Hamilton

Broadway SF

A revolutionary story of passion, unstoppable ambition, and the dawn of a new nation. HAMILTON is the epic saga that follows the rise of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton as he fights for honor, love, and a legacy that would shape the course of a nation. Based on Ron Chernow’s acclaimed biography and set to a score that blends hip-hop, jazz, R&B, and Broadway, HAMILTON has had a profound impact on culture, politics, and education. HAMILTON features book, music, and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, direction by Thomas Kail, choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler, and musical supervision and orchestrations by Alex Lacamoire. In addition to its 11 Tony Awards, it has won Grammy®, Olivier Awards, the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and an unprecedented special citation from the Kennedy Center Honors.

Jaja's African Hair Braiding

Berkeley Rep Theatre

Step into the vibrant world of Jaja’s African Hair Braiding, a beloved Harlem hotspot where West African immigrant braiders work their magic on the locals’ locks. Amidst the lively buzz of a scorching summer, love ignites, dreams soar, and secrets unravel. But beneath the surface lies a current of uncertainty, pushing this close-knit community to confront the challenges of being outsiders in their own neighborhood. From the pen of acclaimed Ghanaian American playwright Jocelyn Bioh (Goddess, School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play) and directed by Obie winner Whitney White, Jaja’s African Hair Braiding is “a play that is equally affecting as it is hilarious,” hails Entertainment Weekly. Post Event Add Ons: Post show discussion: Join us after the show for a postshow discussion, expertly guided by members of Berkeley Rep’s artistic team. Post show reception: Join us for a post show reception and a photo op with the actors!

Carmen

SF Opera

https://www.sfopera.com/operas/carmen/

Her Passion is Freeing. His Obsession is Deadly. As free as a rebellious bird, it is hard to escape the magnetic allure of Carmen. Entranced by her passionate seguidilla, the soldier Don José descends into a dangerous spiral of desire. Jealousy and obsession lead to fatal consequences in Francesca Zambello’s production in which matadors bump shoulders with factory workers in the heat of Seville. Bizet’s evocative score features some of the most recognizable music in opera, brought to life by conductor Benjamin Manis.

Sweet Honey in the Rock

SF Jazz

https://www.sfjazz.org/tickets/productions/24-25/sweet-honey-in-the-rock/

A dynamic and influential a cappella ensemble deeply rooted in Black history and culture, the GRAMMY-winning Sweet Honey in the Rock make their Miner Auditorium debut with a series of concerts celebrating five decades of musical alchemy.
Founded in 1973 by Dr. Bernice Johnson Reagon, the group’s name is derived from a biblical passage that refers to a land rich with sweet honey and in which the rock symbolizes strength and resilience. This imagery reflects the essence of their music, which is both sweet and powerful, infused with spirituality and social consciousness.
Their repertoire spans gospel, blues, jazz, and traditional African melodies, often interwoven with themes of empowerment and love. Through their intricate harmonies, vocal percussion, and soul-stirring performances, Sweet Honey in the Rock have captivated audiences around the world and recorded 27 acclaimed albums including the group’s latest, #LoveInEvolution.

4th New Roots Theatre Festival

SFBATCO

https://www.sfbatco.org/nrtf-2024

New Roots is a 4-day arts festival that
🌱 unearths artistic voices in the Bay Area
🎭 celebrates the development of new work
📣 and centers BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ voices
The 2024 festival line-up features 2 SFBATCO commissions, 1 SFBATCO co-production, 1 presentation by Z Space, and a showcase of works from our beloved Creators Lab program.
All five of these dynamic projects are in various stages of development, and the festival offerings range from staged readings to fully memorized workshop productions.

The Day the Sky Turned Orange (SFBATCO), MAIN STAGE
Fri 11/15: 8:00 PM, Sat 11/16: 5:00 PM, Sun 11/17: 4:00 PM
September 2020. San Francisco. An ominous sky.
High school science teacher Amari must let go of her grief while starting a new relationship; her brother, QC, grapples with the realities of long-COVID and his future as an artist; and her student, Alé, is just trying to pay for remote therapy.
Painted with the background of the ongoing pandemic, Black Lives Matters uprisings, and an upcoming election, these interconnected San Franciscans face yet another sobering moment: the day the sky turned orange.
This R&B and pop musical from Julius Rea, Olivia Kuper Harris, and David Michael Ott is a testament to living through the trials of 2020 as well as a compassionate reminder of the importance of caring for our planet, our communities, and ourselves.

