Mar 4-16: American Musical Theatre of San Jose presents Cabaret.This Tony Award-winning Broadway hit takes you into the seedy underbelly of pre-WWII Berlin, where the romance between a naive American novelist and a saucy cabaret singer unravels against the backdrop of a crumbling society. Swinging 30s-inspired tunes, sharp satire and smoldering dance numbers make this Broadway classic a must-see. Tues-Fri 8pm; Sat 2pm & 8 pm; Sun 1 pm & 6:30 pm. (San Jose Center for the Performing Arts, 255 Almaden Blvd.; 888/455-SHOW; www.amtsj.org)
Mar 5-30: TheatreWorks presents the Bay Area premiere of Southern Comforts, a late-in-life love story filled with gentle humor and cozy charm. Recovering from the loss of their respective spouses, a retired set-in-his-ways Yankee and a vibrant Southern belle used to getting her way find a second chance at love. Tues & Wed, 7:30pm; Thurs & Fri, 8pm; Sat, 2 & 8pm; Sun, 2 & 7pm. (Palo Alto: Lucie Stern Theatre, 1305 Middlefield Rd.; 650/903-6000; www.theatreworks.org)
Mar 20-April 20: City Lights Theatre Co. presents Lysistrata. Aristophanes’ classic comedy comes to life in a brand-new, fast-paced and bawdy adaptation by Will Huddleston, commissioned especially for City Lights’ 25th Anniversary. In this hilarious battle of the sexes, men and women in compromising political positions duel it out before a side-splitting reconciliation between ages and genders. Thurs-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 2pm & 7pm. (San Jose: 529 S. Second St.; 408/295-4200; www.cltc.org)
Mar 26-April 20: San Jose Rep presents Souvenir. Can dedication and persistence trump a lack of talent? Bringing up the question, this hilarious Broadway hit tells the story of real-life socialite Florence Foster Jenkins, otherwise known as the “Dire Diva of Din” for her enthusiastically awful arias. Though tone-deaf and lacking in talent, Jenkins enjoyed a successful concert career and earned the admiration and respect of her accompanist, Cosme McMoon, for her triumphant spirit and belief in herself. Tues, 7:30pm; Wed-Fri, 8pm; Sat, 3 & 8pm; Sun, 2 & 7pm. (San Jose Rep: 101 Paseo de San Antonio; 408/367-7255; www.sjrep.com)
