Opening This Week
Head-Crazy Brain Girl
Kevin-Michael Moore's Gunhappy Theatrical Ensemble is back with a revival of their very funny, full-length play. Blue Door Productions, at the Miracle Theater, 525 SE Stark, 258-1681, Thurs-Sat 8 pm, through July 13, $10
Hedwig and the Angry Inch
A delicious, cross-dressing rock musical. The stage version, if done properly, is actually tighter and more cohesive than the recent film version. Triangle Productions, at Theater! Theatre!, 3430 SE Belmont, 239-5919, Thurs-Sat 8 pm, through July 13, $22-28
Now!
Do Jump! presents extremely physical theater with a unique blend of aerial dance, zany acrobatics, and vaudeville-style physical comedy. Do Jump! at the Echo Theatre, 1515 SE 37th, 224-8499, Thurs-Sat 8 pm, Sun 3 pm, through June 30, $15-22
One Week Only
I Think About Life
Staged reading of a play, dealing with issues involving the death of loved ones. OHSU Auditorium Theater, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, 750-1439, Mon 7 pm, FREE
South Pacific
The classic, cheesy big ticket musical starring that classic big ticket cheese ball, Robert Goulet. Keller Auditorium, SW Third and Clay, 241-1802, Thurs-Sun 7:30 pm, Sat-Sun 2 pm, $22-60
Closing This Week
Everyman
A modernization of the ancient mystery play with audience participation. Radiant Theatre, at the Hillsboro Universalist Unitarian Church, 22785 NW Birch Street, 502-8261, Fri-Sat 8 pm, Sat 2 pm, through June 15, $8-10
Killer Joe
This story is standard potboiler material that is supposed to be given new life, because it is happening in the bizarre confines of trailer park culture. IFCC, 5340 N Interstate Ave, 241-1ART, Thurs-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm, through June 16
Current Runs
* Cupid & Psyche
Stark Raving's modern update of this Greek legend is peppered with flashing lights, cell phones, and witty, sarcastic asides that add a contemporary accessorization to the source material without giving it a relevant immediacy. It's an old story in racy new duds. Stark Raving, at the CoHo Theatre, 2257 NW Raleigh, 232-7072, Thurs-Sat 8 pm, Sun 7 pm, through June 29, $10-20
Fortinbras
Find out what happened after Hamlet died. Portland Actors Conservatory, 1436 SW Montgomery St, 274-1717, Thurs 7 pm, Fri-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm, through June 23, $15-20
Hey, Don't Grab Me There!
Crazy late night sketch comedy with one of the silliest titles in recent memory. Stark Raving, at the CoHo Theatre, 2257 NW Raleigh, 232-7072, Fri-Sat 11 pm, through June 29, $12
Hopscotch
A one-act mystery by Israel Horovitz, the dad of Beastie Boy Adam Horovitz. Call in Sick Productions, at the Russell Street Theater, 116 NE Russell St, 335-3297, Fri-Sat 10:30 pm, through June 29, $8
Masterpieces
An exploration of pornography and the issues it confronts us with. Theatre Vertigo at the Russell Street Theater, 116 N Russell, 306-0870, Thurs-Sat 8 pm, Sun 4 pm, through June 29, $14
The Bad Infinity
Mac Wellman's portrayal of four people who gather one evening to endure a "bad infinity" (the meaning of this term will forever remain a mystery) exists outside the realm of linear storytelling. Defunkt Theatre, at the Back Door Theater, 4319 SE Hawthorne Blvd, 993-9062, Thurs-Sat 8 pm, Sun 4 pm, through June 22, $8-15
* The Birth of the Stick Figure Battery Baby
A violently silly, surprisingly infectious fairy tale. Stick Figure chronicles the epic battle over humankind, between an evil group of patriarchs and a good group from a place called Corime. The Corime warriors, who have names like Human Spider and Dead Dread Mullet Warrior, convert the evil soul of one of the patriarchs to their side through a series of dreams and visions, then enlist his help in bringing the powerful Stick Figure Battery Baby to life so it can join them in their cause. The acting behind this synopsis is awful and the production's technical aspects are at an elementary school level, but it all seems intentional somehow, a completely self-contained vision of epic camp and amateurism. Whatever it is, it's a hell of a lot of fun, not to mention hilarious. There's even an audience participation segment which manages to be both fun and inspiring. You should support stuff like this. stillbeautymovement, at the Back Door Theatre, 4319 SE Hawthorne, Fri-Sat 10:30 pm, through June 22, by donation
The Laramie Project
ART presents the story of the 1998 brutally homophobic murder of Matthew Shepard, which took place in Laramie, Wyoming. Artists Repertory Theater, 1516 SW Alder St, 241-9807, Tues-Thurs 7 pm, Fri-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm, through June 30, $15-28
