This Week In Theater: Of Benefits, Experiments and Shadowy Epics

Word of warning: from here on out, the likelihood that a given production will have something to do with an end-of-year major holiday increases exponentially. Though not everything will have that flavor, a good majority will. That phenomenon will start in earnest next week, when a number of theater companies begin offering Halloween flavored fare. For the time being, you are spared those options in favor of some experimental works.

Looming huge over the weekend is Printer's Devil Theater's co-production with Theater Off Jackson of Shadow Odyssey, the latest in Scot Auguston's growing collection of original "shadow plays." The picture above should explain what you need to know about the production's mechanics: in essence, you will enter a large tent which also serves as a screen where the show is then projected as a series of shadows. Actors interact with cut-outs, stencils and transparencies, all of which surrounds the audience, making for an immersive experience. Given that the audience has no choice but to let the production wash over them, it is a good thing that they are in such capable hands. The cast is comprised of some of Seattle's best talent (Mark Fullerton, Jonah Von Spreecken, Shawnmarie Stanton, Evan Mosher, Stacey Plum, David Gehrman), while Auguston has proven himself to be an alchemist capable of spinning pathos as well as hilarity many times over. This time, Auguston tackles Homer's seminal epic poem, and we can't wait to find out the many ways with which he messes with the source.

Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30p.m.; October 14 through November 5 // Theater Off Jackson, 409 7th Avenue // $5 - $15

Next, we head to the Cascade Neighborhood (a.k.a. South Lake Union), where theater returns after development had recently kicked it out. boom! theater is a relatively new collective of young theater artists who are committed to developing new works using unconventional means. repeat.repeat, the company's seventh production, is the fusion of two sources (Ellen McLaughlin's Iphigenia and Other Daughters and Michael Ondaatje's Divisadero), takes place in a desolate world while exploring themes of familial relations, free will and spiritual desertion.

Thursdays through Saturdays at 8:00p.m.; October 13 through November 5 // boom! theater, 429 Fairview Avenue North // $10

Finally, we come to Mirror Stage's 10 year anniversary, which they are celebrating with 10|40, an evening of selected scenes featured in Mirror Stage's Feed Your Mind series of play readings. Featuring a bevy of talented local actors (Peggy Gannon, George Mount, Erin Stewart, Alycia Delmore, Stan Shields, Khan Doahn among others), the proceeds from the evening will go toward future productions from the company. There will be a catered reception after the evening's entertainment.

Saturday at 8:00p.m. // UW's Ethnic Cultural Theater, 3940 Brooklyn Avenue Northeast // $40, or $125/groups of 4