.-Sat., 2 p.m. Sun. Ends July 13.) MARGARET FRIEDMAN Center Theatre at the Armory, Seattle Center, $25-$43 Saturday, July 5, 2014

The Edge Bainbridge Island’s own improv troupe.  Bainbridge Performing Arts, 200 Madison Ave N., Bainbridge Island $12-$16 Saturday, July 5, 2014, 7:30pm

Searching for the Super Scene Fast-paced improv from Unexpected Productions. 8:30 p.m. Fri.-Sat. Unexpected Productions Market Theater, 1428 Post Alley, Seattle $12-$15 Saturday, July 5, 2014, 8:30pm

TheatreSports Unexpected Productions’ long-running (since 1983!) improv comedy show, pitting two teams against each other in front of a panel of judges. 10:30 p.m. Fri.-Sat. Unexpected Productions Market Theater, 1428 Post Alley, Seattle $15 Saturday, July 5, 2014, 10:30pm

Can Can Cabarets Seattle’s center for neo-burlesque presents shows and/or live music nearly every night; see website for full details and ticket prices. Can Can, 94 Pike St. Downstairs from Matts & Chez Chea, Seattle see website Sunday, July 6, 2014

Comedy Underground See website for complete schedule, including their “Monday Madness” open-mike night, 8 p.m. Comedy Underground, 109 S. Washington St., Seattle $6 Sunday, July 6, 2014

• 

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. The first-time lead, raised in Bellevue, demonstrates a remarkable agility of performance and comic timing. Good, because Funny Girl is a show that lives and dies on its Brice. Even the primary plot points of the vaudevillian’s fictionalized biography are mere vehicles to truck the audience toward the next song-and-dance spectacular. And of those there are many in this three-hour show (with intermission), with Davis wonderfully supported by the large ensemble. 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. But if it’s romance you want, you can always rent the movie with Barbra Streisand and Omar Sharif. (Runs Wed.-Sun.; see website for exact schedule. Ends July 6. Runs in Everett July 11-Aug. 3.) DANIEL NASH [See Daniel’s full <a href=”http://www.seattleweekly.com/arts/952755-129/opening-nights-funny-girl” target=”_blank”>review</a>.] Village Theatre, 303 Front St. N., Issaquah $30-$65 Sunday, July 6, 2014

Laughs Stand-up and other comedy. See website for complete schedule, including open-mike night.  Laughs Comedy Spot, 12099 124th Ave. N.E., Kirkland $10-$20 Sunday, July 6, 2014

Parlor Live Comedy Club See website for schedule. The Parlor Collection, 700 Bellevue Way N.E., Bellevue $15-$30 Sunday, July 6, 2014

Pink Door Cabaret Trapeze performances (6:15-8:45 p.m.) by Bridget Gunning (Sun.) and Tanya Brno (Mon.). Saturdays, go “Behind the Pink Door” (11 p.m.,). See website for full details.   The Pink Door, 1919 Post Alley, Seattle $20 cover Sunday, July 6, 2014

Teatro ZinZanni: When Sparks Fly Maestro Voronin headlines this mad-scientist-themed show. Opens June 6. Runs Thurs.-Sun. plus some Wed.; see zinzanni.com/seattle for exact schedule. Ends Sept. 21. Teatro ZinZanni, 222 Mercer St., Seattle $99 and up Sunday, July 6, 2014

