October 9, 2002

stage

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

theater

Opening

Black Snow Venue 9, 252 Ninth St; 262-0477. $13-15 (Thurs, pay what you can). Previews Thurs/10, 8pm. Runs Thurs-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 2pm. Through Oct 27. The Custom Made Theatre Company performs Keith Reddin's adaptation of Mikhail Bulgakov's novel about a novelist who finds surprise success as a playwright.

Lavender Lockeroom Theatre Rhinoceros, 2926 16th St; 861-5079. $20-25. Opens Thurs/10, 8pm. Runs Thurs-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 7pm. Through Oct 27. After a successful run earlier this year, F. Allen Sawyer's "comedy with balls" inspired by gay pulp novels of the '50s and '60s returns.

Master of the (Miss) Universe New Conservatory Theatre Center, 25 Van Ness; 861-8972. $15-25. Previews Wed/9-Fri/11, 8pm. Opens Sat/12, 8pm. Runs Wed-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 2pm. Through Oct 27. Noel Alumit stars in his solo show, a gay Filipino man's take on the world of beauty pageants.

A Perfect Human Being Theatre Rhinoceros, 2926 16th St; 861-5079. $15 (Thurs/10, pay what you can). Opens Thurs/10, 8:30pm. Runs Thurs-Sat, 8:30pm. Through Oct 19. Guilty Theatre presents its first production, a new play by Kristina Goodnight about a set of twins.

Bay Area

The Dark at the Top of the Stairs The Playhouse, 27 Kensington, San Anselmo; (415) 892-8551. $10-18. Opens Fri/11, 8pm. Runs Thurs-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 2pm. Through Nov 3. Marin Classic Theatre presents William Inge's tale of small-town life in the 1920s.

The Syringa Tree Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, Castro at Mercy, Mountain View; 650-903-6000, www.theatreworks.org. $20-45. Previews Wed/9-Fri/11, 8pm. Opens Sat/12, 8pm. Runs Tues, 7:30pm (no show Oct 29); Wed-Sat, 8pm (also Oct 26, Nov 2, 2pm); Sun, 2pm (also Oct 20, 27, 7pm). Through Nov 3. TheatreWorks presents Pamela Gien's Obie award-winning solo play about a child growing up in Johannesburg during the days of apartheid.

Ongoing

Are We Almost There? Shelton Theatre, 533 Sutter; 345-7575. $12-15. Thurs-Sat, 8pm. Open-ended. Travel is the theme of this musical comedy revue.

As If in Sleep Exit Stage Left, 156 Eddy; 346-6040. $10-12. Fri-Sat, 8pm. Through Nov 2. The Hub at the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco presents Tim Barsky's solo show that transposes a fairy tale onto an urban American landscape.

La Bohème Curran Theatre, 445 Geary; 512-7770, www.ticketmaster.com. $40-90. Tues-Sat, 8pm (also Wed, Sat-Sun, 2pm). Through Nov 10. Baz Luhrmann (Moulin Rouge) brings his production of Puccini's opera to San Francisco en route to Broadway.

Brand Potrero Hill Playhouse, 935 De Haro; (510) 845-2687. $12-20. Thurs-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 7pm. Through Oct 20. Henrik Ibsen's first great drama, Brand, while universally admired, rarely finds companies daring enough to mount its epic verses about the religious calling of a fanatical parish priest, since the play presents difficulties as notoriously treacherous as its alpine setting. Leave it to audacious Last Planet Theater to rise to the challenge. The preacher Brand (Matt Leshinskie) – a symbol more than a personality – represents complete submission to the religious ideal. His lonely, progressively miserable quest finally turns from the reform of society to the fulfillment of individual destiny. The play's tragedy lies in the futile pursuit of the absolute in a world tarnished by original sin. Director John Wilkins displays his flair for visual interpretation from the outset, and Leshinskie brings an inexhaustible energy to the demanding title role. But the production proves sporadically inspired. Necessarily abridging Ibsen's voluminous text, it comes to reflect a less than harmonious set of impulses toward satire, comedy, and tragedy. (Avila)

Doing Judy! Alcazar Theatre, 650 Geary; 441-4042. $25-43. Wed-Fri, 8pm; Sat, 5 and 8pm; Sun, 3pm. Through Nov 17. A detective tries to uncover who's been offing local Judy Garland impersonators in this comedic whodunit.

