28 South Bay Accent
CALENDAR
Theater
AUGUST
The Two Gentlemen of Verona. Aug.
1-Sept. 3, times vary. Join two young men as
they try to succeed in the perilous court of
Milan. Joined by a pair of colorful clowns,
a dog and Shakespeare’s first cross-dressing
woman, the two young men embark on a
journey that pits love against friendship in this
sexy and surreal comedy. Tickets $20-$42.
Audrey Stanley Grove, 501 Upper Park Road,
Santa Cruz. 831/460-6399.
Lizzie. Aug. 2-20, times vary. Ever wondered
about the story of Lizzie Borden? The Massachusetts
spinster was put on trial for getting
rid of her parents via hatchet in 1892, but was
later acquitted. This Goth-rock musical with a
riot-girl attitude tells Lizzie’s story of revenge,
sexual repression, anger, despair and ultimate
release. Tickets $21-$37. City Lights Theater,
529 S. Second St., San Jose. 408/295-4200.
Lord of the Flies. Aug. 3-5, 7:30 p.m. A
Theatre Near U presents this play that follows
a group of marooned boys on a
remote island, as they shed their cultured,
highly educated upbringing and
descend rapidly into savagery. Filled
with murder and mayhem, “The
Lord of the Flies” is a stark examination
of the tenuous thread our civilization
hangs by. Tickets $20-$25.
Pear Theatre, 1110 La Avenida St.,
Mountain View. 650/254-1148.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
Aug. 3-6, times vary. In a cathedral in
15th-century Paris, Quasimodo, the lonely
bell-ringer, becomes enchanted by a kind
and beautiful gypsy girl, but he faces two rivals
for her attention. This production is based on
Victor Hugo’s novel and the Disney animated
film. Tickets $20-$25. Montgomery Theatre,
271 S. Market St. San Jose. 408/792-4111.
Measure for Measure. Aug. 5-Sept. 2, times
vary. Shakespeare’s dynamic, dark comedy
explores the body politic and the politics of
the body. This co-production with California
Shakespeare Theater also explores justice, and
the dichotomy between corruption and purity.
Tickets $20-$42. Audrey Stanley Grove, 501
Upper Park Road, Santa Cruz. 831/460-6399.
The Chimes of Normandy. Aug. 5-6, times
vary. This popular French comic operetta,
performed in English, features mystery and
romance. A long-absent count, returning to
his crumbling castle, searches for a beautiful
young woman who he rescued at sea many
years ago. Tickets $12-$24. Mountain View
Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro
St., Mountain View. 650/903-6000.
The 39 Steps. Aug. 6-Sept. 3, times vary.
While on vacation in London, Canadian Richard
Hannay becomes mixed up in an international
spy ring related to the mysterious “39
steps.” Four actors tackle more than 150 roles
in this madcap adaptation of Hitchcock’s 1935
thriller. Tickets $20-$42. The Grove at DeLaveaga
Park, 501 Upper Park Road, Santa Cruz.
831/460-6399.
The Lion King Experience. Aug. 11-15,
times vary. Join CMT Rising Stars Junior as
they take on the cast of characters from the hit
Disney classic film, “The Lion King.” Includes
unforgettable songs such as “Hakuna Matata”
and “I Just Can’t Wait to be King.” Tickets
$15-$20. Montgomery Theater, 271 S. Market
St. San Jose. 408/792-4111.
Next to Normal. Aug. 11, 12, 13 and 19,
times vary. One of Broadway’s biggest and
most compelling hits in recent years, “Next
to Normal” nabbed three Tony Awards and a
Pulitzer for its heartbreaking, humorous and
authentic look at a seemingly normal family
struggling with the effects of bipolar disorder.
Features original songs by Tom Kitt, including
“Just Another Day” and “You Don’t Know.”
Tickets $20-$56. Fox Theatre, 2215 Broadway,
Redwood City. 650/369-7770.
Hamlet. Aug. 12-13, 19-20 and 26-27, times
vary. Celebrating its 35th year, San Francisco
Shakespeare Festival brings its production
of “Hamlet” to downtown
Redwood City for three weekends.
Hamlet is torn between avenging
his father’s murder and going along
quietly with the new regime. Finding
an ally in the audience, Hamlet
shares his inner turmoil in a series
of famous soliloquies. Free. Sequoia
High School, 1201 Brewster Ave.,
Redwood City.
The Yeomen of the Guard. Aug. 12
at 8 p.m. and Aug. 13 at 2 p.m. Presented
by Lamplighters Music Theatre, this
dark comedy is full of love, loss, secrets, lies,
choices and consequences. In what is arguably
Gilbert & Sullivan’s true masterpiece and
finest score, “The Yeomen of the Guard” tells
the tale of life, and how it happens despite
our best intentions. Tickets $25-$55. Mountain
View Center for the Performing Arts, 500
Castro St., Mountain View. 650/903-6000.
Candide. Aug. 23-30, 7:30 p.m. Directed by
Kate Jopson, Santa Cruz Shakespeare’s acting
interns present Voltaire’s funny and fastpaced
tale of the dangers of optimism. First
published in 1759, “Candide” parodies many
adventure and romance clichés, the struggles
of which are caricatured in a tone that is mordantly
matter-of-fact. Tickets $20-$25. The
Grove at DeLaveaga Park, 501 Upper Park
Road, Santa Cruz. 831/460-6399.
Shrek the Musical. Aug. 25-27, and Sept.
1, times vary. Come along for a song-filled
adventure as a very unlikely hero teams up
with a wisecracking donkey and a feisty princess
who’s anything but a damsel in distress.
This show features an all-ages cast and throws
just about every fairy tale ever told into a
blender for a hip and funny mash-up. Tickets
Monterey County Fair,
Aug. 31–Sept 4
Pat Benetar & Neil Giraldo,
Aug. 21, Wente Vineyards,
Livermore; Smokey Robinson,
Aug. 30, Wente Vineyards,
Livermore