MICHAEL SWAN: SEE THE SINGULAR SENSATION THAT IS A CHORUS LINE >>>

James D. Stern and Adam Del Dio's Every Little Step is about dancers auditioning for a show about dancers auditioning for a show.

Whoa, mind-blower.

Given unprecedented access to the audition process for the Broadway revival of A Chorus Line, Del Dio and Stern let us in on everything from the backstory of the show â€" which arose from dancers' stories â€" to a glimpse into the lives of the potential cast.

Every Little Step opens at The Grand Cinema Friday, July 24. Plan your outing here:

Friday, July 24; Monday, July 27-Thursday, July 30
(2:05), (4:15), 6:30 and 8:45 p.m.

Saturday, July 25-Sunday July 26
(Noon), (2:05), 4:15, 6:30 and 8:45 p.m.

LINK: See a movie today

MICHAEL SWAN: THE SALVATION OF IGGY SCROOGE AUDITIONS >>>

Theatre Northwest will hold auditions for The Salvation of Iggy Scrooge â€" a rockin’ holiday musical about a burned out rock star who snarls through Christmas Eve until a gaggle of ghosts (including Buddy Holly, Bob Marley, and Elvis himself) come to boogie with Iggy and set his warped values straight â€" Aug. 2-5 in Tacoma and Seattle. For details, jump on their Web site here.

The Salvation of Iggy Scrooge will be staged Dec. 4-20 at Theatre on the Square in Tacoma. Tickets will be $39 and $49, and will go on sale to the public Monday, Aug. 3 at 11 a.m. through the Broadway Center Ticket Office.

RON SWARNER: HOMEMADE CHILI RELLENO AT MASA >>>

Get stuffed at Masa, a hip, happening American-Mexican cuisine complex that serves delicious, soft chili rellenos. While many South Sound diners are fans of the egg roll type of relleno, that's probably because they've eaten one too many disappointing soft versions, which too often go wrong in the cooking process. But Masa knows how to avoid all those grease pitfalls. It packs wide, skinny poblanos with spiced beef, dried cranberries, pepper jack cheese and sliced almonds, dunks them in a thick egg soufflé of a batter, and then fries them until just the thinnest, crispiest, golden-brown shell forms around the chile. Then all that deliciousness is lathered in a tasty, three-cheese sauce.

This relleno is the stuff of dreams, a crunchy beauty until the very last bite.

[Masa, 2811 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.254.0560]

WEEKLY VOLCANO: GOSSIP RULES, CHRIS BROWN DOESN'T >>>

iTunes Free Single Of The Week: Gossip's “Heavy Cross” off their album, Music For Men, has been chosen as the iTunes Single of the Week! Nice. The band also announced its U.S. tour. Check it here.

Video: Chris Brown apologizes for Rihanna assault: "I only can pray that you forgive me, please," the pop singer says in a candid new video.

This Week In Kickass Festivals

What: PDX Pop Now
When: July 24-26
Where: Portland, Ore
Who: Menomena, The Minus 5, Grouper, Thrones, Nurses, Au, Tara Jane O'Neil, the Shaky Hands, White Hinterland, Explode Into Colors

Future Things Are Coming

Plogfest 2009 â€" an outdoor concert featuring 12 local bands, bonfire and outdoor games â€" will be held Saturday, July at 8110 266th St. E. in Graham. The noon to midnight festival is family friendly so load up the Family Truckster and plog on!

SUZY STUMP: ENTRANCE DENIED CONTINUES >>>

I received a lovely e-mail from Mineral gallery owner Lisa Kinoshita claiming my preview of her show, Entrance Denied: the Art of the Chastity Belt, actually did some good. Read it here.

The show continues through Sept. 5 from noon to 5 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 301 Puyallup Ave. by the Tacoma Dome.

Picture above is The Guardian by Lauren Osmolski and Amy Pomering.

MICHAEL SWAN: TODAY’S HAPPY HOUR DISCUSSION TOPIC >>>

Yeah, they’re gibbons, not monkeys.

LINK: South Sound happy hours

PAUL SCHRAG: EAT IN THE SHADE, LOOK AT THE BAY >>>

The Bayview’s got, well, a bay view. Commencement Bay, to be exact, and it’s a nice one. And it's in the shade right now.

The deck has plenty of chairs â€" a whopping 40 â€" in which to sit while you choose from one of the best arrays of burgers downtown. This is a great after-work spot, or a place to head at sunset â€" especially if you like mac ’n’ cheese and other comfort foods.

If you’re able to manifest hunger in this heat, try the meatball sandwich, laced with hand-formed meatballs, a nice red sauce and melted provolone on a French roll. The burger options are too elaborate and too many to list.

Trust us. Your options are good.

What to drink: Beer and wine, plus endless soft drinks and iced tea for $2.25.

Entertainment: Watch the boats come in, and watch out for seagulls.

[The Bayview Cafe, 229 St. Helens Ave., Tacoma, 253.272.2792]

LINK: Other decks and patios in the South Sound

MICHAEL SWAN: WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2009 >>>

1. Creepy Little Unholy Bastards (pictured), Dark Preacha, Con-Crete, Bloodshot, 508 Disturbance and Dough play an all-ages show at Hell's Kitchen at 6 p.m.

2. Sam Rockwell plays a man serving the end of a three-year tour of duty on a lonely mining outpost on the far side of the moon in the film Moon playing at The Grand Cinema at 2:20, 4:30, 6:45 and 8:50 p.m.  

3. Author Mary Guterson will read and sign her second novel, Gone to the Dogs, at 7 p.m. in Garfield Book Company's Fireside Lounge.

4. Ballads with macabre twists will fill A Rhapsody in Bloom when Mike Murray sings from its inside porch at 7 p.m.

The Tacoma Rainiers take on the Sacramento River Cats at Cheney Stadium beginning at 7 p.m. The Rainiers lost to the Cats last night 11 to 7.

LINK: Live music and DJs in the South Sound

LINK: Local movie starting times

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

JAKE DE PAUL: WEDNESDAY FOOD LINKS >>>

This Is Cool: Where to eat after getting your adventure on in Western Washington.

Wine: Local tastings and half-priced deals tonight in the South Sound.

Mixmaster: Six American gins worth tasting.

Today's South Sound Special

The Red Hot will add its 300th different beer on tap today â€"  Ninkasi Brewing Radiant â€" and will serve it in $3 pints until its gone. Grab one or three at 2914 Sixth Ave. in Tacoma.

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

BOBBLE TIKI: BRILLIANT! >>>

The idea is simple but brilliant: musicians often need to find bands, and bands often need to find musicians â€" but making these connections is usually way too difficult. Knowing this, Freedom Records is holding live and open auditions for all musicians interested in joining a band â€" Bob's Java Jive â€" tonight. Starting at 9 p.m., the evening will kick off with Visibility 00 holding auditions for a singer. Additional bands will follow, and they’ll all be looking to fill a musical hole.

More details can be found in Bobble Tiki's column.