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ShortLived. PianoFight productions encourages audience members to brown-bag their own booze; the crew even throws a couple of Budweisers and miniature whiskey bottles into the crowd right before the lights go down. But you don't have to be drunk, or even buzzed, to have a rip-roaring good time. ShortLived is a three-month competition of original short plays where the audience votes which ones make it to the next round. The night I attended, five of the eight plays (each under 10 minutes) were very funny and the other three quite gripping. Most were sustained short bursts of bizarre hilarity, such as a wedding involving ninja costumes and antidepressants, and a man trying unsuccessfully to use a coupon at a supermarket. One, called The Stand In, involved a woman who had actually answered a Craigslist ad to come in unrehearsed and act opposite a sock puppet. Artistic directors Rob Ready and Dan Williams (both stars in their own right) lead an acting company that is irreverent, skilled, and clearly loves to have a good time. Through June 28 at Off-Market Theater, 965 Mission (at Fifth St.), S.F. Tickets are $15-$20; call 820-1656 or visit www.pianofight.com. (N.E.) Reviewed May 21.

Squeeze Box. What could have been a simple, sweet tale about a woman finding herself gets a jolt of saltiness in Anne Randolph's hands. Or, really, it's her face, with her large eyes and incredibly expressive tongue that can grab you out of your lulled state of deep liberal sympathy at the plight of the mentally ill women she worked with in Los Angeles and instead thrust you into a world where she can be just as desperate and dirty as the women she serves. Randolph isn't afraid to skewer anyone in her one-woman show – her sexual exploits with her boyfriend get a particularly detailed and not always flattering working over. Yet this choice actually makes her moments of insight into herself and others resonate all the more. Randolph isn't out to get you to congratulate her for taking on noble causes, but to see that she – like all of us – is simply struggling to cling to the faith we all need to find those small, incredible moments of happiness in our own lives. Through June 29 at the Marsh, 1062 Valencia (at 22nd St.), S.F. Tickets are $15-$35; call 826-5750 or visit www.themarsh.org. (Molly Rhodes) Reviewed June 4.

Attack of the Killer-B Movies: Sean Owens stages The Blob, The Birds, and The Bad Seed. Starting June 13. Fridays, Saturdays. Continues through June 22. Exit Theatre, 156 Eddy (at Taylor), 673-3847.

Between Two Winters: Work by the MFA Ensemble of Dell'Arte International School of Physical Theatre. June 13-15. Magic Theatre, Fort Mason, Bldg. D, Marina & Buchanan, 441-8822.

The BrEaST of Sherry Glaser: The founder of Breasts Not Bombs sets out to save the world. Thursdays-Saturdays. Continues through June 14. The Marsh, 1062 Valencia (at 22nd St.), 826-5750.

Buried Child: Sam Shepard's drama about a Midwestern family. Thursdays-Saturdays. Continues through June 12. Actors Theatre San Francisco, 855 Bush (at Taylor), 345-1287.

Darren Romeo, The Voice of Magic: Romeo combines magic with music. Through July 13. Post Street Theatre, 450 Post (at Mason), 321-2900.

"The Golden Girls: The Gay Episodes": w/ Heklina, Cookie Dough, Matthew Martin, Pollo DelMar, Mike Finn, Laurie Bushman. Starting June 12. Thursdays-Saturdays, 7 & 9 p.m. Continues through June 28. $20. Mama Calizo's Voice Factory, 1519 Mission (at Van Ness), 690-9410.

The Group: Don headphones for this "enacted self-empowerment workshop." Thursdays-Saturdays, 8 & 10:30 p.m. Continues through June 14. $15. www.dodeska.com. Climate Theater, 285 Ninth St. (at Folsom), 263-0830.

Hairspray: John Waters's musical, directed by Matt Lenz. Tuesdays-Sundays. Continues through June 22. Orpheum Theater, 1192 Market (at Eighth St.), 512-7770.

Heist a Crow: Sean Kelly's romp about death, directed by Stuart Bousel. Fridays, Saturdays. Continues through June 26. Stage Werx, 533 Sutter (at Powell).

It's Murder Mary: Murder mystery set in a Russian River resort. Wednesdays-Sundays. Continues through June 28. New Conservatory Theatre Center, 25 Van Ness (at Market), 861-8972.

Jack and the Beanstalk: Thrillpeddlers' Theatre of the Ridiculous Revival stages a comedy by Charles Ludlam. Starting June 15. Sundays. Continues through June 29. The Hypnodrome, 575 10th St. (at Bryant), 248-1900.

Jihad Jones and the Kalashnikov Babes: Yussef El Guindi's comedy about Hollywood, directed by Mark Routhier. Thursdays-Sundays. Continues through June 29. The Thick House, 1695 18th St. (at Arkansas), 401-8081.

Katya: From Russia with Love: Ms. Smirnoff-Skyy brings her operatic cocktail cabaret to NCTC's Theatre 3. Fridays, Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 2 p.m. Continues through June 28. $18-$40. New Conservatory Theatre Center, 25 Van Ness (at Market), 861-8972.

"Last Rites for the Lost Republic: New College 1973-2008": Featuring new work by Zaza Dance Theater, MamaCoAtl, and Tony Bravo. June 13-14, 8 p.m. $10. New College, 777 Valencia (at 19th St.), 437-3465.

Roberto Devereux: A Pocket Opera production of Gaetano Donizetti's opera. Starting June 14. Saturdays, Sundays. Continues through June 21. www.pocketopera.org. Legion of Honor, 100 34th Ave. (near Clement), 863-3330.

Men in Uniform: Examines the men under the attire. Wednesdays-Sundays. Continues through July 6. New Conservatory Theatre Center, 25 Van Ness (at Market), 861-8972.

Point Break LIVE!: Stage adaptation of the 1991 Keanu Reeves/Patrick Swayze blockbuster. Fridays, Saturdays, 7:30 & 10 p.m. Continues through June 21. $25. www.pointbreaklive.com. Xenodrome, 1320 Potrero (at 25th St.), 285-9366.