Submitted by admin on Wed, 2007-03-21 08:00. ::
Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby, Berk; (510) 841-6500, www.shotgunplayers.org. $17-25. Previews Wed/21-Thurs/22, 8pm. Opens Fri/23, 8pm. Runs Thurs-Sun, 8pm (also April 15 and 22, 5pm). Through April 22. See Picks.
Orpheum Theatre, 1192 Market; 512-7770, www.altarholics.com. $25-80. Tues-Sat, 8pm (also Wed and Sat, 2pm); Sun, 2pm. Through April 8. The Broadway musical parodies boy bands.
Club Fugazi, 678 Beach Blanket Babylon Blvd; 421-4222, $25-78. Wed-Thurs, 8pm; Fri-Sat, 7 and 10pm; Sun, 2 and 5pm. Ongoing. The long-running musical comedy revue spoofing popular culture returns for a new year with new characters, costumes, and skits.
Magic Theatre, Fort Mason Center, bldg D, third floor, Marina at Laguna; 441-8822, www.magictheatre.org. $20-45 (Wed, $5-25, sliding scale). Through April 1. C. Michele Kaplan's play about a boy computer genius is the third and final world premiere in the Hot House series.
Lorraine Hansberry Theatre, 620 Sutter; 474-8800, www.lhtsf.org. $20-32. Previews Thurs/22-Fri/23. Opens March 24, 8pm. Runs Thurs-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 2pm. Through April 15. The musical about the nightclub owner who discovered jazz greats like Duke Ellington gets a West Coast Premiere.
Shelton Theater, 533 Sutter; 433-1227, www.emperornortonthemusical.com. Extended run: Fri-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 3pm. Through April 29. $30. Third Child Productions presents an expanded version of the musical originally staged at the Dark Room Theater last year about Joshua Norton, who came to San Francisco in the post-gold rush era and proclaimed himself emperor of the United States.
Bindlestiff Studio, 505 Natoma; 255-0440. $10-15. Thurs-Sat, 8pm. Through March 31. Gayle Romasanta directs a musical comedy about women, aging, and the quest for eternal youth.
Exit Stage Left, 156 Eddy; 673-3847, www.theexit.org. $10-20. Thurs-Sat, 8pm. Through March 31. Noah Kelly directs RIPE Theatre in a detective story.
Xenodrome Theater, 1320 Potrero; www.primitivescrewheads.com. $20-25. Thurs/22-Sat/24, 8pm. The Primitive Screwheads enhance the live horror-show bloodbath experience with Screw-U-Vision glasses.
Hypnodrome 575 Tenth St; 377-4202, www.hypnodrome.com. $25-69. Thurs-Sat, 8pm. Through April 28. Thrillpeddlars present their latest Grand Guignol show Orgy in the Lighthouse by Eddie Muller and other amusements.
Buriel Clay Theatre, 762 Fulton; 762-2071, 1-800-838-3006, www.brownpapertickets.com. $20-25 ($5 on preview night). Fri-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 3pm. Through April 1. Rhodessa Jones, founder of the Medea Project: Theater for Incarcerated Women, directs a production of Aristophanes' antiwar farce using movement, music, and shadow light.
Theatre 39, Embarcadero at Pier 39; 433-3939, www.tix.com. $43.50-46.50. Wed-Thurs, 2 and 7:30pm; Sat-Sun, 1 and 4pm. Ongoing. Jeanie Linders's show tailors pop songs from the '60s through the '80s to fit the experiences of women undergoing the Change.
Intersection for the Arts, 446 Valencia; 626-3311, www.theintersection.org. $9-20. Thurs/22-Sun/26, 8pm. Campo Santo, the Intersection for the Arts' resident theater company, performs a piece reflecting on psychological and physical forms of imprisonment, created from the writings of Jimmy Santiago Baca and Ntozake Shange, with original score by jazz composer Howard Wiley.
Eureka Theatre, 215 Jackson; 255-8207, www.42ndstmoon.org. $20-38. Thurs-Fri, 8pm; Sat, 6pm; Sun, 3pm. Additional show March 28, 7pm. Through April 1. Musical production company 42nd Street Moon presents Joseph Stein's comedy about two New Yorkers lost in Pennsylvania Dutch country.
