Did you know that Carl Lumbly —that is, M.A.N.T.I.S./Agent Dixon/Martian Manhunter is also a Bay Area theatre standby? (Of course you did!) Tonight, see Lumbly and his colleagues in the first preview performance of 36 Stories by Sam Shepard, "the journey of a lone writer traveling the great American desert highways."

Characters our protagonist meets along the way include a talking severed head, a dangerous female mercenary, and a man-sized hawk (looks like that's Lumbly, from the photo above). So, pretty much your standard road trip.

Director Amy Kossow spent a year mulling Shepard's collections of poetry and fiction, and the result is this entirely new theatrical adaptation based on 36 works by the writer. "Shepard himself has read and given us his blessing to go forward," event organizers say.

The show begins previews tonight, and runs until June 22.

What: 36 Stories by Sam Shepard
When: Wednesday and Thursday shows are at 7 PM, Friday's and Saturday's are at 8 PM
Where: Z Below, 470 Florida Street
Cost: Preview nights (May 21-23) are $20, tickets thereafter are $35-55. Buy online here.