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— L. Janiak
NOT REVIEWED
Barbarella: On Stage & In Space Derams on the Rocks presents Becky Hirschfeld and Dani Spinks’ stage adaptation of the French comic book by Jean-Claude Forest and a progressive take on the sci-fi classic made famous by Roger Vadim and Jane Fonda. Through Nov. 17. $20-$25. PianoFight, 144 Taylor St., S.F. (415) 786-5325. www.piano fight.com
Barbecue San Francisco Playhouse presents Robert O’Hara’s story of a hardpartying, foul-mouthed family staging an intervention for their drug-addicted sister. Through Nov. 11. $35. San Francisco Playhouse, 450 Post St., S.F. (415) 677-9596. www.sfplayhouse.org
BATS Improv Improvised comedy ranging from sketch to full-evening works. “The (improvised) Twilight Zone,” An improvised episode of the hit TV show based on audience suggestion. 8 p.m. Fridays through Oct. 27.; “The Bechdel Test,” fully improvised plays centered around complex and diverse female main characters. 8 p.m. Saturdays through Oct. 28. $17-$20. Bayfront Theatre, Building B, Fort Mason, S.F. (415) 4748935. www.improv.org
Cabaret Ross Valley Players presents the musical set in 1931 Germany and based on Christopher Isherwood’s “Berlin Stories,” telling he interwoven stories of a thirdrate chanteuse, an American writer, the inhabitants of a once-respectable boarding house, and the denizens of a seedy nightclub. Through Oct. 22. $10-$32. Barn Theatre, 30 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Ross. (415) 456-9555 Ext. 1. www.rossvalleyplayers.com
Cabaret Contra Costa Civic Theatre presents the musical set in 1931 Germany and based on Christopher Isherwood’s “Berlin Stories,” telling the interwoven stories of a thirdrate chanteuse, an American writer, the inhabitants of a once-respectable boarding house, and the denizens of a seedy nightclub. Through Oct. 22. $15-$35. Contra Costa Civic Theatre, 951 Pomona
Ave., El Cerrito. (510) 5249012 . ccct.org Cirque Exotique du Monde
Dragon Theatre presents Kathy Boussina’s play set in 1936 Berlin, with a confluence of two historic occurrences; the story of an ethnographer who collected morbid curiosities for his museum and the story of Circus Sarrasani, a prominent circus that began in Germany in 1901. Ends today. $35. Dragon Theatre, 2120 Broadway, Redwood City. (650) 493-2006. dragon productions.net
Hand to God San Jose Stage Company presents Robert Askins’ comedic satire about a puppet that comes to life and reigns terror on a small town in Texas. Ends Sun. $30-$65. San Jose Stage Company, 490 S 1st St., . (408) 283-7142. www.thestage.org 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 The Laramie Project This play by Moises Kaufman and the Members of Tectonic Theatre Project tells the story of Matthew Shepard. Thurs.Oct. 22. $15-$20. Little Theatre, SFSU, 1600 Holloway Ave., S.F. (415) 338-1341. theatredance.sfsu.edu
The Mineola Twins Cutting Ball Theater presents Paula Vogel’s satire about domestic upheaval in times of political
progress and in the rise of conservatism. Through Oct. 22. $15-$45. Exit on Taylor, 277 Taylor St., S.F. cuttingball. com/productions/the -mineola-twins Monty Python’s Spamalot
Spreckels Theatre Company presents the musical stage adaptation of the 1975 Monty Python film "The Holy Grail." Fri.-Oct. 29. $18-$30. Spreckels Performing Arts Center, 5409 Snyder Lane, Rohnert Park. (707) 588-3400. www.spreckelsonline.com
Mother Lear We Players presents Ava Roy and Courtney Walsh’s two-woman meditation on family, aging and mortality performed in various Bay Area home venues. Through Nov. 4. $25-$60. Location given with ticket purchase. www.weplayers.org
The Obligation The Mitzvah Project and PlayGround present Roger Grunwald’s solo show in which a JewishAmerican comedian, a survivor, a half-Jewish German soldier and an SS General explore the dark history of their and our world. Performances follwed by talks with Bay Area community thought leaders. See website for schedule. Thurs.-Nov. 5. $25$30. Portrero Stage, 1695 18th St., . (415) 992-7990. potrerostage.org/theobligation
Oklahoma! Lyric Theatre of San Jose presents the Rodgers & Hammerstein classic set in Oklahoma in 1906 about the romance between a cowboy and a farm girl. Through Oct. 22. $12-$37. San Jose City College Theater, 2100 Moorpark Ave., San Jose. (408) 986-1455. www.lyrictheatre.org
