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perfectly to the stage, San Francisco Playhouse’s production, adapting the “Dear Sugar” columns of Cheryl Strayed, offers lost letter writers (and all of us) life wisdom that’s as affirmative as therapy, but more pithily and saucily expressed. Both the columns and the play work by building a bridge from human to humanity, assuring us that we are not alone in not knowing what to do with a great wallop of feeling. Through March 7. 85 minutes. $35-$125. San Francisco Playhouse, 450 Post St., S.F. 415-6779596. www.sfplayhouse.org
— L. Janiak Wakey, Wakey In the antitheater of Will Eno’s play, a guy (Tony Hale) holds the floor, but he’s not sure what to do with his time and audience. That’s it. That’s the whole play. American Conservatory Theater might be interrogating what theater can be, but for those of us who must endure it in practice, not just ponder it in theory, the experiment is a closed book, not an open one. Through Feb. 16. 80 minutes. $15$110, subject to change. ACT’s Geary Theater, 415 Geary St., S.F. 415-7492228. www.act-sf.org — L. Janiak
The Children Aurora Theatre Company presents the West Coast premiere of an ecothriller by Lucy Kirkwood. 7 p.m. Tues.-Wed.; 8 p.m. Thurs.-Sat.; 2 and 7 p.m. Sun. Through March 1. $35-$70. Aurora Theatre Company, 2081 Addison St., Berkeley. www.auroratheatre.org
The Devil’s Music: The Life and Blues of Bessie Smith Center Rep presents a musical biography by Angelo Parra. 2:30 p.m. Sun., Feb. 9 and Feb. 16; 7:30 p.m. Wed., Feb. 12; 8 p.m. Thurs.-Sat., Feb. 13-15. $35-$85. Through Feb. 22. Margaret Lesher Theatre, Center Repertory, Company 1601 Civic Drive in downtown Walnut Creek. www.centerrep.org
The Fantasticks Guggenheim Entertainment presents a 60th anniversary production of the longest-running musical in history. Tom Jones, music/ lyrics. Harvey Schmidt, book. 7:30 p.m. Thurs.-Sat.; 2:30 p.m. Sun. Through Feb. 23. $25-$55. 3Below Theaters, 288 S. Second St., San Jose. www.3belowtheaters.com
The Full Monty Bay Area Musicals presents a musical comedy by Terrence McNally and David Yazbek. 8 p.m. Thurs.-Sat., Feb. 13-15. $30$100. Through March 15. Victoria Theatre 2961 16th St., S.F. www.bamsf.org
Gatz Berkeley Rep presents a six-hour theatrical reworking of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic “The Great Gatsby.” Created and performed by Elevator Repair Service. Opens Thurs., Feb. 13. 2 p.m. Thurs.-Sun. Through March 1. $63.50-$115. Roda Theatre, Berkeley. www.berkeleyrep.org
Gloria A finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in 2016, ACT presents a dark comedy by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins which explores how we cope with trauma and the tales we tell each other to cope. Opens Feb. 13. 7:30 p.m. Tues.-Sat.; 2 p.m. Sat.-Sun. $25-$55. Through April 12. ACT Strand Theater, 1127 Market St., S.F. www.act-sf.org
The Human Ounce Central Works New Play Theater presents a new play about art and scandal by Nicole Parizeau. Opens Sat., Feb. 15. Through March 15. $15-$38. Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Ave., Berkeley. 510-558-1381. www.centralworks.org
Living the Shuffle The Marsh Berkeley presents Robert Townsend’s one-man show exploring the ups and downs of show business. 2 p.m. Sun. Feb. 9; 8 p.m. Fri., Feb. 14; 8:30 p.m. Sat., Feb. 15. Through Feb. 29. $40-$100. The Marsh Berkeley, 2120 Allston Way, Berkeley. www.themarsh.org
Manifesto Brava Theater Center presents Rotimi Agbabiaka's latest solo play, in which the audience, along with a cast of historical iconoclasts, will help a young artist create a manifesto for a 21st century theater of liberation. 5 p.m. Sun., Feb. 9; 8 p.m. Mon., Feb 10, and Thurs.-Sat., Feb. 13-15. $25. Brava Theater Center, 2781 24th St., S.F. 415-6417657. www.brava.org
