stage

Stage listings are compiled by Cheryl Eddy. Performance times may change; call venues to confirm. Reviewers are Robert Avila, Rita Felciano, Lara Shalson, and Chloe Veltman. See 8 Days a Week for information on how to submit items to the listings.

theater
Opening

American Buffalo Omnicircus Theatre, 550 Natoma; 701-0686. $10-15. Opens Fri/16, 8pm. Runs Fri-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 7pm. Through June 15. Subterranean Shakespeare revives its acclaimed 1999 production of the David Mamet drama.

'Clitoris Celebration: Thinking Outside the Box' Shelton Theatre, 533 Sutter; 433-7875. $15-20. Opens Thurs/15, 8pm. Runs Thurs-Sat, 8pm. Through May 31. Sia Amma performs her provocative comedy show.

Cooking with Elvis Phoenix Theatre, 414 Mason; 989-0023. $20 (previews and Thurs, pay what you can). Previews Thurs/15-Fri/16, 8pm. Opens Sat/17, 8pm. Runs Thurs-Sat, 8pm. Through June 14. Phoenix Theatre presents Lee Hall's dark comedy about disability, eating disorders, cooking, and sexual compulsion.

Howard Crabtree's When Pigs Fly New Conservatory Theatre Center, 25 Van Ness; 861-8972. $18-38. Previews Wed/14-Fri/16, 8pm. Opens Sat/17, 8pm. Runs Wed-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 2pm. Through June 28. The New Conservatory Theatre Center continues Pride Season 8 with the Bay Area premiere of Howard Crabtree and Mark Waldrop's gay musical revue.

Let's Pretend I'm Not Your Mother Climate Theatre, 285 Ninth St; 364-1411. $20. Opens Fri/16, 9:30pm. Runs Thurs-Sat, 9:30pm. Through June 21. Titillation Theater performs Jennifer Hotchner's series of vignettes centered on the subject of sexuality.

Bay Area

The Guys Berkeley Rep's Roda Theatre, 2015 Addison, Berk; (510) 647-2949. $10-54. Previews Fri/16-Sat/17, Tues/20, 8pm; Sun/18, 7pm. Opens Wed/21, 8pm. Runs Tues, Thurs-Sat, 8pm (also May 24, 29, June 7, 12, 21, 26, 28, July 5, 2pm; no show July 4); Wed and Sun, 7pm (also Sun, 2pm). Through July 6. Anne Nelson's 9/11-inspired drama stars Sharon Lawrence (NYPD Blue) and Keith David (Barbershop) through May 25. Future casts include Lorraine Toussaint and Dan Lauria (May 27-June 8) and Joe Spano (June 10-22).

Pericles Shakespeare at Stinson, Highway One at Calle Del Mar, Stinson Beach; (415) 868-1115, www.shakespeareatstinson.org. $16-23 (preview $14). Previews Fri/16, 7pm. Opens Sat/17, 7pm. Runs Fri-Sat, 7pm; Sun, 6pm. Through June 29. Shakespeare at Stinson kicks off their season with the Bard's romantic tale of loss and redemption.

Ongoing

Are We Almost There? Shelton Theatre, 533 Sutter; 345-7575. $15-18. Thurs-Sat, 8pm. Open-ended. Travel is the theme of this musical comedy revue.

'BATS Improv Long-Form Festival' Bayfront Theater, Fort Mason Center, Bldg B, Marina at Laguna; 474-8935, www.improv.org. $12-15. Thurs-Sat, 8pm. Through May 31. This week: "Masks on a String" (Fri); "Improvised Western" (Sat); "Theatresports" (Sun).

The Beginning of August Actor's Theatre of San Francisco, 533 Sutter, second fl; 296-9179. $5-20. Thurs-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 7pm. Through May 24. Actor's Theatre of San Francisco presents Tom Donaghy's play about a single dad who creates a makeshift extended family from the neighbors and friends around him.

Black and Blue: A Musical Revue Lorraine Hansberry Theatre, 620 Sutter; 474-8800. $15-32. Previews Thurs/15, 8pm. Opens Fri/16, 8pm. Runs Thurs-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 2pm. Through June 8. The Lorraine Hansberry Theatre presents the Broadway revue that pays tribute to African American legends of jazz and blues, with a cast that includes acclaimed vocalist Faye Carol.

