Theatre Rhinoceros, 2926 16th St; 861-5079, www.therhino.org . $15-35. Previews Thurs/19-Fri/20, 8pm. Opens Sat/21, 8pm. Runs Wed-Sat, 8pm; Sun/22, 7pm. Additional matinees April 29 and May 6 and 13, 3pm. Nicky Silver's play probes the dark side of American family life as two siblings with failed lives attend their father's funeral.

Off Market Theater, Custom Stage, 965 Mission; 1-800-838-3006, www.custommade.org . $15-25. Previews Thurs/19, 8pm. Opens Fri/20, 8pm. Runs Thurs-Sat, 8pm. Through May 19. The Custom Made Theatre Company performs in David Mamet's Depression-era play.

La Val's Subterranean, 1834 Euclid, Berk; (510) 464-4468, www.impacttheatre.com . $10-15. Previews Thurs/19, 8pm. Opens Fri/20, 8pm. Runs Thurs-Sat, 8pm. Through May 26. Impact Theatre presents a contemporary staging of one of William Shakespeare's so-called problem plays.

Club Fugazi, 678 Beach Blanket Babylon Blvd; 421-4222, $25-78. Wed-Thurs, 8pm; Fri-Sat, 7 and 10pm; Sun, 2 and 5pm. Ongoing. The long-running musical comedy revue spoofing popular culture returns for a new year with new characters, costumes, and skits.

Our Little Theater, 287 Ellis; 928-4060, www.celebrateclitoris.com . $15-25. Thurs-Sun, 8pm. Through Aug 30. Sia Amma performs in her solo show about the things women say about their belle chose.

Magic Theatre, Fort Mason Center, bldg D, Marina at Laguna; (510) 644-9940, www.wildeirish.org . $25-30. Thurs-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 7pm. Through April 29. A Hollywood film crew comes to a small, bleak island village in Ireland and upsets the locals.

Exit Theater on Taylor, 277 Taylor; 621-1503, www.sffringe.org . $15. Fri-Sat, 8pm. Through May 12. No Nude Men Productions presents Beth Henley's Southern gothic dark comedy.

Shelton Theater, 533 Sutter; 433-1227, www.emperornortonthemusical.com . Extended run: Fri-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 3pm. Through April 29. $30. Third Child Productions presents an expanded version of the musical originally staged at the Dark Room Theater last year about Joshua Norton, who came to San Francisco in the post-gold rush era and proclaimed himself emperor of the United States.

Traveling Jewish Theatre, 470 Florida; Noh Space, 2840 Mariposa; Project Artaud Theater, 450 Florida; www.foolsfury.org . See Web site for info. Through April 29. The foolsFURY company, Traveling Jewish Theatre, Theatre of Yugen, and Network of Ensemble Theaters present a festival of more than 15 ensemble companies from across the nation performing more than 40 full-length and short pieces.

AMC Cadillac Bldg, 1000 Van Ness; 776-1747, www.boxcartheatre.org . $12-28 (previews, pay what you can). Thurs-Sat, 8pm. Through April 27. Known for performing in nontraditional spaces, Boxcar Theatre presents a world premiere of its piece based on Kurt Vonnegut's novel Galápagos, on the mezzanine level of the historic AMC Cadillac Building.

Eureka Theatre, 215 Jackson; 255-8207, www.42ndstmoon.org . $20-38. Thurs-Fri, 8pm; Sat, 6pm; Sun, 3pm. Additional show April 25, 7pm. Through May 6. Musical theater company 42nd Street Moon closes its season with the stylishly sophisticated comedy by Cole Porter.

Theatre 39, Embarcadero at Pier 39; 433-3939, www.tix.com . $43.50-46.50. Wed-Thurs, 2 and 7:30pm; Sat-Sun, 1 and 4pm. Through May 6. Jeanie Linders's show tailors pop songs from the '60s through the '80s to fit the experiences of women undergoing the Change.

Phoenix Theatre, 414 Mason; 508-1808. $15-20 (preview night, $10). Fri/20-Sat/21, 8pm; Sun/22, 2pm. RubberMatchSeriez presents William Shakespeare's magical comedy.

Next Stage Theater, 1620 Gough; www.mysticbison.com . $15-35. Fri-Sat, 7:30pm. No show Sat/21. Through May 5. Mystic Bison Theatre and Dance performs Ariel Dorfman's play.

New Conservatory Theatre Center, 25 Van Ness; 861-8972, www.nctcsf.org . $10-15. Sat/21-Sun/22, 2pm (also Sat, 3pm). Playwright Max Bush adapts the fairy tale.

Shelton Theater, 533 Sutter; 1-800-838-3006, www.brownpapertickets.com . $25-29. Fri-Sat, 8pm. Ongoing. Morris Bobrow directs a musical comedy revue about the ups and downs of buying stuff.

Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 600 Castro, Mountain View; (650) 903-6000, www.theatreworks.org . Passes, $60. April 14-22. Visit Web site for full schedule of shows and times. The festival features staged readings of two new musicals and plays.

Berkeley Repertory Theatre, 2025 Addison, Thrust Stage, Berk; (510) 647-2949, www.berkeleyrep.org . $33-61. Wed, 7pm; Thurs-Sat, 2 and 8pm; Sun, 2 and 7pm. No matinee April 21, or 26, May 5 or 10. No show May 18. Through May 20. Delroy Lindo directs Tanya Barfield's new play about an African American man trying to escape his past and visited by his ancestors in his dreams.

Willows Theatre, 1975 Diamond, Concord; (925) 798-1300, www.willowstheatre.org . $33-38. Wed-Thurs, 7:30pm (also Wed, 3:30pm); Fri-Sat, 8pm (also Sat, 2pm); Sun, 3pm. Through May 13. Richard Elliott directs this wedding-day screwball comedy written by Nicholas Hope, Jessie Jones, and Jamie Wooten.

Aurora Theatre Company, 2081 Addison, Berk; (510) 843-4822, www.auroratheatre.org . Free. Mon, 7:30pm. Through May 14. The Aurora Theatre Company presents staged readings of five new plays chosen for its new work program. This week: American Whupass, by Justin Warner.

Actors Ensemble of Berkeley, Live Oak Theatre, 1301 Shattuck, Berk; www.aeofberkeley.org . $10-12. Fri-Sat, 8pm. Additional show May 10, 8pm. Through May 12. Noona Nolan directs Ellen McLaughlin's modern version of the Greek play about Athenian women who hold a no-sex protest until their husbands stop fighting in the decades-long war with Sparta.

Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro, Mountain View; (650) 903-6000, www.theatreworks.org . $20-60. Wed-Sat, 8pm (also Sat, 2pm); Sun, 2 and 7pm; Tues, 7:30pm. No matinee April 28; no evening show April 29. Through April 29. TheatreWorks stages Stephen Sondheim's musical spanning the decades, beginning in the '80s and working its way back to the '50s.

Dean Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek; (925) 943-7469, www.leshercenter.org . $17-38. Thurs-Sat, 8pm. Additional show May 5, 8pm. Additional matinee April 21-22, and 28-29, 2pm. Through May 5. The Diablo Light Opera Company presents Meredith Willson's musical set in the early 20th century about a traveling salesman who comes to River City, Iowa, claiming to be able to teach any child to play a musical instrument.

Aurora Theatre, 2081 Addison, Berk; (510) 843-4822, www.auroratheatre.org . $28-50. Wed-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 2 and 7pm. Through May 13. In this Bay Area premiere, actress M.J. Kang reprises the role written for her in Oren Safdie's comedy about architecture, sexism in the workplace, and the failure of postmodernism.

Contra Costa Civic Theater, 951 Pomona, El Cerrito; (510) 524-9132, www.ccct.org . $11-18. Fri-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 2pm. Through May 12. David Bogdonoff directs Tennessee Williams's Pulitzer Prize-winning play.

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 700 Mission; 978-2787; www.izzies-sf.org , www.bayareandw.org . Free. Mon, 7pm. As part of National Dance Week, with free classes all over the Bay Area, the fourth annual awards ceremony honors local performers.

Dance Mission Theater, 3316 24th St; 273-4633, www.dancemission.com . $15-20. Thurs-Sat, 8pm (no show Thurs/19); Sun, 7pm. Through April 29. Additional matinee April 29, 2pm. See pick box.

Brava Theater, 2781 24th St; 248-1640, www.sfchamberorchestra.org . Free. Fri, 8pm. The Mark Foehringer Dance Project and the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra perform.

Shotwell Studios, 3252A 19th St, 289-2000, www.ftloose.org . $10-15. Fri-Sat, 8pm. U Dance Electra performs with guest troupe the Sarah Bush Dance Project.

War Memorial Opera House, 301 Van Ness; 865-2000, www.sfballet.org . $18-205. Program six: On Common Ground and Rodeo (Sat, 2pm). Program seven: Elemental Brubeck and Symphony in C (Fri, Tues, 8pm; Sun, 2pm).

Zellerbach Hall, Lower Sproul Plaza (near Bancroft at Telegraph), Berk; (510) 642-9925, theater.berkeley.edu. $8. Fri-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 7pm. Additional matinee April 29, 2pm. Through April 29. Choreographer Lisa Wymore presents The Reception, which uses 3-D technology implemented by the Center for Informational Technology Research in the Interest of Society; choreographers Robert Moses, Tammy Cheney, Ellis Wood, and Carol Murota also present their work.

Eighth St Artists' Center, 2525 Eighth St., Berk; (510) 848-4878, www.worksintheworks.org . Free. Sun, 1-5pm. Terrain, a dance and performance collective, hosts an all-day open studio as part of National Dance Week.

Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College, Berk; www.juliamorgan.org . $8. Thurs-Fri, 8pm. The UC Berkeley student dance group incorporates hip-hop, swing, and jazz into its pieces.