• 

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay Book-It’s adaptation of Michael Chabon’s Pulitzer-winning novel arrives in one five-hour mega-serving. This production-in which two superhero-obsessed cousins encounter the harsh and exhilarating realities of the real world (1938-’50s) through a comic-book filter-brings emotional KAPOW!s aplenty. Incredibly, after four one-hour acts separated by two intermissions and a dinner break, you could even ask for more. Here we have a dream team of moxie and melancholy from David Goldstein, as Brooklyn-born Sammy Clay, and Frank Boyd, as Czech-born Josef Kavalier. Boyd in particular goes from strong to extraordinary as Josef alters his ambitions to fit wartime and postwar circumstances. Nate Kelderman, who plays Kavalier’s younger brother in the old country (and later his son), perfectly mirrors Kavalier’s wary intelligence. Other memorable performances among the 18-member cast include Opal Peachey as shared romantic interest and activist Rosa Saks and Robert Hinds as the radio actor who voices one of the superheroes. Directed by Myra Platt from an abridged script by Jeff Schwager, Kavalier & Clay obviously requires some audience endurance. The third act is where the setups start to pay off in spades, so if the early acts seem slow, hang in there. The clockwork precision of this complicated adaptation seems a feat of magic in itself. It’s like a trick Kavalier might have tucked up his sleeve to dazzle a captor long enough to escape with his life. (6 p.m. Wed.-Sat., 2 p.m. Sun. Ends July 13.) MARGARET FRIEDMAN Center Theatre at the Armory, Seattle Center, $25-$43 Sunday, July 6, 2014

Wicked Wiz of Oz A 45-minute mashup of your favorite Oz musicals, part of the “Mimosas With Mama” drag brunch. Narwhal, 1118 E. Pike St., Seattle $15-$20 Sunday, July 6, 2014, 1:30pm

Weird and Awesome With Emmett Montgomery “A monthly parade [every first Sunday] of wonder and awkward sharing hosted and curated by mustache wizard Emmett Montgomery. 7:30 p.m. first Sunday of every month. Annex Theatre, 1110 Pike St., Seattle, WA 98122 $5-$10 Sunday, July 6, 2014, 7:30pm

Piggyback Stand-up and improv unite. 8:30 p.m. Sun.  Unexpected Productions Market Theater, 1428 Post Alley, Seattle $10 Sunday, July 6, 2014, 8:30pm

Can Can Cabarets Seattle’s center for neo-burlesque presents shows and/or live music nearly every night; see website for full details and ticket prices. Can Can, 94 Pike St. Downstairs from Matts & Chez Chea, Seattle see website Monday, July 7, 2014

Comedy Underground See website for complete schedule, including their “Monday Madness” open-mike night, 8 p.m. Comedy Underground, 109 S. Washington St., Seattle $6 Monday, July 7, 2014

Laughs Stand-up and other comedy. See website for complete schedule, including open-mike night.  Laughs Comedy Spot, 12099 124th Ave. N.E., Kirkland $10-$20 Monday, July 7, 2014

Pink Door Cabaret Trapeze performances (6:15-8:45 p.m.) by Bridget Gunning (Sun.) and Tanya Brno (Mon.). Saturdays, go “Behind the Pink Door” (11 p.m.,). See website for full details.   The Pink Door, 1919 Post Alley, Seattle $20 cover Monday, July 7, 2014

Pagliacci Comedy Night Local and national comics, every first Monday. Beer and wine will be available with ID. 8 p.m., first Monday of every month. Pagliacci Pizza, 426 Broadway Ave. E., Seattle, WA 98102 Free Monday, July 7, 2014, 8pm

Can Can Cabarets Seattle’s center for neo-burlesque presents shows and/or live music nearly every night; see website for full details and ticket prices. Can Can, 94 Pike St. Downstairs from Matts & Chez Chea, Seattle see website Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Comedy Underground See website for complete schedule, including their “Monday Madness” open-mike night, 8 p.m. Comedy Underground, 109 S. Washington St., Seattle $6 Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Comedy Womb This “female-focused but not female-exclusive” show includes a headliner and an open-mike segment, in the Grotto underneath the Rendezvous. JewelBox Theater at the Rendezvous, 2322 Second Ave., Seattle, WA 98121 $5 Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Laughs Stand-up and other comedy. See website for complete schedule, including open-mike night.  Laughs Comedy Spot, 12099 124th Ave. N.E., Kirkland $10-$20 Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Can Can Cabarets Seattle’s center for neo-burlesque presents shows and/or live music nearly every night; see website for full details and ticket prices. Can Can, 94 Pike St. Downstairs from Matts & Chez Chea, Seattle see website Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Comedy Underground See website for complete schedule, including their “Monday Madness” open-mike night, 8 p.m. Comedy Underground, 109 S. Washington St., Seattle $6 Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Comedy Womb This “female-focused but not female-exclusive” show includes a headliner and an open-mike segment, in the Grotto underneath the Rendezvous. JewelBox Theater at the Rendezvous, 2322 Second Ave., Seattle, WA 98121 $5 Wednesday, July 9, 2014

