Paul Bargetto isn’t like most theater festival curators. In fact, when planning undergroundzero, his third annual theater festival, he was more concerned with knowing the artists who were involved than vetting their work.

“The core of what I am doing with this festival is to make it artist driven,” says Bargetto. “Most of the projects in the festival I have not seen, but have known the artists in the past. “I ask them to make something they really want to make, which hasn’t been comprised by what my curatorial taste might be.”

He’s ended up with quite a diverse program. During the festival, which runs through July 26, the 14 performances range from burlesque, a dangerous book club meeting, an adaptation of Chekhov’s Ivanov and a shopping network catering to divorced families, just to name a few. Here are two not-to-be-missed standouts from this year’s lineup:

3!
July 22 and 24 at 9, July 23 and 25 at 7, and July 26 at 5
Known for her adaptations of film, Doris Mirescu uses multimedia tools to tell a story based on Ranier Werner Fassbinder’s 1979 film, The Third Generation. Expect all your usual ’70s adventure staples like cops, guns, sex and civil rights, as the cast of 14 actors interact with televisions, live video and music, in an attempt to “fit into the system.”

I Am Trying To Hear Myself
July 22 and 24 at 7pm, July 25 at 9pm, and July 26 at 2pm.
This spring Jack Ferver made headlines with his dance theater piece Death is Certain.  Now he is back with I Am Trying to Hear Myself, an erotic play about romance and what it can do to you. To tempt you further, this seasoned player will debut and exceprt from another new production of his, Vandam Goodbar.

>undergroundzero
Through July 26, PS 122, 150 1st Ave. (at E. 9th St.), 212-477-5829; times vary, $15