Dreams of the Salthorse Thick House, 1695 18th St; 821-4849. $15-20. Wed-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 5pm. Through Oct 20. Encore Theater presents the premiere of Adam Rapp's apocalyptic dreamscape about a 10-year-old boy's search for peace after the trauma of losing his father. The setting, colored by the dark purgatory of the boy's tortured imagination, resembles a childhood home transformed into hell. The boy, now a headless man (Rick Eldredge), returns after years of limbo, encountering an odd family made up of a foul-mouthed madam (Kimberly Richards), a Chicana prostitute (Vanessa Aspillaga), and a mute young savage who powers the generator bike (Matt Roe). As in last year's Nocturne, Rapp explores with dramatic precision the long, anguished journey of grief toward reconciliation. But while his gifts as a storyteller (together with a terrific cast directed by Sturgis Warner) keeps us intellectually engaged, the conceit here feels familiar and lacking in emotional weight. (Avila)

Eight X Tenn Eureka Theatre Company, 215 Jackson; (510) 434-0734. $12-20. Tues-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 3pm. Through Oct 20. Eastenders Repertory Company performs eight one-act plays by Tennessee Williams.

Far from Springer Call for location info: 789-7617. $10-20. Sat/12-Sun/13, 8pm. A private home hosts In Home Theater Productions' presentation of Craig Fox's play about two queer best friends.

'The Fear Project' The Next Stage, 1620 Gough; 673-0304. $15-20. Thurs-Sat, 8pm. Through Nov 2. See "Ears for Fears," page 47.

F***cking Handicapped Guy Shelton Theatre, 533 Sutter; 282-8721. $15. Thurs/10-Sat/12, 8pm. In his solo show wheelchair-bound actor-writer Steve Parks takes the status quo, bulldozes over it with his chair and, smiling at us benignly from behind his voluminous spectacles, admires the wreckage. Parks demurely exposes the world's at best baffled, and at worst derogatory, beliefs about physically impaired people by throwing some of the most shamelessly reactionary opinions back in its face. Parks's performance wanders randomly between the arenas of standup comedy, storytelling, and performance poetry. As he sits center stage, thumbing through a ring binder-bound script and engaging the audience in what he mockingly calls "a little handicap chit chat," more than an hour passes and we haven't progressed much beyond uneventful observations about penises and disabled parking. We wait patiently through Parks's drawn-out clauses for the punch line. Unfortunately, it never arrives. (Veltman)

The Full Monty Orpheum Theatre, 1192 Market; 512-7770. $41-81. Wed/9-Sat/12, 8pm (also Wed/9 and Sat/12, 2pm); Sun/13, 2pm. Best of Broadway presents the based-on-the-film musical comedy about working-class blokes who hit on an inventive scheme to make money.

Icarus's Mother and The Unseen Hand Actors Theatre of San Francisco, 533 Sutter; 296-9179, www.actorstheatresf.org. $5-20. Thurs-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 7pm. Through Nov 23. Actors Theatre of San Francisco performs two experimental works by Sam Shepard.

