Bay Area Theater Calendar: San Francisco, North Bay, San Jose & More

Updated: August 3, 2021

The Bay Area theater calendar includes performances in San Francisco, the North Bay, San Jose, Oakland, and more. You will find a variety of options from large Broadway productions to wonderful shows at smaller local theaters.

Below you will find a schedule of top performances for each region within the greater Bay Area, as well as details on where to find more productions and how to get the best tickets.

Disclaimer: I receive a small commission from some of the links on this page.

San Francisco

You will find dozens of shows in San Francisco every week. This is where you will find most of the big Broadway productions such as Wicked, Hamilton, and The Book of Mormon.

If you want to see a full list of shows, click here for a detailed theater calendar for San Francisco.

Tickets to upcoming productions in San Francisco.

San Jose

Another city with a popular Bay Area theater calendar is San Jose, just over an hour south of SF. Here you'll find several musicals, Broadway hits, and smaller shows throughout the year. All shows are at The Center for Performing Arts at 255 Almaden Boulevard in San Jose.

Below are some of the top shows on the San Jose theater calendar for this season.

Hamilton (10/12 - 10/31): This incredible musical comes to San Jose for three weeks during the month of October. Created by the incredible Lin-Manuel Miranda, it tells the story of Alexander Hamilton's life. The dancing, the singing, and the style is amazing. A winner of Tony, Grammy, and the Pulitzer for Drama prizes, this is a must see. The show lasts 2 hours and 35 minutes with one intermission. It is recommend for ages 10 and up.

Hairspray (11/23 - 11/28): Tracy Turnblad, who is just 16 years old, wants to get on TVs biggest dance show and will do whatever she can to get there. This include wearing some of the coolest costumes, and of course, having the biggest hairstyle! This utterly hilarious musical will make you laugh, tap your toes, and cheer for her. Hairspray is 2 hours long and has one intermission. It is appropriate for ages 8 and up.

Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (1/18 - 1/23, 2022): Willy Wonka has decided to leave his incredible chocolate (and so much more) factory and move on. He has chosen 6 kids to try and become the new owners. The underdog humble Charlie doesn't think he has a chance, but his being kind and caring just might get him his ticket! With incredible costumes, songs, and much more, you will love it. It has a running time of 2 hours and 30 minutes with one intermission. Appropriate for ages 6 and older.

Riverdance 25th Anniversary Show (2/25 - 2/27, 2022): A special 25th year anniversary edition of Riverdance has been reinvented to bring even more dancing and joy to the show. This Grammy-Award winner focuses has new stage sets, costumes, dances, and more. The is 122 minutes and has one intermission. It is recommended that children being ages 8 or older.

Rent 25th Anniversary Farewell tour (4/8 - 4/10, 2022): This musical focuses on a group of artists and friends who are trying to become famous while still being themselves. Using song, dance, and acting, you will see how they figure it out and how they can move on. If you've never seen RENT, or have seen it many times, you will still want to see it this time as it is the last tour. RENT is 2 hours and 40 minutes long with one intermission. It is recommended for teens aged 14 and older.

Tootsie (4/19 - 4/24, 2022): The musical focuses on Michael, who is a down on his luck actor who is trying to make it. He realizes that he can actually become famous if he dresses like a woman for a special part. However, he doesn't realize he'll meet the love of his life, and she will think of a dear friend and motherly figure, instead of the man that wants to win her heart. Tootsie is 2 hours and 30 minutes in length and the suggested age is 13 and older.

Dear Evan Hansen (6/8 - 6/19, 2022): A socially awkward, and lonely, teenager named Evan Hansen is the main character. He desperately wants to fit in. One of his classmates commits suicide and Evan pretends to have been best friends so he can help the family. As he becomes more popular at school, he also realizes that he has problems with his real family. The question for Evan is it better to live in reality or live in a fantasy world that may fall apart? The show runs for 2 hours and 35 minutes with one intermission. It is appropriate for ages 12 and over.

