Wed, Nov 19
Fall Jazz Band & Combos Festival—Listen to Santa Clara University’s talented Jazz Band explore time-honored jazz standards and new compositions. $18-22; SCU students free. Nov 18-19, 7pm. Music Recital Hall, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara. scupresents.org
Set the Sun: In Conversation with Electronics and Other Instruments—Composer Sam Pluta shares excerpts from his new work, Set the Sun, and joins Sinatra Chair Teresa McCollough for a conversation about composing for instruments and electronics. Free. Nov 19, noon. Music Recital Hall, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara. scupresents.org
Thu, Nov 20
The Magic of Eric Eaton—A performer on the TV show Masters of Illusion, Eric Eaton has won a Merlin Award for Outstanding Comedy and Magic. $31.14-$101.65. 21+. Nov 20, 8pm. San Jose Improv, 62 S Second St, San Jose. improv.com
Curator Talk—Join Sara Lent Frier, Burton and Deedee McMurtry for a highlights tour of the exhibit Cunning Folk: Witchcraft, Magic, and Occult Knowledge. Free. Nov 20, 6-7pm. Cantor Arts Center, 328 Lomita Dr, Stanford. 650-723-4177. events.stanford.edu
Fri, Nov 21
Ada and the Engine—Playwright Lauren Gunderson turns her talents to the story of Ada Lovelace, daughter of Lord Byron, who finds beauty in numbers instead of words. Her connection with inventor Charles Babbage led her to be considered the world’s first computer programmer. The Pear’s production is directed by Miller Liberatore. $43-$45. Nov 21-Dec 7. The Pear Theatre, 1110 La Avenida, Suite A, Mountain View. thepear.org
Kristen Strom Quartet—The Bay Area saxophonist and educator is acclaimed for her melodies, tonality and musicianship. $27. Nov 21, 8pm. SJZ Break Room, 310 S 1st St, San Jose. sanjosejazz.org
The Temptations and the Four Tops—See two of biggest hit-making Motown groups of all time. $102+. Nov 21, 7:30pm. San Jose Civic, 135 W San Carlos St, San Jose. sanjosetheaters.org
DOCA Festival—Step into a sparkling world of snowflakes, reindeer, and twinkling lights. $16.88. Nov 21-Jan 11, 4:30-10:30pm. Discovery Meadow, 180 Woz Way, San Jose. docafestival.com
Sat, Nov 22
Noche Cubana—This night of Latin music and dance with Edgardo Cambon and Candela celebrates Cura Contemporary’s one-year anniversary. Candela is known for powerful horns, a tight rhythm section and great vocals. $35. Nov 22, 7pm. Cura Contemporary, 17395 Monterey Rd, Morgan Hill. 408.778.1800. curacontemporary.com
Celebrating Cecilia—Bay Choral Guild opens its 47th season with a program honoring the patron saint of musicians with works including Britten’s Hymn for St. Cecilia, Handel’s Ode for St. Cecilia’s Day, and Jacob de Haan’s Missa Santa Cecilia. Nov 22, 7:30pm. Campbell United Methodist Church, 1675 Winchester Blvd, Campbell. Nov 23, 4:30pm. First Congregational Church of Palo Alto, 1985 Louis Rd, Palo Alto. baychoralguild.org
The Great Gatsby—Choreographer Ilya Zhivoy and composer Anna Drubich focus on the central love story in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel, producing a ballet with a score that echoes the sounds of the Jazz Age. World Ballet Company is touring the production nationwide. Nov 22, 7pm. Center for the Performing Arts, 255 Almaden Blvd, San Jose. sanjosetheaters.org
Peninsula Symphony Stanford Concerts—Mitchell Sardou Klein leads the Peninsula Symphony through its annual collaboration with the Stanford Symphonic Chorus, under the direction of Stephen M. Sano. Two contemporary works by Dan Forrest and Jessie Montgomery complement Richard Strauss’ tone poem Death and Transfiguration. $48.50-$128.50. Nov 22, 7:30pm & Nov 23, 2:30pm. Bing Concert Hall, Stanford University. peninsulasymphony.org
