OSF gives me a time warp

The Oregon Shakespeare Festival warped time for me the other day. We're still six months out from our annual trek to Ashland for the 2009 festival, and they announced the 2010 season this week!

The four Shakespeare plays on the schedule are:

• Hamlet
• Twelfth Night
• The Merchant of Venice
• Henry IV, Part One

Highlights of the rest of the fest include Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Pride and Prejudice directed by Libby Appel, and Ruined by Lynn Nottage. The skinny on the entire season is here.

West Seattle's ArtsWest has announced its season for 2009-10. It includes Dead Man's Cell Phone by Sarah Ruhl, which is running at OSF this season. We probably won't see it there, as it closes in mid-June.

For a treat here and now, check out Patrick Marber's Closer at Balagan Theatre on Capitol Hill. It has just opened and runs through April 4.