Blue Surge Magic Theatre, Bldg D, Fort Mason Center, Marina at Laguna; 441-8822. $17-37. Extended run: Wed-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 2:30pm. Through May 25. Rebecca Gilman's new play deconstructs an ideal couple against the economics of sex. Curt (John Flanagan), a working-class cop, plans to marry Beth (Corie Henninger), an upper-middle-class artist. They have their future well planned – but things are not as solid as they seem. After a botched raid on a massage parlor, Curt takes an avuncular interest in a young prostitute named Sandy (Kirsten Roeters); their ability to relate to one another rests on their mutual class background. Clearly cowed by his relationship with Beth, Curt not only feels comfortable sharing his dreams with Sandy, but he also seems eager to assume the role of male guardian. Amy Glazer, who directed the Magic Theatre's premiere of Gilman's The American in Me, gets the most from the playwright's vigorous, incisive, frequently witty dialogue while ensuring a lively pace. (Avila)

Cocksucker: A Love Story Theatre Rhinoceros, 2926 16th St; 861-5079. $20-30. Wed-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 3 and 7pm. Open-ended. Writer-director Ronnie Larsen presents a tale about marines who act in gay porn videos.

'Comedy on the Square' Shelton Theatre, 533 Sutter; 522-8900. $15. Performances include "A Celebration of Silliness!" with Fred Anderson (Sun, 3 and 7pm; through July 31).

Dead Heads Jon Sims Center for the Arts, 1519 Mission; 554-0402. $10-15. Fri-Sun, 8pm. Through May 25. Jon Sims Center for the Arts presents Joe Besecker's dark comedy about an ex-porn star driven to acts of desperation and double-crossing.

Finding Claire New venue: Theatre Rhinoceros, 2926 16th St; (510) 534-9529. $12-20. Fri-Sat, 8pm (also May 24, 2pm); Sun, 2pm. Through May 25. Oakland Public Theater presents Kim Merrill's play about motherhood.

*LibidOff Exit on Taylor, 277 Taylor; 776-7427. $15-20. Thurs/15-Sat/17, 8pm. Forget Viagra. From the depths of masculine depravity comes LibidOff – a new wonder drug that will rid every heterosexual male of that most humbling of assets: his libido. In Dawson Moore's dark and fluent comedy presented by Three Wise Monkeys Theatre Company and Unidentified Theatre Company, a depressed scientist's antidote to his own frustrated sexuality falls into the hands of a nutty misogynist with potentially frightening results. LibidOff is the middle play in the writer's Bile trilogy – all revolving around a character so cartoonishly vile that he makes Frank T.J. Mackey, the dick-driven male empowerment coach in Paul Thomas Anderson's Magnolia, look like the Pope. Moore's compact, controlled dialogue skirts deliciously close to the hem of taste, and under the astute direction of Christopher Jenkins, the spunky cast of six manages to pull off a pretty formidable theatrical feat: a comedy about sex that is as febrile as it is funny. (Veltman)

Manifest: The Battle of Intergalactic Farces El Teatro de la Esperanza, 2940 16th St; 285-5275. $12-20. Fri/16-Sat/17, 8pm. In Manifest, a solo show written and performed by Serene Zloof, a streetwise dude strolls the sidewalks of San Francisco in search of a job and the meaning of life. Encountering a stream of colorful local characters on the way, he comes up with a revolutionary new theory: humans are just characters in a reality TV show produced by a bunch of perverse media gods. Unfortunately for Zloof, the idea is not so revolutionary; from Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra to Peter Weir's 1998 movie The Truman Show, humans have long been perceived as part of someone else's plot. Nevertheless, Zloof is tantalizing to watch. Her face and limbs seem to be made of rubber. From the agility of her movements to her ear for different voices, this young Bay Area performer imbues each of the 19 characters she plays with focused energy and grace. (Veltman)

Musical Genius Potrero Hill Neighborhood Playhouse, 953 De Haro; 385-7293. $15-20. Fri/16-Sat/17, 8pm; Sun/18, 7pm. Not Quite Opera presents the story of a troubled Depression-era songster and veteran, John Crumbe (Len Shaffer), who composes atonal music to convince the world that war is hell. Most of the 20-odd songs in writer-director A.E. Nygren-Doherty's trifling musical comedy don't seem to mind "modulating back to the tonic," as one of the titles has it, and in the end neither does John, thanks to a pretty dame (Gina Latimerlo), a brush with a gangster (Douglas Mandell), and a little Capra-esque divine intervention. But if Crumbe, sickened by the groundless optimism of popular music (especially when it's in a major key), set out to "communicate the pain of existence," Musical Genius inadvertently completes the mission thanks to a tedious script and some atonal direction. Only about half the songs are worthy in this overly long show, and the acting rarely measures up to the singing, which is competent. Still, one can hail the arrival of a new company devoted exclusively to the presentation of original works of musical theater, even if their first effort falls flat. (Avila)

