NOT REVIEWED
Airswimming Charlotte Jones’ play is about British women who were institutionalized for the crime of having children out of wedlock. Ends next Sun. $27-$35. Dragon Theatre, 2120 Broadway, Redwood City. (650) 493-2006. www.dragonproductions.net
Arsenic and Old Lace Douglas Morrisson Theatre presents Joseph Kesselring’s classic comedy about a pair of sweet old spinster ladies with macabre secrets who love to play host to lonely older gentlemen and their three nephews. Thurs.-Sept. 17. $27-$20. Douglas Morrisson Theatre, 22311 N. Third St., Hayward. www.dmtonline.org
BATS Improv Improvised comedy ranging from sketch to full-evening works. “Theatre on the Edge,” an improvised cabaret of stories and entertainment about real issues chosen by the audience. 8 p.m. Fri. and Sat. $17-$20. Bayfront Theatre, Building B, Ft. Mason, S.F. (415) 474-8935. www.improv.org.
Behind the Bars: Growing Home Lower Bottom Playaz traverse a brutal and dehumanizing system to unravel the truth of crime and punishment in America. Through Sept. 3. $20. The Flight Deck, 1540 Broadway, Oakland. www.lowerbottomplayaz. com.
Bitch Slap D’Arcy Drollinger sends up 1980s telenovelas with a melodrama about fashion mogul Diana Midnight, whose power derives from her U.S. patent for shoulder pads. Through Sept. 9. $25-$35. Oasis, 298 11th St., S.F. www.sfoasis.com
Mike Birbiglia: The New One Berke-
ley Rep presents the comedian’s new solo show. Ends next Sun. $35-$60. Peet’s Theatre, 2025 Addison Ave., Berkeley. (510) 647-2949. berkleley rep.org. Blues Is a Woman A cast including Pamela Rose, Tammy Hall, Ruth Davies, Shaunna Hall, Daria Johnson and Kristen Strom celebrates women in the blues from Ma Rainey to Bonnie Raitt and beyond. Ends next Sun. $30-$50. Custom Made Theatre, 533 Sutter St., S.F. (415) 798-2682. www.custommade.org Constellations TheatreWorks Silicon Valley presents Nick Payne’s unconventional boymeets-girl drama following the romantic adventures of a beekeeper and a cosmologist. Wed.-Sept. 17. $40-$100. Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St., Mountain View. theatreworks.org Cooking with the Calamari Sisters Two over-the-top Italian sisters from Brooklyn star in a comedic, fictional, musical cable TV cooking show. Through Sept. 17. $45$65. Montgomery Theater, 271 Market St., San Jose. (855) 448-7469. www.playhouseinfo.com. The (Curious Case of the) Watson Intelligence Shotgun Players presents Madeleine George’s exploration of four
eras of innovation with inventions ranging from the telephone to artificial intelligence, all with characters striving for connection. Through Sept. 10. $25-$40. The Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby Ave., Berkeley. (510) 8416500. www.shotgun players.org.
Dinner Detective Murdermystery dinner show with audience participation. Ongoing. $74.95. Hyatt Fisherman’s Wharf, 555 North Point St., S.F. (877) 252-9307. www.the dinnerdetective.com.
Gruesome Playground Injuries One Night Only presents a showcase of tangled memories and dreams of two friends destined to fall apart as they hurt themselves and each other. 8 p.m. Next Sun. $15. The Flight Deck, 1540 Broadway, Oakland. www.eventbrite.com/e/onenight-only-gruesome-playground-injuries-tickets-35950725588
Josh’s Brain Improvs The Marsh presents Josh Kornbluth’s new show, a series of improvisations based on his experiences working at the Memory and Aging Center at UCSF and Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland. Through Nov. 29. $10-$55. The Marsh San Francisco, 1062 Valencia St., S.F. (415) 282-3055. www.the marsh.org.
Keith Moon: The Real Me Drummer Mick Berry’s oneman biographical show about the legendary drummer of The Who. Through Sept. 10. $20$35. Marin Theatre Company, 397 Miller Ave., Mill Valley. (800) 838-3006. www.keith moontherealme. com.
The Kipling Hotel: True
Misadventures of the Electric Pink ’80s The Marsh presents Don Reed’s autobiographical solo show recounting the awkward adventures of the son of an Oakland pimp awarded a partial scholarship to UCLA. Through Sept. 10. $20-$100. The Marsh Berkeley, 2120 Allston Way, Berkeley. www.themarsh.org.
The Knight of the Burning
Pestle Actors Ensemble of Berkeley presents Vicki Siegel’s adaptation of Francis Beaumont’s story of a dull dramatic performance that is interrupted by an audience member insisting that the cast perform a different play, made up on the spot. 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Sept. 3 as well as 4 p.m. Sept. 4. Free. John Hinkel Park, 41 Somerset Place, Berkeley. www.aeofberkeley.org.
