One Week Only

Portland Independent Puppet Night
Yay! It's another fun night of indie puppetry! Tonight features Extremo the Clown (AKA owner of the most terrifying car in the world), Bruce Orr (Mudeye Puppet Co.), Andrew Kim of Seattle's Beast Alum company, and more. Hosted by the charming Amy Harwood. Acme, SE 8th & Main, 230-9020, 8 pm, donations

Closing This Week

Much Ado About Nothing
The reliable Quintessence company is back for another go-around with Shakespeare's old standard about pretty much exactly what the title implies. Mago Hunt Center, at the University of Portland, 5000 N Willamette, 943-7287, Thurs-Sat 8 pm, $10-15

Omnium Gatherum
Omnium Gatherum is set at a post-9/11 dinner party, an exquisitely catered event with a carefully chosen guest list. The hostess has invited a diverse group including a Clive Cussler-style novelist, a female Arab scholar, and a New York fireman. With each course of the meal served, the guests embark upon another round of sharp, animated arguments about globalization, gender issues, or the future of the Arab world. The strength of WillieWorks' second production lies in the cast's willingness to portray characters that are at once likeable and flawed. Each guest operates from a lightly different set of biases, and watching them argue is at once fascinating and familiar. AH West End Theater, 1220 SW Taylor, 223-4240, Thurs-Sat 8 pm, Sun 3 & 7 pm, $18

Dance

Minh Tran Open Rehearsal
Minh Tran fans can catch a free preview of the talented dude's upcoming piece, a choreographed response to Cambodia's troubled history, and featuring dancers Mike Barber, Jae Diego, and more. Conduit Studio, 918 SW Yamhill, 4th Floor, 221-5857, 7-8 pm, free