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Beirut
Speculative Drama takes on Alan Bowne's terrifying, disturbing post-apocalyptic love story. Inspired by the AIDS epidemic of the 1980s, the play follows one woman's journey behind the quarantine line amid a devastating epidemic in order to reunite with the man she loves. Expect a few jokes and a lot of sexual tension. The Steep And Thorny Way To Heaven, Southeast 2nd Avenue and Hawthorne Boulevard, thesteepandthornywaytoheaven.com. 8 pm Friday-Sunday, May 27-June 4. 7 pm show Friday, June 3. $10-$50.
Circus Oddity: A David Bowie Tribute
Veteran and student circus performers will be soaring around the rafters of Curious Comedy Theater for Circus Oddities: A David Bowie Tribute. High-flying acrobatics and aerial dance choreographed to the late, great singer-songwriter's music will be the spectacle of the evening. The performance will include members from circus groups throughout Portland, including Sir Cupcake's Queer Circus, Just Movement, Night Flight, Prismagic, M.F. Motion and Speculative Drama. It's a wonder why people don't pair musical performance with circus antics more often. Curious Comedy Theater, 5225 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., 503-477-9477. 7 pm Wednesday, May 25. $18.
Free Speech
Uncensored story time with a feminist slant takes over posh tomboy boutique Wildfang once a month. Round 3 features ladies from W+K, local runner/baker Karolyn Tran and Judge Adrienne Nelson. Pop a PBR and purchase a signature Tomboy tee to benefit Planned Parenthood. Wildfang West, 404 SW 10th Ave., 503-964-6746. 7 pm Wednesday, May 25. $10, free with Wildfang purchase in the last 30 days.
Live Wire featuring Chris Thile, Dave Hill, the Wild Reeds
NPR's beloved staple, A Prairie Home Companion, has a new host taking over Garrison Keillor's spot, and he will be the guest of honor at Live Wire! Chris Thile, the Nickel Creek and Punch Brothers collaborator, will talk about what he has in store for Lake Wobegon's future as the fictional town's newest spokesman. What will the show be like now that Keillor is gone? Are we losing characters like Dusty the cowboy and Guy Noir? Hopefully, Thile has some satisfactory answers for the public at this live recording session. Mississippi Studios, 3939 N. Mississippi Ave., 503-228-3895. 7 pm Wednesday, May 25. $20-$40. 21+.
Manifesto
Before killing six people and injuring 14 others in a 2014 rampage in Isla Vista, Elliot Rodger wrote a 150-page manifesto. For this gender-bending performance, three local actors turned Rodger's misogynistic ideas into a script, using only his words, verbatim. Performed inside a therapist's office on Southeast Belmont Street that seats 20, the show tackles masculinity and social violence. Expect an experimental, monologue-driven show, more of a reading than a spectacle, from creator Sam Reiter, who proved her world-building chops at this year's Fertile Ground Festival with a shadow-puppet staging of Russian fairy tales. The Belmont Center, 3804 SE Belmont St., manifestoperformance.brownpapertickets.com. 7 and 9 pm Thursday-Saturday, May 26-28. $12.
Sexploitation! A Cabaret Tribute to John Waters
Go Go Rocket Productions' third annual Sexploitation! A Cabaret Tribute to John Waters promises a night filled with "dance offs," "tea bagging," "burlesque" and "live on-stage births." To some, this may sound like the last place you want to spend your evening. But for anyone among raunchy director John Waters' cult following, this is the perfect amount of crazy for a Thursday night. Star Theater, 13 NW 6th Ave., startheaterportland.com. 9 pm Thursday, May 26. $12-$25. 21+.
Willamette Week