THEATER
The Hairspray team raises the curtain on its latest, a musical adaptation of the Speilberg/DiCaprio movie Catch Me If You Can. Co-lyricist Scott Wittman told us what to expect on stage.

Balagan Theatre kicks off its latest season with The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe.

Over at ACT, Das Barbecü returns to poke fun at The Ring cycle by making it twangy and Texan.

Last chance: Othello and The Elephant Man both close this weekend—both are worth your time.

CLASSICAL & MORE
The always haunting and holy music of Arvo Pärt has Cappella Romana singing on Saturday night.

The Ring is back. And how: Seattle Opera projects that, with all the Wagner groupies flying in from across the globe, the production adds $9.5 million to the Northwest economy.

DANCE
Swing dancers keep the city hopping during the weekend-long Seattle Lindy Exchange.

Off the Cuff, part of the Seattle Festival of Dance Improvisation, highlights world-renowned dance innovators pushing at the boundaries of conventional movement.

CONCERTS
Having a song played on Grey’s Anatomy certainly didn’t hurt the career momentum of The Fray, who’ll be at the Paramount on Thursday night.

KEXP Concerts at the Mural at Seattle Center continue on Friday with hip-hop headlined by Dyme Def. Saturday is the station’s popular Summer BBQ with a roster of great acts topped by the better-than-ever Dinosaur Jr.

Rod Stewart would like to know if ya still think he’s sexy out at White River.

FILM
VHS is dead. Long live VHS. Can’t wait to see what oddities Scarecrow Video discovered in that ever-vanishing format for Northwest Film Forum’s Viva VHS! evening.

Fremont Outdoor Cinema screens The Godfather on Saturday. Nothing like a bloody horse head to perk up your Saturday night.

BOOKS & TALKS
On Thursday, Chris Mooney discusses how scientific illiteracy threatens the country’s well-being.

SPECIAL EVENTS
One of Seattle’s loveliest annual events takes place on Green Lake during From Hiroshima to Hope on Thursday night. The lanterns on the lake are quite a sight.

The Olympic Sculpture Park becomes party central for SAM Remix. Lots of music, performance, and more.

FAMILY
Lots of games, toys, and other fun stuff for the kids at various city beaches and pools during the Summer Splash-tacular.

Here are stars Tom Wopat and Aaron Tveit performing a Catch Me If You Can duet during a very entertaining spotlight night about a month ago: