Fourteen Hundred Thousand & Mud
defunkt theatre returns with two cool-sounding new productions: Maria Irene Fornes' disturbing classic Mud, and Sam Shepard's Fourteen Hundred Thousand, where the building of a bookcase becomes an absurdist metaphor for community and sprawl. Back Door Theatre , 4319 SE Hawthorne, 481-2960, Thurs-Sat 8 pm, Sun 4 pm, through June 25, $8-15
Salome
A new company, Shaking the Tree, presents a seldom-done work by the very gay Oscar Wilde. Shaking the Tree at the Coho Theatre , 2257 NW Raleigh, 232-4726, Opens May 22, runs Tues-Wed 8 pm, Sun 7 pm through June 1, $10-20
Portland Independent Puppet Night
Cool local puppeteers like Nancy Aldrich, Bruce Orr, and Bread and Puppet alums Cloud Monster perform "puppet shows for grown ups", which is fitting because the show is in a bar, and bars don't allow kids. Acme , SE 8th & Main, 230-9020, Thurs 8 pm, $3 donation
Marie and Bruce
Wallace Shawn's Marie and Bruce depicts a day in the life of a massively dysfunctional couple (Carolyn DeLorenzo and Brian Adrian Koch) and occurs primarily at a house party, a perfect setting for fledgling company New House's production, which is literally in a house, and a perfect platform for Shawn to meander through his signature bits of randomly brilliant conversation. JWS New House Theatre , 628 SE Mill, (971) 563-4284, Thurs-Sat 8 pm, through May 21, $10 sug. donation
The Abduction From The Seraglio
The Portland Opera's version of The Abduction from the Seraglio may not be as Mozart originally intended: It's set in the early 20th century on the Paris-bound Orient Express. But the lyrics are true to Mozart--sung in German (English subtitles are screened above the stage)-and, though German is certainly less mellifluous than the traditional operatic Italian, the songs are never guttural or unpleasant. The plot is simple and time-honored: a woman, abducted by a sultan, is re-abducted by her lover. Seraglio is a treat, boasting spectacular sets, an engaging story, and a score by Mozart. It really doesn't matter that I know little about opera (and, therefore, am unable to judge the singing expertly)--none of you out there know dick about opera either. I had a great fucking time. WG Keller Auditorium , SW 3rd and Clay, 790-ARTS, Thurs, Sat 7:30 pm, $35-127
Live at the Rose Garden
Despite its dubious title, the prolific Insight Out company's new work has an intriguing premise: The life and times of three sisters who are rock 'n' roll stars. Milk & Honey Studio , 2512 SE Gladstone, 234-0973, Thurs-Fri 8 pm, Sat 8:30 & 10:30 pm, through May 28, $5-15
The Foreigner
Larry Shue's comedy about a man who pretends he can't speak English and winds up in a face-off with the Ku Klux Klan. West End Theater , 1220 SW Taylor, 228-7465, Fri-Sat 8 pm, Sun 3 pm, through May 29, $10-15
The Resurrectory
Liminal's new event--its last before artistic director Bryan Markovitz blows town for at least a couple years--is an ever-changing display of choreography, film projection, and ephemera based on a series of gruesome murders and black market cadaver dealings that happened in Scotland circa the 19th century. Very cool. Portland Art Center , 2045 SE Belmont, 239-5481, Thurs-Sat 8-10 pm, through June 18, $6-10 pay-what-you-can
Masters & Moderns
The Oregon Ballet Theatre closes its season with an eclectic smattering of works: a world premiere from Yuri Possokhov, a work from artistic director Christopher Stowell, and the return of Paul Taylor's Company B, set to the music of the Andrews Sisters. Newmark Theater, Portland Center for the Performing Arts , SW Broadway & Main, 222-5538, May 20-21, 26-28 @ 7:30 pm, May 22 @ 2 pm, $17-90
The 3rd Floor's Greatest Hits Vol. V & VI
The 3rd Floor sketch comedy group has been invited to perform at Sketchfest in NYC, so support this collection of their greatest hits from the last nine years so they don't have to sleep on the subway while they're there. The Miracle Theatre , 525 SE Stark, 258-1681, Fri-Sat 8 pm, through May 28, $10, or $16 for both shows Barprov The busy Kick the Squirrel improv troupe presents a show that "begins in a bar then extrapolates the lives of its four patrons." Coho Theatre , 2257 NW Raleigh, 750-5363, Fri-Sat 10:30 pm, $7