Magic Theatre, Fort Mason Center, bldg D, third floor, Marina at Laguna; 441-8822, www.magictheatre.org. $20-45 (Wed, $5-25, sliding scale). Through March 31. The protagonist in Chantal Bilodeau's titillating if staid S-M drama has a problem with private demons bearing down on her social world. Peggy (Jennifer Clare) is an attractive, perky, semiawkward, almost unbelievably sheltered 21st-century young woman groping toward a more or less '50s-style sexual awakening with an overactive fantasy life she half worries, half hopes will leave her "out of control." Needless to say, she gets her ambivalent wish. Her daydreams - ruled by a strapping dominator (Andrew Utter) dressed in casual S-M gear - soon spill into her workaday world, which is split between secretarial duties alongside former babysitter and comically unguarded confidant Ruth (a sharp and amusing Catherine Smitko) and a prematurely settled home life with her schluby fiancé (Max Moore). It isn't exactly new territory. Pleasure and Pain lacks anything like the imagination - let alone psychological or social import - of Luis Buñuel's Belle du Jour or even a film by Catherine Breillat. Its limited journey is fairly dull, and all the passing allure of bare midriff and lash could have come out of a Good Vibrations catalog circa 1978.
Next Stage Theater, 1620 Gough; www.mysticbison.com. $15-35. Fri-Sat, 7:30pm. No shows April 6-7 and 21. Through May 5. Mystic Bison Theatre and Dance perform Ariel Dorfman's play.
Actors Theatre of San Francisco, 855 Bush; 345-1287, www.actorstheatresf.org. $10-30. Wed-Sat, 8pm. Through April 14. Actors Theatre presents Tennessee Williams's play about a widowed seamstress.
Magic Theatre, Fort Mason Center, bldg D, third floor, Marina at Laguna; 441-8822, www.magictheatre.org. $20-45 (Wed, $5-25, sliding scale). Through April 1. Kirsten Greenidge's rumbling and ambitious Rust centers on a troubled patch in the high-flying career of football star Randall Mifflin (Mikaal Sulaiman). The Mighty Miff, to his fans, has temporarily retired for vague reasons having to do with the corruption of the game's ideals, setting off a controversy embodied by two comically artificial-looking TV sportscasters (Eric Fraisher Hayes and Lance Gardner) complete with navy blue blazers, puffy microphones, plastic hairdos, and even banks of stadium floodlights strapped to their backs. Miff, meanwhile, stays home in edgy seclusion, playing video games and collecting antique mammy-shaped cookie jars (and other fixtures of a commercial culture once saturated with antebellum black caricatures). To the growing concern of his wife (April Matthis) and friends (Nicole C. Julien and Donald Lett), it becomes clear Randall is being haunted over the phone by the ghosts of product icons Aunt Jemima, here known as Ella Mae Walker (Cathleen Riddley), and Uncle Ben, or Mr. Peale (L. Peter Callender), who plead with him to deliver the race. Setting these grotesque caricatures in motion among flesh-and-blood moderns is just one of the ways Greenidge's uneven but vital, imaginative, and ambitious comedy theatrically realizes the uneasy blending of stereotypes and real life.
Shelton Theater, 533 Sutter; 1-800-838-3006, www.brownpapertickets.com. $25-29. Fri-Sat, 8pm. Ongoing. Morris Bobrow directs a musical comedy revue about the ups and downs of buying stuff.
Dark Room Theater, 2263 Mission; 401-7987, www.brownpapertickets.com. $15. Fri/23-Sat/24, 7:30pm; Sun/25, 3pm. Impossible Productions returns with more episodes from the fifth dimension.
Exit Stage Left, 156 Eddy; 1-800-838-3006. $25. Thurs-Sat, 8pm. Through April 7. Cutting Ball Theater performs Georg Buchner's 19th-century play, lauded for creating the first working-class hero, in a new translation by Rob Melrose.
Marin Theatre Company, 297 Miller, Mill Valley; (415) 388-5208, www.marintheatre.org. $29-47. Tues and Thurs-Sat, 8pm; Wed, 7:30pm (also March 28, 1pm); Sun, 2 and 7pm. Additional matinees March 24 and April 14, 2pm; April 5, 1pm. Through April 15. The Marin Theatre Company presents David Wiltse's drama about a German doctor who harbors a Jewish man during Hitler's reign just prior to WWII.
BridgeHead Studio, 2516 Blanding, Alameda; 439-2456, www.viragotheatre.org. $10-15. Fri-Sat, 8pm. Through March 31. Virago Theater Company performs Lyle Kessler's play about two orphans who hold a stranger for ransom.
