The New Conservatory Theatre continues its Celebrating Women Festival with the 15th anniversary production of Kathy Najimy and Mo Gaffney's Parallel Lives June 10-July 31, opening June 19. Galatean Players Ensemble Theatre Artistic Director and playwright Kathryn G. McCarty (The Fitting Room) directs.

Beginning with the creation of the world by two Supreme Beings, Lives follows two actresses playing men and women traveling through modern life's little rituals like teenaged dating, family funerals and the mating dance at a country western bar.

Gaffney and Najimy won OBIE and Ace Awards for the then titled The Kathy and Mo Show: Parallel Lives. Najimy most recently starred on NBC's "Veronica's Closet." Gaffney appeared on two seasons of "Absolutely Fabulous" and hosted three seasons of "Women Aloud!" on Comedy Central.

Tickets are $16-$10 and available by calling (415) 861-8972.

* Also due at NCT: Seventy-four-year-old Berkeley artist Betty McAfee will give her multi media presentation Wake Up! Aug. 5-22. Through poetry, storytelling, visual images and music from various eras in her life, McAfee tells the story of 70-plus years of political, historical and personal experiences. Wake Up! has been performed in the Bay Area and across the country.

Obie Award-winning writer Holly Hughes will premiere her Preaching to the Perverted, Sept 8-25. In this performance piece, the lesbian David Gergen called a "threat to national security," reports on her recent appearance before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Subscriptions ($40-$24) are available by calling the NCTC box office at (415) 861-8972. The New Conservatory Theatre Center is located at 25 Van Ness Avenue.

-- By Christine Ehren