Shelton Theater, 533 Sutter; (415) 433-1226, www.bigcityimprov.com . $15. Fri, 10pm. Ongoing. The improv troupe performs unscripted material from audience suggestions and more.

Dolores Park Cafe, 501 Dolores; 621-2936, www.doloresparkcafe.com . Fri, 7:30pm. Beth Lisick, Kenny Yun, and other comedians perform at this third annual event.

Dark Room Theater, 2263 Mission; 533-2514, www.crisishopkins.com . $10. Fri-Sat, 8pm. Through April 28. The comedy troupe performs improvised scenes, music, and more.

915 Columbus; www.cobbscomedyclub.com , www.ticketweb.com . Wed, 6:30pm: "Laughs for Life," a benefit for San Francisco Suicide Prevention, $80-400. Thurs-Sat, 8pm (also Fri-Sat, 10:15pm): Frank Caliendo, $25-29. Sun, 7pm: Scott Thompson, $25.

Empire Plush Room, York Hotel, 940 Sutter; 885-2800, www.empireplushroom.com . $25. Fri-Sat, 11pm. Ongoing. This evening of performance is a Roaring '20s revue.

Dark Room Theater, 2263 Mission; www.darkroomsf.com , www.uphillbothways.com . $10. Fri, 10pm. Through May 11. The sketch comedy team Uphill Both Ways performs.

Club Fugazi, 678 Green; 421-4222. $25-100. Mon, 7:30pm. Members of the musical comedy's cast perform songs from the show at a benefit for the Richmond Ermet AIDS Foundation.

Eureka Valley Recreation Center Auditorium, 100 Collingwood; 753-7037, www.sffct.org . Free. Thurs-Sat, 7:30pm; Sun, 3pm. The San Francisco Free Civic Theatre presents a staging of the post-World War II war crimes trial.

Exit on Taylor, 277 Taylor; 621-1503, www.improvalliance.org , www.theexit.org . Fri-Sat, 8pm. Through April 28. Rover Hendrix, the Irish Mutts, Sex Appeal, and Shaun Landry perform.

* Empire Plush Room, York Hotel, 940 Sutter; 1-866-468-3399, www.empireplushroom.com . Wed-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 7pm. $42.50-47.50. The female impersonator known as Lypsinka performs The Passion of the Crawford.

Make-Out Room, 3225 22nd St; www.pacoromane.com . $7. Wed, 8pm. Paco Romane hosts an evening of acts by local comedians, musicians, filmmakers, and storytellers.

Kabuki Cinema, 1881 Post; 928-2456, wwww.sftaiko.com . $25-30. Sat, 7pm. The drumming festival features Grand Master Seiichi Tanaka of the San Francisco Taiko Dojo.

12 Galaxies, 2562 Mission; 516-7614, www.12galaxies.com . $10. Fri, 8pm. The troupe of trapeze artists, burlesque entertainers, and bug eaters performs in "Show and Tell."

The Garage, 975 Howard; 863-1076, www.improvalliance.org . $10. SPF 7 and the San Francisco Improv Alliance improvise from audience members' sex stories.

Pier 29, Embarcadero at Battery; 438-2668, www.zinzanni.org. $110-135. Wed-Sat, 6pm; Sun, 5pm. Ongoing. The circus and cabaret troupe performs under the big top in a dinner-theater setting.

San Francisco School of the Arts, 555 Portola; 695-5720, www.sfsota-ptsa.org . $10-15. Fri-Sat, 7:30pm; Sun, 2pm. Members of the San Francisco Arts Education Project perform in a musical about a Korean American skateboarder with attention deficit disorder, created in collaboration with the New York University Musical Theater Graduate Program.

Rooster T. Feathers Comedy Club, 157 W El Camino Real, Sunnyvale; www.roostertfeathers.com . $10. Wed, 8pm. For the fifth year, Bay Area comedians compete to win a weeklong opening slot at the club.

Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College, Berk; www.juliamorgan.org . $8-12. The regular solo performance series features Nina Wise and others.

50 Mason; 398-4129, www.laughalotproductions.com . Fri, 8pm: Friday Night Comedy, with host Eric Peterson, $10. Sat, 8pm: Saturday Night Showcase, $10. Sat, 10pm: Five Funny Females, $15.

Clubhouse, 414 Mason, suite 705; www.sfcomedycollege.com . Wed, 8pm: Hump Day Comedy, $5. Fri, 8pm: Scantily Clad Comedy, $7. Sat, 6pm: New Talent Show, $5. Sat, 9pm: Naked Comedy, $10. Mon, 9pm: Monday Night Make 'Em Ups, $5.

984 University, Berk; (510) 524-6403, (510) 548-9888, www.templebartiki.com . Thurs, 9pm: Nelson Martini's Laugh-n-Luau, hosted by Bryan Moore, free.

3121 16th St, SF; (415) 290-5048. Adam and Elz host Poetry Mission, open mic, 7pm, free. 2587 International Blvd, Oakl; (510) 533-6629. Holla Back, open mic, 8:30-10:30pm, donations accepted.

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