Thru Sept 14: Theatreworks presents Grey Gardens. Based on the hit documentary, this tragicomedy follows the rise and fall of American royalty: Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis’ eccentric relatives, Edith and Edie Bouvier Beale. The musical, which follows the Beales’ heyday in the 40s to their descent into seclusion during the 70s, captures themes of missed opportunities and unfulfilled dreams, making it a must-see this month. Tues, 7:30pm; Wed-Fri, 8pm (except Aug 27, 7:30pm); Sat 2&8pm (no 2pm showing on Aug 23); Sun 2&7pm. (Mountain View: Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St.; 650/903-6000; www.theatreworks.org)
Thru Sept 21: San Jose Stage Co. presents Altar Boyz, a comedy about five small-town boys—one of them Jewish—trying to save the world with pious pop songs like “Girls You Make Me Wanna Wait” and “Jesus Called Me On My Cell Phone.” Wed-Thurs, 7:30pm; Fri-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 2pm. (San Jose: 490 S. First St.; 408/283-7142; www.sanjose-stage.com)
Thru Sept 28: San Jose Repertory Theatre presents The Foreigner. Charlie Baker is so pathologically shy that he can’t speak. So when he decides to take a vacation at a rural fishing lodge with his eccentric buddy, Froggy, things take a side-splitting turn when Froggy starts introducing Charlie to the other guests as a foreigner who can’t speak English. Soon, everybody starts spilling their deepest secrets to Charlie, and hilarity ensues. Tues, 7:30pm; Wed-Fri, 8pm (11am showing on Sept 3); Sat, 3 & 8pm; Sun, 2pm. (San Jose: 101 Paseo de San Antonio; 408/367-7255; www.sjrep.com)
Sept 12-Oct 4: Coastal Repertory Theatre presents Waiting for Godot. Samuel Beckett’s timeless absurdist classic comes to Half Moon Bay. The story centers on two hobos waiting by a leafless tree on a desolate country road who are waiting for someone—or something—named Godot. As they meet several odd characters and engage in poetry, wordplay and other nonsense, the result is a bizarre yet magical theatrical experience. Fri-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 2pm. (Half Moon Bay: 1167 Main St.; 650/569-3266; www.coastalrep.com)
Sept 13-28: Palo Alto Players present The Spitfire Grill. Set in small-town Wisconsin, this inspiring musical is about a young woman who decides to begin a new life at the Spitfire Grill after getting out of prison, and inadvertently sets the town on its own journey of self-discovery. Thurs-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 2:30pm. (Palo Alto: Lucie Stern Theatre, 1305 Middlefield Rd.; 650/329-0891; www.paplayers.org)
Sept 16-28: American Musical Theatre of San Jose presents The Full Monty. Based on the hit movie, this Broadway hit tells the tale of six down-and-out construction workers who come up with a brilliant plan to raise cash for a friend in need. It’s the perfect summer feel-good story! (San Jose: Center for the Performing Arts, 255 Almaden Blvd.; 888/455-SHOW; www.amtsj.org)
Sept 18-Oct 5: Broadway By the Bay presents Steven Sondheim’s Into the Woods. This bewitching musical follows fairy tale figures like Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella and Rapunzel as they make their way through the woods on a thought-provoking journey. Part whimsical children’s story, part harsh reality check, this performance will get your imagination going. Thurs-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 2pm. Also Sept 27, 2pm. (San Mateo: Performing Arts Center, 600 N. Delaware; 650/579-5565; www.broadwaybythebay.org)
Sept 25–Oct 19: City Lights Theater Company presents Noises Off, a laugh-out-loud comedy about what really goes on behind the scenes when an English acting troupe travels around the country putting on a production of a farce called “Nothing On.” Filled with slamming doors, fumbled lines, confusion, sexual dalliances and even plates of sardines, this play-within-a-play will leave you howling. Wed-Sat, 8pm. (San Jose: City Lights Theater Company, 529 S. Second St.; 408/295-4200; www.cltc.org)
