What's wrong with 9-year-old Jesse? His teacher says it's ADD, his dad says he's just a boy, and his mom is on a quest for answers. "Distracted" offers a hilarious and poignant look at the challenges ... [more+]

What's wrong with 9-year-old Jesse? His teacher says it's ADD, his dad says he's just a boy, and his mom is on a quest for answers. "Distracted" offers a hilarious and poignant look at the challenges of modern family life. As we follow Jesse's mom through meetings with psychologists, homeopaths and environmental physicians, both actors and audience members are forced to grapple with the question: Are we so tuned in to our 24/7 information-rich world that we've tuned out what really matters? Enjoy "Distracted" at the Bus Barn Theater in Los Altos. [less-]

This new adaptation of the 1934 James M. Cain crime novel that became a famous film noir loses none of its gritty passion and power in this world-premiere production at The Stage in San Jose. A sadoma... [more+]

This new adaptation of the 1934 James M. Cain crime novel that became a famous film noir loses none of its gritty passion and power in this world-premiere production at The Stage in San Jose. A sadomasochistic affair between a drifter and a sultry waitress at a lonely roadside diner morphs into a plot to kill her unsuspecting husband, but then betrayal, fate -- and the law -- intervene, leading to some devastating twists and turns for the doomed couple. [less-]

The Greeks may have set the template for epics, but American history has epics of its own. "Father Comes Home From the Wars", like the Greek tragedies that inspired it, is the story of a warrior setti... [more+]

The Greeks may have set the template for epics, but American history has epics of its own. "Father Comes Home From the Wars", like the Greek tragedies that inspired it, is the story of a warrior setting out for battle and then making the long journey home. Set in the Civil War, this explosively powerful new trilogy by Pulitzer Prize winner Suzan-Lori Parks ("Topdog/Underdog") at San Francisco's A.C.T. follows the slave, Hero, who agrees to fight for the Confederacy in exchange for his freedom, traveling from West Texas to the Confederate battlefield and back home again. Described as Parks' "finest work yet" by "The New York Times", the "Father Comes Home From the Wars" trilogy -- which was a Pulitzer Prize finalist -- is a masterful blend of the serious and the comic that is at once an epic drama, a moving personal story and a thoughtful meditation on liberty and loyalty. [less-]

"Head Over Heels" is the fearlessly fresh new musical comedy from music legends The Go-Go's and the award-winning visionaries that rocked Broadway with "Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Next To Normal, Amer... [more+]

"Head Over Heels" is the fearlessly fresh new musical comedy from music legends The Go-Go's and the award-winning visionaries that rocked Broadway with "Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Next To Normal, American Idiot, Spring Awakening" and "Avenue Q". An inspired mash-up of posh and punk, "Head Over Heels" is an unpredictable Elizabethan romp about a royal family that must race to keep an oracle's prophecy of doom from coming to fruition. In order to save their beloved kingdom, the family embarks on an extravagant journey full of mistaken identities, love triangles, sexual awakening and self-discovery. Set to the iconic pop music of The Go-Go's -- including the hit songs "We Got The Beat," "Our Lips Are Sealed," "Vacation" and many more -- "Head Over Heels" delivers an experience unlike anything you've ever seen. Get your tickets now so you can be in the audience for this pre-Broadway engagement at the Curran in San Francisco. [less-]

Are Connie and Tristan really in love, or is it just the antidepressants talking? As volunteers in a clinical trial for a new super-drug, their sudden and illicit romance forces the supervising doctor... [more+]

Are Connie and Tristan really in love, or is it just the antidepressants talking? As volunteers in a clinical trial for a new super-drug, their sudden and illicit romance forces the supervising doctors to intervene and confront the ethics of what they're doing. Winner of the UK Critics' Circle Award for Best New Play, "The Effect" tackles our pill-popping culture with humor and scintillating drama. See what "The New York Times" called "a knockout, a ravishment of the senses," at San Francisco Playhouse. [less-]