Come From Away (6/12 - 6/17, 2022): Based on the true story of the events on 9/11 in the USA. 7,000 passengers and their flights, were diverted to the little town in Newfoundland for safety. As people from many different backgrounds come together in this terrible time, many emotions and thoughts come up and so do problems. But, as the people learn while being stuck together, they learn they are more alike than they could have imagined. The show is 100 minutes without any intermissions. It is recommended for kids 10 years and older.

1776 (5/16 - 5/21, 2023): John Adams, and others, decide that they no longer want to live under the rule of the British empire. Adams tries to get the Continental Congress to declare independence so this country can have freedom and allow for freedom to ring. We all know the ending, but now you can know the beginning and more. This show runs for 2 hours and 20 minutes with one intermission. It is recommended for ages 10 years old and over.

East Bay, Berkeley & Oakland

The Bay Area theater calendar for the East Bay includes performances in Berkeley, Oakland, Walnut Creek, and other cities. Many of these shows are an easy to get to on BART public transportation. Here are the top upcoming shows.

Berkeley Playhouse

TBD for 2021

Aurora Theatre Company in Berkeley

9/3 - 10/3: Stoop Stories
11/12 - 12/12: Father/Daughter
2/5 - 3/6, 2022: This Much I Know
4/15 - 5/15, 2022: That's What We're Waiting to Find Out
6/24 - 7/24, 2022: Wives

Berkeley Rep

10/1 - 11/7: The Ripple, The Wave that Carried Me Home
11/12 - 12/19: Wintertime
1/4 - 1/30, 2022: Mike Birbiglia: The Old Man and the Pool
1/21 - 1/26, 2022: Fran Lebowitz
1/9 - 2/13, 2022: Swept Away
3/19 - 5/8, 2022: Goddess
4/20 - 5/29, 2022: Octet
6/3 - 7/10, 2022: Cambodian Rock Band
7/8 - 8/14, 2022: Sanctuary City

Peninsula & South Bay

In addition to San Jose, the Peninsula and other South Bay cities also offer great theater performances.

TheatreWorks Silicon Valley: 2021 - 2022

10/6 - 10/31: Lizard Boy: A New Musical
12/1 - 12/26: It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play
1/19 - 2/13, 2022: Hershey Felder as Monsieur Chopin
3/2 - 2/27, 2022: Sense and Sensibility
4/5 - 5/1: August Wilson's Gem of the Ocean
TBD: Queen
6/1 - 6/22, 2022: Ragtime
6/13 - 8/7, 2022: Nan and the Lower Body

Coastal Rep in Half Moon Bay

8/6 - 8/22: Native Gardens
10/1 - 10/17: Deathtrap
12/2 - 12/19: Santaland Diaries

Pacifica Spindrift Players

12/11 - 12/19: A Christmas Carol: The Radio Play
4/3, 2022: Fools for Comedy
5/1, 2022: Monologue Mania
5/5 - 6/27, 2022: Theatre in the Woods with live performances under the stars

Hillbarn Theatre in Foster City

Palo Alto Players

8/20 - 9/5: Aren't You
9/17 - 10/3: Working
11/5 - 11/21: The Revolutionists
11/13 - 11/14: All Together Now!
1/14 - 1/30, 2022: Men on Boats
4/22 - 5/8, 2022: Allegiance
6/10 - 6/26: Twelfth Night

North Bay

You will also find a full Bay Area theater calendar at stages all around the North Bay. This region hosts many smaller and first-time productions. The theaters are often more intimate, giving you the chance to get up close to the stage. In addition, you will find some larger outdoor productions each summer.

6th Street Playhouse in Santa Rosa

The 6th Street Playhouse is a renovated 107-year-old Del Monte cannery located in historic Railroad Square in Santa Rosa. The square now operates as a quaint little shopping area where you can grab coffee, dinner, or a glass of wine before or after the play.

This playhouse is home to two North Bay theater companies, which present everything from dramas to popular musicals to children's shows, from August through May.

