OPENING the break/s @ ACT. Marc Bamuthi Joseph is a poet, theatre artist, and educator who's produced a hip hop influenced solo performance piece that's generating buzz all over town. (700 Union St. Fri. & Sat. 8 p.m., matinees Sat. & Sun. 2 p.m. Tix $40-$55.) more ›

There's one reason you can't miss Seattle Shakespeare's generally fine production of The Tempest, and her name is Hana Lass. Following a turn as one of the three cast members of the Intiman's lauded production of Crime and Punishment, Lass takes a fine turn as the "airy spirit" Ariel in Shakespeare's final masterpiece. Lass switches up Ariel from a dour male character to a sexy sprite in a black veil. The character doesn't have a lot of line, but Lass still owns the stage when she's speaking, and employed as a plot device to carry along an episodic work, she's just stunning. more ›