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

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.

Dear Evan Hansen 

Dates: 6/8 - 6/19

Tickets: Find tickets

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

Dates: 7/12 - 7/18

Tickets:  Find tickets

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.

Disney’s The Lion King 

Dates: 8/3 – 8/21

Tickets: Find tickets for all dates

Get ready to roar with this magnificent musical full of lions, tigers, gazelles and as many animals imaginable. The benevolent Lion King Musafa, his son Simba, and everyone in the wilds are living a great life. However, Musafa’s evil brother, Scar, decides it is unfair that he isn’t king and plots his revenge.

As Scar kills Musafa and takes over, everything that is beautiful and wonderful starts to disappear since he is such a mean and horrible leader. However, Simba is determined not to let this continue and fights to stay alive in a battle with Scar. How will it end? You’ll have to see it to know!

With lyrics by Elton John, and directed by Julie Taymor, you can expect an incredible journey!

Cats

Dates: 9/20 – 9/25

Tickets: Find tickets

Cats tells the story of a group of cats who meet each year to celebrate their holiday, Jellicle Ball. The cats are divided into two groups: the Jellicles and the Red Cats. The Jellicles are led by Old Deuteronomy, while the Red Cats are led by Macavity. During the course of the story, the cats must choose one of their own to ascend to the "Heaviside Layer" and be reborn into a new life.

The character of Grizabella, an aging former glamour cat, is chosen as the lucky one. However, before she can ascend, she must first overcome her doubts and fears. With the help of her friends, she does just that, and ultimately finds herself reborn into a new and beautiful life.

Cats is a heartwarming story about second chances and finding beauty in unexpected places.

Beautiful – The Carole King Musical 

Dates: 10/28 - 10/30

Tickets: Find tickets

Carole King is one of the most prolific and successful songwriters of her generation, penning hits for a wide range of artists including Aretha Franklin, The Beatles, and James Taylor. Beautiful – The Carole King Musical tells the story of her rise to fame, from her days as a teenage songwriter to her time as a chart-topping recording artist.

Along the way, King faced a number of challenges, including rejection, heartbreak, and personal turmoil. But she never gave up on her dream of making beautiful music, and ultimately found success on her own terms.

It is acclaimed as one of the best jukebox musicals ever written and continues to celebrate the legacy of one of pop music’s most enduring artists.

The Book of Mormon

Dates: 11/22 – 11/27

Tickets: Find tickets

The Book of Mormon is a musical comedy that tells the story of two young Mormon missionaries who are sent to Uganda to convert the locals. The musical satirizes organized religion, but it also has a message of tolerance and acceptance. The book was written by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the creators of South Park, and the music was composed by Robert Lopez, who also wrote Avenue Q.

The musical opened on Broadway in 2011 and won nine Tony Awards, including Best Musical. The show has been praised for its witty writing, catchy songs, and irreverent humor. If you're looking for a musical that will make you laugh out loud, The Book of Mormon is definitely worth checking out.

My Fair Lady

Dates: 2/21 – 2/26, 2023

Tickets: Find tickets

My Fair Lady is a musical based on the play Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw. The play centers around the character of Eliza Doolittle, a working-class girl who is trying to improve her station in life. To this end, she agrees to be taught how to speak like a lady by Professor Henry Higgins.

The musical follows their journey as Eliza attempts to learn the intricacies of proper speech, and Higgins tries to turn her into a sophisticated lady. Along the way, the two characters fall in love with each other, but their different backgrounds threaten to keep them apart.

Ultimately, My Fair Lady is a fun and wonderful story about social mobility and finding love in unexpected places.

1776

Dates: 5/16 - 5/21, 2023

Tickets: Find tickets

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. 

Beetlejuice

Dates: 8/1 – 8/6, 2023

Tickets: Find tickets

This musical is a stage adaptation of the 1988 Tim Burton film of the same name. The story follows the ghost of a teenage boy named Beetlejuice, who is trying to haunt the home of his former girlfriend, Lydia Deetz.

However, Beetlejuice finds himself competing with the Maitlands, the current occupants of the house, as well as with Lydia's new boyfriend, Adam. The musical features songs written by Eddie Perfect, with a book by Scott Brown and Anthony King.

The show made its Broadway debut in 2019 and has been nominated for numerous Tony Awards.

Tina – The Tina Turner Musical

Dates: 8/29 – 9/3, 2023

Tickets: Find tickets

The Tina – The Tina Turner Musical is a musical based on the life of the singer Tina Turner. The musical follows Tina's journey from her humble beginnings in Nutbush, Tennessee to her meteoric rise to fame as one of the world's most iconic performers.

Along the way, the musical showcases some of Tina's most famous hits, including "River Deep – Mountain High," "Proud Mary," and "What's Love Got to Do with It." The musical also captures the highs and lows of Tina's personal life, from her abusive marriage to Ike Turner to her triumphant comeback in the 1980s.

Ultimately, The Tina – The Tina Turner Musical is a celebration of a true legend and her incredible story of strength and resilience.

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

• 5/27 - 7/3: Little Shop of Horrors
  
• 7/16 - 7/23: School of Rock

Aurora Theatre Company in Berkeley

• 4/15 - 5/15: That's What We're Waiting to Find Out
  
• 6/24 - 7/24: Wives

Berkeley Rep

• 4/20 - 5/29, 2022: Octet
  
• 6/3 - 7/10: Dana H.
• 7/8 - 8/14, 2022: Sanctuary City
  
• 8/13 - 9/25, 2022: Goddess
• 9/9 - 10/16, The Ripple, The Wave That Carried Me Home

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

• 6/1 - 6/22, 2022: Ragtime
  
• 6/13 - 8/7, 2022: Nan and the Lower Body
  

Coastal Rep in Half Moon Bay

• 6/17 - 7/3: Angels in America: Part 1
  
• 8/5 - 8/28: Monty Python's Spamalot
• 9/30 - 10/23: Agatha Christie's Murder on the Nile
• 12/1 - 12/18: Christmas in Oz

Pacifica Spindrift Players

• TBD

Hillbarn Theatre in Foster City

• 4/22 - 5/8: I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change
  
• 6/2 - 6/19: Clue on Stage
• 8/11 - 8/21: The Four Gifts

Palo Alto Players

• 5/8 - 5/22, 2022: Allegiance
  
• 6/10 - 6/26: Twelfth Night
• 8/26 - 9/11: School of Rock - The Musical
• 11/4 - 11/20: Disney's Beauty and the Beast
• 1/20 - 2/5, 2023: The Play That Goes Wrong
• 4/28 - 5/14: The SpongeBob Musical

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. 

• 5/12 - 5/29, 2022: Real Women Have Curves
  
• 6/2 - 6/26, 2022: 9 to 5, The Musical
• 8/11 - 9/4: Pride and Prejudice
• 9/15 - 10/16: Cabaret
• 11/3 - 11/27: The River Bride
• 11/25 - 12/24: Scrooge in Love
• 1/26 - 2/26, 2023: Little Shop of Horrors
• 3/2 - 3/26, 2023: A Raisin in the Sun
• 3/30 - 4/30, 2023: Always...Patsy Cline
• 5/11 - 6/4, 2023: Smart People
• 6/1 - 6/25: Something Rotten! 

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.

• 6/10 - 6/26: La Traviata
  

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.

• 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.

• 5/6 - 5/22: Matilda
  

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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