Cuckoo Edible Magic (SFBATCO), MAIN STAGE
Sat 11/16: 2:00 PM, Sun 11/17: 8:00 PM
When otaku-besties Ren and Mai step outside to discover an anime-blue sky, their first thought is, “Damn, this edible is strong.” But they quickly discover something more sinister afoot. A Sailor Moon-esque adventure through the Bay Area pits our nunchuk-armed heroes against one villain after the next - from a maniacal rice cooker to evil BART contortionists to supercharged Dim Sum cart ladies. These unlikely heroes must save the Bay Area, but they can’t do it alone: they’ll need help from Mai’s tough-love parents, Ren’s over-involved sister, and maybe even a cute corner store employee. 
The two friends’ quest is as wacky as it is poignant. CHamoru playwright Reed Flores explores themes of Bay Area AAPI life, Queer love, and complex family dynamics–both “born” and “chosen.” Developed through SFBATCO’s Creators Lab, Cuckoo Edible Magic promises to evoke laughter, tears, and a craving for some ha gao.

Library Play (Z Space), STUDIO THEATER
Fri 11/15: 6:30 PM, Sat 11/16: 3:30 PM, Sun 11/17: 6:00 PM
Step into the mesmerizing world of 'Library Play,' an Afrofuturistic Monodrama that delves into the essence of being a guardian of stories and histories, especially those of forgotten people. Follow the journey of a new librarian who must protect the library and its untold stories from the encroaching threat of A.I. cyborgs. With the unlikely alliance of a resourceful middle schooler and a minstrel superhero, they embark on a daring quest to safeguard the rich tapestry of black oral history within the library's archives.
As the plot unfolds, a profound revelation surfaces: each of us is a custodian of our own stories, and it is our duty to preserve and honor these narratives as sacred. This innovative solo performance is a whirlwind of action, humor, and introspection, offering a message of hope and resilience that resonates deeply in today's world.

Creators Lab Showcase (SFBATCO), STUDIO THEATER
Thu 11/14: 6:30 PM, Sat 11/16: 6:30 PM, Sun 11/17: 2:00 PM
SFBATCO’s 2024 cohort of creators – Maya De La Rosa-Cohen, Hasti Jafari, Christina Li, Ashley S Raggs, and Edith Castorena –  present five original works developed in in SFBATCO’s incubation space for emerging creators. Excerpts from these unique pieces explore themes of family, heritage, San Francisco life, freedom, and more. 
The First Three recounts a gay couple’s battle to become California’s first family to share equal parenthood. Homing Pigeons & Co follows two friends whose activism and differences become more disastrous with each passing day. In Clay Street, Chinatown, a Chinese woman learns freedom’s cost in 1850s San Francisco. Bay Dreaming tells the story of an African American girl in San Francisco losing her mother and her acting dreams. Finally, Named After My Mother explores fathers and lovers’ impact on three generations of San Francisco women linked by magic, fog, and one name.

Stories From Home

Berkeley Symphony

https://www.berkeleysymphony.org/event/stories-from-home/

Embark on a soul-stirring journey with Berkeley Symphony’s Stories From Home. Silvestre Revueltas’ Redes Suite immerses you in the vibrant world of Mexican fishing communities, while Samuel Barber’s Knoxville: Summer of 1915, featuring acclaimed soprano soloist Lisa Delan, evokes nostalgic charm. Kris Bowers’ For a Younger Self invites introspection through Grammy-winning violinist Charles Yang’s enchanting and expressive musicianship. Experience the magical allure of Leonard Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from West Side Story, a fusion of jazz, Latin rhythms, and classical motifs. Celebrate music’s power to unite and shape our collective stories.

Joseph Young, Conductor
Lisa Delan, Soprano
Charles Yang, Violin
Silvestre Revueltas, Redes Suite
Samuel Barber, Knoxville: Summer of 1915, Lisa Delan
Kris Bowers, For A Younger Self (Bay Area Premiere), Charles Yang
Bernstein, Symphonic Dances from West Side Story

Free Pre-Concert Chat 1 hour before the show. These informative and engaging pre-concert talks offer fascinating insights into the music you are about to experience. Learn about the program’s cultural and historical context, along with guided listening. Additionally, there will be live interviews with guest artists, composers, and orchestra musicians! Music talks take place one hour before all Symphonic Series concerts.

