Manitoba Theatre Centre's 8th Master Playwright Festival and tribute to playwright David Mamet, featuring 13 plays by local theatre companies (individual listings follow), opens today, various venues, to Feb. 20; $59 for a MametPass by calling 942-6537.

David Mamet's no-holds-barred court case where you never really know who or what is on trial, presented by University of Manitoba's Black Hole Theatre Company, 8 p.m. today, tomorrow, Monday and Wednesday and 7 p.m. Saturday and Tuesday, University College; $11, students/ seniors $9 at 474-6880.

David Mamet's fast-paced riff on hack writing that simultaneously scoffs at and celebrates the power of language, presented by The Incompletely Strangled Theatre Company, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Prairie Theatre Exchange's Colin Jackson Studio; $12, students/seniors $10.