Opening This Week

A Streetcar Named Desire
Come get your Tennessee Williams on. PCC Sylvania Theatre, 12000 SW 49th Ave, 977-4949, Thurs-Sat 7:30 pm, through Mar 16, $5-7

Angels in America: Millennium Approaches
Tony Kushner's epic on AIDS and politics during the 1980s. Fir Acres Theatre, Lewis & Clark College, 0615 SW Palatine Hill Road, 768-7495, Thurs-Sat 7:30 pm, through Mar 16, $5-8

Finding the Sun
Edward Albee's tragic, comic one-act about a fucked-up beach party. Call in Sick Productions, at the Russell Street Theater, 116 NE Russell St, 335-3297, Fri-Sat, 10:30 pm, through Apr 6, $8-10

Fools
The town of Kulyenchikov is cursed with stupidity, until a Zubristsky agrees to marry a Youskevitch. American Heritage Theater Project, at the Multnomah Arts Center, 7688 SW Capitol Highway, 245-3642, Fri-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm, through March 17, Suggested Donation of $10

Just For Laughs
Random scenes and one-acts from actors like Kim Bogus, Kane Ahuna, and Michael Teufel. Northwest Academy, 1130 SW Main, 254-8334, Fri-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2:30 pm, through March17, Suggested Donation of $8

Rashomon
There just aren't enough plays these days set in 12th-century Japan... Theatre Vertigo at the Russell Street Theater, 116 N Russell, 306-0870, Thurs-Sat 8 pm, Sun 4 pm, through Apr 6, $10-14

That's Infotainment
Improv that is one-half documentary and one-half fictional scenes inspired by the documentary. Brody Theater, 1904 NW 27th Ave, 224-0688, Fri-Sat 8 pm, $10

The Portland Subway
An interactive event that is one part improv, one part game, and one part play. Circle of Fire Productions, at Theater! Theatre!, 3430 SE Belmont, 287-0198, Fri-Sat 10:25 pm and 11:15 pm, $10

Waiting for a Train
An eclectic blend of New Vaudeville, Commedia, Found-Object Puppetry, and Magical Realism. You might want to go just to learn what those terms mean. Echo Theater, 1515 SE 37th, 975-5966, Fri-Sun 7 pm, Sat-Sun 2 pm, through March 24, $10-12

One Week Only

18 Watchout Situations
Dance pieces about human survival in the most adverse situations. Hopefully one of these situations addresses monkey attacks. Conduit Studio, 918 SW Yamhill, 4th Floor, 221-5857, Thurs-Sat 8 pm, $10-12

The Vagina Monologues
Vaginas are great and important things, but that doesn't change the fact that this play is sheer crap. Reed College, 3203 SE Woodstock Blvd, 522-9453, Thurs 8 pm, $5

Closing This Week

* Double Fisted Shot Glass
Well-choreographed, TV-ready sketch comedy that reads like swashbuckling practice, until the cast throws back some Maker's Mark and really gets fired up. Blue Door Productions, at the Miracle Theater, 525 SE Stark, 258-1681, Fri-Sat 11 pm, through March 9, $8

for colored girls who have considered suicide when the rainbow is enuf
The title of this show is self-explanatory. Portland Center Stage, 1111 SW Broadway, 274-6588, Sun 7 pm, Thurs 12 pm Thurs-Sat 8 pm, Sat-Sun 2 pm, Sun 7 pm, through March 10, $12-44

James Canfield Signatures/a rock ballet
The very notion that there is a term called "rock ballet" inspires me. Oregon Ballet Theatre, 818 SE 6th, 222-5538, Thurs-Sat 7:30 pm, $5-80

Whatnot
A collection of images that don't add up to anything, but are entertaining nonetheless. Other Hand Productions at the Hope Theater, 1111 SW Broadway, 248-0557, Sat 8 pm, through March 9, $10-14

Yerma
Yerma is torn between sating her appetite for pregnancy and cheating on her husband, which defies some of the moral fundamentals preached by traditional Spanish Catholicism. The Miracle Theater, 525 SE Stark Street, 236-7253, Thurs 7:30 pm, Fri-Sat 8 pm, through March 9, $15

Current Runs

For Reasons That Remain Unclear
A priest and a strange man engage in homoerotic banter. Triangle Productions, at Theater! Theatre!, 3430 SE Belmont, 239-5919, Thurs 7:30 pm, Fri-Sat 8 pm, Sun 5 pm, through Mar 30, $15-$19

Shakespeare's R & J
Repressed Catholic school boys get off on Romeo and Juliet. Triangle Productions, at Theater! Theatre!, 3430 SE Belmont, 239-5919, Thurs 7:30 pm, Fri-Sat 8 pm, through Mar 30, $15-$19

Taps
Here is a one-sentence synopsis of this play: a contemplation of the last 2000 years or so of human existence through the story of Sir Ralph and Lady Margaret, who preside over a land called Dackerdash. If you see the show and can think of a better way to concisely summarize it, then please let me know. Lightbox Studio, 1306 NW Hoyt, 231-0839, Fri-Sun 8 pm. through Mar 17, $10

The Gingerbread Lady
Neil Simon's comedy about an actress who returns from rehab to her dysfunctional friends and family. Paula Productions, at the Jack Oakes Theater, 2820 NE Sandy Blvd, 238-9692, Thurs-Sat 8 pm, Sun 7 pm, through Mar 16, $12

Triple Espresso, A Highly Caffeinated Comedy
Magic and theater mix in this fictitious reunion of the once-promising comedy team, "Maxwell, Butternut, and Bean." Triple Espresso, at the Portland Art Museum, Portland Art Museum, 2nd Floor, 1219 SW Park, Wed-Thurs, Sun 7:30 pm, Fri 7 pm, Sat 5 & 8 pm, Sun 3 pm, through April 21, $39-45, includes dessert and coffee