Willows Theatre, 1975 Diamond, Concord; (925) 798-1300, www.willowstheatre.org. $33-38. Wed-Thurs, 7:30pm (also Wed, 3:30pm); Fri-Sat, 8pm (also Sat, 2pm); Sun, 3pm. Through March 25. Willows Theatre Company presents a musical version of the popular children's story by Frances Hodgson Burnett, with book and lyrics by Marsha Norman and music by Lucy Simon.
CTA Crossroads Theatre, 1277 Boulevard Way, Walnut Creek; (925) 944-0597. $24-29. Thurs-Sat, 8pm (also Sat, 2pm). Through March 31. Songs from the '60s fill this Laundromat love story.
Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Roda Theatre, 2015 Addison, Berk; (510) 647-2949, www.berkeleyrep.org. $33-61. Tues, Thurs-Sat, 8pm (also Sat, 2pm); Wed, Sun, 7pm (also Sun, 2pm). Through March 25. Les Waters directs Adele Edling Shank's stage adaptation of Virginia Woolf's novel, featuring live musical accompaniment composed by Paul Dresher.
TheatreWorks, Lucie Stern Theatre, 1305 Middlefield, Palo Alto; (650) 903-6000, www.theatreworks.org. $20-55. Tues, 7:30pm; Wed-Sat, 8pm (also Sat, 2pm); Sun, 2 and 7pm. No matinee March 31, no show March 27, no evening show April 1. Through April 1. TheatreWorks presents a Northern California premiere of Joanna McClelland Glass's portrait of former US attorney general Francis Biddle.
CounterPulse, 1310 Mission; www.counterpulse.org, www.jesscurtisgravity.org. $15-25 (last week of shows, $18-30). Wed-Sun, 8pm. Through April 1. See "Angel's wing."
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 701 Mission; 392-2545, www.performances.org. $27-49 (open rehearsals, free; March 31 matinee, $8-15). March 27-31, 8pm (also March 31, 2pm); April 1, 2pm. Open rehearsals: Tues/27, 3:15pm; March 29, 1pm. The 45-year-old contemporary dance company performs three different programs.
War Memorial Opera House, 301 Van Ness; 865-2000, www.sfballet.org. $18-205. Program four: Spring Rounds, Chi-lin, Eden/Eden#. Thurs, 7:30pm; Fri, 2 and 7:30pm. Program five: Pacific, Other Dances, The Fifth Season, Fancy Free. Thurs-Fri, 7:30pm; Sun, 2pm.
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater, 700 Howard; 978-2787, www.ybca.org. $19-25. Fri-Sat, 8pm. The choreographer presents Nomad: The River, which reflects on her childhood experiences in China during the Cultural Revolution.
Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley, Lower Sproul Plaza (near Bancroft at Telegraph), Berk; (510) 642-9988, www.calperfs.berkeley.edu. $26-46. The choreographer creates abstract dance pieces to Western composers' music with Near the Terrace and The Rite of Spring.
Bayfront Theater, Fort Mason Center, bldg B, Marina at Laguna; 474-8935, www.improv.org. $8-20. Fri-Sat, 8pm. Through March 31. The improv troupe holds a long-form festival.
DNA Lounge, 375 11th St; www.dnalounge.com. $15. Wed, 8pm. The Devil-Ettes, Twilight Vixen Revue, Ms. Killy Lee, Banana Peel and Coconuts Cream, Delilah, Ophelia Coeur de Noir, and others perform in an evening of cabaret, vaudeville, and burlesque.
Shelton Theater, 533 Sutter; (510) 595-5597, www.bigcityimprov.com. $15. Fri, 10pm. Ongoing. The improv troupe performs a farewell tribute to founder and director Jayne Entwistle.
Empire Plush Room, York Hotel, 940 Sutter; 885-2800, www.empireplushroom.com. $25. Fri-Sat, 11pm. Ongoing. This evening of performance is a Roaring '20s revue.
Intersection for the Arts, 446 Valencia; 626-2787, www.theintersection.org. Poet and Streetfare Journal editor Evans and Nicaraguan poet Zamora read with Chad Sweeney, Chrissy Anderson-Zaval, and students from the WritersCorp program.
Deco Lounge, 510 Larkin; 346-2025. Free. Sat, 7pm. The drag revue features Victoria Secret, Alexandria, Pink Bubbles, Davida Ashton, Daffney Deluxe, Mini Minerva, Shelly Wilde, Bobby Ashton, Chanel, and guests.
Empire Plush Room, York Hotel, 940 Sutter; 1-866-468-3399, www.empireplushroom.com. $35-40. Thurs-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 5pm. The cabaret singer performs.
Red Devil Lounge, 1695 Polk; www.glamoramagirlyshow.com. $10-12. Wed, 8pm. Tana the tattooed lady, go-go Amy, and other retroburlesque acts perform.
Marsh, 1062 Valencia; 826-5750, 1-800-838-3006, www.themarsh.org. $7. Mon, 8pm. Performers of all stripes present their short works in progress.
First Unitarian Universalist Church, 1187 Franklin; www.uusf.org, www.ellenrobinson.com. $10-15. Sun, 7pm. Ellen Robinson directs the Bay Area singing group in a performance.
Modern Times Bookstore, 888 Valencia; www.nomediakings.net. The touring group features spoken word performer Norman Cristofoli and Canadian folk and punk musician JoAnn Riedl.
Zeum Theatre, 221 Fourth; 553-8185, www.brownpapertickets.com. $15-18. Kularts presents performances by an array of Pilipino American theater, dance, music, comedy, and literary artists.
Cobb's Comedy Club, 915 Columbus; www.cobbscomedyclub.com, www.ticketweb.com. $20-22. Thurs-Sun, 8pm (also Fri-Sat, 10:15pm). The comedian and frequent Howard Stern guest performs stand-up.
San Francisco State University, Creative Arts Bldg, Knuth Hall, 1600 Holloway. $10-15. Thurs, 7:30pm. Students in the music and dance departments perform to raise money for scholarships.
Pier 29, Embarcadero at Battery; 438-2668, www.zinzanni.org. $110-135. Wed-Sat, 6pm; Sun, 5pm. Ongoing. The circus and cabaret troupe performs under the big top in a dinner-theater setting.
Phoenix Theatre, 414 Mason, suite 406; 869-5384, www.un-scripted.com. $10-15. Thurs-Sat, 8pm. The Un-Scripted Theater Company performs an improvised game show.
Laney College Theater, 900 Fallon, Oakl; (510) 595-5500, ext 30, www.livingartscenter.org. $8-18. Sat, 8pm. The ensemble creates improvisational pieces based on stories from the audience about the lives of women.
Rooster T. Feathers Comedy Club, 157 W El Camino Real, Sunnyvale; www.roostertfeathers.com. $10. Wed, 8pm. Through April 25. For the fifth year, Bay Area comedians compete to win an opening slot at the club for a week.
6005 Shellmound, Emeryville; 1-866-907-3777. Thurs, 7pm. Ongoing. This week the dinner cabaret show features a Motown revue by the Best Intentions.
50 Mason; 398-4129, www.laughalotproductions.com. Fri, 8pm: Friday Night Comedy, with host Eric Peterson, $10. Sat, 8pm: Saturday Night Showcase, $10. Sat, 10pm: "Five Funny Females," $15.
Clubhouse, 414 Mason, suite 705; www.sfcomedycollege.com. Fri, 8pm: "Scantily Clad Comedy," $7. Sat, 4 and 6pm: "SFCC Grad Shows," $5. Sat, 9pm: "Naked Comedy," $10. Mon, 9pm: "Monday Night Make 'Em Ups," $5.
984 University, Berk; (510) 524-6403, (510) 548-9888, www.templebartiki.com. Thurs, 9pm: Nelson Martini's Laugh-n-Luau, hosted by Bryan Moore, free.
1200 Ninth Ave, SF; (415) 504-0060, mike@westcoastvideo.net . Open Mic Talent Showcase, 7:30pm, free. 4122 18th St, SF; www.magnetsf.org. Kirk Read and Larry-Bob Roberts host "Smack Dab," a queer open mic, 8pm, free.
3121 16th St, SF; (415) 290-5048. Adam and Elz host "Poetry Mission," open mic, 7pm, free. 2587 International Blvd, Oakl; (510) 533-6629. "Holla Back," open mic, 8:30-10:30pm, donations accepted.
1275 Walnut, Berk; (510) 527-9753. "Rhythm and Muse," spoken word open mic features a young performers night, 7pm, free. 1665 Haight, SF; (415) 864-1978. "Open Mic and Hot Tamales," 5pm, free. 1800 Market, SF; www.threedollarcafe.com. Cindy Emch and Sherilyn Connelly host a queer open mic featuring Jennifer Cross, 7:30pm, $1-5 donation accepted.
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