Varieties of Milpitas and Silicon Valley Theatre

• Children’s Theatre
• Comedy Clubs
• General Theatre
• Shakespeare
• Ticket Sales

Why Experience Live Theater

Experiencing live theater is a unique and enriching activity that offers numerous benefits and a distinct form of entertainment. Here are some compelling reasons why you should consider attending live theater performances:

1. Immersive Experience

• Engagement: Live theater provides an immersive experience that engages all your senses. The immediacy of the performance creates a connection between the audience and the actors that is hard to replicate in other forms of entertainment.
• Presence: Being in the same room as the performers allows you to feel the energy and emotions of the live performance, making it a more impactful experience.

2. Human Connection

• Empathy: Theater often explores complex human emotions and situations, helping audiences develop empathy and a deeper understanding of different perspectives and experiences.
• Community: Attending a live performance is a communal experience. Sharing reactions and emotions with fellow audience members can create a sense of community and shared humanity.

3. Artistic Expression

• Creativity: Theater is a platform for artistic expression, showcasing the talents of actors, directors, playwrights, set designers, and more. It’s a celebration of creativity and collaboration.
• Innovation: Many theater productions push boundaries and experiment with new forms of storytelling, staging, and technology, offering fresh and innovative experiences.

4. Cultural Enrichment

• Diverse Stories: Theater presents a wide range of stories from different cultures, historical periods, and social contexts, enriching your understanding of the world.
• Historical Context: Many plays are set in or reflect specific historical periods, providing insights into the social, political, and cultural issues of those times.

5. Intellectual Stimulation

• Critical Thinking: Theater often deals with complex themes and moral dilemmas, encouraging audiences to think critically and reflect on their own beliefs and values.
• Dialogue and Discourse: Post-performance discussions and Q&A sessions can deepen your understanding and appreciation of the play, fostering intellectual engagement.

6. Emotional Impact

• Catharsis: Theater can evoke a wide range of emotions, from joy and laughter to sadness and introspection, providing a cathartic experience that can be both healing and transformative.
• Memorable Moments: The live nature of theater means that each performance is unique, creating memorable moments that stay with you long after the curtain falls.

7. Support for the Arts

• Economic Impact: Attending live theater supports local artists, theaters, and the broader arts community, contributing to the cultural and economic vitality of your area.
• Sustainability: By supporting live theater, you help ensure that this art form continues to thrive and evolve for future generations.

8. Educational Value

• Learning Tool: Theater can be an effective educational tool, teaching history, literature, and social studies in an engaging and interactive way.
• Youth Development: For young people, participating in or attending theater can boost confidence, improve communication skills, and foster a love for the arts.

9. Escapism and Entertainment

• Break from Routine: Theater offers a break from everyday life, allowing you to escape into different worlds and stories.
• Entertainment: Above all, theater is entertaining. Whether it’s a comedy, drama, or musical, live performances provide enjoyment and a chance to relax and have fun.

10. Unique Experience

• Unpredictability: Each live performance is unique, with the potential for unexpected moments that make the experience special and unrepeatable.
• Interaction: Some forms of theater, like immersive or interactive theater, allow the audience to become part of the performance, creating a one-of-a-kind experience.

In summary, live theater offers a rich, multifaceted experience that can entertain, educate, and inspire. It’s a powerful medium that connects people, fosters empathy, and celebrates the human spirit in a way that few other art forms can.

Children’s Theatre

Center Stage Performing Arts
Milpitas Community Center. Follow on Facebook
Center Stage Performing Arts is offering a fun and unique opportunity for their performers to experience music, dance, and theater.  Our “invite only” cast members hit the road to participate in workshops and perform at select Theme Parks throughout California.  We bring our tour performance home for family and friends and add additional material to our showcase. 2025 marks our 12th Tour Anniversary and we hope to continue this great experience!

Children’s Musical Theatre San Jose
We produce a full season of shows, ranging from classical Broadway fare to exciting new hits and original works seen by an audience of more than 42,000 annually. Montgomery Theater | 271 South Market St., San Jose, CA 95113
February 14 – 23, 2025: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
February 28 – March 9, 2025: Rock of Ages: Teen Edition
April 24-27, 2025: Once Upon a Mattress
June 25-29, 2025: Roald Dahl’s James and the Giant Peach
July 11-20, 2025: Guys and Dolls
Jul 25, 2025 — Sun Aug 3, 2025: Frozen

Milpitas High School Theatre (Facebook)
April 24, 25, 26, 2025: Hadestown: Teen Edition

Palo Alto Children’s Theatre
1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto CA 94301.
January 29 – February 16, 2025: The Very Hungry Caterpillar
April 24 — May 11, 2025: Elephant & Piggie’s “We are in a Play!” Jr.

