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The Z Spot Z Festival showcases some superb Bay Area theater By Tai Moses IT HARDLY SEEMS possible, but this year's Z Fest, co-presented by San Francisco's Z Space Studio and Actors' Theatre of Santa Cruz, has broadened its stylistic range even more than in previous years. Four original productions traverse cultural territory from the Harlem Renaissance to Cajun country, Louisiana. All performances (except the screening of Haiku Tunnel) will take place at the Actors' Theatre, 1001 Center St., Oct. 11-Nov. 18. Shows are Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8pm; Sunday at 7pm. Ticket prices are $15 general; $13 students and seniors. Thursday nights are "pay what you can" for unreserved seats only. To reserve tickets (they sell out fast!) call 877.779.7469. For more information, visit www.zspace.org. The Peoples' Violin The inimitable Charlie Varon tackles more than 20 roles in this haunting monologue, which is framed as a mock-documentary being filmed by a son about his father, a famous Holocaust authority. (Oct. 11-14.) The Blues I'm Playing The Word for Word theater company stages a faithful adaptation of Langston Hughes' jazz-era tale of Harlem and Paris in the 1920s. (Oct. 18-28.) Mauvais Temps In her one-woman piece, Cajun author/actor Anne Galjour inhabits the lives of several eccentric characters who live in a sultry Louisiana backwater. (Nov. 1-11.) Household Opera Composer/male soprano Randall Wong, soprano Judith Nelson and tenor Scott Whitaker perform a wry puppet opera about a toaster's unrequited love for an alarm clock. (Nov. 15-18.) [ Santa Cruz | Metroactive Central | Archives ]