Raisel Rabinowitz -- also known as Bubbie -- recalls her life in the Yiddish theater during the time of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. In "The People in the Picture", she relives tales of "The Warsaw Gan... [more+]

Raisel Rabinowitz -- also known as Bubbie -- recalls her life in the Yiddish theater during the time of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. In "The People in the Picture", she relives tales of "The Warsaw Gang," a ragtag troupe of actors barely surviving, but finding solace in making life a little less unbearable for their fellow Jews amidst the pogroms and poverty of Poland in the 1930s. By telling her stories to her granddaughter Jenny, she rips you from the present and throws you back into a time when being who you truly were could mean mortal peril. Prepare to experience heartbreak and hope in equal measures when this musical makes its West Coast premiere at San Jose's 3 Below. [less-]

A hilarious and heartwarming portrait of love in a nontraditional family, "La Cage aux Folles" has been one of Broadway's biggest hits for more than 30 years, earning nine Tony Awards, including Best ... [more+]

A hilarious and heartwarming portrait of love in a nontraditional family, "La Cage aux Folles" has been one of Broadway's biggest hits for more than 30 years, earning nine Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Revival. This boisterous and vibrant musical comedy invites you into the lives of Georges and his lover Albin, who moonlights as Zaza at the couple's popular St. Tropez drag nightclub. Problems arise when Georges' 25-year-old son comes home with his fiancée ... and her conservative parents. Watch as the flamboyant couple's family dynamic gets hilariously turned upside down. Written by Harvey Fierstein, the musical features beloved Jerry Herman tunes like "The Best of Times Is Now" and "I Am What I Am." Get in on the wig-flying fun as "La Cage aux Folles" celebrates love, romance and being true to who you really are at Sunnyvale Theatre. [less-]

A series of stunning pieces make their way to the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts to challenge and enlighten the Bay Area. With Smuin, ballet choreographer extraordinaire Helen Pickett's sensual and p... [more+]

A series of stunning pieces make their way to the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts to challenge and enlighten the Bay Area. With Smuin, ballet choreographer extraordinaire Helen Pickett's sensual and powerful "Oasis" is set to an original score by Emmy award-winning "House of Cards" composer Jeff Beal. Inspired by the simplicity of nature, Pickett offers challenge and exploration to both dancers and audiences alike, igniting the stage with passionate energy. Choreographer-in-Residence Amy Seiwert's visually stunning "Falling Up" offers an in-depth look at strength and trust between partners. Set to a lush piano score by Johannes Brahms, Seiwert's signature sculptural movement and intimate partnering enhance the energy of contemporary ballet, resulting in a delicate creation. Last but not least, master dance maker Val Caniparoli returns to Smuin to create a world premiere to conclude the 24th season. [less-]

Adam Newman is a New Hampshire-born, Georgia-schooled, ex-Brooklyn-based, now L.A.- based comedian who has performed stand-up on "Letterman", "John Oliver's New York Stand-Up Show" and his own episode... [more+]

Adam Newman is a New Hampshire-born, Georgia-schooled, ex-Brooklyn-based, now L.A.- based comedian who has performed stand-up on "Letterman", "John Oliver's New York Stand-Up Show" and his own episode of Comedy Central's "The Half Hour". He has also appeared on MTV's "The CollegeHumor Show", HBO's "Last Week Tonight", "The Tyra Banks Show" (weird!) and is a regular contestant on "@midnight". Most recently, Adam can be seen on "Silicon Valley" Showtime's "I'm Dying Up Here". Catch this busy stand-up when he headlines at Rooster T. Feathers Comedy Club in Sunnyvale. [less-]

One of the most unforgettable romantic stories ever written, "The Bridges of Madison County" first captured the nation's attention as a best-selling novel, then became an award-winning film, and is no... [more+]