*Night and Day Geary Theater, 415 Geary; 749-2228, www.act-sfbay.org. $11-61. Wed/9-Sat/12, Oct 15-19, 8pm (also Wed/9, Sat/12, Oct 16, 19, 2pm); Sun, 2 and 7pm. Through Oct 20. Tom Stoppard's Night and Day (1978) hasn't aged as well as the author, but American Conservatory Theater's lavish revival proves it's well worth a second look. As civil war brews in the fictitious African nation of Kambawe in the mid 1970s, three journalists hole up near a precious telex machine in the seeming oasis of an English family's postcolonial estate. The play is stiff in its attempt to reconcile all of its elements, but this first-rate production remains genuinely enjoyable throughout. Despite the anachronisms of the plot (the old telex machine and the deadline dilemma), the debate over the function of the press unfolds Shaw-like through the sparkling dialogue and ends up being the play's most relevant, intriguing aspect. (Avila)

PINS Walker Theatre, New Conservatory Theatre Center, 25 Van Ness; 861-8972. $18-38. Wed/9-Sat/12, 8pm. One of the more insidious things about homophobia is that it's not always obvious who the homophobe is. Sometimes it's a gay kid whose internalized self-hatred makes him lash out at other queers. Without perpetuating the stereotype that gay-bashers are usually gay bashers (because if it's believed that only queers attack other queers – and this is certainly not the case – it's much too easy to dismiss it as a "gay problem"), Jim Provenzano (who writes the Sports Complex column in the Bay Area Reporter) explores the nuances of this phenomenon in his sensitive work on the unlikely topic of high school wrestling. Joey Nicci (Nick Tagas) is in love with a fellow wrestler but still participates in the ostracizing of another openly gay teammate, with tragic results. The treatment of adolescent sexuality and the pressures and pleasures of team sports is perceptive and honest, and offers a unique view of growing up gay. (Shalson)

Romeo and Juliet Lorraine Hansberry Theatre, 620 Sutter; 422-2222. $28-36. Thurs/10-Sat/12, 8pm (also Sat/12, 2pm); Sun/13, 2pm. The San Francisco Shakespeare Festival presents the classic love story.

Shocktoberfest!! Odeon Bar, 3223 Mission; www.thrillpeddlers.com. $5. Thurs-Sat, 9pm and midnight. Through Nov 9. The Thrillpeddlers return with their annual Grand Guignol-inspired production of short plays.

Snake in the Basement: The Prosecution of Rev. Bill Pruitt and Brace Yourself Exit on Taylor, 277 Taylor; 673-3847. $12-18. Snake runs Fri, 8pm; Brace runs Sat, 8pm. Through Nov 2. Lunatique Fantastique remount their acclaimed, mature-content puppet plays.

Some Like it Hot Golden Gate Theatre, 1 Taylor; 512-7770. $34-77. Wed-Sat, 8pm (also Wed, Sat, 2pm); Sun, 2pm. Through Nov 3. Tony Curtis stars (though not in the same role he made famous in the movie) in the new musical comedy.

Soup of the Day The Marsh, 1062 Valencia; 826-5750. $15-25. Wed/9-Thurs/10, 8pm; Sat/12, 7 and 9:30pm. Charlie Varon brings back his solo show, a mix of political satire, stand-up comedy, character monologues, and more.

Spike Rhee's Get on the Bus Noh Space, 2840 Mariposa; 440-5545. $12-15. Thurs-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 7pm. Through Oct 27. Asian American comedy troupe 18 Mighty Mountain Warriors performs its latest show.

*Stories by Tobias Wolff Magic Theatre, Fort Mason Center, Marina at Laguna; 437-6775. $25 (Wed, pay what you can). Second extended run: Thurs-Sat, 8:30pm; Sun, 3 and 7pm. Through Oct 19. Word for Word triumphantly stages three tales from the oeuvre of the masterful short story writer. In the Garden of the North American Martyrs, directed by Sheila Balter, follows a frumpy, undistinguished academic (Susan Harloe) through a humiliating job interview at a snooty East Coast university. Next, Stephanie Hunt directs Lady's Dream and Bullet in the Brain. The first explores love's necessary illusions, as a Southern belle (Nancy Shelby) and her overbearing husband (Joel Mullennix) reflect separately on their courtship many years before. In the final piece, a snide and pompous book critic named Anders (Paul Finocchiaro) is toppled in a bank line by his own uncontrollable penchant for sarcasm. Throughout, intelligent, imaginative staging and fine ensemble performances mesh with Wolff's crystalline prose and playful wit to elicit our lively and unflagging interest. (Avila)

