Stage calendar

OPERA

“The Consul”: A premiere at Seattle Opera, presenting Menotti’s Pulitzer Prize-winning work through March 7 at McCaw Hall. A devoted wife and mother clashes with the bureaucracy of a nameless police state while trying to obtain an exit visa for her persecuted family. Menotti’s nail-biting narrative is buoyed by a melodic score. Tickets are $94 and up, with a limited number of seats are available for $25. Purchase tickets online at seattleopera.org or call 206-389-7676. McCaw Hall is at 321 Mercer St., Seattle Center.

“Die Fledermaus”: Skagit Opera will presenty Johann Strauss’ work at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 28 and March 7 and 3 p.m. March 2 and 9 at McIntyre Hall, 5201 E. College Way, Mount Vernon. Free lecture 30 minutes before curtain. Tickets are $25 to $59 and are available by calling 866-624-6897 or going to www.mcintyrehall.org.

COMEDY

Stand Up Against Cancer: A comedy benefit show for the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center featuring local comedians Joe Vespaziani, Meredith Flanders, Matt Black, Aaron Kirby and Silas Lindenstein; 7:30 p.m. March 1, Historic Everett Theatre, 2911 Colby Ave., Everett. Tickets are $18 and are available at the theater box office, by calling 425-258-6766 or online at www.etix.com.

“Laugh Your Tail Off”: Comedy show, dinner and auction fundraiser to support the NOAH animal adoption center near Stanwood; 5 p.m. March 8, Orca Ballroom, Tulalip Resort and Casino; featuring comedians Ivan Decker, Neill McLaughlin, Jen Seaman and Damian Johnson. Tickets are $95 and are available by calling 360-629-7055 or online at www.thenoahcenter.org.

Patrick McManus: The Lincoln Theatre presents “Scrambled McManus” at 7:30 p.m., March 22 at 712 S. First St., Mount Vernon. It’s one-man comedy by humor writer Patrick F. McManus starring as his indentured actor, Tim Behrens. Tickets are $25. More information is available at www.lincolntheatre.org or by calling 360-336-8955.

THEATER

Snohomish County

“Beyond Therapy”: Phoenix Theatre of Edmonds presents this off-Broadway hit 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday through March 2, at the group’s Firdale Village theater, 9673 Firdale Ave. The theme of the show, directed by Eric Lewis, is that laughter is perhaps the best therapy. Tickets are $18.50 or $15.50. Go to phoenixtheatreedmonds.com or call 206-533-2000.

“Steel Magnolias”: The Edmonds Driftwood Players present the contemporary classic play, directed by Paul Fouhy; 8 p.m. Friday, Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday through March 2; Wade James Theater, 950 Main St., Edmonds. Tickets, $25 general, and $22 for juniors (under age 18), seniors (over age 60) and military, are available at www.driftwoodplayers.com or by calling 425-774-9600. The next Driftwood show, produced by Theatre of Intriguing Possibilities, is “Greater Tuna,” directed by Paul Fleming, from March 13 through 16.

“The Foreigner”: Village Theatre’s production of this Larry Shoe comedy, directed by Brian Yorkey, runs March 7 through 30 at the Everett Performing Arts Center, 2710 Wetmore Ave. All Charlie wanted was a little peace and quiet. So when he arrives at a fishing lodge in Georgia, it seems harmless enough to masquerade as a foreigner who can’t speak English. He soon realizes, however, that people will say the most extraordinary things when they think no one can understand them. For tickets, which range in price, call 425-257-8600 or go to www.villagetheatre.org.

“Five Blue-Haired Ladies Sitting on a Green Park Bench”: Everett Reunion Theatre Group stages this poignant comedy at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays through March 2; Music Hall Playhouse, Everett Mall, 1402 Everett Mall Way. Tickets, $13 or $10, are available by calling 425-268-2187 or through Brown Paper Tickets, brownpapertickets.com.

Seattle

“Spamalot”: The 5th Avenue Theatre presents the Monty Python Broadway musical, riffing off King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, through March 2. Ticket prices start at $29 and may be purchased at www.5thavenue.org or call the box office at 206-625-1900. The 5th Avenue Theatre is at 1308 Fifth Ave., Seattle.

“Pinocchio”: Seattle Children Theatre; through March 9; 201 Thomas St., Seattle Center. Tickets run $25 to $36. Call 206-441-3322 or go to www.sct.org. Recommended for ages six and older, and will appeal to younger audiences with its funny, adventurous fantasy, while moral dilemmas, deceptive tricks and humorous puns will engage older viewers.

“Mr. Pim Passes By”: The Taproot Theatre Company will perform a 1919 comedy about a conventional English household that is rattled by a shocking announcement through March 1 at 204 N. 85th St., Seattle. Performances are Wednesday through Saturday; single tickets will go on sale in January; 206-781-9707; www.taproottheatre.org.

“Venus in Fur”: Directed by Shana Cooper, Seattle Repertory Theatre stages this play for mature audiences through March 9. Playwright Thomas Novachek is at a loss. There are simply no actresses talented enough to play his leading lady. Then in walks Vanda, a mysterious siren with the uncanny ability to inhabit his character. All bets are off when the audition quickly escalates into a seductive power play. Ticket information is available at www.seattlerep.org/Buy/Tickets/Production/4226

“The Lion King”: March 12 through April 6 at the Paramount Theatre, 911 Pine St., in Seattle. Tickets are $22 to $135 at stgpresents.org. Call 206-682-1414 for more information.

Island County

“The Language Archive”: OutCast Productions offers the poignant comedy through March 15 in the Black Box Theater on the Whidbey Island Fairgrounds, 819 Camano Ave., Langley. Directed by Ned Farley, the play involves a small group of quirky characters trying to communicate. The cast is David Mayer, Hollie Swanson, Katie Woodzick, Gail Fleming, Sean Brennan and Jennifer Bondelid. Tickets are $18 for adults, $14 for students and seniors. Reservations can be made by emailing ocp@whidbey.com.

Dance

Pacific Northwest Ballet: Peter Boal’s “Director’s Choice,” which includes four works including a world premiere by choreographer Alejandro Cerrudo, will be presented at 7:30 p.m. March 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, at 2 p.m. March 15 and 1 p.m. March 23 in McCaw Hall, 301 Mercer St., Seattle. Upcoming PNB performances include “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” from April 11 through 19 and “Giselle” from May 30 through June 8. For tickets, which range in price, call 206-441-2424 or go to www.pnb.org.

Billboard

Driftwood Players fifth annual Festival of Shorts: The contest theme this year is “transitions.” Short plays of 15 minutes or less will be staged in July at the theater in Edmonds. Playrights are invited submit their work. The deadline to submit a play is March 15. More information is available at www.driftwoodplayers.com.