Opening This Week

Buried Child
Feel like partyin' hardy in Vancouver tonight? Check the Clark College theater department's rendition of Sam Shepard's delightfully twisted Buried Child. Decker Theatre at Clark College, Fort Vancouver Way, just north of Mill Plain, (360) 992-2141, Jan 15-18, 23-24, 7:30 pm, $7

* Hi!
The incredible cross-dressing superfreak diva Amber Martin re-mounts her stellar one-woman show to raise money for an upcoming tour. When last Hi! showed, M. William Helfrich wrote, "For over an hour, Martin has complete control of the stage, singing and dancing through strange originals and classic covers such as a hummed version of Zeppelin's 'Communication Breakdown.' The prerecorded music for the songs is awesome, and so is the rest of the sound design. The timing of the sound is right on, and works so well with what Martin is doing onstage, you'd think she were controlling it. Martin has such great presence, I'd enjoy watching her throw clay, or give a dog worm medicine." Conduit Studio, 918 SW Yamhill, 4th Floor, 224-8499, Fri-Sat 8 pm, through Jan 31, $10-13

mipueblo.biz
Daniel Malan wrote this play and stars in it as a nun who tries to improve the lives of a poor village in the Andes with her magical laptop. The Miracle Theater, 525 SE Stark Street, 236-7253, Fri-Sat 8 pm, through Jan 24, $8-15

The Goat or Who is Sylvia?
The first Portland production of the latest masterpiece by Edward Albee, who can't seem to stop writing amazing plays, even though he's like 102 years old. Artists Repertory Theatre, 1516 SW Alder St, 241-1278, Opens Fri, runs Tues-Thurs, Sun 7 pm, Fri-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm, through Feb 22, $15-32

Closing This Week

* Faust. Us
Local playwright Joseph Fisher has transplanted the 19th-Century mad scientist Dr. Faust into the shoes of a 21st-Century billionaire software designer. Faust (Darius Pierce) is the inventor of a virtual reality so intense that one can enjoy the dawn of time or the end of the world, if you're into that sort of thing. The computer geek-cum-philosopher ends up taking an existential tour into the very core of himself, and like Bill Gates at the gates of Hell, is faced with angels, demons, fairies, and, strangest of all, Frenchmen. Fisher's script is intensely clever, even if some of the deconstructive tricks and personal references seem, well, Faustian. TP Stark Raving, at the Coo Theatre, 2257 NW Raleigh, 232-7072, Thurs-Sat 8 pm, $10-18

Current Runs

* Wade McCollum
Woo to the hoo hoo, it's Portland's most talented dramatic songster, Wade McCollum, who just got finished singing his bloody lungs out in Bat Boy: The Musical. Tonight McCollum replaces Storm Large's usual spot onboard the Spirit to sing music from his life and from Hedwig and the Angry Inch, as you sail peacefully around the Willamette River. Portland Spirit, Meet at Salmon St. Fountain, Tom McCall Waterfront Park, 224-3900, 10:45 pm boarding, through Jan 30, $16-20

Comedy/Improv

* Portland Comedy Competition, Preliminaries
Portland's one and only standup comedy competition continues, going throughout the month of January. Ten new contestants square off all this week, with 20 in all vying to advance to the semifinals. This week catch Pistol Pete Hall, Meghan Hounshell, and Justin Hayes, whose bio reads "COMEDY STYLE = ASSHOLE." Plus, plenty more. They'll be competing all week at different venues, but the Dublin is the only one for this week that isn't out in Buttfuckville, though even it is sort of out in Buttfuckville. Don't worry, comedy fans; the semi and final rounds will be in venues closer to home. For more details check out www.comicaffair.com. Dublin Pub, 6821 Beaverton-Hillsdale Hwy, 297-2889

The People, The Lives, The Laughs
The press release reads: "The ongoing story of a fictional community where people come and go." Specific! ComedySportz Arena, 1963 NW Kearney Street, 236-8888, Fri 10 pm, $5

Girls! Girls! Girls!
It's the return of the Brody's all-woman improvisational showcase, featuring Brody vets like Kerry Leek and Stephanie Wichmann, as well as guest stars like Deanna Moffitt and Gretchen McNeely. Mm MMM! Brody Theater, 1904 NW 27th Ave, 224-0688, Fri-Sat 8 pm, through Jan 24, $10

Dance

Flamenco
Few words are as fun to say as "Flamenco." Say it. Say it real good... "Flamenco..." Feel its whispery spice trickle down your tongue and out your lips... Mmm... Affect a cheesy Spanish accent and say it again... "Flamenco..." Oh, yeah... Feels good, doesn't it...? See a Flamenco performance tonight by top local Flamenco artists... "Flamenco..." Solo Flamenco Dance Co., at the IFCC, 5340 N Interstate Ave, 972-1178, Sat 7:30 pm, $10-12