Lily Janiak’s picks

Seed Language: This October, Bay Area theater has been ripe with shows that use documentary techniques (while also taking some artistic license with their source material) to explore the phenomenon of police violence against men and boys of color. There’s Campo Santo’s “Nogales” at Magic Theatre, as well as Loco Bloco’s “On the Hill: I Am Alex Nieto” at Brava. With “Seed Language,” which is presented by ODC and Embodiment Project, the trend extends into the dance world. Ten dancers, guest dance artist Amara Tabor-Smith and four vocalists from Moon-Candy conjure race activists such as Alicia Garza and Ericka Huggins. The piece interrogates white privilege while also fostering collective mourning. Nicole Klaymoon directs. Friday-Sunday, Oct. 28-30. $20-$30. ODC Theater, 3153 17th St., S.F. (415) 863-9834. https://odc dance.org On the Verge (Or the Geography of Yearning): “Surely,” says Alex (Maria Giere Marquis), “you will both agree that trousers would be far more practical for scaling this promontory.” In Eric Overmyer’s witty play, which Karen Altree- Piemme directs for Dragon Productions, Alex and her two lady companions are globetrotters in 1888, exploring the Antipodes (a.k.a., Terra Incognita, a.k.a., Australia and New Zealand) in full Victorian garb. They’re sassier than they look, though: “Alexandra,” Mary (Doll Picotto) replies, “the civilizing mission of Woman is to reduce the amount of masculinity in the world. Not add to it by wearing trousers.” Through Nov. 6. $30. Dragon Theatre, 2120 Broadway St., Redwood City. (650) 4932006. https://dragonproductions.net