Memphis Berkeley Playhouse presents the Tony award winning musical about how a prejudiced society affects the relationship between a disk jockey and the vocalist he falls in love with. Written by David Bryan, and Joe Dipietro. Opens Fri., Feb. 14. Through March 15. Berkeley Playhouse, 2640 College Ave., Berkeley. www.berkeleyplayhouse.org
My Son the Waiter: A Jewish Tragedy Playhouse Productions presents a comedic drama about making it as an artist and the art of never giving up. Opens Thurs., Feb. 13. 2 and 7 p.m. Thurs., Feb. 13; 8 p.m. Fri.-Sat., Feb. 14-15; 2 p.m. Sat.-Sun., Feb. 15-16. Through March 8. Del Valle Theatre, Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek. www.lesherartscenter.com
The Spongebob Musical Whimsical musical comedy based on the popular Nickelodeon cartoon with original songs by David Bowie, Brian Eno, Sara Bareilles, Panic! at the Disco, John Legend, Cyndi Lauper, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, Plain White T’s and many others incorporated into the show. Opens Wed., Feb. 12. $56-$226. Through Feb. 16. Golden Gate Theatre, 1 Taylor St., S.F. www.broadwaysf.com
Shakespeare Trial: The Shylock Appeal New Swan Shakespeare
Festival actors will bring a live action legal drama in which UC Berkeley law dean Erwin Chemerinsky and UC Irvine law dean Song Richardson serve as opposing counsel in a mock trial based on Shakespeare's “The Merchant of Venice.” The audience will serve as the jury. Noon Sun., February 16. $20. Freight and Salvage, 2020 Addison St., Berkeley. 510-644-2020. www.thefreight.org
Side Effects Winter Rough Reading Series presents a play that asks us to consider where privilege and hope intersect and to what effect by resident playwright Star Finch. 7:30 p.m. Mon., Feb. 10 at Roble Hall, 374 Santa Teresa St., Stanford. 7:30 p.m. Tues., Feb. 11 at Theatre of Yugen, 2840 Mariposa St, S.F. 415-626-2176. www.playwrightsfoundation.org
Tell Tale Hearts: An Evening of Hip Hop Theatre Aurora Theatre Company presents an evening of politically conscious, locally sourced rap, slam poetry, beatboxing and hip-hop theater with Carlos Aguirre and the Bay Area Theatre Cypher. 8 p.m. Thurs.Sat., Feb. 13-15. $27-$30. Harry's UpStage Aurora Theatre Company, 2081 Addison St., Berkeley. 510-843-4822. www.auroratheatre.org
Tiny Beautiful Things SF Playhouse presents a play about healing when you're broken. Based on the book by Cheryl Strayed. 7 p.m. Tues.Thurs.; 8 p.m. Fri.-Sat.; 3 p.m. Sat.; 2 and 7 p.m. Sun. Through March 7. $35-$125. SF Playhouse, 450 Post St., S.F. 415677-9596. www.sfplayhouse.org
The Trial of One Short-Sighted Black Woman vs. Mammy Louise and Safreeta Mae African American Shakespeare Company presents a satirical play by Karani Marcia Leslie Johnsons. Opens Sat., Feb. 15. 8 p.m. Sat.; 3 p.m. Sun. Through March 1. $40. Taube Atrium Theater, 401 Van Ness Ave., S.F. www.african-americanshakes.org
Urinetown: The Musical Landmark Musical Theatre presents the Tony awardwinning musical comedy. 8 p.m. Wed.-Sat.; 2 p.m. Sun. Through March 1. Phoenix Theatre, 414 Mason St., S.F. www.landmarkmusicals.com
Urinetown: The Musical Presented by the Spreckels Theater Company. Opens Fri., Feb. 14. 7:30 p.m. Fri.-Sat.; 2 p.m. Sun. Through March 1. $12-$32. Codding Theatre, Spreckels Performing Arts Center, 5409 Snyder Lane, Rohnert Park. 707-588-3429. www.spreckelsonline.com
The Waiting Period The Marsh San Francisco presents autobiographical work written and performed by Brian Copeland. 5 p.m. Sun., Feb. 16 and March 15. Free. The Marsh S.F. 1062 Valencia St., S.F. www.themarsh.org
You’ll Catch Flies New Conservatory Theatre Center presents the world premiere of Ryan Fogarty’s comedy about intimacy and pursuing one’s own truth and emotional validation. 8 p.m. Wed.-Sat.; 2 p.m. Sun. Through Feb. 23. $25-$55. New Conservatory Theatre Center, Walker Theatre, 25 Van Ness Ave., S.F. 415-861-8972. www.nctcsf.org