Deb Margolin will present her latest performance piece, Carthieves! Joyrides! at the Public Theater's cabaret spot, Joe's Pub, on April 15 at 8:30 PM. Margolin had a critical hit earlier this year at P.S. 122 with her play, Three Seconds in the Key, in which she also starred. The work was originally commissioned by the Public Theater.

Basketball and Hodgkins disease were the unusual cornerstones of Three Seconds in the Key, which ran at P.S. 122, Feb. 1-15. In the drama, which was directed by Lee Gundersheimer, Margolin — who drew on her real-life struggle with Hodgkins and her ardent fascination with the New York Knicks — starred as a woman who, with her son, attempts to relieve the strain of her ailment by focusing on the thrilling world of professional basketball.

Margolin is best known as an antic, comic solo artist but has been writing multi-character plays for some years now. Among her past efforts are Critical Mass and Bringing the Fishermen Home. Three Seconds was workshopped at New York University, where Margolin's artistic residency included playing with the NYU women's basketball team.

Tickets for Carthieves! are $12. Joe's Pub is located at 425 Lafayette St. For more information, call (212) 239-6200.

* Other upcoming Joe's Pub events include: • A performance by Penny Arcade, April 13 and 14 at 8:30 PM
• The BETTY Project, a work-in-progress by the rock band/performance act Betty, April 16 at 8:30 PM
• "8 Is Enough," eight new musical works created over a 24-hour period at the O'Neill Theater Center, April 23 at 8:30 PM

—By Robert Simonson