Talking with Angels Spanganga, 3376 19th St; 821-1102. $15-20. Wed-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 5pm. Through Oct 20. In Nazi-occupied Hungary, four friends held weekly philosophical discussions, where, according to their manuscripts, they were visited by forces that they came to know as angels. Shelley Mitchell's virtuosic solo performance presents this story from the perspective of the lone survivor: an elderly, decidedly nonreligious and likably cynical Gitta Mallasz, as she would have appeared at one of her many lectures in the 1980s. With the aid of Robert Ted Anderson's apt lighting, Mitchell transforms into the younger Hanna, who served as the medium for the angels to bring us their dialogues. Whether one believes in angels or is more inclined to find another explanation, this is a remarkable story. But the angels' words are less inspiring than one might hope for from divine entities. Far more moving is the story of Mallasz's (mostly successful) attempts to save over 100 Jewish women and children by sheltering them in a mock Nazi war factory near the end of the war. (Shalson)

The Train Play or the Reckless Ruthless Brutal Charge of It Exit Theatre, 156 Eddy; 675-5995. $10-25. Fri-Sat, 8pm. Through Nov 10. See "Ears for Fears," page 47.

Bay Area

*Deep Space Transparent Theater, 1901 Ashby, Berk; (510) 883-0305. $20 (Sun, pay what you can). Thurs-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 7pm. Through Oct 20. Two Dublin roommates enter a tacit competition for a woman named Fionnuala in Transparent Theater's production of Irish playwright Alex Johnston's drama. The play begins with Keith (Drew Khalouf) and Jaco (Jason Frazier) setting out their thoughts on sex. In keeping with their distinct personalities, Keith, an art history graduate on the dole, outlines some of the finer points of postmodern discourse on the construction of the sexual subject, while Jaco, an electrician and pub devotee, explains his penchants for halter tops and oral pleasuring. Thereafter the action unfolds through a combination of boy banter and confessions to the audience, as things build to their various climaxes. Johnston's able dialogue makes this familiar territory fresh, and his abruptly ended but otherwise well-crafted story cleverly defies our initial assumptions. Class and gender begin as highfalutin terms underpinning Keith's overeducated response to his own sexual immaturity but end up subtly integrated into a complex, irreducible portrait of male identity. Khalouf and Frazier turn in extremely fine performances, intelligent and precise. Ryan Montgomery's sure direction gets all the details right, while an attractive set and lighting design lend an inviting atmosphere to this first-rate production. (Avila)

*The House of Blue Leaves Berkeley Rep's Roda Theatre, 2015 Addison, Berk; (510) 647-2949. $10-54. Tues and Thurs-Sat, 8pm (also Sat/12, Oct 17, 2pm); Wed and Sun, 7pm (also Sun, 2pm). Through Oct 20. As Berkeley Repertory Theatre's revival of John Guare's 1971 sardonic farce shrewdly demonstrates, for all its built-in nostalgia, this '60s period piece retains a remarkably contemporary charge. The action takes place in 1965, the day the pope came to New York to plead before the United Nations for an end to the Vietnam War. In a cluttered Queens apartment, Artie Shaughnessy (Jarion Monroe) longs to escape his deranged wife, Bananas (Rebecca Wisocky), and flee with Bunny Flingus (Jeri Lynn Cohen). Meanwhile 18-year-old son Ronnie (Adam Ludwig) is AWOL from the Army with a plan to blow up the pontiff. In Guare's America the narcissistic love of a ruthless individualism, symbolized by the obsession of all – except, significantly, Bananas – with fame, meets its counterpart in a despicable foreign war that Ronnie inadvertently brings home. Director Barbara Damashek and a remarkable cast go a long way toward infusing it all with a palpitating immediacy. (Avila)

