Opening This Week

The Cold Comedy Concoction
In a frenzy of ambition, Stark Raving commissioned four writers to write four one-act comedies: William S. Gregory, Kelly Bartholomew, Stephen Karam (author of Mister Murdery, put on by the Cardboard Box Company last year, and one of the funniest plays we've ever seen), and Todd Pozycki. See all four in one sitting. Coho Theatre, 2257 NW Raleigh, 232-7072, Thurs-Sat 8 pm, Sun 7 pm, through Jan 22, $10-18

One Week Only

* The Famous Mysterious Actor Show
See "My! What A Busy Week!" Pg. 13. Sabala's Mt Tabor, 4811 SE Hawthorne, 238-1646, Wed 9 pm, $5

* The Graduate
See interview this issue. Keller Auditorium, SW Third and Clay, 790-ARTS, Thurs-Sat 7:30 pm, Sat 2 pm, Sun 1 & 5 pm, $15-56

Closing This Week

Do Jump!
The holidays are over, but you can still feel jolly with Do Jump's festive blend of aerial dance, acrobatics, live music, and comedy. Echo Theatre, 1515 SE 37th, 231-1232, Thurs, Sat 7:30 pm, Sun 3 pm, $20

* A Bright Room Called Day
Liberals who think its tough facing another four years of President Bush have nothing on the liberals that lived in pre-Nazi Germany in the 1930s. Eerily mirroring recent American politics, Theatre Vertigo's production of Tony Kushner's A Bright Room Called Day centers on a flock of Bohemian Berliners, who watch with rising despair as the Weimar Republic--1930s Germany's version of democracy--is slowly infiltrated by the German Right. Their final hope lies with the Left-leaning Social-Democratic and German Communist parties, but just like certain recent liberal presidential campaigns, these groups waste their time trying to satisfy both the Right and the Left... and the Nazis move on in. Kushner's play works too hard down the stretch run to prove how insightful it is, but Theatre Vertigo's stellar ensemble, led by Melody Bridges, Todd Van Voris, and the amazing Julie Starbird, elevates it to a riveting piece of theater. JWS Theater! Theatre!, 3430 SE Belmont, 306-0870, Thurs-Sat 8 pm, $15

* Biglittlethings
Imago presents yet another version of this eclectic follow-up to FROGZ. It's been in development for three years and features hitchhiking rabbits, caterpillars, insomniac hippos, and everything else imagined in your wildest mushroom fantasies. Imago Theater, 17 SE 8th Ave, 231-9581, Thurs-Sat 7:30 pm, Sat-Sun 1:30 pm, Sun 5:30 pm, $14-24