Mysterious Skin New Conservatory Theatre Center, 25 Van Ness; 861-8972. $18-38. Wed-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 2pm. Through June 28. Prince Gomolvilas's Mysterious Skin opens as a UFO expert, against a dark, celestial backdrop, asks his television audience: "Have aliens contacted you?" It's a funny, uncomfortable moment – trouble hangs in the air, and it has nothing to do with the heavens. Skin, adapted from Scott Heim's 1995 novel and receiving its world premiere at the New Conservatory Theatre Center, traces the trajectories of two young men from semirural Kansas who shared a childhood experience that shaped them in a way each is unable to control. Gomolvilas does an impressive job of turning Heim's provocative story into an intriguing piece of theater. Through a combination of direct address and frequent flashback sequences the intertwined story lines and background flow, for the most part, effortlessly. Good chemistry and solid acting from a committed cast, under Arturo Catricala's ever sharp and sportive direction, convey the full range of humor, pain, and compassion in the often excellent dialogue. (Avila)

Norton I (Being the Most Noble Tale of Joshua Abraham Norton, First Emperor of the United States of America and Protector of All Mexico) Noh Space, 2840 Mariposa; 621-7978. $13-20 (Thurs, pay what you can). Thurs-Sat, 8pm. Through May 31. Theatre of Yugen's ensemble performs Yugen joint artistic director Luis Valls's new play about the colorful San Franciscan.

Oh My Goddess! Venue 9, 252 Ninth St; 289-2000. $15-20. Thurs-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 7pm. Through May 31. Writer-performer Sherry Glaser's offbeat revision of the Judeo-Christian creation myth had gone through several incarnations before its San Francisco unveiling at January's Women on the Way Festival, but probably never felt more timely or refreshing. In Glaser's rendition, waiter and slacker Miguel de Cervantes discovers his feminine side after a desperate phone call to the Psychic Friends Hotline, becoming the unlikely portal for the return of God's better half, the Jewish earth mother of us all. Ma's awoken from a 5,000-year nap, having left slacker Pa in charge of the kids, and needless to say is not happy about the state of the house or the yard. Ma relates the real story of where we came from, offering up her own set of commandments in the process, a "to-do list" that in its maternal wisdom cleverly blends the comic with the cosmic. After generously fielding their questions, Ma sends her brood out into the world again with, what else, a nice bowl of soup. A skillful performer, Glaser, with support from director Rod Kaats, makes up for the production's minor awkwardnesses with the warmth and intelligence she brings to this nourishing material. (Avila)

Queer Theory Exit Theatre, 156 Eddy; (510) 464-4468. $10-15. Thurs/15-Sat/17, 8pm. Welcome to Queer Theory 101, where you are what you theorize and Jeff Webster (Matt Weimer), prof and America's leading queer theorist, unexpectedly practices what he teaches. Courted by Harvard as well as his ravenous Berkeley students, Dr. Webster's office hours already resemble a film by Bruce LaBruce, but when his work on Elizabethan gender slippage translates into the inversion of his own sex organs, it's good-bye, Mr. Chips! Former-brother Henry, now sister Renee (Matthew Martin) struggles to help (unravel?) the situation, while writer-director John Fisher works the light switch in some silent-film-era hocus-pocus ushering in the old gender switcheroo. Although the show condemns this sort of thinking, I feel compelled to ask: Does this plot make me look fat? Fans of Fisher's plays know he offers the thinking man's camp (or woman's, or, what you will), but the attempt to work the concept of "identity drift" only leads to story drift here. Among Impact Theater's likable if uneven cast, strong performances from Martin and Weimer put the most fun in an otherwise uninspired and overworked geni-tale. (Avila)

R. Buckminster Fuller: The History (and Mystery) of the Universe Project Artaud Theater, 450 Florida; 626-DOME, www.foghouse.com. $25-35. Thurs-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 2pm. Through May 25. Fuller was one of the great brainiacs of the 20th century, a philosopher, mathematician, inventor, and idealist who devoted his life to finding the best fit between nature and humanity. In D.W. Jacobs's fitful, two-hour monologue based on the life and writings of Fuller, actor Ron Campbell dexterously pings from one of the visionary's obsessions to another, inhabiting Fuller's eccentric soul with physical and verbal intensity. (Veltman)

*Roberta Eureka Theatre, 215 Jackson; 978-2787. $15-29. Thurs/15-Fri/16, 8pm; Sat/17, 1 and 6pm; Sun/18, 3pm. "Although rarely performed today, Roberta was one of the biggest hits of the 1930s," is not the most auspicious of program notes that a theater reviewer sitting in the stalls in 2003 could ever hope to read. Yet 42nd Street Moon's impeccable semi-staged production of Jerome Kern's 1933 musical comedy about the adventures of a stylistically-challenged football star in the Parisian world of haute couture is no museum piece. Bouncy, jolly, and beautifully performed, this swell little musical feels as fresh and airy as a chiffon gown. The company, which specializes in presenting shoestring productions of "lost" musicals, aptly demonstrates that strong voices and physical energy do not require the services of splashy sets, sequined costumes, and a 100-piece orchestra. This is particularly true of Lesley Hamilton, whose turn as the lascivious and slightly loopy Countess Scharwenka is at the kernel of all that is great about Kern. (Veltman)

Bay Area

Beatbox: A Raparetta Black Box, 1928 Telegraph, Oakl; www.onelovehiphop.com. $10-15. Fri/16-Sat/17, 8pm (also Sat/17, 2pm); Sun/18, 2pm. Felonious: One Love Hip Hop and DJ Raw B perform Dan Wolf and Tommy Shepherd's play about two brothers, written entirely in verse.

The Maids Ann Davlin Dance Studio, 2311 Stuart, Berk; (510) 644-1889. $8-10. Fri/16-Sat/17, 8pm; Sun/18, 7pm. From the fledgling 1 Foot 2 Players comes a production of Jean Genet's modern classic that is more sumptuous and enjoyable than it has any right to be. Two maids, obsessed with their mistress, simultaneously revel in her attentions and plot to kill her. The conflicts are savage, the dialogue unrelenting, but, where we might expect an abrasive, "modern" treatment, director Ian Petroni very cleverly lets the action unfold in a gorgeous and glamorous 1930s boudoir (a charm furthered along by the stunning venue, a small, mirrored studio suffused with summer light). This has the effect of rendering the two maids' crisis instantly intelligible: they hate their mistress, they are truly slaves, but, on the other hand, why would they ever give up such beautiful surroundings? With a great sense of style, and suitably febrile and frenetic performances, The Maids marks an auspicious debut of a new Bay Area company. (Amir Baghdachi)

*Partition Aurora Theatre, 2081 Addison, Berk; (510) 843-4822, www.auroratheatre.org. $28-38. Wed/14-Sat/17, 8pm; Sun/18, 2 and 7pm. The world premiere of Ira Hauptman's Partition at Berkeley's Aurora Theatre draws on the real-life collaboration at Cambridge, starting in 1914, between English mathematician G.H. Hardy (David Arrow) and the self-taught Indian prodigy Srinivasa Ramanujan (Rahul Gupta). The title refers to Hardy and Ramanujan's most successful mathematical collaboration, but also to the various borders that separate the two characters in a story that turns on a cultural divide between East and West, aggravated by both personality and the colonial relationship between England and India. A well-written and witty play, graced with a solid and moving production helmed by Aurora artistic director Barbara Oliver, its nearly mystical appreciation of mathematical theorizing pits a morally neutral "pure" science against the worldly imperfection of organized belief. (Avila)

*Surface Transit Berkeley Rep's Thrust Stage, 2025 Addison, Berk; (510) 647-2949. $38-54. Extended run: Tues and Thurs-Sat, 8pm; Wed and Sun, 7pm (also Sun/18, May 25, June 1, 2pm). Through June 1. Playing eight interrelated characters, the charismatic Sarah Jones approaches her subjects with impeccable technique and a rollicking sense of humor, garnering different perspectives on the hateful and violent prejudices separating people who in fact have much more in common than they like to admit. Berkeley Repertory Theatre's dazzling and dexterous production, directed by Tony Taccone, provides a wonderful platform for Jones, though her energy and grace would succeed in any setting. (Avila)

The Vampires La Val's Subterranean Theater, 1834 Euclid, Berk; (510) 704-8210. $10-20. Extended run: Thurs/15-Sat/17, 8pm. Shotgun Players presents Harry Kondoleon's vicious but delicious family farce, a suburban nightmare haunted by a frustrated nonconformist, Ian (Patrick Dooley), making the short career hop from misanthropic theater critic to vampire. Joan McBrien directs a cast with solid comic timing and a relish for their roles. At the black heart of this story is Kondoleon's clever if not always successful satire of suburbia's spiritual death, and the longing for purpose among the characters takes on absurd manifestations that prove all too familiar. (Avila)

Virginia Woolf's Night and Day Transparent Theater, 1901 Ashby, Berk; (510) 883-0305. $20 (Sun, pay what you can). Thurs-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 7pm. Through June 8. Transparent Theater performs Tom Clyde's world premiere stage adaptation of Woolf's second novel.

Visions of Kerouac Marin Theatre Company, 397 Miller, Mill Valley; (415) 388-5208. $25-43. Tues and Thurs-Sat, 8pm (also May 22, 1pm; May 31 and June 7, 2pm); Wed, 7:30pm; Sun, 2 and 7pm. Through June 8. Marin Theatre Company performs Martin Duberman's beat generation drama.

dance

'Dance/Screen: Innovative International Dance Films' Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 701 Mission; 978-ARTS. Tues, 7pm. $6. See Critic's Choice.

'ODC/Unplugged' ODC Theater, 3153 17th St; 863-9834. Mon, 7pm. $15. Kimi Okada performs Flight to Ixcan.

Purple Moon Dance Project Brava Theater Center, 2789 24th St; 647-2822. Thurs, 7:30pm. $16-26. The company performs "Greater Than the Sum of Our Parts," a collection of works rooted in Asian and Pacific Islander dance, music, and storytelling traditions featuring LGBT artists.

Smuin Ballet Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 700 Howard; 978-2787. Wed-Sat, 8pm (also Sat, 2pm); Sun, 4pm. $35-55 (gala Sun, $50-250). The company performs the premiere of Michael Smuin's Zorro.

'Spring Wing Ding' 848 Community Space, 848 Divisadero; 407-9558. Sat-Sun, 8pm. $7-15 (no one turned away for lack of funds). This evening of "spunky dance works" features new and revisited pieces by Jenice Acosta and Dancers, Andrea Anderson/Spitfire Dance, and Sue Roginski and Christy Funsch.

Bay Area

'Dances for Peace' First Congregational Church, 2345 Channing, Berk; (510) 548-2259. Fri, 8pm; Sat, 2pm. $13-16. The Isadora Duncan Project, Inc. presents works from Duncan's repertory, under the direction of Ann Cogley.

'Tales of a Woman' Ehmann Hall, Oakland YWCA, 1515 Webster, Oakl; (510) 451-7900. Fri/16-Sat/17, 8pm. $10-15. See "Sole Sister."

performance

'Bleacher Bums' Voice One Studio Theatre, 1119 Mission; 626-1386, Vone@aol.com. Thurs-Sat, 8pm. $10-15. Voice One Studio Theatre performs Joe Mantegna's play set in the bleachers during a 1998 Cubs game.

'The Bruno's Island New Plays Festival' Thick House, 1695 18th St; 558-7721. May 15-22, 8pm. $15-20 (Mon/19-Tues/20, pay what you can). This festival of world premiere plays includes two programs: Kevin Shay's The Conjurer and the Concubine and Elizabeth Creely's Four Green Fields (Thurs/15, Sat/17, Mon/19, May 21); and Peter Sinn Nachtrieb's Multiplex and Jesse McCormack's Ode to a Cupcake (Fri/16, Sun/18, Tues/20, May 22).

'Dance to Music' 848 Community Space, 848 Divisadero; 706-9535. Fri, 8:30pm. $10 (no one turned away for lack of funds). Sonya Smith, Darren Johnson, and Mary Ann Brooks perform live music and dance improvisation.

'Girly Freak Show' Odeon Bar, 3223 Mission; 550-6994. Fri, call for time and price. Sideshow stunts and burlesque acts highlight this show, which features Slymenstra Hyman from GWAR, Camanda Galactica, and Kitten on the Keys.

Mark Kenward, James Judd, Bruce Pachtman Marsh, 1062 Valencia; 826-5750. May 20-21, 8pm. $10-14 (sliding scale). The solo performers present their latest works: Kenwards' Rice and Beans; Judd's 7 Sins; and Pachtman's VERY Funny Play #2.

'3D: Dyke Drama Days' Theatre Rhinoceros, 2926 16th St; 552-4100, www.therhino.org. May 19-22, 6pm. Free. This staged reading series of works by lesbian playwrights includes a Q&A session after each performance. This week: Mon/19, Girls Room by Lori Kaye; Tues/20, Two Fools by Terry Baum.

'Trucker Rhapsody' 509 Cultural Center, 509 Ellis; 841-1262. Mon-Tues, 8pm. $5-15 (suggested donation). First Seen presents a workshop production of Toni Press-Coffman's drama about the 1992 Los Angeles riots.

'The War Between Angels and Robots' Cell Space, 2050 Bryant; 608-1492. Thurs-Fri, 8pm. $5-10. Copenhagen Dream House, Infinite Kaos, and Cell Space present this improvised dance theater performance; a dance party follows.

'What Color Is Your Fag?' Jon Sims Center for the Arts, 1519 Mission; 437-1473. Fri-Sat, 8:30pm. $7-12. Performance collective Out/Rage presents their first work-in-progress production, a multidisciplinary inquiry into racism in the gay male community.

'Women on the Way Festival' Venue 9, 252 Ninth St; 289-2000. Tues, 8pm. Through May 27. $8-10. This week's lineup: Lucky Dog Theatre's "Full Spectrum Improvisation;" Tracey Rose's "Dragking;" and Elin Jr.'s "Spunky Rocker."

Bay Area

'Apocalypse: The Book of Revelation' Dance Palace, Fifth St at B St, Point Reyes; (415) 663-1075. Sat, 8pm. $5-15. Performer Eliot Fintushel presents his solo work based on the last book of the Bible.

'The Dark: Thirty' Black Dot Cafe, 1431 23rd Ave, Oakl; (510) 325-8559. Wed, 6pm. $5. This series of "bedtime stories for black folks" features original tales and a vegetarian supper.

'Shylock' Osher Marin Jewish Community Center, 200 N. San Pedro, San Rafael; (415) 444-8000. Sun, 7pm. $12-24. Gareth Armstrong performs his solo show based on The Merchant of Venice.

'Walk ... Don't Walk' McClymonds High School, 2607 Myrtle, Oakl; (510) 597-1619, www.destinyarts.org. Fri-Sat, 7:30pm; Sun, 3pm. $6-12. Destiny Arts Youth Performance Company presents an original production about decisions and dreams faced by teens using hip-hop, modern and aerial dance, spoken word, and martial arts.

comedy

Herbst Theatre 401 Van Ness; 392-4400. Sat, 8pm: "Funny Girlz: A Smorgasbord of Women's Humor," $20-25. See 8 Days a Week.

Mock Cafe 1074 Valencia; plethorashow@yahoo.com. Fri, 8pm: "The Pants Optional Improv Show," followed by "The Plethora Stand-Up Showcase" (9:30pm), $7-10.

San Francisco LGBT Community Center 1800 Market; 865-5633. Mon, 8pm: "Monday Night Gay Comedy" with host Karen Ripley, $8-15 (no one turned away for lack of funds).

Bay Area

Paramount Theatre 2025 Broadway; (510) 465-6400, (415) 421-TIXS. Sat, 8pm: Mike Epps performs stand-up, $34.50-39.50.

spoken word

Open mics take place almost every night in cafés throughout the Bay Area. If you want to perform, show up about half an hour before start time to put your name on the list. A day-by-day guide to spoken word events and featured readers:

Wednesday: BrainWash Café 1122 Folsom; 440-5530. "Spoken Word Salon," with host Diamond Dave Whitaker, 8pm, free. La Peña Cultural Center 3105 Shattuck, Berk; (510) 849-2568. "Cafe Poetry" and open mic with Kira Allen, 7:30pm, free.

Thursday: Coppa D'Oro Cafe 3166 24th St; 826-8003. "Poetry on the Patio," spoken word and acoustic music open mic with host Charlie Getter, 6:30pm, free. New College Cultural Center 766 Valencia; 933-6825. "New College Emerging Artists Series" poetry reading with David Meltzer, Avrille Polack, and Victoria Sanchez, 7:30pm, free.

Friday: Fellowship Hall 1924 Cedar, Berk; (510) 540-0898, pubsol@pacbell.net. "North Beach to North Berkeley" with poet, painter, and activist Jack Hirschman, plus open mic, 7:30pm, free.

Saturday: Boadecia's Books 398 Colusa, Kensington; (510) 559-9184. Poetry reading from WomanPrayers: Prayers by Women from Throughout History and Around the World, 7:30pm, free.

Sunday: Cody's Books 2454 Telegraph, Berk; (510) 845-7852. "Poetry Flash!," with Margo Stever and Monica Youn, 7:30pm, $2.