Julius Caesar LaVal's Subterranean Theatre, 1834 Euclid, Berk; (510) 234-6046. Call for price. Thurs/10-Sat/12, 8pm. It is commonplace for playwrights to use "exotic" locations to comment on their societies. Along these lines, Shakespeare's play about events in ancient Rome has often been seen as a covert way of criticizing the Elizabethan era's trend toward consolidated monarchal power. Place the play in Mussolini's Italy of the 1930s, as Subterranean Shakespeare has done, and the message is clear. Or is it? While antifascist in its thrust, Julius Caesar is far from offering any simple solutions. And of course, the million-dollar question of the play is how we define honor in a situation rife with self-serving ambition, betrayal, and misconceived plans. Director Alfredo Fidani's spare and straightforward rendering falters slightly in the decision to intercut the two famous funereal speeches given by Brutus and Mark Antony, but the speeches themselves are competently delivered by actors Armand J. Blashi and John Polak. This is a somewhat uneven production, but overall an enjoyable one. (Shalson)

*The Shape of Things Aurora Theatre, 2081 Addison, Berk; (510) 843-4822. $28-38. Wed-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 2 and 7pm. Through Oct 20. Controversial in the film and theater worlds since the potent 1997 indie In the Company of Men, Neil LaBute continues his fascination with manipulation and control in The Shape of Things, making its West Coast debut in a sleek production at the Aurora Theatre. Adam (Craig Marker) works as a security guard for the art gallery at his Midwestern college. There he encounters Evelyn (Stephanie Gularte) hovering provocatively before a sculpture, spray can in hand. In a reversal of the misogynistic dynamic of Men, as well as the biblical relationship echoed in their names, Evelyn will remake the smitten Adam in her own image, sculpting him into the ideal mate. If ultimately less provocative than some of LaBute's past work, the play remains intriguing, not least for its consistently sharp and witty dialogue – a strength director Tom Ross and cast exploit fully with fearless and supple performances. (Avila)

We Won't Pay! We Won't Pay! Eighth Street Studio, 2525 Eighth St, Berk; (510) 704-8210. $10-25. Thurs-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 7pm. Through Oct 19. Shotgun Players continues its thoughtful response to the timbre of the times with Dario Fo's rollicking comedy about the working poor. Antonia (Katjah Rivera) joins the neighborhood women in raiding the local supermarket amid increased gouging from all quarters, but she and best friend Margherita (Andrea Day) must hide the results from their conformist husbands, Giovanni (Clive Worsley) and Luigi (Ian Petroni), who meanwhile get downsized at the Fiat plant. Add a couple of cops and an undertaker (Kevin Kelleher) and stir vigorously. The result is revolt à la Fo, an answer to the hunger for dignity. If performances are uneven and the timing not always there, there are magic moments in this worthy production that takes its comedy seriously. (Avila)

dance

Alonzo King's LINES Ballet Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 701 Mission; 978-ARTS, www.linesballet.org. Thurs/10, 8:30pm; Fri-Sat and Oct 16-17, 8pm; Sun, 7pm. Through Oct 20. $20-50. The contemporary ballet company performs Ocean (featuring live music performed by Pharoah Sanders), flamenco piece Canté, and Without Wax.

Mary Sano and Her Duncan Dancers Mary Sano Studio of Duncan Dancing, 245 Fifth St; 357-1817. Sat, 8pm. $15-18. The company performs to benefit their upcoming Hungarian tour; works include an excerpt from Duncan Dance: Zen and Now – Isadora's Legacy.

*Na Lei Hulu I Ka Wekiu Palace of Fine Arts Theatre, 3301 Lyon; 392-4400, www.tickets.com. Fri-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 2pm. $25-30. If you want to see a show that's both an homage to and a send up of a tradition, don't miss "The Hula Show," Na Lei Hulu I ka Wekiu's annual extravaganza. This time around the show is particularly rich in Hula mua, artistic director Patrick Makuakane's personal invention, which pairs hula's gently rocking steps and heaven-embracing arms with nontraditional music. How about Boy George as accompaniment for a Hawaiian-Indian Krishna celebration, with performer Yasmen Mehta flying through the ensemble as exuberantly as she has ever danced? Or Eminem's tunes playing in a hip-hop version of hula, with the dancers in jeans, giving that extra accent to their swaying hips? What's more, the traditional hulas don't get shortchanged, with such numbers as the lovely trio to "He mele no Emalani," a tribute to Hawaii's beloved Queen Emma. Makuakane as the ebullient MC tends to get carried away, but his beautifully inflexed chanting is mesmerizing. (Felciano)

Printz Dance Project Cowell Theater, Fort Mason Center, Marina at Laguna; 345-7575. $16-19. Fri-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 7:30pm. The company kicks off its fifth year with "Running Time," an evening of works that blend modern, jazz, and hip-hop styles.

Bay Area

Le Ballet National du Senegal Zellerbach Hall, Bancroft at Telegraph, UC Berkeley, Berk; (510) 642-9988. Wed, 8pm. $20-26. (Also Thurs, 7:30pm, Marin Center, 10 Avenue of the Flags, San Rafael; 415-472-3500. $18-30.) The West African dance troupe performs Kuuyamba, a new work with live accompaniment on drums and traditional instruments.

Nancy Karp + Dancers Emery Crossing, 1266 66th St, Emeryville; (510) 653-1195, www.nancykarp.org. Fri, 12:30pm; Sun, 2pm. Free. In honor of the 16th Annual Emeryville Art Exhibition, the company performs La Processione, a site-specific work.

Nina Haft and Company Frank H. Ogawa Plaza (outdoor amphitheater), Oakland City Hall, 14th St and Broadway, Oakl; (510) 444-CITY. Fri, 12:15. Free. The company performs "Everyone Then Comes Sometime," a program of modern dances that celebrate 150 years of Jewish history and culture in downtown Oakland.

Oakland Ballet Paramount Theatre, 2025 Broadway, Oakl; (510) 625-8947. Fri-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 2pm. $15-49. See Critic's Choice.

performance

'Ardiente Paciencia' Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts, 2868 Mission; 821-1155. Thurs, 7:30pm; Fri-Sat, 8pm. $10-12. Teatro Babylonia Group performs Antonio Skármeta's play about a mailman's friendship with the poet Pablo Neruda.

'Avatars' DNA Lounge, 375 11th St; 1-866-468-3399. Thurs, 8pm. Through Oct 24. $15-18. Fusion performance group Capacitor presents a multimedia, video game-inspired piece.

BATS Improv Bayfront Theater, Fort Mason Center, Marina at Laguna; www.batsimprov.com. Thurs-Sun, 8pm. $6-12. This week's shows: "All-Star Theatresports" (Thurs-Sat).

Sarah Cahill Old First Church, 1751 Sacramento; 474-1608. Fri, 8pm. $5-12. The pianist performs a family concert that includes Ruth Crawford's The Adventures of Tom Thumb, featuring narration by Dean Santomieri.

DramaRama new play readings Blue Bear Theatre, Fort Mason Center, Marina at Laguna; 626-4603. Fri, 7:30pm; Oct 29, call for time. Through Oct 29. $5-10. Playwrights' Center of San Francisco hosts this series highlighting new plays.

Yuri Lane Spanganga, 3376 19th St; www.spanganga.org. Fri-Sat, 11pm. $10. The "beatbox storyteller" performs a new work.

'Live! Naked! Truth!' Jon Sims Center for the Arts, 1519 Mission; 554-0402. Fri, 8pm. $5-10 (sliding scale, no one turned away for lack of funds). As part of the Jon Sims Center's Fall 2002 AIRspace artists-in-residence series, Heather Gold performs an improvised comedy show.

'Naked Inquisition' Jon Sims Center for the Arts, 1519 Mission; www.xplicitplayers.com/nakedinquisition. Sun/13, Oct 19-20, 26-27, 7:30pm. $20. Naked men star in this "roller coaster ride of emotions."

'Také 5' Dance Mission Theater, 3316 24th St; (510) 835-2003. Fri-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 2pm. $15-20. Somei Yoshino Taiko Ensemble performs a concert featuring master shakuhachi player Masayuki Koga.

