San Francisco's Magic Theatre is not the first to notice a certain scientific trend on current stages. After all, Copenhagen, a debate between Danish physicist Niels Bohr and his German collegue Werner Heisenberg, and Proof, the tale of a deceased mathmatician's daughter and a very difficult mathmatical proof, have won top prizes in New York City. But the Magic may be the first to capilatize on the resurgence in left-brained theatre with their Wednesday night reading series, Science on Stage, running July 18-Aug. 8 at the Exploritorium. The plays, three comedies and one drama, include Matthew Well's Joe Orton-esque romance Schrodinger's Girlfriend (set for the Magic's 2001-02 season), Robert Clyman's tough look at the ethics of medical research The Secret Order, Dan O'Brien's farcial trip through the creation of the motion picture with Thomas Edison, Moving Picture and Mojie Crigler's comedy about teenagers and nuclear science, Fzzn Grrl. Kenn Watt will direct Schrodinger's Girlfriend; Jessica Heidt, The Secret Order and Mark Jackson, Moving Picture.

Tickets are $10. For reservations, call (415) 441-8822. The Magic Theatre is on the web at http://www.magictheatre.org.

— By Christine Ehren