October
White Noise
Through November 10
Berkeley Rep
2025 Addison Street, Berkeley
http://www.berkeleyrep.org
Berkeley Rep presents the West Coast premiere of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Suzan-Lori Parks’ play. Four old friends, who are two 30-something couples, have their educated, progressive, and cosmopolitan personas challenged by a racially motivated incident with the police. Their relationships and view of the world are forever changed.
Experience Hendrix
October 8
Luther Burbank Center for the Arts
50 Mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa
http://www.lutherburbankcenter.org
A return performance by popular demand, the show features a diverse group of musical artists paying homage to the genius of Jimi Hendrix. This multi-artist celebration has been called the “Guitar Event of the Year.”
It’s Only a Play
October 10–27
Hillbarn Theatre
1285 E. Hillsdale Blvd, Foster City
Terrance McNally, who originally produced the play off-Broadway in 1986, rewrote It’s Only a Play for its Broadway run in 2014–2015. The plot concerns a party where a producer, playwright, director, actors, and their friends await the opening night reviews of their Broadway play.
High Five – The Circus Center Cabaret
October 11–12
755 Frederick Street, San Francisco
http://circuscenter.org/cabaret
LGBT community favorite Leanne Borghesi is the Cabaret Chanteuse for The Fifth Season of this event, featuring the best of Bay Area circus talent. The Circus Center Cabaret distills humor, elegance, and grandeur into a circus fête hosted in a uniquely intimate venue, underscored with live music performed by Borghesi and the Roger Glenn Trio.
The Marriage of Figaro
October 11–November 1
San Francisco Opera
301 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s classic comes alive once more with the bride, her rival, and the many who are trying to seduce her. Lust, power, and gossip threaten to throw Figaro’s wedding plans askew, but a wily servant hopes to save the day.
Tipping Point Amplified
Janelle Monáe and The Roots
October 12
Fox Theatre
1807 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland
http://thefoxoakland.com/
Tipping Point Amplified is a benefit concert for the fight against poverty in the Bay Area. Headlined by Janelle Monáe, and featuring The Roots, the evening will inspire and unite the community. Every dollar from every ticket sold will go directly to proven poverty-fighting organizations in our region.
Andy Mientus Sings Joni Mitchell
October 12–13
Feinstein’s at the Nikko
222 Mason Street, San Francisco
https://www.feinsteinssf.com/
Following a sold-out performance at New York’s Feinstein’s/54 Below, Broadway and television star Andy Mientus (Les Miserables, Spring Awakening, TV’s Smash and The Flash) brings Joni Mitchell’s iconic 1970 album Ladies of the Canyon to life on-stage at Feinstein’s.
Lauv – how I’m feeling Tour
October 16–17
Fox Theatre
1807 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland
http://thefoxoakland.com/
The out and proud singer, crowned “Pop’s Up and Coming Heartbreak King” by Rolling Stone magazine, has made major strides as an artist on the heels of his breakthrough double-Platinum smash debut single “I Like Me Better.” As of this writing, the first of Lauv’s two Fox shows has already sold out, so act fast if you would like to see this popular independent singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer.
Hillary Rodham Clinton and Chelsea Clinton:
The Book of Gutsy Women
October 20
Congregation Emanu-El
2 Lake Street, San Francisco
http://www.sfcurran.com
Curran in conjunction with Book Passage will welcome Secretary Clinton and Chelsea Clinton to discuss their first book written together, The Book of Gutsy Women: Favorite Stories of Courage and Resilience. Edie Windsor, Diana Nyad, Rachel Carson, Harriet Tubman and Malala Yousafzai are among the trailblazers and activists included.
Priscilla, Queen of the Desert – The Musical
October 22–November 9
Lesher Center for the Arts
1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek
https://www.lesherartscenter.org/
Scored with a hit parade of dance floor favorites (including “It’s Raining Men,” “I Will Survive,” “Hot Stuff,” “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun,” and “I Love the Nightlife”), Priscilla, Queen of the Desert tells the story of two drag queens and a transgender woman who encounter an array of colorful characters, some of whom are fiercely unreceptive to their lifestyle as they “widen comfort zones” in their journey across the remote Australian desert.
Testmatch
October 24–December 8
A.C.T.’s Strand Theater
1127 Market Street, San Francisco
http://www.act-sf.org
Directed by Tony Award-winner Pam MacKinnon, the play by Kate Attwell looks at tensions in the locker room during a world-class cricket match between rival women players from India and England. The play asks hard-hitting questions about colonialism, gender, and power using a contrast of two time-traveling stories.
Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde with Dorothy Papadakos, Organist
October 31
Grace Cathedral
1100 California, San Francisco
http://www.sfjazz.org
The sacred space of Grace Cathedral will be transformed into a grand movie palace for Halloween screenings of the classic film starring John Barrymore. Renowned organist Dorothy Papadakos will perform, appear in costume as the title character, and present a brief history of the film.
November
Lucinda Williams and Her Band, Buick 6
November 2
Fox Theater
1807 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland
http://www.thefoxoakland.com
Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of her album entitled Car Wheels on a Gravel Road, three-time Grammy winner Lucinda Williams will perform the album in its entirety followed by a second set of songs from throughout her remarkable career.
Blue Man Group
November 1–3
The Center for the Performing Arts
255 S. Almaden Blvd, San Jose
http://www.broadwaysanjose.com
Blue Man Group’s performances are euphoric celebrations of human connection through art, music, comedy, and non-verbal communications. The show is universally appealing to a broad range of age groups and cultural backgrounds, and is continually injected with new music, fresh stories, custom instruments, and sensory stimulating graphics.
Sheléa – Natural Women: A Night of Soul
November 2
Sunset Center for the Performing Arts
San Carlos Street at Ninth Avenue, Carmel-by-the-Sea
http://www.sunsetcenter.org
With a voice that stirs the soul and hands that effortlessly glide over the keys, Sheléa represents a return to true artistry that has garnered much attention and adoration from legends throughout the music industry. Blending traditional pop, jazz, R&B, and soul, Sheléa brings a contemporary edge to classics and a classic touch to contemporary pop standards.
The Isley Brothers 60th Anniversary Concert
November 9
Paramount Theatre
2025 Broadway, Oakland
http://www.paramounttheatre.com
The concert celebrates the 60th anniversary of their hit song “Shout” that became their first gold single and went on to become one of the most frequently covered R&B classics of all time.
David Sedaris
November 14
Luther Burbank Center for the Arts
Ruth Finley Person Theater
50 Mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa
http://www.lutherburbankcenter.org
With sardonic wit and incisive social critiques, David Sedaris has become one of America’s pre-eminent humor writers. He is the master of satire and one of today’s most observant writers addressing the human condition. Calypso, his latest collection of essays, is a New York Times best-seller, and a Washington Post Best Book of the Year.
Fall Family Concert
November 17
Community Women’s Orchestra
Lake Merritt United Methodist Church
1330 Lakeshore Drive, Oakland
http://www.communitywomensorchestra.org
Join the Orchestra for this annual performance where young people are encouraged to participate as well.
Video Games Live with the UC Berkeley Symphony Orchestra
November 17
Cal Performances
101 Zellerbach Hall #4800, Berkeley
https://calperformances.org/
Imagine the thrill of video gaming mixed with the collective energy of a rock concert and the emotional power of a symphony orchestra, and you have an idea of the adrenaline rush that is Video Games Live! A concert event for all the senses, the interactive show created by game music composer Tommy Tallarico features the UC Berkeley Symphony Orchestra performing live arrangements of video game music hits, synchronized to dazzling video footage, spectacular light displays, and theatrical special effects.
Steve Grand – The Pink Champagne Tour
November 20–21
Feinstein’s at the Nikko
222 Mason Street, San Francisco
https://www.feinsteinssf.com/
Following a sold-out engagement in February 2019, singer-songwriter Steve Grand returns to Feinstein’s at the Nikko with The Pink Champagne Tour. Grand will perform fan-favorite original material from his two albums, as well as classic covers from some of the most iconic out gay artists of all-time, including Queen, Elton John, and George Michael.
Cher – Here We go Again
November 21
Chase Center
Mission Bay Blocks 29-32, San Francisco
http://www.cher.com
Returning to the U.S. from a trek across Europe, Cher brings the Here We Go Again Tour to the new Chase Center in San Francisco.
Mandy Patinkin in Concert:
Diaries with Adam Ben-David on Piano
November 22
Sydney Goldstein Theater
275 Hayes Street, San Francisco
http://www.feinsteinssf.com
The acclaimed actor/singer/storyteller appears in his most electrifying role: concert performer. The show includes favorite Broadway and classic American tunes along with selections from his newest recording, Mandy Patinkin Diary, all presented as a dazzling musical journey.
Ladies Sing the Blues: Kim Nalley, Denise Perrier & Tiffany Austin with Tammy Hall
November 24
Freight & Salvage
2020 Addison, Berkeley
http://www.thefreight.org
Ladies Sing the Blues is an exploration of the women who made up the essence of the blues: Bessie Smith, Dinah Washington, Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, Aretha Franklin, and many other talented yet nameless souls. Expect an evening of folk, rag, the sacred, and the profane; the cool cosmopolitan of jazz-blues and the gut bucket of the down home blues and always love.
Ghostbusters – Film with the SF Symphony
November 29
Davies Symphony Hall
201 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco
Peter Bernstein is the conductor in this live performance by the Symphony of the score, composed by Elmer Bernstein, for the comedy classic of paranormal investigators led by Bill Murray, with an unforgettable theme song that topped the Billboard Top 100.
The Caribbean Allstars + DJ Sep (Dub Mission)
November 30
Ashkenaz
1317 San Pablo Avenue, Berkeley
http://www.ashkenaz.com
With geographical roots from Jamaica, South America, West Africa, and the U.S., the Allstars are pioneers in the Bay Area reggae scene. The Caribbean Allstars not only play Jamaican reggae with a traditional electric bass-drums-guitars-keyboards lineup, but they also add steel drums to bring in South Caribbean calypso and soca styles of Trinidad and Tobago, producing rhythms that drive listeners to the dance floor.
December
Snoop Dog
December 2
The Fillmore
1805 Geary, San Francisco
http://wwwthefillmore.com
West Coast rap legend Snoop Dogg will launch his Wanna Thank Me Tour in San Francisco. “The Doggfather,” as he is known, is held in high esteem and affection by hip-hop fans worldwide and is one of the most recognizable faces and voices of the genre.
Abby Stein – From Ultra-Orthodox Rabbi to Transgender Woman
December 4
Arts & Ideas at the JCCSF
3200 California Street, San Francisco
http://www.jccsf.org
Described as a “conversation + text study,” the program features Abby Stein discussing her new book about her life’s journey from orthodox rabbi to transgender activist, writer, speaker and Jewish educator. The event will be presented in conjunction with the Jewish Community Library, Sha’ar Zahav, and SF Hillel.
Fantasia: The Sketchbook Tour
December 5
Paramount Theatre
2025 Broadway, Oakland
http://www.paramounttheatre.com
Celebrating the release of her seventh album entitled Sketchbook, American Idol star Fantasia brings her national tour to Oakland with special guests Robin Thicke and The Bonfyre.
Andrea Bocelli with the San Francisco Symphony and Chorus
December 5
Chase Center
1 Warriors Way, San Francisco
http://www.sfsymphony.org
In his first-ever appearance in San Francisco, Andrea Bocelli launches his new tour in a performance with the SF Symphony and Chorus at the new Chase Center. Bocelli is a legendary Italian singer widely regarded as one of the most popular classical voices in the world today.
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