ACT’s First Look

Exciting new work is on tap for American Conservatory Theater's First Look New Plays festival, which opened this week and continues through the end of the month at the Zeum Theater, Fourth and Howard streets, San Francisco.On Friday and Saturday (Jan. 19 and 20), Brainpeople hits the stage. Written by Jose Rivera _ a playwright (Cloud Tectonics at Berkeley Repertory Theatre) and a screenwriter (The Motorcycle Diaries) _ the play is a surreal dinner party in an unnamed totalitarian state where three women reckon with the complexities of their past.The festival concludes Jan. 26 and 27 with a star-studded sneak peek at Constance Congdon's world-premiere adaptation of Moliere's The Imaginary Invalid, the play that will also close ACT's 40th anniversary season in June. Mark Linn-Baker (TV's ``Perfect Strangers'') and Tony Award-winner Andrea Martin (My Favorite Year on Broadway, ``SCTV'' on TV) star. Seeing the divine Martin do just about anything is worth your time.Showtime is 8 p.m. for all performances and tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for seniors and students. Call (415) 749-2228 or visit www.act-sf.org for information.