Nestled in the heart of Golden Gate Park, the California Academy of Sciences boasts some pretty impressive credentials: This San Francisco landmark is the only place on Earth that houses an aquarium, planetarium and natural history museum, all under one living roof. Your general admission pass lets you get up close and personal with hundreds of free-flying tropical birds and butterflies inside the four-story living rainforest and gives you access to the award-winning, galaxy-spanning digital shows in the Morrison Planetarium. Animal-lovers can feast their eyes on an albino alligator, a colony of feisty African penguins, and more than 38,000 other live animals in the Steinhart Aquarium. In the new exhibit, Giants of Land and Sea, you can explore Northern California's natural wonders through a variety of experiences: Feel your way through an immersive fog room, keep your balance in an earthquake simulator, virtually ascend to the top of a towering redwood, and see a variety of specimens and fossils. You can learn about everything from meteors to minerals to mankind's evolution ... and that's all before you make your way up to the rolling hills and fields on the rooftop.

A mother's love and the spoils of war collide in this family affair. Black Repertory Group Theater's New Arts Experience presents No! Not My Son. It's a poignant look at the highs and lows of a family and community caught in the grip of drug addiction. Preston Thomas has returned from the Vietnam War and brought some demons home with him. To escape the death and destruction he's witnessed, he turns to drugs and his friends and family each have their own way of dealing with his situation.

From the top-quality live musical guests to its exceptional Southern cuisine, Biscuits & Blues is the perfect San Francisco spot to enjoy a night of down-home entertainment nearly every night of the week. Located in the heart of the theater district, this intimate venue hosts the best regional and national blues and jazz acts in a comfortable, close-up setting that's open to all ages. Voted America's No. 1 blues nightclub by The Blues Foundation and the Bay Area Blues Society, it's also known for serving up some of the best fried chicken in the entire region, not to mention California wines, microbrews and specialty cocktails.

Time Out New York raved, it's "a thrilling, gender-flipped slice of Manifest Destiny." This subversive tale of 10 men, four boats and two rivers contains none of the above. Pack your gear for this 21st-century telling of 19th-century American explorer and one-armed Civil War veteran John Wesley Powell, who assembles a brawny band of soldiers, trappers and adventurers to explore the waterways of the American West. Inspired by Powell's actual travel log from 1869, Jaclyn Backhaus's nimble and ingenious script is provocative, laugh-out-loud theater, performed by a cast of women who infuse America's historic myths of male conquest with a sly blast of subtext. Catch Men on Boats at A.C.T.'s Strand Theater in San Francisco.

For more than a decade, the performers of Red Hots Burlesque have been bumping and grinding their way across the best stages in New York and San Francisco. Now the United States' longest-running queer burlesque show's moving their popular Friday night extravaganza to the Stud, San Francisco's oldest gay bar! Voted San Francisco's hottest happy hour by SF Weekly, Red Hots features burlesque's signature striptease numbers, along with comedy, drag, live music, death-defying aerials, acrobatics and more. This all-inclusive troupe boasts talent from every gender, size, cultural background and performance style, and with a rotating roster of international performers, you're guaranteed to see an all-new show each and every time.

Come see the Punch Line's weekly SF Comedy Showcase, held every Sunday for over 30 years. San Francisco has a rich and vibrant comedy scene, and this weekly show has launched the careers of such comedians as Patton Oswalt, Margaret Cho and Arj Barker, as well as the current flock of rising stars such as W. Kamau Bell and Moshe Kasher. Laugh at a lineup of the Bay Area's top stand-up comics, many of whom have appeared on late-night television, Comedy Central and other esteemed television outlets.

Discover the unique Barbary Coast, an exciting area that's evolved into a food lover's paradise. On this three-hour walking tour from Sidewalk Food Tours, you'll enjoy food and drink samples from six of the neighborhood's authentic mom-and-pop restaurants and ethnic eateries. Explore a world-famous delicatessen that's presented a salami to the pope, nosh on pizza or rosemary focaccia from a 100-year-old bakery, nibble on decadent handmade truffles and more. Between tastings, your knowledgeable guide will give you an insider's look into how the foods are made at these eateries along with information about this historical neighborhood. All food and beverage tastings are included with the tour. Please see the full event description for a list of tasting locations.

Winner of the Tony and the Olivier Awards for Best Musical, Crazy For You has wowed audiences on Broadway, the West End and around the world, reclaiming the Gershwin songs into the perfect book musical. The show-stopping production will be an intimate version of the large-scale musical featuring the original Tony-winning choreography of Susan Stroman, recreated by Bay Area Musicals' Founder & Artistic Director, Matthew McCoy, who will also direct. A zany rich-boy-meets-hometown-girl romantic comedy, Crazy For You tells the story of young New York banker Bobby Child, who is sent to Deadrock, Nevada, to foreclose on a rundown theatre. In Deadrock, Bobby falls for spunky Polly Baker, the theater owner's daughter. But Polly takes an instant dislike to the city slicker, so Bobby vows -- through cunning, razzmatazz and a hilarious case of mistaken identity -- to win Polly's heart and save the theater. Filled with memorable Gershwin tunes like "I Got Rhythm," "Naughty Baby," "They Can't Take That Away from Me," "Embraceable You," "But Not for Me," "Nice Work if You Can Get It" and "Someone to Watch Over Me," this show can be enjoyed at San Francisco's Alcazar Theatre.

The San Francisco Neo-Futurists are thrilled to present The Infinite Wrench, as part of an ongoing and ever-changing attempt to shift the conventions of live performance and speak to audiences, including those unreached or unmoved by traditional theater. The Infinite Wrench is a mechanism that unleashes a barrage of two-minute plays that'll never ask you to suspend your disbelief. Join the cast at PianoFight , where they test, experiment and create an ever-evolving show to contain the irrepressible, the honest, the WTF and the new.

San Francisco's world famous Chinatown holds a wealth of exquisite flavors, but without insider knowledge it can be difficult to find those culinary secrets. Your Sidewalk Food Tours guide will lead you through the streets and alleys of Chinatown, where you will enjoy five flavorful tastings, satisfying your appetite for the exotic. You'll try Cantonese pork buns, President Obama's favorite San Francisco dim sum, Chef Han's authentic Szechuan cuisine, savory Peking duck and egg tarts cooked to a smooth flan-like perfection with a flakey crust. At the end of the tour, you'll know all of the best spots to eat and can return to enjoy Chinatown's food with confidence. Vegetarian substitutions can be arranged with advance notice.

Take a tour through San Francisco's history with one of its most colorful characters. Emperor Norton was a prominent businessman who lost it all on a bad investment. He responded to his failure by declaring himself "Emperor of the United States and Protector of Mexico." Rather than dismissing him, San Francisco embraced him, treating him as royalty and accepting his self-created currency. Tour guide Joseph Amster incorporates his journalistic and acting talents to provide a one-of-a-kind tour, taking on the persona of Emperor Norton and introducing you to the history of the city's most unique and interesting sites through the eyes of this larger-than-life unofficial city mascot.

Enjoy food and drink samples from five of the Mission District's most exciting taquerias, mom-and-pop shops and restaurants on this food lover's walking tour from Sidewalk Food Tours. Sample award-winning pizza, taste the area's renowned Mexican food -- even skip the line at a bakery whose owners won the coveted James Beard Award for Outstanding Pastry Chef in 2008. Between tastings, your knowledgeable guide will tell intriguing stories about 17th century Spanish missionaries, the lively punk scene of the 1970s and more. All food and beverage tastings are included with the tour. Please see the full event description for a list of tasting locations.

From beatniks, blues masters and drunken sailors to hardened fishermen and karaoke kings, North Beach is full of local characters and fanciful folk heroes. Find out about them over a complimentary drink on this San Francisco tour that will get you talking. You'll discover San Francisco's hidden pubs in Little Italy with a local guide, rub shoulders with the regulars at one of North Beach's best bohemian pubs, stroll through the vibrant streets, try an award-winning Northern California craft brew and learn about North Beach's colorful history. Get to Vesuvio Cafe for an experience to broaden your horizons.

Famed local historical figure Countess Lola Montez -- aka Rick Shelton -- leads this entertaining and informative three-hour walking tour of San Francisco, focusing on the Gold Rush era of the 1850s and beyond. Montez herself was an Irish actress and mistress of the King of Bavaria and composer Franz Liszt, who became a popular "Spanish" dance queen in mid-19th century San Francisco. She'll take you by some of her favorite haunts, tell you stories of the Barbary Coast and let you in on plenty of other little known town secrets, in this one-of-a-kind drag performance-excursion.

SF has a rich comedy scene. It's also got a rich weed scene. Put 'em together and you've got the San Francisco Stoner Comedy Jam. It's SF's best comedians (from Cobb's, Viceland, NBC, and ABC) sharing their most epic stoner jokes and stories. Savor this marijuana-themed show at The Punch Line San Francisco.

This Red and White Fleet Cruise launched in 1939 as part of the Golden Gate International Exposition, and it's still entertaining visitors and locals alike more than 70 years later. After departing from historic Fisherman's Wharf, the ship sails along San Francisco's breathtaking waterfront, past the city's Maritime National Park, under the majestic Golden Gate Bridge, and around notorious Alcatraz Island, cruising by many other exciting sights as well on the one-hour voyage. Take advantage of the personal-headphone audio, available in 16 languages, to learn more about San Francisco's history and world-famous landmarks, while enjoying a full onboard bar with drinks, snacks and more.

Wash those Monday Blues away with comedy you can trust. San Fran Monday Blues Comedy lets you soak up the cool club vibes at the old-school Delirium as you catch one-of-a-kind talent from the San Francisco stand-up comedy scene.

Along with being an incredible, vibing city of opportunity, San Francisco is blessed with natural wonders too. Get a glimpse of the Golden Bridge, Sutro Baths and other Bay Area wonders on this tour of the city. A guide will take you through both popular and local hangs, starting from the Golden Gate Bridge and through the rugged coastline and secret trails of San Francisco. Your fun begins at the Bridge Cafe.

What's in a name? A minefield of misplaced notions -- some comical, some sad, and some demeaning. PlaywrightIrma Herrera's observations from the frontlines, notes from American history, and laugh out-loud humor allow us to consider what it will take for all of us to get along. When Herrera gives her name its correct Spanish pronunciation, some people assume she's a foreigner. She's not. Herrera proudly claims her Tejano roots and her Mexican and American identity as well as her native languages: Spanish and English. Her solo play Why Would I Mispronounce My Own Name? both sheds light and throws shade on our prejudices and assumptions. See it at The Marsh Upstairs Studio Theater in San Francisco.

Sail around the most iconic parts of the San Francisco Bay aboard a traditional sailboat! Be part of a centuries-old nautical tradition as you watch the crew raise sails, and grab a drink as you enjoy the sunset from the special vantage of the water. It's a perfect way to liven up your weekend -- an ideal mix of luxury and adventure.

Take a tour through San Francisco's waterfront history alongside one of its most colorful characters. Emperor Norton was a prominent businessman who lost everything on a bad investment. Instead of throwing in the towel, he responded to his failure by declaring himself "Emperor of the United States and Protector of Mexico." San Francisco embraced this quirky character, treating him as royalty and even accepting his self-created currency. Tour guide Joseph Amster incorporates his journalistic and acting talents to provide a one-of-a-kind tour in which he takes on the persona of Emperor Norton and introduces you to the history of the city's most unique and interesting sites through the eyes of this larger-than-life unofficial mascot. Over the course of just under three hours, you'll cover about two miles along the waterfront, from the historic Ferry Building to The Cannery.

San Francisco's world-famous Mission District has a reputation for offering fantastic Mexican food, but on this San Francisco Food Safari, you'll discover there are many more culinary delights to be found. During this 2.5-hour journey, you'll visit pop-up restaurants, delis and markets to learn why the Mission has emerged as the Bay Area's most intriguing culinary scene. You'll have the chance to purchase whatever you'd like throughout this shopping tour, which takes you to Dianda's, home of the Italian Rum Cake, Mission Chinese Food, a legend in the San Francisco street food scene, and many more local culinary gems. Bring your appetite and stroll through the San Francisco streets for a chance to buy your choice of culinary treats. Along the way, learn fun facts to enhance your knowledge and appreciation of the area.

Break out the leg warmers and miniskirts, it's time for a totally tubular tribute to some of the greatest music of the '80s. DJ Dave Paul is bringing That BIG '80s Party to Public Works in San Francisco -- and he's bringing the decade's best music with him. You never know which classic you're going to hear. But chances are you'll enjoy plenty of hits from the likes of Van Halen, Bon Jovi, U2, The Beastie Boys, INXS, The Cure, Guns N' Roses, Madonna, Men at Work, George Michael and many more.

Artistic director Carolina Lugo, her daughter Carolé Acuña and their talented company of singers and musicians bring the sultry and sensuous flamenco dance to vibrant life. Their show combines the pulsating sounds of footwork, song, castanets, syncopated hand clapping and guitar for a riveting display of this true Spanish art form. This award-winning ensemble has been providing Bay Area audiences with passionate performances for more than 20 years, bringing artists from Spain and abroad to appear with them. They'll take the stage at San Francisco Latin American eatery Peña Pachamama.

Once stand-up comedians become full-blown TV and movie stars, you don't really expect to ever get to see them perform live again. But with The Comedy Get Down, you have the chance to catch some of the biggest names in comedy all in one amazing show. Cedric the Entertainer, George Lopez, D.L. Hughley and Eddie Griffin will take the stage at the SAP Center at San Jose for a night of hilarious stand-up. For years, these members of comedy royalty have been pushing boundaries and breaking new ground, and now they're back with mic in hand to prove once again why they're some of the best around.

Raise your glass and enjoy a romantic sunset on the water with magnificent views of San Francisco, highlighted by a delicious seasonal dinner prepared fresh on board by Hornblower's chefs. Whether you're celebrating a special occasion or just want a different sort of night out, the sight of San Francisco's spectacular skyline as you sail past Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge will make the evening special. The elegant four-course, sit-down meal includes appetizers, salad, choice of entree, plus coffee, tea and dessert. Spend the rest of the cruise relaxing and dancing to live music. There's a cash bar on board as well, serving signature cocktails and other libations.

Blue & Gold Fleet's Escape From the Rock Cruise is an exciting 90-minute excursion that takes you around the perimeter of Alcatraz to view the island from every angle. As the ship sails, passengers are treated to a presentation complete with sound effects and chilling tales of inmates Al Capone and Billy Cook, not to mention Clyde Johnson's daring escape attempt. This historical yet entertaining boat trip does not stop at the island of Alcatraz itself, but it does evoke the days when this iconic maximum-security prison was the most feared institution in the American penal system.

For an evening of sophisticated fun, join Hornblower's Supper Club Cruise on San Francisco Bay. With several small-plate dining stations featuring international favorites and tasty desserts, this three-hour cruise is the perfect setting for a night out with friends, a date night or a special celebration. Local DJs spin up-tempo lounge and Top 40 hits so you can work it out on the dance floor, or step outside for gorgeous views of the twinkling city skyline. Soda, coffee, tea and water are included and wine, beer and cocktails are available for purchase.

A favorite across the country, The Dinner Detective serves up a tasty whodunit along with a seated four-course dinner. And since this popular comic murder mystery is set in the present day, you'll never know whether someone at your table is one of the talented cast of improvisers. In fact, everyone's a suspect, including you. The event starts out with a reception at San Francisco's Le Méridian Hotel, featuring table-served hors d'oeuvres, followed by the meal, which includes salad, an entree and dessert. Between courses you can expect plenty of murder, mayhem and hidden clues coming to light as you puzzle through the crime. The top sleuth even wins a prize package at the end of the evening -- not to mention serious bragging rights.

Behind a secret door near the intersection of North Beach and Chinatown lies a dimly lit subterranean realm teeming with colorful characters and overlapping storylines. This is The Speakeasy, an interactive theatrical experience that will transport you to a 1920s San Francisco watering hole full of bootleggers, bouncers, war veterans and barflies. As you wander throughout the multi-room environment, sipping cocktails, playing casino games, or simply observing, you'll stumble across all manner of conversations and interactions as a complex narrative web unfolds. Never the same thing twice, The Speakeasy is a meta-theatrical event you'll want to see again and again.

Enjoy a complete evening of entertainment with Top Shelf's award-winning R&B and soul tribute show. This fully staged and choreographed production invites you on an interactive musical journey from the early doo-wop days, through the classic sounds of Motown, Staxx and Atlantic up to the smooth soul favorites of the '80s. Fenix, Marin's newest supper club, provides the perfect accompaniment, serving French-influenced American cuisine with a touch of soul, including a wide variety of small plates, salads, entrees and more.

A college football player turned stand-up comic, actor and author, Finesse Mitchell is best known as an SNL cast member from 2003 to 2006. He's also been seen on Comedy Central, Showtime at the Apollo and Comic View. Coming up, you'll see him in The Middle's spin-off. When Sue Heck moves to Chicago, Mitchell will play Hudson, a big-hearted bartender who works at the same hotel. Check out his stand-up when he headlines Tommy T's in Pleasanton.

Beloved holiday show The Velveteen Rabbit returns to Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, enlivening Margery Williams' classic tale of a little boy, his stuffed rabbit and the enduring power of love. With witty storytelling, charming music by Benjamin Britten, festive costumes and madcap characters, this annual Bay Area tradition has been delighting children for an incredible 32 years running. And with production by the acclaimed local dance company ODC, The Velveteen Rabbit's unique fusion of modern dance and compelling narration makes it a family event that older audience members will enjoy as well.

BATS Improv -- named the Bay Area's Best Theater Company by the San Francisco Chronicle, Best Comedy Troupe by SF Weekly and Best First Date Spot by the San Francisco Bay Guardian -- presents a variety show full of comedy fun, including head-to-head improv battles, long-form murder mysteries, musicals and more. Located at Bayfront Theater in the Marina District, every BATS show is one of a kind, using audience suggestions for a unique mix of improv comedy and theater that's never the same show twice.

Red and White Fleet's California Twilight Cruise is a relaxed two-hour cruise with views of the spectacular city lights, live guitar entertainment, light appetizers and a hot or cold beverage from the bar in a warm and cozy atmosphere. The boat features heated indoor viewing decks with large windows and comfortable seats as well as outdoor viewing decks for taking in the Golden Gate Bridge, the Bay Bridge and the infamous Alcatraz.

Sail under the Golden Gate Bridge and along the San Francisco Bay's historic waterfront on Blue & Gold Fleet's Bay Cruise Adventure. This fully narrated one-hour tour features information and history on city landmarks and plenty of opportunities for taking pictures of the unobstructed views of the San Francisco skyline. Both indoor and outdoor seating is available, so you can experience the sights and sounds from out on deck or take it all in from the warmth and comfort of an interior seat -- either experience makes for a truly great San Francisco adventure.

Who needs snow in the wintertime? Enjoy an evening of ice skating under the stars and palm trees at downtown San Jose's Circle of Palms Plaza amidst other South Bay seasonal attractions such as the traditional Christmas in the Park and Winter Wonderland. The South Bay's largest seasonal outdoor skating rink, produced by the San Jose Downtown Association, partners with Kristi Yamaguchi's Always Dream Foundation and routinely attracts more than 100,000 people each season. Your ticket includes admission to Downtown Ice's circular rink, plus skate rental.

With their successful blend of improvised comedy and song continuing to entertain the semi-masses on a weekly basis, the Secret Improv Society's popular theatrical shows are not so clandestine anymore. A bunch of San Francisco's best improvisers, comedians and musicians often come out to play with the sharp-witted regular cast, too. It all results in a fast-paced, high-energy revue, featuring plenty of audience input and interaction. Volunteers can even join the fun onstage. No two shows are ever identical, so repeat visits to this Shelton Theater laugh fest are strongly suggested.

Transforming from an '80s synth-pop band to one of the pioneers of the industrial metal genre, the band Ministry -- led by its singer-songwriter-instrumentalist Al Jourgensen -- is touring behind their 14th studio album, the dystopian-themed AmeriKKKant. Ministry's been labeled as everything from EDM to alternative to hard rock. But Jourgensen told the Washington Post that he calls their sound "aggro," defining it as "erotic, neurotic, psychotic, cyberaggresive, new-beat dance, country new wave punk with a metal edge ... and just a touch of insanity." Decide for yourself when they hit the stage at The Warfield in San Francisco.

Good Charlotte speaks for its generation, with albums and songs that consciously and subconsciously echo the emotions, events, and experiences of its audiences. More than 20 years into a storied career, Good Charlotte consistently amplify the voice of their era. Similar to how they spoke for a restless post-Y2K zeitgeist at the turn-of-the-century, the iconic multiplatinum modern rock mavericks pick up the mantle for a world anesthetized and numbed by quick chemical fixes, social media obsession, and pervasive tragedy on their seventh full-length, the appropriately titled Generation Rx. Now’s your chance to see Good Charlotte live in San Francisco at The Warfield. Opening the show is Sleeping With Sirens, dubbed "Best Artist of the Year" in 2014 by Alternative Press, along with Knuckle Puck and The Dose.

A special event screening of Timofey Kulyabin's award-winning production based on Pushkin's classic novel in verse. Recorded live from Novosibirsk, Russia. Presented in Russian w/ English subtitles.

Award-winning writer, director and producer Je'Caryous Johnson is once again taking the nation by storm with his new stage play, Redemption of a Dogg. The highly anticipated follow-up to Set It Off, Redemption of a Dogg stars entertainment icon Snoop Dogg, and features R&B hit maker and star of WE TV's Braxton Family Values Tamar Braxton, with R&B heartthrob and four-time Grammy nominee Eric Benet. Redemption of a Dogg examines the internal battle one man has between preserving his life-long legacy and losing the love of his life when he is faced with choosing fame and fortune over faith and family. Redemption of a Dogg is set against a backdrop of Snoop Dogg's greatest hits, as well as songs from his recently released chart-topping gospel album, Bible Of Love. Audiences will also groove to some incredible musical moments with Tamar Braxton and Eric Benet, and see special VIP friends and musical guests along the way, at the Paramount Theatre in Oakland.

Sized up with Mary's own magical measuring tape, the seven-time Tony Award-winning musical Mary Poppins would definitely be "Practically Perfect in Every Way." Based on P.L. Travers' stories and the classic Disney film, this high-flying musical extravaganza lands at San Francisco Playhouse, complete with spoonfuls of imagination, heart and whimsy. You and your family will be swept away by such iconic tunes as "Step in Time," "Chim Chim Cher-ee" and, of course, "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious," as young Jane and Michael learn valuable life lessons from their unconventional nanny and the lovable jack-of-all-trades Bert. This holiday season, be sure not to miss the magic of Mary Poppins, who teaches us that "anything can happen if you let it."

Join Cinnabar audience favorite Carolyn Bacon (The Fantasticks, My Way: A Tribute to Frank Sinatra) to explore the world of over-the-moon, mystifying, heartbreaking, and foolish love! A versatile and award-winning entertainer, Carolyn will sing Gershwin, Bernstein, Mozart, Jason Robert Brown, and more in this exciting, one-night-only cabaret. Pianist Brian Fitzsousa accompanies Carolyn.

The Lower East Side comes alive in the hands of Obie Award-winning actress Nilaja Sun (No Child...), whose new solo show Pike St. centers on a struggling Puerto Rican family living in the shadow of the Manhattan Bridge. With penetrating incisiveness, Sun tells the story of a desperate mother unable to move her stricken daughter down five flights of stairs during an approaching hurricane. An entire community of vibrant characters offer their help, giving new meaning to the phrase "it takes a village." Watch in awe as she fully inhabits personas ranging from a decorated war veteran to an octogenarian neighbor in this raw and harrowing one-woman performance at Peet's Theatre at Berkeley Rep, which “glows with humor” (New York Times).

Unlikely Japanese TV star Ollie Horn reflects on fame, identity, and how on earth he managed to get fat while living in healthy Japan in his intelligent and revealing debut special Pig in Japan. After a sell-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, lovable Brit Horn reveals how on earth he ended up performing stand-up comedy on Japanese TV, what it taught him about his country, and himself, and what made him give it all up. Horn's infectious blend of intelligent, aware, and surprising stand-up is in hot demand, and you can see him at PianoFight in San Francisco.

This holiday season, the Marin Theatre Company in Mill Valley revisits Jane Austen’s world of Regency romance with Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon’s The Wickhams: Christmas at Pemberley -- a companion piece to the duo’s delightful Miss Bennet -- both continuations of Austen’s popular novel, Pride and Prejudice.

After five award-winning solo shows, an off-Broadway run, appearances on The Tonight Show, Netflix, Amazon Prime, NBC and elsewhere, Don Reed lets loose with his latest one-man comedy-variety show, complete with irreverent sketches, edgy stand-up, short films and music. From original characters to celeb impressions, Reed does it all, and he's a regular at the Marsh, where he's staged hit shows like Can You Dig It?, East 14th and The '80s, among many more. Catch his latest at the Berkeley stage.

The Odd Couple is easily the late Neil Simon’s finest and funniest play. The original 1965 production received four Tony Awards, including Best Playwright for Mr. Simon. In this production, directors Mike Reynolds and Jay Krohnengold will take you back to that original, delightful concept -- of which Harold Taubman wrote “There is scarcely a moment that is not hilarious” in his NY Times review of the original production. The Odd Couple is a can’t miss delight. