Stage

Openings & Events

August: Osage County Balagan stages Tracy Letts’ acclaimed play about a severely dysfunctional Oklahoma family. Erickson Theatre Off Broadway, 1524 Harvard Ave., 329-1050, balagantheatre.org. $20–$25. Opens April 5. 
8 p.m. Thurs.–Sat., 2 p.m. Sun. Ends April 27.

Beowulf In this tour de force, Benjamin Bagby recites the epic poem in Old English, self-accompanying on medieval harp. Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., 325-7066, earlymusic
guild.org. $15–$40. 8 p.m. Sat., April 6.

The Mutant Diaries: Unzipping My Genes Eva Moon’s music/comedy solo show about her survival of breast cancer. Egan’s Ballard Jam House, 1707 N.W. Market St., 800-838-3006, mutantdiaries.com. $20–$25. 
9 p.m. Sat., April 6.

Spin the Bottle Annex Theatre’s late-night variety show. Annex Theatre, 1100 E. Pike St., 728-0933, annextheatre.org. $5–$10. 11 p.m. Fri., April 5.

The Traveling Lady A reading of Horton Foote’s quiet drama. Stage One Theater, 9600 College Way N., endangeredspeciesproject.org. Donation. 7 p.m. Mon., April 8.

The Trial Kenneth Albers’ stage adaptation of Kafka’s nightmarish novel about powerlessness. Inscape, 815 Seattle Blvd. S., wearenctc.org. $15–$30. Preview April 4, opens April 5. 8 p.m. Thurs.–Sat., 7 p.m. Sun., plus 7 p.m. Mon., April 15. Ends April 28.

Untitled Feminist Show Playwright Young Jean Lee explores gender identity and feminism in this “wordless comedy.” On the Boards, 100 W. Roy St., 217-9886, onthe
boards.org. $12–$25. 8 p.m. Thurs., April 4–Sun., April 7.

Current Runs

Across a Little Red Marker Jim Moran’s tangled mystery. Odd Duck Studio, 1214 10th Ave., eclectictheater
company.org. 8 p.m. Thurs.–Sat., 2 p.m. Sun. Ends April 7.

Cedar & the Redwoods Copious Love Productions’ original play is set during a road trip through Northern California. Washington Hall, 153 14th Ave., 800-838-3006. $12–$15. Runs 7 p.m. (most) Thurs.–Sat.; see copiouslove.org for exact schedule. Ends April 6.

Edith Can Shoot Things and Hit Them Two Filipino teens have to bring themselves up in A. Rey Pamatmat’s play. Seattle Public Theater at the Bathhouse, 7312 W. Green Lake Ave. N.,524-1300, seattlepublictheater.org. $20–$30. 7:30 p.m. Thurs.–Sat., 2 p.m. Sun. Ends April 21.

The Gingerbread House In Mark Schultz’ dark comedy, two parents seeking some alone time sell their kids. Theater Schmeater, 1500 Summit Ave., 324-5801, schmeater.org. $15–$23. 8 p.m. Thurs.–Sat. Ends April 20.

Grey Gardens Based on the eponymous 1975 documentary about Jackie O’s relatives who lived in a decrepit Long Island mansion of the same name. Doug Wright’s book for this 2006 musical does what the Maysles brothers could not: We get to see firsthand the lofty roost from which the Beale/Bouviers fell to earth. In the first act, Wright transports viewers from the squalid cat preserve inhabited by “Little Edie” (Jessica Skerritt) and her mother “Big Edie” Beale (Patti Cohenour) back to the moment of no return, circa 1941. In Act 2, Little Edie returns (now played by Cohenour, with Suzy Hunt now playing her mother). The music—score by Scott Frankel, lyrics by Michael Korie—is full of haunting contrasts between the frivolous then and the fallen now. KEVIN PHINNEY ACT Theatre, 700 Union St., 292-7676, $55–$77. Runs Tues.–Sun.; see acttheatre.org for exact schedule. Ends June 2.

The Hen Night Epiphany Arouet presents Jimmy Murphy’s play set at an Irish bachelorette party at which secrets surface. Stone Soup Downstage, 4029 Stone Way, 425-298-3852, arouet.us. $14. 7:30 p.m. Thurs.–Sat. Ends April 6.

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Jersey Boys SEE THE WIRE, PAGE 21.

Love’s Labour’s Lost Shakespeare’s fratty early comedy about the King of Navarre and his buddies swearing off women to concentrate on study, only to be met in the forest by the Princess of France and her comely retinue. Director Jon Kretzu sets this well-cast, thinly plotted romp in the fabulous ’30s of tailcoats and slinky evening gowns. The abstract wordiness and slow build of Act 1 triggered a stampede to the coffee table at intermission, but Act 2 picks up speed, zaniness, and even a quorum of heart that had been absent earlier. MARGARET FRIEDMAN Center House Theatre, Seattle Center, 733-8222. $22–$45. Runs 7:30 p.m. Wed.–Sat. plus weekend matinees; see seattle
shakespeare.org for exact schedule. Ends April 7.

Master Harold . . . and the Boys SEE REVIEW, PAGE 23.

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Moisture Festival In its 10th year, this annual variety circus offers something for everyone. At night, consenting adults can enjoy burlesque performances by familiar 
local acts. GWENDOLYN ELLIOTT Hale’s Palladium, Broadway Performance Hall, and SIFF Cinema Uptown; see moisturefestival.org for full schedule, venue, and 
performer info. $10–$22. Ends April 14.

Next Fall Adam and Luke fall in love in Geoffrey Nauffts’ 2010 play, but there’s one problem: Adam’s an atheist, Luke a believer. ArtsWest, 4711 California Ave. S.W., 938-0339, artswest.org. $10–$34.50. 7:30 p.m. Wed.–Sat., 3 p.m. Sun. Ends April 6.

The Pretty Wonderful Club An improvised John Hughes-style ’80s movie. Market Theater, 1428 Post Alley, 587-2414, unexpectedproductions.org. $5–$15. 8:30 p.m. Fri.–Sat. Ends April 27.

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Smudge SEE REVIEW, PAGE 23.

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Trails In this new musical, Seth (Joshua Carter) and Mike (Dane Stokinger) are childhood friends now grown and walking the Appalachian Trail in order to put their gradually revealed past behind them. (Kirsten deLohr Helland is the strong-willed Amy, the focal point of that past.) Yet thanks to Christy Hall’s book and Eric Ankrim’s direction, all those flashbacks are masterfully paced and dramatically effective. All I found problematic about the show was Jeff Thomson’s score, which brings in only hints of the roots music you’d expect—most strongly in songs performed by longtime Seattle theater MVPs John Patrick Lowrie and Bobbi Kotula. I left wondering why a show so rooted in a specific, real place did so little to evoke it. GAVIN BORCHERT Village Theatre, 303 Front St. N., Issaquah, 425-392-2202. $22–$63. Runs Wed.–Sun., see villagetheatre.org for exact schedule. Ends April 21. (Then moves to Everett Performing Arts Center, April 26–May 19.

The Whipping Man Matthew Lopez’s drama follows a Jewish Confederate soldier home from battle, where he celebrates Passover with two slaves. Taproot Theatre, 204 N. 85th St., 781-9707, taproottheatre.org. $20–$40. 7:30 p.m. Wed.–Thurs., 8 p.m. Fri., 2 & 8 p.m. Sat. Ends April 27.

See seattleweekly.com for many more Current Runs.

Dance

Kaleidoscope Dance Company This troupe’s spring omnibus. Shoreline Community College, 16101 Greenwood Ave. N., creativedance.org, shorelinearts.net. $8. 11 a.m. Sat., April 6.

Classical, Etc.

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Vespertine Opera Theater In Poulenc’s surrealist comic opera Les Mamelles de Tiresias, a husband and wife switch genders. Columbia City Theater, 4918 Rainier Ave. S., 800-838-3006, vespertineopera.com. $20–$25. 
8 p.m. Thurs., April 4.

Breath of Aire Choral music to benefit St. Stephen’s “Terrific Tuesday Meals” program. St. Stephen the Martyr Catholic Church, 13055 S.E. 192nd St., Renton, breath
ofaire.org. Freewill offering. 7 p.m. Fri., April 5.

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Pacific Music Works From Handel, “Apollo e Dafne” and a recently discovered “Gloria.” Benaroya Recital Hall, Third Ave. and Union St., 215-4747, pacific
musicworks.org. $20–$40. 8 p.m. Fri., April 5–Sat., April 6.

Byrd Ensemble Madrigals by Morley, Purcell, and others. Trinity Episcopal Church, 609 Eighth Ave., 397-3627, byrdensemble.com. $10–$20. 7:30 p.m. Sat., April 6.

Seattle Men’s Chorus The special guest is Leslie Jordan, America’s favorite 4’11” super-campy actor. McCaw Hall, Seattle Center, 388-1400, seattlemenschorus.org. $48–$68. 8 p.m. Sat., April 6, 2 p.m. Sun., April 7.

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Viva Verdi! SEE EAR SUPPLY, BELOW.

Seattle Flute Society Flute Festival Jim Walker is the special guest for a day of performances, workshops, and vendor displays. Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., seattleflutesociety.org. $5–$25. 11 a.m. Sun., April 7.

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The Esoterics “Sirene” opens this choir’s 20th season with music inspired by Carnival, Bill Moyers, and the Iraq War. St. Columba Episcopal Church, 26715 Military Rd. S., Kent, theesoterics.org. $10–$20. 3 p.m. Sun., April 7.

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Pacific Rims This percussion quartet plays Danish music and more (Feldman, Saariaho) as part of the Mostly Nordic Chamber Series. Nordic Heritage Museum, 3014 N.W. 67th St., 789-5707, nordicmuseum.org. $20–$25 ($45–$50 incl. smorgasbord). 4 p.m. Sun., April 7.

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Jessika Kenney and Friends From this versatile vocalist, Javanese, Persian, and contemporary music. Cornish College/PONCHO Concert Hall, 710 E. Roy St., cornish.edu. 7 p.m. Sun., April 7.

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Talea Ensemble This NYC new-music group plays works by Joel-Francois Durand and other UW faculty and students (Meany Studio Theater, UW campus, 7:30 p.m. Mon., April 8) and with cellist Joshua Roman (Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., 7:30 p.m. Wed., April 10). 543-4880, music.washington.edu. $10–$25.

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Seattle Collaborative Orchestra Music by Barber, Ravel, and Seattle composer Angelique Poteat. Roosevelt High School Auditorium, 1410 N.E. 66th St., 527-8336. $15 donation. 7 p.m. Tues., April 9.

Daniil Trifonov This pianist/composer plays his own music plus Chopin and Rachmaninoff. Meany Hall, UW campus, 543-4880, uwworldseries.org. $35–$39. 7:30 p.m. Tues., April 9.