South Bay: Atherton, Cupertino, Half Moon Bay, Los Altos Hills, Menlo Park, Mountain View, Palo Alto, Pleasanton, Redwood City, San Jose, Santa Cruz, Saratoga, Woodside
Music at Menlo Summer Festival - Atherton, Menlo Park
Winter Music Series - Palo Alto
Location: 555 Middlefield Road, (Menlo-Atherton Center for Performing Arts) - Atherton; 50 Valparaiso Avenue (Stent Family Hall/ Martin Family Hall, Menlo School) - Atherton Winter series: 3921 Fabian Way (Koshland Theatre, Schultz Cultural Arts Hall at Oshman Family JCC) - Palo Alto
Why Go There? 16+ annual chamber music summer festival founded by David Finckel, Wu Han as a Menlo School program features world-class artists in intimate performance venues; Café Conversations, and lecture series round out festival experience. Music@Menlo's Winter Series features classical chamber ensembles: November, January, April.
More Information: Music at Menlo
San Francisco Shakespeare Festival - Cupertino, Pleasanton, Redwood City
July-August
Saturday-Sunday afternoon/evenings
Location: Memorial Park Amphitheater - Cupertino; Sequoia High School grounds - Redwood City (also Amador Valley Community Park - Pleasanton)
Why Go There? 36+ seasons, Shakepeare play performances outdoor venues, no cost. (San Francisco September performances: Presidio, McLaren Park)
More Information: SF Shakespeare Festival
Coastal Repertory Theatre - Half Moon Bay (not curator reviewed)
Year-round
Friday-Saturday evening, Sunday matinee
Location: 1167 Main Street
Why Go There? 30+ years community theater offers seasonal plays, musicals, holiday show
More Information: Coastal Repertory Theatre
Concerts in the Park - Half Moon Bay (not curator reviewed)
May-August, Saturday 4:00pm-6:00pm (see website schedule)
Location: 504 Main Street: Mac Dutra Plaza
Why Go There? City sponsored free outdoor music concerts
More Information: Concerts in the Park
TheatreWorks Silicon Valley - Los Altos Hills, Mountain View, Palo Alto
Year-round; August (New Works Festival)
Location: I-280/El Monte Road - Los Altos Hills (Lohman Theatre) 500 Castro Street/Mercy - Mountain View (Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts) 1305 Middlefield Road - Palo Alto (Lucie Stern Theatre)
Why Go There? Professional theater, 47+ seasons offers eight productions in two venues; focus: world/regional premieres, classics, musicals and original new works for the American stage; annual popular two week long New Works Festival (August)
More Information: TheatreWorks
Menlowe Ballet - Menlo Park
December, April
Location: 555 Middlefield Road: Menlo Atherton Performing Arts Center (Atherton)
Why Go There? Professional ballet company begun in 2011 offers repertoire encompassing classical and contemporary styles; winter, spring performances
More Information: Menlowe Ballet
Community School of Music and Arts - Mountain View
Days, times vary
Location: 230 San Antonio Circle (Finn Center)
Why Go There? Nonprofit center for arts education offers monthly free concerts from world class musicians.
More Information: Arts4All
Pear Theatre - Mountain View
Thursday-Sunday evenings, Sunday matinees
Location: 1110 La Avenida Street
Why Go There? Produces new plays by local writers, innovative stagings of classic works
More Information: The Pear
Chamber Music San Francisco - Palo Alto
February-May, Monday 7:30pm
Location: 3921 Fabian Way, Oshman Family Jewish Community Center (near East Charleston/San Antonio Roads)
Why Go There? Series of five season concerts featuring high quality chamber music ensembles and soloist recitals perform in intimate venue (other locations: San Francisco, Walnut Creek); three June concerts (canceled for 2020)
More Information: Concerts
Stanford Live - Palo Alto
Year-round
Location: Stanford Campus: Bing Concert Hall, Campbell Hall, Dinkelspiel Auditorium, Memorial Church
Why Go There? Full schedule of concerts, performances, lectures, renowned guest artists; music department Bing Concert Hall: Stanford Symphony Orchestra, Stanford Wind Ensemble, Stanford Jazz Orchestra, Stanford Taiko; Campbell Hall hosts the Jess Shenson Recital series, masterclasses (open to the public), free 12:30pm Wednesday, Friday concerts; Memorial Church hosts the Stanford Chamber Chorale, Stanford Symphonic Chorus, Stanford University Singers; 47+ years annual Jazz Workshop summer Jazz Festival all genre of jazz (June-August), winter Big Band concert
More Information: Stanford Live + Jess Shenson Recital Series + Stanford Jazz
Stanford Repertory Theater - Palo Alto
July-August Summer festival Thursday-Sunday evening, Saturday-Sunday matinee
Location: 551 Jane Stanford Way (Memorial Auditorium Theater), other theaters
Why Go There? Twenty two seasons of professional company's productions; annual summer festival focus on social justice; discount tickets offered. Palo Alto: Stanford Repertory Theater annual summer festival ; 375 Santa Teresa Street, (off Campus Drive) Roble Studio Theater (July-August).
