Opening This Week

I Ought To Be In Pictures
Neil Simon's poignant look at a has-been Hollywood screenwriter whose long-lost teenage daughter re-enters his life. Sylvia's Class Act Dinner Theater, 5115 NE Sandy Blvd, 288-6828, Thurs-Sat 6:15 pm, Sun 5:15 pm, through Aug 25, $31.95

One Week Only

The Haven Project presents Border Crossing
Local theater professionals and PSU theater majors work with young playwrights from Portland Night High School to create a collection of plays produced by the Theater Arts Department. PSU, Lincoln Hall, Studio Theater, 1620 SW Park Avenue, 725-3307, Sat 8 pm, free

Butch/Femme Chronicles
Performance art that opens lesbian identity for discussion, debate, and emotional experience. Triangle Productions! at Theater! Theatre!, 3430 SE Belmont St, 239-5919, Thurs-Sat 8 pm, $17-$19

Reno and Tahoe
Two dynamic women present an evening of outrageous comedy and soulful music. Hollywood Theatre, 4122 NE Sandy Blvd, 281-4215, Sat 8 pm, $14-$17

Venture This Adventure - A workshop by Heidi Carlson
Carlson uses intentionally disorienting and challenging physical and mental exercises to help actors and dancers commit emotionally and physically to each moment. Come with three-four lines of any memorized text, and a notebook. Conduit Studio, 918 SW Yamhill, 4th Floor, 221-5857, Sun 12-4 pm, $45-$50

Closing This Week

Diabolical Experiments
The Brody Theater's evil improv lab goes prime time! Brody Theater, 1904 NW 27th Ave, 224-0688, Fri-Sat 8 pm, through June 30, $8

Side Man
A 1950s jazz musician puts his gigs ahead of his wife and kid. Artists Repertory Theater, 1516 SW Alder St, 241-1278, Fri-Sat 8 pm, Tues-Thurs 7 pm, Sun 2 pm, through July 1, $15-$26

The Glass Menagerie
Tennessee Williams' autobiographical play about his domineering mother, his dead-end job, and his mentally disabled sister. Jack Oakes Theater, 2820 NE Sandy Blvd, 238-9692, Thurs-Sat 8 pm, through June 30, $10

* The Use of Rumor and Silence
Linda Austin and her dancers have taken on a unique challenge: Represent the most verbal of concepts--rumor--with the most nonverbal of theatrical forms--dance. Somehow it works, though helped in large part by the addition of two characters called "gossips," who dreamily influence all other physical interaction within the piece. Their presence alone adds a controlling element to the evening, providing a consistent vision to hold everything together, and thus turning potential chaos into a powerful and thought-provoking experience. Performance Works NorthWest, 4625 SE 67th Ave, 777-1907, Thurs-Sat 8:30 pm, through June 30, $8-$10

Current Runs

Comedysportz!
Comedysportz celebrates its 421st straight weekend without a miss. Comedysportz Arena, 1963 NW Kearney Street, 236-8888, Fri 9 pm, Sat 7:30, 9:30 pm, $10 ($9 with a can of food for the Oregon Food Bank)

Frogz
Due to popular demand, Imago has extended the run of this show, so don't miss your chance to see frogs, worms, cowboys, giant paper bags, and crazy cats. Imago Theater, 17 SE 8th Ave, 231-9581, Thurs-Sat 7:30 pm, Sat-Sun 1:30 pm, Sun 5:30 pm, through July 29, $9-$18

I am not now Who I might have been
The Sojourn Theatre company uses its unique brand of physical storytelling to ask questions about justice. See review this issue. Sojourn Theatre, at the Gus Solomon Courthouse, The Solomon Building, 6th floor, (971) 544-0464, Fri-Sun 8 pm, through July 8, $10

Naked Boys Singing
Part 2 of Triangle's Summer Pride Series. Sing, naked boys, sing! Triangle Productions! at Theater! Theatre!, 3430 SE Belmont St, 239-5919, Thurs-Sat 8 pm, through July 21, $23-$25

Open Movement Jam
Join other Portland dancers for an evening of improvised jamming. Performance Works Northwest, 4625 SE 67th Ave, 777-1907, Sun 6-8 pm, $2-$3

The Really BIG Dance Company presents: The Pirate Show!
Avast ye scurvy landlubbers! Ye might find gold at this hodge podge of mermaids, sword fights, and sea hags! Arr! Winningstad Theater, 1111 SW Broadway, 224-TIXX, Thurs, & Sun 7 pm, Fri-Sat 8 pm, through July 7, $12-$15