This Week In Theater: Here We Go

Now that August is over and the days are getting colder and shorter, the theory goes that Seattle audiences will be more willing to spend time inside of a darkened room. To that end, theater companies start bringing out the big guns, as this week proves…There’s going to be some promising theater between now and the end of the year holiday programming, and it all begins the week after Labor Day…

Let’s start the week off with the absurd, something that the new comedy collective (they seem to studiously avoid the word ‘sketch’) Le Frenchword are promising to provide in spades with their Fancy Mud. Billed as a collection of vignettes featuring “a deep and meaningful exploration of all things dumb, the creative minds behind the group does feature some of the area’s sharpest wits and clowns. If we’re honest with ourselves, we could do with some comedy that confounds.

Fridays and Saturdays at 11:00p.m., Sundays at 8:00p.m.; through September 24 // Annex Theater, 1100 East Pike Street // $15/advance - $18/door

Speaking of ambitious new enterprises, there’s the newly minted Collektor production company - though the company is new, its members' pedigree is not. Spearheaded by Rob West, a former Artistic Director of Theater Schmeater, Collektor aims to make an impression with its first production: Sam Shephard's A Lie of the Mind. Mind’s synopsis is classic Shephard, the show takes place in Shephard’s mythic West, its characters are bruised and bruising, and the overall atmosphere is intense. It’s Collektor’s stellar casting choices that make this a promising option, featuring the talents of award winning Ray Tagavilla, along with Aimee Bruneau, Tim Gouran among others.

Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30p.m.; through October 1 //ACT Bullitt Cabaret Theater, 700 Union Street // $15 - $25

In fact, great casting is not in short supply among this week’s offerings, as the consistently strong Strawberry Theater Workshop features another enviable cast in its production of Inherit The Wind, Jerome Lawrence and Robert Edwin Lee’s classic fictionalization of the Scopes Monkey Trial. Often called the trial of the 20th Century (at least until OJ Simpson came around), Lawrence and Lee used that controversial court case (which enabled teachers to touch upon evolution in the classroom) in order to discuss the negative atmosphere surrounding McCarthy-era politics and culture, which might have some resonance in our day and age. Maybe.

Thursdays through Saturdays at 8:00p.m.; through October 8 // Erickson Theater, 1524 Harvard Avenue // $15 - $30, (1/2 price tickets available on Thursdays)

From a classic dramatic chestnut to a world premiere production, the Eclectic Theater Company presents Jim Moran’s September Skies, a speculative fiction that is being produced to coincide with the 10th anniversary of 9/11, the story revolves around two strangers who serendipitously reschedule their flights aboard one of the highjacked planes. Could be controversial subject matter, but the fact that ETC has a pretty good track record with new productions this year helps to allay reservations.

Thursdays through Saturdays at 8:00p.m., Sundays at 2:00p.m.; through October 1 // Odd Duck Studios, 1214 10th Avenue // PWYC (Suggested Donation: $10 - $25)

Meanwhile, over in Greenlake, the Bathhouse Theater will be host to pretty notable event: 2nd Wave Seattle Sketch veterans/giants The Habit are reuniting, not with a greatest hits compilation, but with an all new show. As with other 2nd Wavers, the group's dismantling around ten years ago led to several of its members relocating to other major cities in the US; the impact of those that stayed behind (or returned after a brief period) is pretty immense. Habit member John Osebold won the 2011 Stranger Genius Award; Mark Siano has built an impresario's resume with his Soft Rock series, similar cabarets and collaborations with the Cafe Nordo troupe; and David Swidler has been making several contributions here in Seattlest and over at the SunBreak. Pop culture savvy, irreverent and talented, tickets for the show will be in high demand, so fervent was their following.

Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00p.m., Saturdays at 10:30p.m.; through September 17 // The Bathhouse Theater at Greenlake, 7312 West Greenlake Drive North // $15

Out in West Seattle, the ArtsWest brings us its production of Amy's View, David Hare's darkly comedic tale that's part commentary of what defines loyalty, integrity, marriage, love, fidelity, trust, and part dismantling of the role technology, ambition and entertainment media. This is the rare modern play that features strong female characters at its center, and what we've seen of the cast list indicates that the director has chosen wisely.

Wednesdays through Saturdays at 7:30p.m.; through October 1 // ArtsWest, 4711 California Avenue SW // $10 - $34.50

We close out this week's offerings with another classic, The Pajama Game which is being produced by the Seattle Musical Theater company. This screwball musical takes place at a nightwear factory as union/management tensions are high and a strike is imminent; needless to say our protagonists somehow manage to overcome their star-crossed backgrounds and fall madly in love. Hummable tunes and a fairly silly plot (enhanced by some legitimate pro-labor moments) make this an entertaining option.

Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30p.m., Sundays at 2:00p.m.; through October 2 // Seattle Musical Theater, Magnuson Park Community Center Building, 7120 62nd Avenue NE // $35 - $40