Though the 42nd Street Project has effectively cleaned the pornography off a large section of Times Square, porn is thriving in the downtown theatre district -- Making Porn, that is, the gay comedy written and directed by Ronnie Larsen. This comedy about the gay pornographic film industry will celebrate its first anniversary, May 16, at Off-Broadway's Actor's Playhouse in Greenwich Village.

Through May 18, the lead role is being played by Sonny Markham, whose films include Maverick and Trying It On For Size. Joining him in the comedy are John Cantwell, Mitch Ellis, Joanna Keylock, Peter Macchia and Paul Michael.

Author and director Ronnie Larsen lensed the documentary, Shooting Porn, (screened at the London Gay & Lesbian film festival in March) featuring people he's met in the porn industry while mounting his play in various venues, such as Seattle and Washington DC.

Making Porn is Larsen's second play (the first was Scenes From My Love Life, soon to be filmed) and he's directed it in Chicago (the world-premiere), L.A., Palm Springs, Sacramento, San Diego and now Manhattan. Larsen's next play is Talk Show, which opens at L.A.'s Zephyr Theatre April 23. The show was workshopped at NY's Actors' Playhouse and will be fully staged there in the fall. Other Larsen projects include a musical about Robert Mapplethorpe and a play about Hollywood actors, agents and hustlers.

For tickets ($30-$35) and information on Making Porn, call (212) 239-6200. -- By David Lefkowitz