Summer theater: 'Orange Flower Water,' 'Vrooommm!,' 'Sixties Chicks'

A sophomore effort by a venturesome new theater company, a revved-up comedy about female race-car drivers and a musical tribute to "sixties chicks" are on the boards soon, as summer fare by local theaters.

"Orange Flower Water"

New Century Theatre Company

Last year the fledgling professional troupe New Century Theatre Company made a splash with its first production: a sharply stylized rendition of a classic expressionist play, Elmer Rice's prescient "The Adding Machine."

Now the group, composed of seasoned theater artists who toil individually at many local theaters, is tackling the Seattle debut of a contemporary work.

"Orange Flower Water" is a study of the shattering effects of adultery on a pair of two youngish Minnesota couples who have been close friends. You may not know the play, which the Chicago Tribune called "a brutally honest drama about marriage and infidelity."

But some other scripts by author Craig Wright may ring some bells. Wright's TV credits include director/producer stints on "Six Feet Under," "Lost" and "Brothers and Sisters." He also created the shorter-lived but critically praised series "Dirty Sexy Money."

Wright continues to write for the theater, and "Orange Flower Water" has been recently staged in Chicago, New York and other cities. The New Century's version will star accomplished thesps Hans Altwies, Betsy Schwartz, Ray Gonzalez and Jennifer Lee Taylor, under Allison Narver's direction.

"Orange Flower Water" previews Wednesday, opens Thursday and runs Wednesdays-Sundays through July 19, with a special final performance on Monday, July 20, ACT Theatre, 700 Union St., Seattle; $20-$25 (206-292-7676 or www.acttheatrecompany.org).

"Vrooommm!"

Live Girls!

Live Girls! may be one of Seattle's smallest resident theaters, but it's one that stays current.

Their new show is ripped from the sports-page headlines about Danica Patrick, a race-car driver (and swimsuit model) who last month won third place in the Indy 500.

That's good timing for the Seattle premiere of "Vrooommm!," a "NASComedy," by Minneapolis playwrights Janet Allard and Michael Bigelow Dixon, about speed-lovin' gals breaking through in the male-dominated sport of stock-car racing.

An all-female cast directed by Shawn Belyea will take to the imaginary track. And the Ballard-based playhouse is promising a show rife with "crazed fans, daredevil drivers, suspicious sponsors and more mustaches, beer and karaoke bars than you can imagine."

"Vrooommm!" opens tonight and runs various dates through July 11, at Live Girls!, 2220 N.W. Market St., Seattle; $5-$18 (800-838-3006 or www.brownpapertickets.com; information, www.livegirlstheater.org).

"Sixties Chicks"

Harlequin Theatre

Down in Olympia, Harlequin Theatre is plucking a ripe concept for a jukebox musical.

"Sixties Chicks" honors some of the top female pop stars of the 1960s. The revue brings back the sounds of girl groups like The Shirelles, proto-feminist popsters like Lesley Gore ("It's My Party"), and such brilliant troubadours as Joni Mitchell and Carole King.

One hopes this summer-fun homage can do them justice. And if you want to learn more about the tenor of the times and the lives of the music makers, we refer you to rock writer Sheila Weller's juicy, behind-the-scenes book, "Girls Like Us: Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon — And the Journey of a Generation."

"Sixties Chicks" plays tonight through July 18 at the State Theater, 202 Fourth Ave., Olympia; $24-$33 (360-786-0151 or www.harlequinproductions.org).

Misha Berson: mberson@seattletimes.com