'YooWho in the Noh' Noh Space, 2840 Mariposa; 621-7978. Mon-Tues, 8pm. $10-15. See 8 Days a Week, page 57.

Bay Area

'Pastures of Heaven' Dance Palace, Fifth St at B St, Point Reyes Station; (415) 663-1075. Sat, 8pm. $5-15. Word for Word performs a chapter from the John Steinbeck novel.

'Straight Black Folks Guide to Gay Black Folks' Black Box Theater, 1928 Telegraph, Oakl; (510) 594-4335, www.trustlife.net. Wed, 7:30pm. Through Oct 30. $12. Hanifah Walidah presents her multicharacter solo show.


comedy

BrainWash Café 1122 Folsom; 861-3663. Thurs, 8pm: Comedy open mic hosted by Tony Sparks, free.

The Field 524 Union; 377-1662. Wed, 8pm: "Comedy Club," with host Ian Jensen, $5.

Java Source 343 Clement; 387-8025. Fri, 10:30pm and Sat, 10pm: Comedy open mic hosted by Tony Sparks, free.

Luggage Store 1007 Market; 255-5971. Tues, 8pm: Comedy workshop with Tony Sparks, $3.

New Pisa 550 Green; 207-0285, www.northbeachimprov.com. Fri, 9pm: "North Beach Improv," with host Uncle Vinny Rizzo, $10.

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

Bay Area

Black Box 1928 Telegraph, Oakl; (510) 595-5597. Thurs, 8pm: The Oakland Playhouse improv troupe performs improv comedy, $5.

Club 1220 1220 Pine, Walnut Creek; (415) 823-5121. Sun, 8:30pm: "Comic-Kazi" stand-up comedy featuring Pippi Lovestocking, Jeremy Beth Michaels, Gretchen Rootes, and Chantal, $6.

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 word events and featured readers:

Wednesday: La Peña Cultural Center La Peña Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck, Berk; (510) 849-2566. "Café Poetry" open mic hosted by Kira Allen, 7:30pm, $3. BrainWash Café 1122 Folsom; 864-3842. "Spoken Word Salon," open mic and featured reader Jon Bernson, with host Diamond Dave Whitaker, 8pm, free. Mama Bears Women's Bookstore 6536 Telegraph, Oakl; (510) 506-3717. "SheSpeaks," open mic night for women 18 and up, 7:30pm, $5. Starry Plough 3101 Shattuck, Berk; (510) 841-2082. "The Berkeley Slam!" with hosts Charles Ellik and dani eurynome, 8pm, $7.

Thursday: Coppa D'Oro Cafe 3164 24th St; 821-1618. "Poetry on the Patio" spoken word and acoustic music open mic with host Barbara Bennett, 6:30pm, free. Belrose Theatre 1415 Fifth Ave, San Rafael; (415) 454-6422. Open mic for poets and musicians, 8pm, free. The Poetry Center San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway; www.sfsu.edu/~poetry. Lawson Fusau Inada and Al Robles discuss their work, 3:30pm, free (also, both read their poetry 7:30pm, Unitarian Center, 1187 Franklin. $7.) Dalva 3121 16th St; 931-4551. "Poetry Mission" with featured reader Ramu Aki and open mic, 7pm, free.

Friday: Cody's Books 2454 Telegraph, Berk; (510) 845-7852. "Poetry Flash," with Joshua Beckman and Matthew Rohrer, 7:30pm, $2. Small Press Traffic 1111 Eighth St; 551-9278. Poets Kathleen Fraser and Peter O'Leary read their work, 7:30pm, $5.

Saturday: Berkeley Art Center 1275 Walnut, Berk; (510) 527-9753. "Rhythm and Muse" open mic with featured reader Kira Allen, 7pm, free.

Sunday: Cody's Books 2454 Telegraph, Berk; (510) 845-7852. "Poetry Flash," with Nathanial Tarn and Duncan McNaughton, 7:30pm, $2.