Rawlings' caustic style belies his origin as a one-time heckler of comedians (he was notorious in his native Washington, D.C., for being funnier than anyone onstage), but Murphy is the secret weapon. He's hip, funny, self-deprecating and a gifted storyteller. In fact, he has all the elements that his more-famous brother seems to have lost somewhere in the past decade. Murphy and Rawlings share the stage with Bill Burr (a regular on Chappelle's Show as well). Tickets for "I'm Rich Beeyatch!" are $20 to $25. --Paul Friswold
Don't Call 'Em Cartoons
The Animation Show is art
Hooray, animation. Padding downstairs in your footed pajamas, lingering over a bowl of Froot Loops and watching cartoons until your eyes go dry: Is there anything better? Surprisingly, yes. The Animation Show 2005 brings the most wildly imaginative animated shorts from around the world to the Tivoli Theatre (6350 Delmar Boulevard, University City). Co-producers Mike Judge (Beavis & Butt-Head, King of the Hill) and Don Hertzfeldt (the Palme d'Or-winning Billy's Balloon) have selected short films in such media as 3D animation (Poland's Fallen Art), stop-motion (Australia's Ward 13) and rotoscoping (Canada's When the Day Breaks, which also utilizes good ol' 2D). See all twelve shorts for just $8 from Friday, March 11, through Thursday, March 17 (call 314-995-6270 for showtimes). But please don't wear your footed pajamas, no matter how cute your mom says you look in them. -- Brooke Foster
Straight to Gay Video
Making Porn in St. Louis
As one would hope with a title like Making Porn, Ronnie Larsen's play does indeed contain strong language and nudity. There's no pussyfooting around any of the lascivious details in Larsen's off-Broadway production about six people who work in the early-'80s gay-porn industry of San Francisco. Arthur Mack is a gay-porn impresario who needs a star for his new flick, Cops. Jack Hawk is a straight, unemployed actor who decides to act for the "other team" to make some much-needed money. Understandably, Jack's wife, Linda, is less than excited about this career move, but what can you do? Further troubles arise when Arthur's lover falls for some of the talent. Who knew making dirty movies could be so complicated? Making Porn plays at SPOT (4146 Manchester Avenue; 314-371-1330) at 8 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, with 7 and 10 p.m. shows on Saturday and 7 p.m. shows on Sunday (March 9 through 27). Tickets are $25 to $30, and priority seating is available for $5 more (but keep your hands to yourself, front row). -- Paul Friswold
Beary Good Art
Artists are coming to town to teach (Friday, March 11) and show off their art (Saturday, March 12), but these aren't your average painter-sculptor-whatever artists (yawn) -- they are teddy-bear artists. And they're all congregating at the St. Louis Marriott West (660 Maryville Centre Drive) for the "Meet Me in St. Louie" teddy-bear show and sale. For $1 to $6, browse the bears -- er, art -- from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday. And to pre-register for a Friday class (required) or for more information, call 815-464-3470 or visit www.abcunlimitedproductions.com. -- Alison Sieloff