8/12 - 8/29: Love Loss & What Wore
9/16 - 10/3: Murder for Two
10/21 - 11/7: Vincent
11/26 - 12/19: Scrooge in Love
1/6 - 1/23, 2022: The Legend of Georgia McBride
1/27 - 2/20, 2022: HAIR
3/3 - 3/20, 2022: A Raisin in the Sun
3/31 - 4/24, 2022: Hank Williams Lost Highway
5/12 - 5/29, 2022: Real Women Have Curves
6/2 - 6/26, 2022: 9 to 5

Cinnabar Theater in Petaluma

Cinnabar Theater was created by San Francisco Opera singer Marvin Klebe in 1970, when he and his family decided to transform a two-room schoolhouse in Petaluma into a lovely community space for performance and creative collaboration.

You can catch North Bay theater performances--from Tony Award-winning musicals to contemporary plays--from September through June, as well as concerts and performances by Cinnabar's Young Rep group. Most shows are only performed on weekends.

9/10 - 9/26: Cry it Out
10/15 - 10/31: Dancing Lessons
12/31 - 1/16: Cyrano
2/4 - 2/20: Amy and the Orphans
4/8 - 4/24: Three Tall Women
6/10 - 6/26: La Traviata

Luther Burbank Center for the Arts

The Luther Burbank Center for the Arts is located in the heart of Sonoma wine country in Santa Rosa. Founded in 1981, it is ranked among the world's top 100 performing arts centers. It is also well known for its education programs and camps.

The center offers a wide variety of performances in music, North Bay theater, dance, and comedy, as well as family shows and speaker events, all throughout the year. Most shows are only performed on weekends.

Ross Valley Players

Ross is a very small town just west of San Rafael. There, in the 1930s, Beth Lloyd and a group of women founded the Ross Valley Players theater company as a way to cope with the Depression, later transforming an old rundown barn into theater it is today.

Throughout the year, the Ross Valley Players offer six plays, plus one full-length production of an original, provocative piece by a Bay Area playwright. Their work is diverse and aims to not only entertain, but to enliven the human spirit. Each new season starts in September and you can catch performances through August. Most shows are only performed on weekends.

9/10 - 10/10: Ripcord
11/12 - 12/19: Camelot
1/21 - 2/20, 2022: Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Jersey Lily
3/18 - 4/3: The Packrat Gene
5/6 - 6/5: The Government Inspector

Spreckels Performing Arts Center

Spreckels Theater Company stands out for its elaborate Broadway productions, said to rival Broadway itself. They are dedicated to bringing classic musicals as well as modern Broadway hits to the stage, using state-of-the-art lighting and sound, as well as incredible costumes and scenery.

Their North Bay theater productions have included Titanic, the Musical, Disney's Tarzan, and Big Fish. Spreckels Theater has become one of the most popular companies in the North Bay.

Their season runs from August to May, and you can catch performances in the beautiful Nellie W. Codding Theater in Rohnert Park. Most shows are only performed on weekends.

Monthly Event Calendars

Are you looking for additional events in San Francisco and the Bay Area? Click the links below for a full calendar of events for each month.

More Performing Arts in the Bay Area

Opera: The SF Opera is another popular performing arts option. They have two seasons each year, one during the fall months and the other during the summer from June to July. They produce many classic operas, including Madame Butterfly, La Boheme, and Carmen. Click here for this season's SF Opera shows.

Ballet: The SF Ballet was the first company to perform the Nutcracker in the US, and they continue to delight audiences during their annual performances of this Christmas classic. They also offer a full season of shows from January to May. Click here for details on seeing this year's Nutcracker performances or one of their regular season shows.

Symphony: The SF Symphony performs throughout the year. Each month, they offer around a dozen shows. You will find classical performances, as well as nights when they play scores from a specific movie. Some of their other shows feature well known singers and conductors. Click here for a full schedule of SF Symphony shows this year.

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