Two Black Churches + Carmina Burana

Oakland Symphony

Program:
SHAWN OKPEBHOLO Zoom!
SHAWN OKPEBHOLO Two Black Churches
     Oakland Symphony co-commission
CARL ORFF Carmina Burana

Meechot Marrero, soprano
Ashley Faatoalia, tenor
Will Liverman, baritone
Oakland Symphony Chorus
Piedmont East Bay Children’s Choir

Pre-concert talk by John Kendall Bailey begins at 7:05 pm

Tristan and Isolde

SF Opera

https://www.sfopera.com/operas/tristan-and-isolde/

Torn by Hate, They Become One in Love. Isolde has been captured by Tristan, who is delivering her as a trophy to his uncle, King Marke. She seeks death for them both, but when her maid swaps out the intended poison with a love potion, so begins an epic romance.
Though their love is doomed from the start, the couple cannot help but meet in secret, until the King uncovers their tryst and banishes Tristan forever. Can they find a realm vast enough to hold their passion? The apex of Romanticism and one of the world’s most influential artworks, Wagner’s opera is a unique expression of love at the extremes of human possibility. Music Director Eun Sun Kim continues her journey through Wagner’s operas, bringing back this transcendent score for the first time in 18 years.

Step Afrika! The Migration: Reflections on Jacob Lawrence

Cal Performances

https://calperformances.org/events/2024-25/illuminations-fractured-history/step-afrika-the-migration-reflections-on-jacob-lawrence/

Washington DC’s celebrated step dance company celebrates its 30th anniversary with a powerful production that tells the story of the Great Migration through Black dance forms, bold visual art, and vivid theatricality. The Migration is based on Jacob Lawrence’s famous series of paintings from the early 1940s that explored the Black American migration experience in a modernist style with a distinctive earth-tone color palette. Set to an uplifting soundtrack that includes music by Nina Simone and John Coltrane, gospel, and West African drumming, the movement traces a historical arc from Africa to the post–Civil War South to a new life in the North, the choreography a mix of stepping, tap, body percussion, and modern dance. “A life-affirming evening of theater” (DC Theatre Scene).

Día de los Muertos

SF Symphony

https://www.sfsymphony.org/Buy-Tickets/2024-25/dia-de-muertos

Join us for a celebration of Latin American music and culture including lobby installations by local artists. The dynamic concert program features traditional music with contemporary works honoring the rich heritage of this ancient holiday. The event is curated by longtime collaborator Martha Rodríguez-Salazar. CONCERT EXTRAS: Photo Exhibit: Nature in Art. Art in Nature. Head to Davies Symphony Hall’s First Tier lobby for a photography exhibit exploring the intersection of nature and art, with artwork by First Exposures. On display Sep 19–Nov 2.

Wilkins Conducts Rhapsody In Blue

SF Symphony

https://www.sfsymphony.org/Buy-Tickets/2024-25/rhapsody-in-blue

Conductor Thomas Wilkins celebrates the verve and vigor of 20th-century American music in a program featuring Rhapsody in Blue and music from Porgy and Bess, two works that have lured many an innocent ear into lifelong Gershwin fandom. Leonard Bernstein’s Candide is a valentine to European music, but the music is deeply American: inclusive, empathic, endlessly curious. William Grant Still’s orchestral suite Wood Notes is inspired by the landscapes of the American South and the poetry of Joseph Mitchell Pilcher. CONCERT EXTRAS: Photo Exhibit: Nature in Art. Art in Nature. Head to Davies Symphony Hall’s First Tier lobby for a photography exhibit exploring the intersection of nature and art, with artwork by First Exposures. On display Sep 19–Nov 2.

The Thanksgiving Play

Altarena Playhouse

https://www.altarena.org/2024-season-announcement/the-thanksgiving-play/

From Larissa FastHorse, the first known female Native American playwright on Broadway, this wickedly funny satire cleverly shows how good intentions and cultural assumptions collide when a troupe of misguided teaching artists scrambles to create a pageant that somehow manages to celebrate both Thanksgiving Day and Native American Heritage Month. OPENING NIGHT SPECIAL: There will be food and drinks in the lobby after the show!

Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse Live in Concert

Broadway SF

https://www.broadwaysf.com/events/spider-man-across-the-spider-verse/

Building on the success of the sold-out global shows of the first Oscar®-winning Spider-Man™ animated Spider-Verse film, comes the highly anticipated sequel: SPIDER-MAN™: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE, set to captivate audiences in concert venues worldwide. These films have garnered immense popularity, largely due to their groundbreaking soundtracks praised for their innovative fusion of orchestral and electronic elements alongside scratch DJ techniques. The upcoming spectacle will feature the movie showcased on a colossal HD screen, complemented by a diverse ensemble of musicians and instrumentalists performing the film’s iconic score and soundtrack live. This extraordinary lineup includes a full orchestra, a skilled scratch DJ on turntables, as well as percussion and electronic instrumentalists. 

ABOUT THE FILM: In SPIDER-MAN™: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE, we witness the return of Miles Morales, our beloved friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. After reuniting with Gwen Stacy, he embarks on an interdimensional journey across the Multiverse. Here, he encounters the Spider Society, a formidable team charged with safeguarding the very fabric of reality. However, when differing approaches to a new threat divide the heroes, Miles must navigate this rift alone, driven by a determination to protect those he holds dear.

Angels In America Parts I & II

oakland theater project

https://oaklandtheaterproject.org/angels

Double Header! Ticket includes both Part I and Part II
PART 1: MILLENNIUM APPROACHES
PART 2: PERESTROIKA
by Tony Kushner, directed by Michael Socrates Moran
New York City, 1985. Amid the AIDS crisis, two couples struggle to navigate their relationships, families, careers, illness, and dreams. As the lives of Prior, Louis, Joe and Harper unfold, so do questions of cosmic justice.
In Tony Kushner’s multi-award-winning American epic, each person is confronted with truths they have struggled to face—about themselves, about one another, and about the world at large—and the painful, transformative power of those realities.
As ghosts of historical figures mingle with contemporary prophets and timeless angels, the power of Kushner’s narrative reverberates into the perils of the present, as America barrels toward another historic election.
As humans—those with the power to change and create—Kushner’s timeless drama offers much-needed hope for our future—and an opportunity to re-engage with the “Great Work” before us

Family Matinee With Marcus Shelby & Friends

SF Jazz

https://www.sfjazz.org/tickets/productions/24-25/education/family-matinees/happy-birthday-thelonious-monk-marcus-shelby-friends/

We are always happy to celebrate the music of jazz pianist and composer Thelonious Monk, who was born in North Carolina on October 10th, 1917. Monk was known as the “genius of modern music,” and his compositions are some of the most well known and most recorded jazz pieces in the world. Along with saxophonist Charlie Parker and trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie, Monk is considered among the most important composers, instrumentalists and innovators of modern jazz. For this special birthday tribute, bassist and band leader Marcus Shelby shares his love of Monk’s music and his legacy. Special Meet and Greet: Meet Marcus Shelby in the lobby after the show!

Kedrick Armstrong Inaugural Inextinguishable Oakland!

oakland symphony

https://www.oaklandsymphony.org/event/kedrick-armstrong-inaugural/

Program:
JULIA PERRY A Short Piece for Orchestra
Celebrate the 40 Year Anniversary of Living Jazz
with three jazz-rooted compositions.
Allison Miller, Modern Jazz
John Santos, Afro-Latin
Meklit, Ethio Jazz
Valley of the Giants (for Eddie Marshall)
Composer by Allison Miller
Arrangement and Orchestration by Todd Sickafoose
Featured Artist: Allison Miller
Guest Artist: Dayna Stephens
Medley: Ethio Blue, My Gold, Stars in a Wide Field
Songs and Lyrics by Meklit
Arrangement and Orchestration by Sam Bevan
Featured Artist: Meklit
Guest Artists:
Sam Bevan, Bass
Colin Douglas, Drumkit
Marco Peris Coppola, Tupan/Percussion
Un Levantamiento (An Uprising)
Composer, percussion: John Santos
Arrangers: Saul Sierra and John Santos
Featured Artist: John Santos
Guest Artists:
Pedro Pastrana, Puerto Rican cuatro
Maria Cora, spoken word
CARL NIELSEN Symphony No. 4, “The Inextinguishable”
Pre-concert talk by John Kendall Bailey begins at 7:05 pm

Choir Boy

shotgunplayers.org/online/article/choir-boy

Tony Award-winning vocal arrangements by Jason Michael Webb. Pharus attends the Charles R. Drew Prep School for Boys and is the lead singer for their renowned choir. He is not only open about his queer identity, he also questions long-held traditions. With contemporary arrangements of traditional African American spirituals and dance, Choir Boy is a brilliant, moving, and uplifting play from Academy Award-winning playwright, Tarell Alvin McCraney. This is not a coming-out story. It's a story about the power of self-love.

Disney on Ice Mickey’s

Oakland Arena

Join Mickey and his friends at Disney On Ice presents Mickey’s Search Party, an adventure filled with world-class skating, high-flying acrobatics and unexpected stunts! Explore the colorful spirit realm of Coco, sail away with Moana, see Belle in the sky as the enchanted chandelier comes to life, and sing-along with Elsa. Make memories during Aladdin, Toy Story and The Little Mermaid as the search party becomes an all-out celebration!