The Nutcracker—Los Gatos Ballet presents the Tchaikovsky classic. $32-$65. Nov 22-23 at 1 & 6pm. McAfee Center for Performing Arts, Saratoga High School, 20300 Herriman Ave, Saratoga. losgatosballet.ludus.com/index.php
Nicholas Thompson—The CEO of The Atlantic talks about his new book, a meditation on long-distance running, in conversation with author Daniel J. Levitin. $21.99/$45.09 (incl book). Nov 22, 4pm. Kepler’s Books, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park. keplers.org
Sun, Nov 23
Tribute to Johnny Cash—For the past 16 years, musician James Garner and his band have recreated the biggest hits of the Man in Black, performing more than 600 shows. $54+. Nov. 23, 3pm. Fox Theatre, 2215 Broadway St, Redwood City. 650.369.7770. foxrwc.com
Wed, Nov 26
Nashville Night—Kick off Thanksgiving weekend with the boot-scootin’ sounds of live country music from the band San Benito County Line while enjoying drink specials and action on the dance floor. 21 and over. $17.85 Nov 26, 9pm-1am. Granada Theatre, 17440 Monterey Highway, Morgan Hill. eventbrite.com
Continuing
Rossum’s Universal Robots—Foothill Theatre Arts is mounting the West Coast premiere of Rossum’s Universal Robots (R.U.R.). The 1921 play, which introduced the word “robot” to the English language, has received an update by adaptor Bo List to address one of today’s most pressing questions: What can happen if A.I. goes rogue? $15-$28. Nov 20, 7:30pm; Nov 21-27, 8pm; Nov 23, 2pm. Loham Theatre, Foothill College,12345 El Monte Road, Los Altos Hills. foothill.edu/theatre.
Company—With music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by George Furth, this theatrical confection follows a group of New York friends as they navigate the complexities of love and friendship while presenting iconic numbers like “Being Alive” and “The Ladies Who Lunch.” $28. Nov 20-21, 7:30pm; Nov 22-23, 2pm. Hammer Theater Center, 101 Paseo De San Antonio, San Jose. events.sjsu.edu
Fiddler on the Roof—Children’s Musical Theater San Jose’s Rising Stars present the story of Tevye and his five daughters, and the traditions of the village of Anatevka, featuring local performers ages 11-15. $20.50-$25.50. Nov 21, 7pm; Nov 22, 2 & 7pm; Nov 23, 1pm. Montgomery Theater, 271 S Market St, San Jose. cmtsj.org
A Twig in the Thief’s Beard—This South Asian company adapts Nikolai Gogol’s The Government Inspector—first published in 1836 and staged in countless adaptations and styles. Here, corrupt local officials in a Gujarati town are abuzz because Inspector Sahib is on his way to check on them. $25-$65. Nov 21, 8pm; Nov 22, 4 & 7pm; Nov 23, 2pm. Cubberley Theatre, 4120 Middlefield Rd, Palo Alto. naatak.org
Madama Butterfly—Puccini’s opera classic reveals the story of a young Japanese woman who sacrifices everything for a faithless American naval officer. César Delgado plays the officer; Emily Michiko Jensen is Cio-Cio-San. $61.50-$221.50. Nov 21, 7:30pm; Nov 23 & 29, 2pm; Nov 30, 2pm. California Theatre, 345 S First St, San Jose. operasj.org
A Driving Beat—TheatreWorks Silicon Valley debuts Jordan Ramirez Puckett’s play, involving a cross-country road trip during which a brown son and his white mother seek common ground. Directed by Jeffrey Lo. $49-$79. Nov 20, 7:30pm; Nov 21, 8pm; Nov 22, 2 & 8pm; Nov 23, 2pm. Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts SecondStage, 500 Castro St, Mountain View. 877-662-8978. theatreworks.org
Zoppé Family Circus—Zoppé Family Circus tells a family-friendly story augmented by acrobatic feats, equestrian showmanship, clowning and audience participation. $12-$35. Shows through Nov 30. redwoodcity.org/zoppe
