WEDNESDAY AUGUST 25
Art
'THE FOUNDING FATHERS'
Through September 30, ABC No Rio, 156 Rivington Street, 212.254.3697
Remember that Jefferson quote about a country preserving its liberty by warning rulers of its spirit of resistance? Curators Vandana Jain and Mike Estabrook investigate revolutionary American principles in this group show, mining the perversion of those ideals in our era of freedom fries and weapons of mass terror. FreeTILLMAN
'SIX FEET UNDER: MAKE NICE'
Through September 4, White Box, 525 West 26th Street, 212.714.2347
Nine artists or collectives, selected by nine curators, mock ridiculous television commercials featuring a smiley Ed Koch urging New Yorkers to "make nice" with the GOP suits. Each abbreviated show will be viewed through White Box's sidewalk-level window or in the adjacent window-gallery, (VIDEOBOX). FreeTILLMAN
Panel
'TALKING BACK TO THE BACKLASH: A FORUM ON BUSH'S WAR ON WOMEN'
At 7, CUNY Graduate Center, Proshansky Auditorium, 365 Fifth Avenue, 212.817.7920
Laura Flanders, editor of the new anthology The W Effect: Bush's War on Women; former Ms. editor Jennifer Baumgardner; former Voice editor Richard Goldstein; Sean Cahill; and Maria Raha hold a forum on the deadly impact of Bush-era policies in war zones at home and abroad. Book signing to follow. FreeZIMMER
Protest
'AMBUSH!'
Through September 18, Van Brunt Gallery, 819 Washington Street, 212.243.8572
Attention lefty hackers: This anti-Bush group show offers computers from which code geeks are encouraged to "engage" the Patriot Act online. Artists will use the gallery as bunker, coordinating protests, making signs, organizing flash mobs, and more in a searing indictment with a no-bullshit message: Dude's gotta go. FreeTILLMAN
Theater
'BROWNTOWN'
Through August 28, Lucille Lortel Theatre, 121 Christopher Street, 212.279.4488, browntown-nyc.com
Omar, Malek, and Vijay are all aspiring actors who have no trouble finding work—as long as the part calls for a "brainwashed" terrorist. At an audition for the TV movie The Color of Terror, the three have to decide which is more important, money or self-respect. $15ASHMAN
'I'M GONNA KILL THE PRESIDENT!: A FEDERAL OFFENSE'
At 10, through August 28, and August 30 through September 4, secret location (meet on the south sidewalk of 10th Street, between avenues A and B), 212.802.7446
In this guerrilla comedy, slapstick, sight gags, and a crank call to the White House mix with sharp political commentary that'll raise your activist ire faster than you can say G. Dubya. "Agents" lead audience members to an undisclosed location where chanting the show's title makes for good RNC-protest practice. $15 (Republican delegates with ID get in free.)ASHMAN
'THE PASSION OF GEORGE W. BUSH'
At 5, Thursday at 8, and Sunday at 12:15 p.m., Pace University, Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts, 1 Pace Plaza, 212.279.4488
Why have we forsaken him? The world premiere of this musical delivers new answers to the question, chronicling Dubya from his humble beginnings to the moment of crisis that tests his faith (can prayer get him the popular vote this time?). $15HAINLINE
THURSDAY AUGUST 26
Art
'EXPERIMENTAL PARTY DISINFORMATION CENTER'
From 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., through Saturday, and Tuesday through September 4, LUXE Gallery, 24 West 57th Street, 212.404.7455, experimentalparty.org
This media installation aims to foster belief in the power of creativity and independent thinking—the sworn enemies of both the Bush administration and the major media outlets. Featured projects include such cheekily titled pieces as Media Deconstruction Kit (which alters TV news in real time) and Homeland Insecurity Advisory System (which rates the U.S. government's threat level). FreeRABER
Music
'THE ANTI-CONVENTION'
Tonight and Friday at 9, Warsaw, 261 Driggs Avenue, Brooklyn, livemusicresearch.com
Fueled by both the RNC and the war in Iraq, "The Anti-Convention" is a two-day concert protest with all proceeds benefiting anti-war organization Not in Our Name. Roots-reggae band John Brown's Body headline tonight with jazz-funk-soul trio Soulive following up on Friday. $20 in advance, $23 at the doorMAGLIOCCO
FRIDAY AUGUST 27
Film
'LINEUP: THE UNOFFICIAL PORTRAITS' AND 'BEFORE YOU DON'T VOTE'
From 5 to 7, Kitchen Art Gallery, 512 West 19th Street, 212.255.5793
The Kitchen bridges the art-politics gap with two screenings. Lineup is not surprised to discover that politicians often abuse public trust; Before You Don't Vote plays like a heart-to-heart about democracy between the viewer and a gaggle of artists and activists. FreePROVAN
Protest
CRITICAL MASS AGAINST THE RNC
At 7, Union Square North, 212.802.8222
Bicyclists come together to ride the ordinarily car-clogged streets of NYC. Although this event normally focuses on the deteriorating quality of life that cars create for the city, the arrival of Bush and his gang should bring a whole new meaning to the ride. HAINLINE
Theater
'AFTER THE STORM'
Tonight and Saturday at 7:30, and Sunday at 2:30, P.S.122, 150 First Avenue, 212.477.5288, ps122.org
Army veteran Heather Grayson's one-woman show explores the inherent costs of war through the eyes of a teenager sent to serve in the Gulf. $15 ($12 students, veterans, and groups)CHANDLER
'APOCALYPSE!: BOOK ONE'
Through Sunday, Puffin Room, 435 Broome Street, 212.279.4488
He's got long hair, a beard, and some kickass carpentry skills—and he's the Dems' only chance for victory. In this political comedy, the Son of God and the Son of Texas Oil battle for the presidency while the bumbling Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse sound the world's end. $15ASHMAN
'THE PET GOAT: A PENTAGON FABLE'
At 8, through Sunday, WAX, 205 North 7th Street, Brooklyn, 718.599.7997
Cheney's secret lover has washed ashore, Rummy's got a Nixon shrine, and Dubya can't remember the First Amendment. Burlesque babes Dirty Martini and the World Famous *BOB* star in this highly classified, morality-free variety show featuring performances by the Stanley Love Performance Group, Tigger, Nervous Cabaret, and more. $10ASHMAN
