This Week in Theatre: Submerged

Match the quote to the author: (a) "I really believe, or want to believe, really I am nuts, otherwise I'll never be sane;" (b) "Are you entertained by deep despair?" One is from the Daniel Johnston song "Love Enchanted," and the other was uttered by Allen Ginsberg to Jack Kerouac. Which is which? If you're in the mood to do some navel gazing, check out these shows.

Featuring everything from movie posters to manuscripts, "On the Road with the Beats" at the Harry Ransom Center "explores the lives and works of the artists who made up the Beat Generation." The biggest draw will likely be Jack Kerouac's famous On The Road scroll manuscript (3/3-6/1), but accompanying the exhibition is also Beat Voices, four brief plays that delve further into the doings of Peter Orlovsky, Diane di Prima, William S. Burroughs, and Alfred Leslie. The plays run Sat-Sun @1 & 3pm until the exhibition closes on August 3.

For a musical treat, check out Speeding Motorcycle at Zach Scott Theater. Based on the work of Daniel Johnston, this rock opera tells the tale of Joe the Boxer's unrequited love for an undertaker's girlfriend. That's the gist, but since this is Johnston, the story goes deeper. Jeanne Claire van Ryzin says it's "a look at the songwriter’s unconscious as he struggled with mental illness, creativity, love and a knack for writing songs that just flat out don’t sound quite like anyone else’s." Likely intense, and certainly unique, we're betting this production won't disappoint. Through March 23, Thu-Sat @8pm / Sun @2:30pm.

For a complete listing of the rest of this week's offerings, check the Ist List.