Thousand Years Waiting is a new play with three simultaneous realities: present-day New York City, Japan circa 1000, and inside The Tale of Genji. An Otome Bunraku puppet (a rare art form originating in 17th-century traditional Japanese puppetry) plays the role of a timeless spirit. Text by Chiori Miyagawa, direction and puppetry conception by Sonoko Kawahara, music by Bruce Odland. Through March 12, PS 122, 150 First Avenue at 9th Street; ps122.org.

In Christine Jorgensen Reveals, Bradford Louryk brings his lip-synch recreation of this rare recorded interview with Christine Jorgenson, the subject of the world’s first sex-change operation, to life. Directed by Josh Hecht. Tickets available at ticketcentral.com, 212 279 4200, or at Theatre Row, 416 W. 42nd Street. Christinereveals.com. Through April 1. Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays at 8 PM

Urban Stages premieres Bulrusher by Helen Merrill award-winner Eisa Davis. A take on the story of Moses, recast in the eccentric Northern California village. Directed by Leah C. Gardiner. Urban Stages Theater, 259 W. 30th (between 7th & 8th). Opens March 4, Tues-Sat 8 PM, Sat & Sun 2 PM, tickets $18, Smarttix.com or 212 868 4444.

Phenomenon presented by HERE & Nerve Ensemble. A multi-media theatrical event set in 1980, 24 hours prior to the eruption of Mt. St. Helens, exploring the interface between mundane moments and grand-scale natural disaster. HERE Arts Center (145 Sixth Avenue). March 3-25: Thursday – Monday, 8:30 PM. No performance Monday, March 20. Tickets $18. SmartTix at 212 868 4444, here.org, or at the door.

On March 4 and 11, 4 PM, Trav S.D., author of No Applause, Just Throw Money: The Book That Made Vaudeville Famous, will speak on Vaudeville in Brooklyn back in the day, aided and abetted by the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus and Baraka The Belly Dancer. Brooklyn Public Library, main branch, Grand Army Plaza. Free.

The Brooklyn Museum of Art’s First Saturday presents the premiere of a new shadow puppet play for family audiences as a part of its Mardi Gras celebration by Drama of Works/2 Punks Puppet Theatre: Louie’s Fabulous Mardi Gras Adventure (or gumbo isn’t gumbo without the okra). March 4th, 6 PM; 200 Eastern Parkway (at Washington Avenue). Free. Tickets available beginning at 4pm. BMA.org or Dramaofworks.com.

nascent works presents a reading of Local Story, a tale set under a blank billboard, between a highway and a river, somewhere amongst the developing, disappearing American landscape. By Kristen Palmer, directed by Tim Farrell, 7:30 PM, March 6, on the 5th floor of Playwrights Horizons, 416 W. 42nd St (between 9th & 10th Aves). Call 212 473 3796 for reservations. Free.

The Women’s Studies Program at Hunter College and The V-Day Hunter 2006 Team celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8, 12-3 PM, by saying no to war at The Cabaret For Peace With Justice. At the Hunter West 1st floor lobby area, SW corner of E. 68th St. & Lexington. Free.

The New Group presents the world premiere of The Music Teacher, a play/opera with words by Wallace Shawn and music by Allen Shawn. Opens March 6 at the Minetta Lane Theatre (18 Minetta Lane). Monday–Saturday at 8 PM and Saturday at 2 PM (special Sunday performance on April 9, 3 PM). Tickets are $50 through ticketmaster.com, 212 307 4100, or at the Minetta Lane Theatre Box Office. Thenewgroup.org.

Partial Comfort Productions presents Baby Girl by Edith Freni, directed by Padraic Lillis, at Center Stage, 48 West 21st Street (between 5th and 6th). March 10-April 1. The play charts a young woman’s desperate 24-hour journey to save herself and her baby as various enemies, both old and new, appear. Partialcomfort.org.

Stretch your definition of theater at Time’s Up’s Prospect Park Moonlight Bike Ride, meeting March 11 at 9 PM at Grand Army Plaza, the northern entrance of Prospect Park where Flatbush Ave., Eastern Pkwy, Union St. and Prospect Park West all intersect. More info at times-up.org.

Handicap Or Asset: The Advantages And Ease Of Working With The Disabled; a panel discussion with theater artists and professionals Stephanie Barton-Farcas, Christine Bruno, Anita Hollander, June Rachelson-Ospa, Ike Schambelin, and Garrett Zuercher. March 21 at 7:30 PM Duffy Theater, 1627 Broadway at 50th Street, 2nd floor (handicap/elevator entrance around the corner on 50th Street). Free.

Little America, a reading of a new play by Deron Bos, directed by Kip Fagan. A southern gothic rock fable that takes place two decades ago in a college town in Georgia. Part of the Soho Think Tank’s 6th Floor Series. March 26, 7 PM. 64 Wooster Street, 6th Floor. Free.

The Rapid Response Team is a group of writers, directors, actors and tunesmiths who come together once a month to make new short theaterworks based on the week’s news. Tuesday, March 21st, 8 PM, Galapagos, 70 North 6th St., Brooklyn. $7 at the door. Rapidresponseteam.org

Please send listings for shows and theater events running during the month of May to: Jason Grote at [email protected] by April 20.