LILY JANIAK’S THEATER PICKS
“Care of Trees”: As part of its 12th annual Rough Readings Series, Playwrights Foundation digs into E. Hunter Spreen’s magical realist play about newlyweds who are pulled in different directions. 7:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 22 at Roble Hall, Stanford University, 374 Santa Teresa St., Stanford. Pay what you can. www.playwrightsfoundation.org
“Born Yesterday”: Garson Kanin wrote this comedy many yesterdays ago — it opened on Broadway in 1946 — but its portrait of corruption by a ruffian of a millionaire is, unfortunately, timeless. Susi Damilano directs for San Francisco Playhouse. 8 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, Jan. 23-27. Through March 10. $20-$125. San Francisco Playhouse, 450 Post St., S.F. (415) 677-9596. www.sfplayhouse.org
Fog City Magic Fest: A slew of magicians from near and far descend on the Exit Theatre for four days of performances; acts include Jay Alexander, Christian Cagigal, Calvin Kai Ku, Jade, Dante, Andrew Evans and David Parr. 8 p.m. Wednesday and Friday, Jan. 24 and 26; 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 25; 1 p.m., 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27. $20-$30. Exit Theatre, 156 Eddy St., S.F. www.theexit.org “The Motherf— with the Hat”: Stephen Adly Guirgis’ 2011 play, now in a Four Lost Souls production, has an unprintable title, and the world it depicts is similarly viceladen, all addiction, hypocrisy, jealousy and betrayal, but told with Guirgis’ joyous comic touch. 8 p.m. ThursdaySaturday, Jan. 25-27. Through Feb. 10. $25. Mojo Theatre, 2940 16th St., S.F. www.mfwth.eventbrite.com
“1984”: Los Altos Stage Company presents local playwright Michael Gene Sullivan’s adaptation of George Orwell’s dystopian novel, whose portrait of oppressive surveillance and government misinformation remains searingly relevant to our own time. 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, Jan. 25-27; 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 28. Through Feb. 18. $20-$38. Bus Barn Theater, 97 Hillview Ave., Los Altos. (650) 9410551. www.losaltosstage.org