More Information: Stanford Repertory Theater
Stanford Theatre - Palo Alto
Location: 221 University Avenue
Why Go There? Built in 1925, restored in 1987, ornate movie theater, complete with Wurlitzer organ schedules Hollywood classic films; live organ music during intermission; senior, youth discounts
More Information: Stanford Theatre
West Bay Opera - Palo Alto
October-June
Saturday evenings, Sunday afternoon matinee
Location: 1305 Middlefield Road (Lucie Stern Theater)
Why Go There? 62+ seasons, respected regional opera company with own orchestra presents three seasonal productions; senior, youth discounts
More Information: West Bay Opera
Redwood Symphony - Redwood City
September-July
Location: 4200 Farm Hill Boulevard (Cañada College Main Theater)
Why Go There? 35+ year all-volunteer community orchestra dedicated to the performance of ambitious, contemporary repertoire, orchestral classics, 8 performance season
More Information: Redwood Symphony
City Lights Theater Company - San Jose
Location: 529 South Second
Why Go There? Non-profit company offers six show season of plays, musicals in intimate 100 seat space; concerts, lectures, Lights & Music Concert Series (soul, jazz, funk), annual “Lights Up!” festival of new plays (Spring); nurtures new writers, actors; offers student discounts
More Information: City Lights
Hammer Theatre Center - San Jose
Location: 101 Paseo de San Antonio (between Second and Third Street)
Why Go There? Venue for 250+ year-round performances: dance (including San Jose's contemporary, classical New Ballet), film, music, theater, San Jose State University music, theatre, dance, and guest speaker events; National Geographic Live, Sundance Film Institute
More Information: Hammer Theatre + New Ballet
San Jose Stage Company - San Jose
Wednesday-Saturday evenings, Sunday matinees
Location: 490 South First Street
Why Go There? Professional theater company (36+ seasons) offerings have included 14 world premieres, 47 new works, 165 productions to-date; senior (60+), student discounts
More Information: The Stage
San Jose Theaters - San Jose
Location: California Theater - 345 South First Street
San Jose Civic - 135 West San Carlos Street
Montgomery Theater - 271 South Market Street
San Jose Center for the Performing Arts - 255 Almaden Boulevard
Why Go There? Four theater venues (468-2,850 seats) host ballet, dance, music concerts, musicals, opera, plays, traveling "big name" performances. Historic California Theater was a grand movie house for 50+ years before becoming home to Opera San Jose, Silicon Valley Symphony. 1936 historic Montgomery Theater has contemporary upgrades.
More Information: San Jose Theaters + Silicon Valley Symphony + San Jose Operas
Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music - Santa Cruz
August
Location: 307 Church Street/Center Street (Civic Auditorium)
Why Go There? 56+ seasons contemporary orchestra music festival
More Information: Cabrillo Music + Facebook
Jewel Theatre Company - Santa Cruz
Thursday-Saturday 7:00pm, Sunday 2:00pm matinee (some Saturday matinees)
September-June
Location: 1010 River Street: Colligan Theater at Tannery Arts Center
Why Go There? Professional theater company offers seven productions per season, intimate182 seat theater (free parking); preview, senior/student discount; concession counter with savory, sweet refreshments
More Information: Jewel Theatre
Santa Cruz Shakespeare Company - Santa Cruz
July-September Days, times vary (see schedule)
Location: 501 Upper Park Road: Audrey Stanley Grove, DeLaveaga Park ($5.00 parking)
Why Go There? 6+ seasons, respected theater company offers four outdoor plays; free readings; special events
More Information: Santa Cruz Shakespeare Company
University of California Santa Cruz Recital Hall Music Center and Theaters: Barn Theater, Experimental Stage Theater, Mainstage Theater - Santa Cruz
Thursday-Sunday (see website schedule and performance times)
Location: 1156 High Street (Corner of Bay/Coolidge Drive/High Street) - Barn Theater, Experimental Theatre
453 Kerr Road - Mainstage Theater
402 McHenry Road -Recital Hall
Why Go There? Student concerts, performances: big band, choir, jazz, wind ensemble and musical theater; student run intimate (140 seat) Barn Theater offers nominal cost (free to UCSC students) classics, contemporary plays, comedy, musical performances, original works; mainstage theater seats 560, offers full scale productions; free to UCSC students, senior discounts; parking in Barn Lot is free weekdays after 5:00pm; free on weekends.
More Information: UCSC Music + UCSC Theater + UCSC Barnstorm
Montalvo Arts Center - Saratoga
Fall, Winter, Spring
Location: 15400 Montalvo Road
Why Go There? 1912 Mediterranean-style villa/grounds offers two venues for chamber music, jazz and other genre concerts: intimate Claire Loftus Carriage House Theatre and Lilian Fontaine Garden Theatre state-of-the-art, 1,400-seat outdoor amphitheater, on a sloping hill surrounded by trees; special events include brunches, lunches, teas, and performing guest artists.
More Information: Montalvo Arts Center
West Valley Light Opera (WVLO) Musical Theater Company - Saratoga
Friday-Saturday evening, Saturday-Sunday matinee
Location: 13777 Fruitvale Avenue (Saratoga Civic Theater)
Why Go There? 54+ seasons of locally produced Broadway style musicals. (November-December, March-April, June-July); senior, student discounts. Last minute discounted seats if available, offered by reservation only.
More Information: West Valley Light Opera
Woodside Community Theatre - Woodside
Fall
Location: 199 Churchill Avenue (Woodside Performing Arts Center, Woodside High School)
Why Go There? Community supported since 1959, theater company offers an annual fall Broadway production
More Information: Woodside Community Theatre
Additional Resources
Summer Twilight Concerts - Capitola
Free concerts Wednesday 6:00pm-8:00pm; 100 Monterey Avenue/Capitola Esplanade Bandstand; June-August
Coastal Community Orchestra - Half Moon Bay
Plays a few concerts annually, under the auspices of Half Moon Bay Parks and Recreation Department
Los Altos Stage - Los Altos
99 seat venue home to community theater five play season; 97 Hillview Avenue; Wednesday-Saturday evening, Sunday matinee; preview and student discount
Assyrian Arts Institute - Los Altos Hills
Events
Foothill College Theatre Arts Department - Los Altos Hills
Schedules for plays and summer musical