Events Around the Bay
March 22: San Mateo Performing Arts Center at 7:30pm
March 23: Heritage Theatre, Campbell at 2:30pm
Bay Area’s beloved pianist Jon Nakamatsu, the Gold Medal winner of the prestigious Van Cliburn Competition and now the Honorary Judge at this Annual Competition in Texas, will be performing Rachmaninoff’s exuberant Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor, Op.18!
Also featured in this fabulous program are Sibelius’ magnificent Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op.43 and Carlos Simon’s powerful “Amen.”!
“A compelling combination of technical brilliance and poetic interpretation” – Chicago Tribune.
“Jon Nakamatsu plays with the calm assurance that comes of having both a solid technique and a gentle, introspective, interpretive spirit” – The New York Times
Need I say more?
Don’t miss another incredible concert presented by the Peninsula Symphony;
Mitchell Sardou Klein, conductor; Nathaniel Berman, resident conductor and the legendary Jon Nakamatsu, piano. Get inspired! This is a real “March Madness!”
Information
peninsulasymphony.org
“Happy Pleasant Valley: A Senior Sex Scandal Murder Mystery Musical” at Lucie Stern Theater in Palo Alto
Now through March 30, 2025
Ready for some fun, scandals and riotous romp? It’s about time! One of the best and funniest productions by the TheaterWorks of Palo Alto! A must see and enjoy!
Wonderful play. Excellent acting by the entire cast, especially by Emily Kuroda in the role of June. Colorful and mobile sets. Senior sex scandal. Murder mystery (keep it a secret!) Makes me want to move to a senior center living.. ha.. ha! Hope the brilliant and creative Hollywood Director Jon M. Chu makes a movie out of it! I’ll be happy to be included in his cast, Jon! TheatreWorks Silicon Valley is staging the World Premiere of “Happy Pleasant Valley: A Senior Sex Scandal Murder Mystery Musical.” This intriguing extravaganza features book, music, and lyrics by Bay Area Min Kahng, whose “The Four Immigrants: An American Musical Manga” made its World Premiere at TheatreWorks.
Set in a senior living community, this lively musical comedy explodes misconceptions about sexuality and aging. An audience favorite at TheatreWorks’ 2023 New Works Festival, this modern work set in today’s digital world follows Gen Z influencer Jade, who becomes enmeshed in solving mysterious murders in her grandmother June’s residence, Happy Pleasant Valley Senior Apartments. Inspired by their favorite crime-solving heroines, Jade and June join forces to track down the perpetrator in this rollicking comedy which was the recipient of TheatreWorks’ Kurjan/Butler Commission. In-demand director/playwright and TheatreWorks Associate Producer of Casting & Literary Management Jeffrey Lo directs. “Happy Pleasant Valley: A Senior Sex Scandal Murder Mystery Musical” is presented in a co-production with Center Repertory Company, where it will appear following its TheatreWorks run. Wish I could see it again! And again!
Information
For tickets visit theatreworks.org or call 877-662-8978
Lucie Stern Theatre, 1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto
Photos courtesy of the Lucie Stern Theatre
Symphony San Jose Presents: Hollywood Spectacular
March 29 and 30, 2025
For those of us who are movie fanatics such as I am, the grand finale infatuation with movies comes with watching the annual Academy Awards’s presentation of the “Oscars.” And now as an additional tribute and special treat for us, Symphony San Jose presents “Hollywood Spectacular” as it celebrates favorite films and film composers who took home the coveted trophy for capturing the perfect emotion that brought the film to life by awarding the Oscar for “Best Score.
” And under the brilliant baton of Maestro Peter Jaffe, Symphony San Jose recollects and presents the sounds of: Erich Korngold: The Adventures of Robin Hood; Maurice Jarre: Lawrence of Arabia; Henry Mancini: Breakfast at Tiffany’s; John Barry: Dances with Wolves; Malcolm Arnold: The Bridge on the River Kwai; John Williams: Schindler’s List; and James Horner: Titanic.
SPECIAL AWARDS ANNOUNCEMENT: At these performances Symphony San Jose will unveil the inaugural “Orchestra Oscars”—an exclusive set of awards designed to honor and recognize the extraordinary individuals who bring passion, dedication, and joy to Symphony San Jose.
Bravo and Congrats!
Information:
For tickets visit symphonysanjose.org or call 408.286.2600
The California Theatre, 345 South First Street, downtown San Jose.
Artwork and photo courtesy of Symphony San Jose.
“The Cher Show” in San Jose
March 18-23, 2025
Superstars come and go. Cher is forever. The next best way to see Cher in person is to enjoy the Tony-award winning musical “The Cher Show” taking place at the Center for the Performing Arts in San Jose.
The smashing hit musical tells the singer’s incredible life story through her many songs ( my favorite when she performed with her late husband Sonny!) while showcasing 35 of her top hits while parading on stage in the stunning gowns designed for her by Bob Mackie! For six straight decades, only one unstoppable force has flat-out dominated popular culture-breaking down barriers, pushing boundaries and letting nothing and no one stand in her way. THE CHER SHOW is the Tony Award®-winning musical of her story, and it’s packed with so much Cher that it takes three women to play her: the kid starting out, the glam pop star, and the icon. THE CHER SHOW tell us about six decades of stardom, two rock-star husbands, a Grammy® , an Oscar® , an Emmy® , and enough Tony Award-winning Bob Mackie gowns to cause a sequin shortage in New York City, all in one unabashedly fabulous new musical that will have audiences dancing in the aisles.
Information
For tickets visit broadwaysanjose.com or call 669-242-8555
Center for the Performing Arts, 255 Almaden Blvd. in San Jose
Photo courtesy of Broadway San Jose
By Lina Broydo