One of the most unforgettable romantic stories ever written, "The Bridges of Madison County" first captured the nation's attention as a best-selling novel, then became an award-winning film, and is now a two-time Tony Award-winning Broadway musical. Francesca Johnson, a beautiful Italian woman who married an American soldier to flee war-torn Italy, looks forward to a few days alone on her Iowa farm while her family heads to the 1965 State Fair. When ruggedly handsome National Geographic photographer Robert Kincaid pulls into her driveway seeking directions, a chance encounter becomes a four-day whirlwind romance caught between decision and desire -- offering a second chance at so much more. This sweeping romance about the roads we travel, the doors we open and the bridges we dare to cross will leave you breathless when TheatreWorks brings it to life on the stage of the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts. [less-]

Young socialite Catherine Holly is traumatized and committed after witnessing her cousin Sebastian's violent death on a trip to Europe. Meanwhile, Sebastian's mother, trying to conceal her son's homos... [more+]

Young socialite Catherine Holly is traumatized and committed after witnessing her cousin Sebastian's violent death on a trip to Europe. Meanwhile, Sebastian's mother, trying to conceal her son's homosexuality and the events of her son's death, tries to have Catherine lobotomized so she can't tell the truth about Sebastian's demise. Elizabeth Taylor, Katharine Hepburn and Montgomery Clift famously starred in the 1959 adaptation of Tennessee Williams' poetic Southern gothic play. Now you can witness Northside Theatre Company's production of Williams' powerful "Suddenly, Last Summer", rife with mid-century denial and poignant sexual code, at Olinder Theatre in San Jose. [less-]

Marquee productions feature emerging artists from New York to the Bay Area and beyond. This spring, don't miss what many consider to be the perfect musical comedy when Children's Musical Theater's Mar... [more+]

Marquee productions feature emerging artists from New York to the Bay Area and beyond. This spring, don't miss what many consider to be the perfect musical comedy when Children's Musical Theater's Marquee Productions presents the Tony Award-winning classic "Guys and Dolls"! Nathan Detroit needs some serious dough to keep his floating crap game afloat. And when he makes a bet with high-roller Sky Masterson, his problems seem to be solved. But now these gentlemen have to decide if they're ready to gamble on love! Based on Damon Runyon's short stories written in the 1920s and 1930s, the timeless humor of "Guys and Dolls" is as relatable today as it was then. The flawed characters of Runyon's beloved Broadway will remind you how much fun it is to see a top-notch revival of a consummate American musical! Featuring some of Frank Loesser's most seminal work, including the hilarious "Adelaide's Lament," the smooth "Luck Be a Lady" and the irrepressible "Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat," check out "Guys and Dolls" at San Jose's Montgomery Theater. [less-]

Vanya and Sonia have never left their Bucks County childhood home, while their sister Masha has been gallivanting around the world as a successful actress. But in "Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike"... [more+]

Vanya and Sonia have never left their Bucks County childhood home, while their sister Masha has been gallivanting around the world as a successful actress. But in "Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike", a surprise visit from Masha and her latest boy toy Spike throws the normally quiet household into utter and hilarious upheaval. Its residents and visitors get swept up in an intoxicating stew of lust, rivalry, regret and the sudden possibility of escape. Christopher Durang's side-splitting satire pokes fun at Chekhov's classic dramas, but you don't need to know anything about Russian lit to appreciate the wackiness of this farce now onstage at Half Moon Bay's Coastal Repertory Theatre. [less-]

Similar to "Whose Line Is It Anyway?", this fast-paced short-form improv show plays a series of improvised games and scenes based on audience suggestions. Laugh Track City is a great opportunity for t... [more+]

Similar to "Whose Line Is It Anyway?", this fast-paced short-form improv show plays a series of improvised games and scenes based on audience suggestions. Laugh Track City is a great opportunity for the cast and audience alike to have a fun and hilarious time at Made Up Theatre. [less-]

The University Orchestra is Santa Clara University's largest instrumental performing ensemble, and performs concerts featuring great symphonic works from the classical to the contemporary in the majes... [more+]

The University Orchestra is Santa Clara University's largest instrumental performing ensemble, and performs concerts featuring great symphonic works from the classical to the contemporary in the majesty of the Mission Santa Clara de Asis. Their latest concert, "As the Earth Turns", will feature music by Franz Joseph Haydn, Moondog and Pauline Oliveros. [less-]