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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. The first-time lead, raised in Bellevue, demonstrates a remarkable agility of performance and comic timing. Good, because Funny Girl is a show that lives and dies on its Brice. Even the primary plot points of the vaudevillian’s fictionalized biography are mere vehicles to truck the audience toward the next song-and-dance spectacular. And of those there are many in this three-hour show (with intermission), with Davis wonderfully supported by the large ensemble. 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. But if it’s romance you want, you can always rent the movie with Barbra Streisand and Omar Sharif. (Runs Wed.-Sun.; see website for exact schedule. Ends July 6. Runs in Everett July 11-Aug. 3.) DANIEL NASH [See Daniel’s full <a href=”http://www.seattleweekly.com/arts/952755-129/opening-nights-funny-girl” target=”_blank”>review</a>.] Village Theatre, 303 Front St. N., Issaquah $30-$65 Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Laughs Stand-up and other comedy. See website for complete schedule, including open-mike night.  Laughs Comedy Spot, 12099 124th Ave. N.E., Kirkland $10-$20 Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Teatro ZinZanni: When Sparks Fly Maestro Voronin headlines this mad-scientist-themed show. Opens June 6. Runs Thurs.-Sun. plus some Wed.; see zinzanni.com/seattle for exact schedule. Ends Sept. 21. Teatro ZinZanni, 222 Mercer St., Seattle $99 and up Wednesday, July 9, 2014

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The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay Book-It’s adaptation of Michael Chabon’s Pulitzer-winning novel arrives in one five-hour mega-serving. This production-in which two superhero-obsessed cousins encounter the harsh and exhilarating realities of the real world (1938-’50s) through a comic-book filter-brings emotional KAPOW!s aplenty. Incredibly, after four one-hour acts separated by two intermissions and a dinner break, you could even ask for more. Here we have a dream team of moxie and melancholy from David Goldstein, as Brooklyn-born Sammy Clay, and Frank Boyd, as Czech-born Josef Kavalier. Boyd in particular goes from strong to extraordinary as Josef alters his ambitions to fit wartime and postwar circumstances. Nate Kelderman, who plays Kavalier’s younger brother in the old country (and later his son), perfectly mirrors Kavalier’s wary intelligence. Other memorable performances among the 18-member cast include Opal Peachey as shared romantic interest and activist Rosa Saks and Robert Hinds as the radio actor who voices one of the superheroes. Directed by Myra Platt from an abridged script by Jeff Schwager, Kavalier & Clay obviously requires some audience endurance. The third act is where the setups start to pay off in spades, so if the early acts seem slow, hang in there. The clockwork precision of this complicated adaptation seems a feat of magic in itself. It’s like a trick Kavalier might have tucked up his sleeve to dazzle a captor long enough to escape with his life. (6 p.m. Wed.-Sat., 2 p.m. Sun. Ends July 13.) MARGARET FRIEDMAN Center Theatre at the Armory, Seattle Center, $25-$43 Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Flipside Comedy Show Stand-up every Wednesday at this bastion of old-school Seattle charm. 13 Coins, 125 Boren Ave. N., Seattle See website Wednesday, July 9, 2014, 8pm

Duos Comedy Showcase Unexpected Productions presents comedians two at a time. Unexpected Productions Market Theater, 1428 Post Alley, Seattle $5 Wednesday, July 9, 2014, 8:30pm

Can Can Cabarets Seattle’s center for neo-burlesque presents shows and/or live music nearly every night; see website for full details and ticket prices. Can Can, 94 Pike St. Downstairs from Matts & Chez Chea, Seattle see website Thursday, July 10, 2014

