From Halloween ghouls to the ghosts of Christmas past, just like that, holiday traditions are upon us. This week brings the first Nutcracker: a traveling production at the San Jose Center for Performing Arts on Nov. 9. But before we get into myriad Christmas Carols, Tchaikovsky suites and choral concerts, a couple of more edgy theatrical events are happening this week.
Contemporary Asian Theater Scene (aka CATS) will premiere a staged reading of a new work by award-winning playwright and director Jeffrey Lo, the recipient of CATS’ Inaugural 2024 Playwright Commission. (THE) Foundation—a new work about “love, power and truth”—will be performed at 7:30pm on Nov. 8. The play opens up on the night after the inauguration; according to a press release, “All of Silicon Valley’s royalty is gathered to celebrate. When a major CEO’s life partner asks, ‘What is happening to you?’—does the foundation they’ve built stand or crumble?” The staged reading stars Melissa Mei Jones and Drew B. Jones, and it will be followed by a Q&A with the playwright and cast. It takes place at Open San Jose, 38 S 2nd St., San Jose, and tickets are $15-$25: catsasiantheaterscene.org.
Up the peninsula, a raucous mini-series kicks off. For the first time, Stanford Live will present works from the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the world’s largest performing arts extravaganza.
“The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is known for bold experimentation and fearless exploration of new ideas,” said McMurtry Family Director of Stanford Live Iris Nemani. “It has a reputation for being scrappy and fast-paced, embracing innovative and, at times, unpolished performances that challenge convention. These works offer a unique opportunity to engage with current and provocative ideas in real time. By bringing them to The Studio, we invite our audiences to experience the thrill of discovery, and to connect with the pulse of the global creative landscape.”
The first show in the series is Burnout Paradise, presented Nov 12–15 by the Australian experimental collective Pony Cam. The production, which has been described as “a delusional and physical celebration of our collective struggle to establish clear boundaries in our lives,” features four performers on treadmills presenting an ever-intensifying juggling act. Performances take place at The Studio at 7pm Nov 12-15, plus 2pm matinee on Nov. 15. Tickets: $16-$59.40; live.stanford.edu/events.
In 2026, Stanford Live will also present BATSHIT (Feb. 4–7), an intimate story of female madness by performance artist Leah Shelton. Blind Summit’s The Sex Lives of Puppets (Feb 18-21) is a multi-layered piece of theater that engages skilled puppetry to express human moods, fears, worries, hang-ups and desires.
Fri, Nov 7
Annie—“It’s a Hard Knock Life” at Miss Hannigan’s orphanage, but little Annie keeps her spirits up, hoping for a better “Tomorrow.” The Palo Alto Players bring the Broadway classic to life for a three-week run Nov 7-23. $35-$63. Shows this week: Nov 7-8pm, 7:30pm; Nov 9, 2pm. Lucie Stern Theater, 1305 Middlefield Rd, Palo Alto. paplayers.org
Environs—Artwork by Manuel Rodriguez, Jonathan Fung, Adrianne Smits, Andrea Rodriguez, Renee Billingslea and Valentino Loyola. Opening reception Nov 7, 6-8pm. Free; RSVP required. Hammer2 Gallery, 101 Paseo de San Antonio, 2nd Floor, San Jose. hammertheatre.com
First Fridays at SJMA—Artwork by Manuel Rodriguez, Jonathan Fung, Adrianne Smits, Andrea Rodriguez, Renee Billingslea and Valentino Loyola. Free admission for First Friday: Nov 10, 6-9pm. San Jose Museum of Art, 110 S Market St, San Jose. 408.271.6840. sjmusart.org/ff
The Odd Couple—Neil Simon’s famed play about two opposites—a neatnik and a slob—who try to coexist as roommates is presented in two versions, with both male and female protagonists in the lead roles. $16-$25. Male version: Nov 7, 14 & 15, 8pm Nov 9, 2pm; female version: Nov 8 & 13, 8pm; Nov 15-16, 2pm. Louis B. Mayer Theatre, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara. scupresents.org
Newsies—Playful People Productions presents the Tony Award-winning musical based on the real-life Newsboys Strike of 1899, in which a charismatic newsboy rallies newsies from across the city to unite. $22-$30. This week: November 8-9, 1 & 7pm; Nov 12, 7pm. Continues through Nov 16. Historic Hoover Theatre, 1635 Park Ave, San Jose. 408.878.5362. playfulpeople.org.