Open Mic Nights With Ellen Hoffman Singers, comics, poets and actors welcome. 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Nov. 21. $8-$15. The Marsh Berkeley, 2120 Allston Way, Berkeley. (415) 282-3055. www.themarsh.org Peter and the Starcatcher
Tabard Theatre Company presents Rick Elice and Wayne Barker’s Tony-winning musical telling the tale of how a lost boy became Peter Pan. Ends today. $35-$47. Theatre on San Pedro Square, 29 N. San Pedro St., San Jose. (408) 679-2330. www.tabard theatre.org
Prince of Egypt TheatreWorks Silicon Valley presents the world premiere of Stephen Schwartz and Philip LaZebnik’s musical based on the Exodus. Through Nov. 5. $40$100. Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St., Mountain View. (650) 463-1960. theatreworks.org
Quartet Cinnabar Theater presents Ronald Harwood’s British comedy-drama about art, the eccentricites of age, and the celebratory power of the human spirit set at a retirement home for aging musicians. Fri.-Oct. 29. $15$35. Cinnabar Theater, 3333 Petaluma Blvd., Petaluma. (707) 763-8920. www.cinnabartheater.org
Role Call foolsFury Theater presents a world premier double bill about self-discovery and hard truths featuring one-woman plays by Deborah Eliezer and Michelle Haner. Thurs.-Oct. 22. $15$30. NOHspace, 2840 Mariposa St., S.F. foolsfury.org/fury/ rolecall Salt Pepper Ketchup BATCO presents Josh Wilder’s play about the changing identities of local neighborhoods. Ends today. $15-$40. Buriel Clay Theater, 762 Fulton St., S.F. sfbatco.org SF Olympians Festival VIII: Mediterranean Cruise A new works reading festival featuring 36 new plays by 30 local writers ranging from shorts to one-acts to full-lengths, and each exploring a different legend or god from Egyptian, Mesopotamian, or Latin mythology. See website for schedule. Through Oct. 21. $10-$12. Exit Stage Left, 156 Eddy St., S.F. www.sfolympians.com
Sister Act Berkeley Playhouse presents Alan Menken’s musical comedy about a woman in protective custody who hides out in a convent. Through Oct. 22. $22-$40. Julia Morgan Theater, 2640 College Ave., Berkeley. (510) 845-8542 Ext. 351. berkeleyplayhouse.org
Small Mouth Sounds A.C.T. presents the national tour of Bess Wohl’s perceptive comedy about six urbanites on a silent retreat in the woods. Wed.-Dec. 10. $14-$90. Strand Theater, 1127 Market St., S.F. (415) 749-2228. act-sf.org/ sounds
The Song of the Nightingale
Town Hall Theatre presents Min Kahng’s pop musical based on the Hans Christian Anderson fairy-tale. Through Oct. 21. $18-$27. Town Hall Theatre, 2424 School St., Lafayette. (925) 283-1557;. www.townhalltheatre.com
Storyborscht The Marsh presents Charlie Varon’s new pop-up experience combining brunch and performances of "Back in the World," the next installment in Varon’s cycle of stories set in a retirement home. Sundays, Oct. 15-29. $50-$75. The Marsh Cafe, 1070 Valencia St., . (415) 282-3055. www.themarsh.org
Teddy Bears’ Picnic Part of Bay Area Children’s Theatre’s Theatre for the Very Young Series, this show is about a teddy bear packing a picnic; it’s suitable for infants and toddlers. Through Oct. 29 at Children’s Fairyland, 699 Belleview Ave., Oakland. $15. (510) 296-4433. www. bactheatre.org
This Bitter Earth New Conservatory Theatre presents the world premiere of Harrison David Rivers’ activist love story responding to the personal and political impact of racial tensions in our country today. Through Oct. 22. $25-$50. Decker Theater, 25 Van Ness Ave., S.F. (415) 861-8972. nctcsf.org
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Show Jonathan Rockefeller adapts four of Eric Carle’s vividly illustrated children’s stories; Simon Trumble directs for Bay Area Children’s Theatre, using 75 puppets. Through Oct. 29. $20-$26. Bay Area Children’s Theatre Center, 2055 Center St., Berkeley. (510) 296-4433. www.bac theatre.org
The Wizard of Oz New Conservatory Theatre Center presents Stephanie Temple’s new adaptation of the L. Frank Baum classic with a Depression-era carnival twist. Ends Sun. $10-$15. New Conservatory Theare Center, 25 Van Ness Ave., . (415) 861-8972. nctcsf.org