STEVE DUNKELBERGER: THEATER THURSDAY >>>

The Tempest
Theater Artists Olympia goes sci-fi with its Shakespeare as it stages a version of The Tempest as if it was a Star Trek episode. A witch rules a desert realm with her lovely daughter, a fairy creature, a beast, and an odd assortment of nymphs and fanciful creatures. All is going relatively well until the folks out looking through the Final Frontier pay a visit because they are lost in the wilderness of space. Then the weird stuff happens.
[Minnaert Performing Arts Center, 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, $12, South Puget Sound Community College,  2011 Mottman Road S.W., Olympia, 360.357.3471]

Swinging on a Star
The songs of Johnny Burke take to the Paradise Theatre stage in a weave of scenes from a smoky 1920s Speakeasy, for "Dr. Rhythm" and "What's New" to the Bowery for "Pennies from Heaven." Then comes the ever-popular "Your Hit Parade" of the 1930s and the USO shows of World War II and then culminating with the Academy Award winning "Swinging on a Star."

The cast features: Carrie Nelson, Valerie Jolibois, Krista Curry, Stacee Cramer, Adam Randolph, George Ngo and K. James Koop.
[Paradise Theater, through July 6, 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 4 p.m. Sunday, $10-$20, 9911 Burnham Dr. N.W., Gig Harbor, 253.851.PLAY]

The Rocky Horror Show
Harlequin Productions continues its run of the sex-charged romp following a dark and stormy night The Rocky Horror Show, with some added shows to extend the run.
[State Theater, through July 6, 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, 202 Fourth Ave. E., Olympia, 360.7860151]