Can't Miss It: Thursday

GOOD VIBRATIONS: In the Next Room, ACT's current production, is, in a word, hysterical. Not only hysterical in the original sense -- In the Next Room concerns late 19th century Doctor Givings, who treats hysterical female patients with vibrating massage therapy (yes, that kind) -- it's also hysterically funny. There's much more to it than "doctor 'treats' patients." The bigger story is the doctor's wife, Catherine, whose desire for stimulation of a different sort drives her to near madness. This is a spirited play, innocently dirty, and filled with payoff after payoff after payoff.

7:30 p.m. // ACT 700 Union St. // $15-$55

STAY PUFT: If there's something strange in your neighborhood, it might be an inflatable movie screen showing Ghostbusters at Magnuson Park. If there’s something strange in your neighborhood and you live nowhere near Magnuson, who do you think you'll call? The summer movie series Outdoor Movies at Magnuson Park presents its fifth film of the season, 1984’s paranormal comedy classic Ghostbusters. Ghostbusters know-it-alls or general know-it-alls or wannabe know-it-alls should show up early for a pre-movie trivia contest.

7 p.m. // Magnuson Park 7400 Sandpoint Way NE // $5, free for 5 and unders

FIRST FLIGHT: Football fans will be pleased as punch to hear that the NFL season is back and (sort of) begins tonight when our local gridiron heroes go against the Chargers of San Diego. The pre-season game, in San Diego, will be fans’ first chance to see new players like QB Tarvaris Jackson, WR Sidney Rice, and TE Zach Miller. Excitement does not promise to factor into tonight’s game as practice only began in earnest last week - due to an offseason labor dispute. The good news? The Seahawks are no further behind any of their NFC West competitors. Tonight might not be a fun watch, but it’s an important first step in a new direction, a step the football starved wouldn’t miss.

5 p.m. // San Diego // ESPN