Theater Schmeater announces its 2009 season

Capitol Hill's small but adventuresome Theater Schmeater plans a 2009 season that focuses on modern works in their Seattle and West Coast premieres.

"Act a Lady," a gender-bending comedy by local native Jordan Harrison, opens the season in January 2009.

It is followed by:

• "When the Messenger is Hot": A Laura Eason play based on short stories by Elizabeth Crane (March-April).

• "An Oak Tree": An Obie-winning play by experimental British playwright Tim Crouch (late nights in March-April).

• "Maria/Stuart": Jason Grote's dark comedy about an embattled cartoonist (May-June).

Rounding out the season are works by two major American playwrights: "The Creation of the World and Other Business," a tongue-in-cheek account of the Book of Genesis by Arthur Miller (September-October); and "At Home at the Zoo," a double bill of Edward Albee's classic one-act "The Zoo Story," and his new "prequel" to that play, "Home Life" (Novomber-December).

More details available from the theater: 206-324-5801 or www.schmeater.org.