Opening This Week

Going to St. Ives
The women-centric Integrity Productions presents this rendition of Lee Blessing's play about the meetings between a ruthless African dictator and a prominent British ophthalmologist. Sounds like the pilot for a Fox sitcom. THEATER! THEATRE!, 3430 SE Belmont, 286-3456, Thurs-Sat 8 pm, Sun 4 pm, $5-15

The Giver
Oregon Children's Theatre presents this three-nights-only production based on Lois Lowry's Newberry award-winning book about a utopic society and the secret prices that must be made to keep its harmony intact. Keller Auditorium, 222 SW Clay, 228-9571, 2 pm Mar 5, 11-12, $22

Thumbelina
"Hans Christian Andersen's tale of a miniature girl who searches for a home until she finds the land of flower fairies" is far from the coolest sounding story description—however, Thumbelina is performed by the Oregon Shadow Theatre. Shadow puppets are always cool. Winningstad Theater, PCPA Building, 1111 SW Broadway, 248-0557, 7:30 pm Mar 3, 11 am Mar 4 & 11, 2 & 4 pm Mar 5 & 12, $12-15

Vanillatown Vaudevillians
Curtis Carlyle and Michael Mesa are jugglers who promise to deliver "90 minutes of show stopping stunts" that "transform mere juggling into pure entertainment." Echo Theater, 1515 SE 37th, 231-1232, Fri-Sat 7:30 pm, Sun 3 pm, $12-15

One Week Only

The Full Monty
Profile Theatre Project presents a gala fundraiser production of this overrated musical about ugly male strippers, replete with a champagne reception. World Trade Center Auditorium, 121 SW Salmon, 242-0080, Fri-Sat 8 pm, $60

In the Land of the Grasshopper Song
It's hard to go wrong with the hilarious Dell'Arte Company, who present this play, with help from the Insight Out Collective, about two white women trying to make it as "field matrons" for the Karuk Indian Tribe in 1908. West End Theater, 1220 SW Taylor, 715-0974, Thurs 7:30 pm, $7-12

Closing This Week

Aliens Stole Bush's Brain
Radiant Theatre presents this work by Douglas Watson, "a hilarious mock symposium of satirical monologues reflecting upon whether or not Bush exists." It's about time someone did that. Liberty Hall, 311 N Ivy, 502-8261, Fri-Sun 8 pm, Sun 2 pm, ends Mar 5, $5-20

The Intelligent Design of Jenny Chow
Jennifer Marcus (Sue Jean Kim) is a 22-year-old computer genius whose OCD prevents her from leaving her adopted parents' home in L.A. After fighting with her clueless mom (Valerie Stevens), she sets out to build a robot, "Jenny Chow" (Ka-Ling Cheung), to send in her place to China and track down her real mother. Kim Rubinstein times this promising premise like a bad family sitcom, while the more dramatic episodes of the play are staged like a soap opera. JWS Portland Center Stage, 1111 SW Broadway, 274-6588, Thurs-Sat 8 pm, Sat-Sun 2 pm, Sun 7 pm, ends Mar 5, $15-56

The Real Inspector Hound
Two theater critics have gone to review a murder mystery—but as they wait for the show to start, it becomes clear that they have their agendas. The meta implications of writing about a play that's about someone writing about a play make my head hurt, so I'll just say that at the end of the night, Coho turns in a tight, engaging production of a truly delightful play. AH Stark Raving, at the Coho Theatre, 2257 NW Raleigh, 220-COHO, Thurs-Sat 8 pm, ends Mar 4, $19-22

Current Runs

All's Well That Ends Well
The NW classical Theater Company presents a "thrust stage layout" performance of Shakespeare's weird tragicomedy. That sounds kind of hot. Shoe Box Theater, 2110 SE 10th, 274-4771, Thurs-Sat 7 pm, Sun 2 pm, $12-18

Comedy/Improv

After School Girlfight! Kill! Kill!
The Gunhappy Theatrical Ensemble, an offshoot of the 3rd Floor sketch comedy troupe, present this new show: "4 tales of drug abuse, telepathic devil children, teen pregnancy, runaway meteors from hell, futuristic locomotives, and homicidal go-go dancers with an undying thirst for cold hard cash." The Miracle Theatre, 525 SE Stark, 258-1681, Fri-Sat 8 pm, $12

Theatresports
The Brody finally brings this popular form of improv to town, wherein a panel of judges honk the performers off the stage if they're sucking it up. Brody Theater, 1904 NW 27th, 224-0688, Fri 8 pm, $7-10

The Liberators
Advertising itself as a long-form improv "super group," The Liberators feature local stalwarts Tony Marcellino, Julie Sparling, and John Breen, among others. ComedySportz Arena, 1963 NW Kearney, 236-8888, Fri 10 pm, $5

Mississ-Improv
Mississippi Studios' monthly evening of improv continues, featuring the ever-excellent veterans Brad Fortier, Nate Halloran, Phil Incorvia, Kent McCarty, and Brandan McClain. Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi, 703-3026, Sat 7 pm, $10

Dance

Seeing the Real
Oslund & Co member Robyn Conroy presents this original piece of choreography, wherein "surrender is sweetened by defiance, joy is heightened by grief, and compassion revealed by impatience, ego and distrust." Sheesh. Gabriel Masson and the always entertaining Gregg Bielemeier also chime in with original works. Conduit Studio, 918 SW Yamhill, 4th Floor, 221-5857, Fri-Sat 8 pm, Sun 7 pm, $12-15