Aurora Theatre Company - Berkeley

Location: 2081 Addison Street
Why Go There? Small intimate theater, 25+ years company offers five show season featuring new works, classics; student, senior discounts, cash only pay-what-you-can nights (previews, first Friday/Sunday of a show), $20 rush seats 1/2 hour prior to curtain time
More Information: Aurora Theatre

Berkeley Art Museum & Pacific Film Archive - Berkeley

11:00am-7:00pm (9:00pm Friday-Saturday); Closed Monday-Tuesday
Location: 2155 Center Street
Why Go There? Combined art museum (see listing under Arts, Crafts) and repertory movie theater and film archive associated with the University of California. Barbro Osher Theater offers hundreds of screenings from numerous countries; rare and rediscovered prints of movie classics, new and historic works, restored silent films with live musical accompaniment, thematic retrospectives, animation, documentary, experimental, and fiction films; in-person discussions with filmmakers, authors, critics, scholars; UC Berkeley student/other student, senior discounts; free galleries admittance same day; Movie & Dinner summer evenings.
More Information: BAMPFA

Berkeley Chamber Performances - Berkeley

October-April Monthly Tuesday 7:30pm
Location: 2315 Durant Avenue (City Club)
Why Go There? High quality chamber music concerts in beautiful Julia Morgan designed Berkeley City Club ballroom. Pre-concert dinners available at Julia’s, the City Club’s restaurant with a French Master Chef; special event fundraisers.
More Information: Berkeley Chamber Performances

Cal Performances, University of California - Berkeley

Location: UC Berkeley campus: Zellerbach Hall/Playhouse; Hertz Hall, University Club
Why Go There? Almost year-round calendar of high caliber music, dance, theater performances from local, national and international artists
More Information: Cal Performances

Four Seasons Arts - Berkeley, Oakland

October-April
Location: Regents Theater, Holy Names University, Oakland; Berkeley Piano Club,Berkeley; St. John's Presbyterian Church, Berkeley
Why Go There? Featuring world-class artists performing solo piano, vocal, instrumental and chamber ensembles; intentionally reflecting racial, ethnic, cultural diversity and spanning traditional to 20th and 21st century avant-garde music
More Information: Four Seasons Arts

Shotgun Players - Berkeley

Wednesday-Sunday evenings; staged readings Monday-Tuesday evenings
Location: 1901 Ashby Avenue
Why Go There? Six production season plus five 'champagne staged readings' series offered by 26+ years theater company; dedicated to supporting new works and classic theater productions; pay-what-you-can previews, student, actor and under 25 discounts; annual fundraiser gala (February)
More Information: Shotgun Players

The UC Theatre Taube Family Music Hall  - Berkeley (not curator reviewed)

Location: 2036 University Avenue (between Shattuck Avenue/Milvia Street)
Why Go There? An all-ages, general admission (limited seating) historic venue in downtown; presents diverse array of musical genres, film screenings, comedy, speakers, events; on-site restaurant, full-service bars
More Information: The UC Theatre

Contra Costa Civic Theatre - El Cerrito

October-August Friday-Saturday 8:00pm, Sunday 2:00pm
Location: 951 Pomona Avenue
Why Go There? Since 1970, 200 seat venue hosts five show season of contemporary plays, musicals
More Information: Contra Costa Civic Theatre

Town Hall Theatre Company - Lafayette

September-June Thursday-Saturday evenings, weekend matinees
Location: 3535 School Street
Why Go There? 76+ year community supported theater company offers season of plays, musicals, staged readings, special events in 185 seat capacity 110 year old theater; pre-show lobby entertainment; full bar snacks, desserts; occasional discounts
More Information: Town Hall Theatre

Livermore Performing Arts Center Bankhead Theater - Livermore

Location: 2400 First Street
Why Go There? 500 seat venue for ballet, music concerts, musicals, opera, community events; gallery showcases art exhibits, events. Home venue for Pacific Chamber Orchestra, 29+ seasons
More Information: Livermore Arts + Pacific Chamber Orchestra

Livermore Shakespeare Festival - Livermore

July-August, Thursday-Sunday 7:30pm
Location: 5565 Tesla Road (Wente Vineyards Theater)
Why Go There? 16+ years respected theater company produces two summer season Shakespeare plays; outdoor theater in the round; optional pre-theater food truck/Wente wines available (or own pre-theater picnic at Bruno Canziani Park, three minutes from Wente); opening nights pre-show dinner benefit
More Information: Livermore Shakespeare

Lesher Center for the Arts - Walnut Creek

Location: 1601 Civic Drive
Why Go There? Venue for ballet, jazz, resident Center Rep professional theater company offering musicals and plays; Bedford art gallery; Contra Costa Chamber Music, Contra Costa Wind Ensemble;  scheduled docent led tours of public art; and many other events
More Information: Lesher Arts Center + Center Rep

Additional Resources

Albany FilmFest - Albany
Annual juried film festival showcases original, independent short films from emerging and established Bay Area, national, and international filmmakers (March)

Special Events - Albany
Live music/community biennial dinner Solano Avenue; Wednesday evening free concerts Memorial Park (September)

Summer Concerts - Berkeley
Free summer afternoon concerts, different music genres, parks (Saturdays,11:00am-4:00pm, July-October)

Ecology Center - Berkeley + other Bay Area locations
Hosts films, music, workshops, other events

La Pena - Berkeley
Community culture center hosts cross cultural (with an emphasis on Latin America) concerts, performances, events; in-house Mexican cafe Los Cilantros; 3105 Shattuck Avenue

Maybeck Studio for Performing Arts - Berkeley
Hosts Community Concert Series Sunday afternoons in an intimate Berkeley hills private home studio setting; 1537 Euclid Avenue (September-June)

Berkeley Chamber Performances - Berkeley
Schedules five evening concerts; annual fundraiser gala (May); Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Avenue (October, November, January, March, April)

UC Berkeley Botanical Gardens - Berkeley
Outdoor concerts in the Redwood Grove, Thursday evenings, special Tuesdays (June-August); 200 Centennial Drive (fee)

Visit Berkeley - Berkeley
Festivals, plays, events

B8 Theatre Company - Concord
Performs in intimate theater space, 3503 Clayton Road

Village Theatre - Danville
Venue for community entertainment, art gallery; 233 Front Street

Lafayette Library & Learning Center - Lafayette
Hosts free music concerts, artist works in the gallery; 3491 Mt. Diablo Boulevard

Community Womens Orchestra - Oakland
Performs concerts; gala fundraiser, other events

Oakland Jazz Choir - Oakland
Enthusiastic volunteer singers schedule of community concerts

Oakland Municipal Band - Oakland
107+ years performs free outdoor summer concerts; Edoff Memorial Bandstand, Lakeside Park at Lake Merritt, 1:00pm-3:00pm (Sundays July-August)

Sound Room - Oakland
A non profit venue hosts variety of blues and jazz genre, 2147 Broadway

Bal Theatre - San Leandro
Historic art deco theatre host venue for non-professional community theater, music performances, events

James Logan - Union City
James Logan High School's state-of-the-art Center for Performing Arts venue for Ballet de Folklorico, award winning Marching Band Color Guard, Percussion Ensemble, Wind Symphony, outside events

Northern California Ukulele Festival - Union City
Annual event (April)