Star Struck
A non-profit organization dedicated to providing excellent, accessible theatre training for youth, with high-quality performances for families and the entire community at the Ohlone College Smith Center.
June 27-29, 2025: Finding Nemo Jr.

Comedy Clubs

ComedySportz
Competitive, team improvisational comedy, played just like a sport. 288 S. Second St., San Jose. (the old Camera 3 theaters).

San Jose Improv
62 S. Second Street, San Jose
408-280-7475

General Theatre

Broadway San Jose
We look forward to sharing Broadway West’s new season with you. 4000-B Bay Street in Fremont.
March 18-23, 2025: The Cher Show
April 3, 2025: Alton Brown Live: Last Bite
April 18, 2025: NARUTO: The Symphonic Experience
April 22 – 27, 2025: Six
July 8 – 20, 2025: Moulin Rouge! The Musical
July 29 – August 3, 2025: MJ

City Lights Theater Company of San Jose
Mar 13 – Apr 6, 2025: The Mousetrap
May 15 – Jun 8, 2025: The Cake
Jul 17 – Aug 24, 2025: Head Over Heels

Hillbarn Theatre
March 6-23, 2025: Fly By Night
April 17-May 4, 2025: Writing Fragments Home
May 22-25, 2025: Alice by Heart

Los Gatos Stage Company
A professionally managed, community based theatre company that serves Los Altos and the greater South-Bay area.
March 7 – 16, 2025: Greek Mythology Olympiaganza
April 10 – May 4, 2025: Cyrano
May 29 – June 22, 2025: Twelfth Night

Naatak
Bay Area Indian Theatre with presentations at the India Community Center and other venues.
March 14 – April 6, 2025: Blessed
June 13 – June 29, 2025: Vilayat Mahal ; in Hindi and English, with supertitles in English.

Palo Alto Players
Perform at the Lucy Stern Theatre, 1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto, right off of Embarcadero about one block.
Apr 18 – May 4, 2025: Jersey Boys
Jun 13 – Jun 29, 2025: Sweat

The Pear Avenue Theatre
The Pear offers audiences a theatrical alternative–intimate, startling productions that prove you can work wonders on a shoestring, as long as your spirit is willing and your imagination wide. 1220 Pear Avenue, Unit K, Mountain View. 650-254-1148.
February 23, 2025 – March 16, 2025: Ken Ludwig`s The Gods of Comedy
March 27 – 30, 2025: Penelope

The Stage
Producing plays that address truth and illusion. 490 S 1st Street, San Jose CA 95113
April 2 – 27, 2025: The Underpants
June 4 – 29, 2025: Sweet Charity

TheatreWorks Silicon Valley
Shows at either the Lucie Stern Theatre in Palo Alto or the Mountain View Center For the Performing Arts
March 5-30, 2025: Happy Pleasant Valley: A Senior Sex Scandal Murder Mystery Musical
April 2-27, 2025: The Heart Sellers
June 18-July 13, 2025: 5 & Dime

Smith Center
A fine and performing arts center located at Ohlone College in Fremont. All performances will be presented in Jackson Theatre, unless otherwise noted.
No more performances listed on the site for spring as yet.

Opera San Jose
Maintaining a resident company of principal artists, this company specializes in showcasing the finest young professional singers in the nation. California Theatre, 345 South First Street, San Jose.
February 23 – March 2, 2025: Bluebeard’s Castle
April 19 – May 4, 2025: Zorro

Shakespeare

Silicon Valley Shakespeare
Performances held at Sanborn-Skyline County Park outside of Saratoga, CA., Thursdays-Sundays at 7:00pm.
April 4–6, 2025: 11th Annual 48-hour Play Festival: ShakesFluencer
June 6–22, 2025: The Tempest
July 25–August 29, 2025: Richard III
August 1–31, 2025: Emma

San Francisco Shakespeare Festival
Offers free Shakespeare plays in parks around the Bay Area. Children’s camps are also available. July 19-August 3: The Two Gentlemen of Verona
Cupertino’s Memorial Park Amphitheater is located at 21163 Anton Way, near the intersection of Stevens Creek Boulevard and Anton Way, 1/4 mile east of Highway 85.

Santa Cruz Shakespeare
All Santa Cruz Shakespeare performances are at The Audrey Stanley Grove at DeLaveaga Park.
SCS returns to live, outdoor performances this Summer! More information to come!

Ticket Sales

Theatre Bay Area
Half-price tickets available for shows from Carmel to Mill Valley. A great way to get tickets “tonight!”

TodayTix
All sorts of savings on San Francisco and Bay Area theater tickets.