La Cage aux Folles San Francisco Playhouse presents Harvey Fierstein and Jerry Herman’s musical based on Jean Poiret’s warmhearted love story farce about the importance of nonconformity and being true to oneself. Through Sept. 16. $30-$125. 450 Post St., S.F. (415) 6779596. sfplayhouse.org/ sfph/2016-2017-season/la -cage-aux-folles.
Live Sex SF: Summer Lovin A sensuous, interactive comedy talk show exploring sex, comedy, and "basically all the stuff your mom never let you watch on TV" featuring Luna Malbroux and Jesus U. Betta Work. 7:30 p.m. Sat. $20. PianoFight, 144 Taylor St., S.F. www.eventbrite.com/e/live -sex-sf-summer-lovin-sum mer-of-lust-tickets -16885867083 The Many Faces of Farce Stanford Repertory Theater’s 2017 summer festival features three Chekhov farces as well as an adaptation of Meyerhold’s “33 Swoons.” Ends next Sun. $10-$20. Nitery Theater, 514 Lasuen Mall, Old Union, Stanford University. (650) 725-5838. http://stanfordreptheater.com 2017 New Works Festival Theatreworks Silicon Valley presents 10 days of new works by playwrights and composers from across the nation. See website for schedule. Ends today. $20. Lucie Stern Theatre, 1305 Middlefield Rd., Palo Alto. (650) 463-1960. thea treworks.org. Next to Normal Broadway By the Bay presents Brian Yorkey and Tom Kitt’s musical about a suburban family striving for normalcy amidst mental illness. Ends next Sun. $44$66. Fox Theatre, 2215 Broadway St., Redwood City. (650) 369-7770. www.broadwaybythebay.org A Night at the Palace Boxcar Theatre presents an immersive theater experience set in a Prohibition-era nightclub. 8:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m. Fridays. Ongoing. $95. Palace Theatre, secret location revealed to ticket holders day of event. S.F. thespeakeasysf.com. Not a Genuine Black Man The Marsh presents the return of Brian Copeland’s funny, honest, harrowing piece recounting the struggles he faced growing up in what was declared one of the most racist suburbs in America. Through Sept. 30. $20-$100. The Marsh San Francisco, 1062 Valencia St., S.F. www.themarsh.org. Open Mic Nights With Ellen Hoffman Singers, comics, poets and actors welcome. 7:30 Tuesdays through Nov. 21. $8-$15. The Marsh Berkeley, 2120 Allston Way, Berkeley. (415) 282-3055. www.the marsh.org. Pint Sized Plays A series of short plays set in a bar written by Bay Area playwrights. Mondays through Aug. 28. Free. PianoFight, 144 Taylor St., S.F. (415) 816-3691 . www.pianofight.com. Radio Golf Multi Ethnic Theater and SF Recovery Theatre present the final play August Wilson’s Century Cycle. Directed by Gloria Weinstock. Through Sept. 9. $20-$30. PianoFight, 144 Taylor St., S.F. www.wehavemet.org. The Rainbow Fish Musical Bay Area Children’s Theatre presents the world premiere of Austin Zumbro’s musical adaptation of Marcus Pfister’s classic tale of a beautiful fish who learns the joy of sharing with others. Ends next Sun. Free with admission. Children’s Creativity Museum, 221 Fourth St., S.F. (510) 2964433. www.bactheatre.org.
Secret Improv Society Comedy improv. Ongoing. $15. Shelton Theater, 533 Sutter St., S.F. (415) 699-8744. www. improvsociety.com. The Three Musketeers Robert Currier directs Ken Ludwig’s adaptation of Alexandre Dumas’ swashbuckling caper for Marin Shakespeare Company. Ends next Sun. $10-$37. Forest Meadows Amphitheatre, 890 Belle Ave., San Rafael. (415) 499-4488. www.marinshakespeare.org
Two Gentlemen of Verona For Santa Cruz Shakespeare, Art Manke directs Shakespeare’s comedy about two friends who fall for the same woman. Through Sept. 3. $25-$55. The Grove at DeLaveaga Park, 501 Upper Park Rd., Santa Cruz. (831) 4606399. www.santacruz shakespeare.org
Un-Scripted Theater Improvised Comedy “Swipe Right,” an improvised comedy about about the craziness of online dating and the search for love in San Francisco. 8 p.m. Fri. and Sat.; “Dash Improv,” an hour of improvised comedy. 10 p.m. Saturdays, ongoing. $10. 533 Sutter St., S.F. (415) 332-8738. www.un-scripted. com.
Winter Central Works presents Julie Jensen’s searing, compassionate and humorous examination of the end of life and the unconventional path one woman takes to get there. Ends today. $15-$30. Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Ave., Berkeley. (510) 558-1381. centralworks.org.
Zenith ACT’s Sandbox Series presents the world premiere of Kirsten Greenidge’s exploration of human nature and the unspeakable acts and events that we encounter in the media day in and day out. Through Sept. 10. $20. ACT Costume Shop, 1119 Market St., S.F. (415) 677-9596. sfplayhouse.org/sfph/20162017-season/zenith.