Set the Sun: Echoes of the Past—Showcasing new works rooted in tradition, pianist Teresa McCollough premieres Set the Sun with Sam Pluta ’01, inspired by Bach’s 25th Goldberg Variation, The Black Pearl. This event is part of the College of Arts and Sciences’ Frank Sinatra Chair in the Performing Arts series. Free (reservations encouraged). Nov 21, 7:30pm. Music Recital Hall, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara. events.scu.edu
Sat, Nov 8
In Praise of Shadows—This immersive, site-specific art installation experience created by the group Facing West Shadows includes a night of puppetry and performance ($25; Nov 8, 6–8pm) and a shadow puppet workshop ($35; Nov 9, 11am-1pm). Cura Contemporary, 17395 Monterey Rd, Morgan Hill. 408.778.1800. curacontemporary.com
Slow Money Farm Fest 2025—Learn about sustainable food and ag businesses in Northern California at Veggielution Community Farm, a community farm that mobilizes volunteers. The event includes farm tours, a community picnic lunch, curated food and ag entrepreneurs presenting their fundable businesses and projects, and a community marketplace with tastings, libations and music. $41.32+. Nov 8, 10:30am-4pm. Veggielution Community Farm, 647 S King Rd, San Jose. veggielution.org
Fall Chamber Concert—Palo Alto Philharmonic musicians spend the evening with their friends in wind, string and brass ensembles. $25/$10 youth. Nov 8, 7:30pm. First Lutheran Church, 600 Homer Ave, Palo Alto. paphil.org
Sun, Nov 9
Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet—Talmi Entertainment, now on its 33rd tour, brings its version of this seasonal treat to more than 100 cities every year. $35-$101. Nov 9, 3pm. Center for the Performing Arts, 255 Almaden Blvd, San Jose. sanjosetheaters.org
Mon, Nov 10
Nurse Blake—The comedian is back with his But Did You Die? Comedy Tour, with new content fueled by the wildest things patients and their families say and do. $35-$52. Nov 10, 8pm. Center for the Performing Arts, 255 Almaden Blvd, San Jose. sanjosetheaters.org
Tue, Nov 11
107th Veterans Day Parade—The largest Veterans Day event in Northern California presents “A Salute to Our World War II Veterans,” with Grand Marshal AJ Pasciuti leading the parade. Free. Nov 11; ceremony at 11am; parade at noon. sjveteransparade.org
Latin Dance Discovery—Learn the art of Latin dance with Chiquy Mejia and the Chiqlets. The two-class series covers salsa, bachata, merengue, cumbia, and cha cha in a welcoming environment where no dance partner is required. $45. Nov 11, 7:30-8:30pm; Nov 20, 7-30-8:30pm. Cura Contemporary, 17395 Monterey Rd, Morgan Hill. 408.778.1800. curacontemporary.com
Wed, Nov 12
Everybody Loves Bill Evans!—Featuring the Jim Witzel Quartet performing selections from their recently released album, Very Early–Remembering Bill Evans. Free. Nov 12, noon. Music Recital Hall, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara. scupresents.org
Vienna Boys Choir—The famed vocal group has toured the globe for six centuries, presenting a repertoire that includes everything from medieval to contemporary to experimental music. The focus this evening: Waltzes and polkas by Johann Strauss. $16-$151.20. Nov 12, 7:30pm. Bing Concert Hall, Stanford University. live.stanford.edu
Continuing
Crazy Quilt Club—Santa Clara Players stage this murder mystery; clues drop as fast as corpses and the dialogue keeps the audience in stitches. Oct 24-Nov 8. Hall Pavilion at Triton Museum, 1750 Don Ave, Santa Clara. scplayers.org
Dracula—This new adaptation brings the suspense and seduction of Bram Stoker’s classic novel to the stage, with touches of both humor and horror. $49.08-$57.08. Oct 25-Nov 9. Sunnyvale Community Theatre, 550 E Remington Dr, Sunnyvale. sunnyvaleplayers.org
Zoppé Family Circus—Zoppé Family Circus, visiting from Italy, returns to Redwood City for the 18th time, with two-hour performances in an 500-seat tent for an intimate one-ring circus driven by a central story augmented by acrobatic feats, equestrian showmanship, clowning and audience participation. $12-$35. Shows through Nov 30. redwoodcity.org/zoppe