Improv is comedy without a net, where daredevil performers depend not only on the audience for suggestions, but also on their fellow performers for support and Lady Luck for inspiration. Done right, i... [more+]

Improv is comedy without a net, where daredevil performers depend not only on the audience for suggestions, but also on their fellow performers for support and Lady Luck for inspiration. Done right, it's not just hilarious -- it's astonishing. The American Improv Theatre (AIT) Players do it right. Come laugh and marvel as the Players spin entire scenes from suggestions. The show begins with some silly, quick-moving improv games (Think "Whose Line Is It Anyway?"). Then the Players raise the stakes with longer, more connected scenes so good they seem scripted. But they're not: Everything that happens at Black Cat Licorice Theater is discovered in the moment. [less-]

When she was a young girl, Nana Mouskouri's parents could only afford to send one of their two musically gifted daughters to an elite conservatory in Athens. When they asked the girls' tutor who to pi... [more+]

When she was a young girl, Nana Mouskouri's parents could only afford to send one of their two musically gifted daughters to an elite conservatory in Athens. When they asked the girls' tutor who to pick, she told them that while her sister had the better voice, Nana had the true inner need to sing. Over the course of an astonishing 60-year career, Mouskouri has proved her tutor right again and again, recording more than 1600 songs in 19 different languages, from Greek and English to Korean, Hebrew and Maori, all while selling more than 200 million albums worldwide -- second only to Madonna. Join this polyglot pop sensation for a celebration of her 134th album when her "Forever Young" tour comes to San Francisco's Palace of Fine Arts Theatre. [less-]

Behind a secret door near the intersection of North Beach and Chinatown lies a dimly lit subterranean realm teeming with colorful characters and overlapping storylines. This is "The Speakeasy", an int... [more+]

Behind a secret door near the intersection of North Beach and Chinatown lies a dimly lit subterranean realm teeming with colorful characters and overlapping storylines. This is "The Speakeasy", an interactive theatrical experience that will transport you to a 1920s San Francisco watering hole full of bootleggers, bouncers, war veterans and barflies. As you wander throughout the multi-room environment, sipping cocktails, playing casino games, or simply observing, you'll stumble across all manner of conversations and interactions as a complex narrative web unfolds. Never the same thing twice, "The Speakeasy" is a meta-theatrical event you'll want to see again and again. [less-]

"Hamilton" creator Lin-Manuel Miranda's "In the Heights" tells the universal story of a vibrant community in New York's Washington Heights neighborhood -- a place where the coffee from the corner bode... [more+]

"Hamilton" creator Lin-Manuel Miranda's "In the Heights" tells the universal story of a vibrant community in New York's Washington Heights neighborhood -- a place where the coffee from the corner bodega is light and sweet, the windows are always open, and the breeze carries the rhythm of three generations of music. It's a community on the brink of change, full of hopes, dreams and pressures, where the biggest struggles can be deciding which traditions you take with you, and which ones you leave behind. Don't miss this acclaimed musical at the Hammer Theatre Center in San Jose. [less-]

Vocalists Steve March-Tormé (son of Mel) and Leigh Vance join the Mancini Tribute Orchestra for a salute to the two jazz-pop greats at the Fox Theatre in Redwood City. Called "seductive and effortles... [more+]

Vocalists Steve March-Tormé (son of Mel) and Leigh Vance join the Mancini Tribute Orchestra for a salute to the two jazz-pop greats at the Fox Theatre in Redwood City. Called "seductive and effortless" by the "L.A. Times", acclaimed swing and jazz vocalist March-Tormé will perform some of his father's most famous recordings, like "The Christmas Song", "Lullaby of Birdland", "Lulu's Back in Town" and many more, while Vance will take on many of Henry Mancini's greatest hits. They'll both be backed by the Mancini Tribute Orchestra, who'll entertain with some of the composer's famed instrumentals, including "The Pink Panther Theme," "Days of Wine & Roses," "Moon River" and "The Peter Gunn Theme." [less-]