Comedy Underground See website for complete schedule, including their “Monday Madness” open-mike night, 8 p.m. Comedy Underground, 109 S. Washington St., Seattle $6 Thursday, July 10, 2014

• 

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. The first-time lead, raised in Bellevue, demonstrates a remarkable agility of performance and comic timing. Good, because Funny Girl is a show that lives and dies on its Brice. Even the primary plot points of the vaudevillian’s fictionalized biography are mere vehicles to truck the audience toward the next song-and-dance spectacular. And of those there are many in this three-hour show (with intermission), with Davis wonderfully supported by the large ensemble. 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. But if it’s romance you want, you can always rent the movie with Barbra Streisand and Omar Sharif. (Runs Wed.-Sun.; see website for exact schedule. Ends July 6. Runs in Everett July 11-Aug. 3.) DANIEL NASH [See Daniel’s full <a href=”http://www.seattleweekly.com/arts/952755-129/opening-nights-funny-girl” target=”_blank”>review</a>.] Village Theatre, 303 Front St. N., Issaquah $30-$65 Thursday, July 10, 2014

Laughs Stand-up and other comedy. See website for complete schedule, including open-mike night.  Laughs Comedy Spot, 12099 124th Ave. N.E., Kirkland $10-$20 Thursday, July 10, 2014

Parlor Live Comedy Club See website for schedule. The Parlor Collection, 700 Bellevue Way N.E., Bellevue $15-$30 Thursday, July 10, 2014

Teatro ZinZanni: When Sparks Fly Maestro Voronin headlines this mad-scientist-themed show. Opens June 6. Runs Thurs.-Sun. plus some Wed.; see zinzanni.com/seattle for exact schedule. Ends Sept. 21. Teatro ZinZanni, 222 Mercer St., Seattle $99 and up Thursday, July 10, 2014

• 

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay Book-It’s adaptation of Michael Chabon’s Pulitzer-winning novel arrives in one five-hour mega-serving. This production-in which two superhero-obsessed cousins encounter the harsh and exhilarating realities of the real world (1938-’50s) through a comic-book filter-brings emotional KAPOW!s aplenty. Incredibly, after four one-hour acts separated by two intermissions and a dinner break, you could even ask for more. Here we have a dream team of moxie and melancholy from David Goldstein, as Brooklyn-born Sammy Clay, and Frank Boyd, as Czech-born Josef Kavalier. Boyd in particular goes from strong to extraordinary as Josef alters his ambitions to fit wartime and postwar circumstances. Nate Kelderman, who plays Kavalier’s younger brother in the old country (and later his son), perfectly mirrors Kavalier’s wary intelligence. Other memorable performances among the 18-member cast include Opal Peachey as shared romantic interest and activist Rosa Saks and Robert Hinds as the radio actor who voices one of the superheroes. Directed by Myra Platt from an abridged script by Jeff Schwager, Kavalier & Clay obviously requires some audience endurance. The third act is where the setups start to pay off in spades, so if the early acts seem slow, hang in there. The clockwork precision of this complicated adaptation seems a feat of magic in itself. It’s like a trick Kavalier might have tucked up his sleeve to dazzle a captor long enough to escape with his life. (6 p.m. Wed.-Sat., 2 p.m. Sun. Ends July 13.) MARGARET FRIEDMAN Center Theatre at the Armory, Seattle Center, $25-$43 Thursday, July 10, 2014

Improv Anonymous: The Harold A narrative improv format created by legendary improv teacher Del Close.  Unexpected Productions Market Theater, 1428 Post Alley, Seattle $7 Thursday, July 10, 2014, 8:30pm

Can Can Cabarets Seattle’s center for neo-burlesque presents shows and/or live music nearly every night; see website for full details and ticket prices. Can Can, 94 Pike St. Downstairs from Matts & Chez Chea, Seattle see website Friday, July 11, 2014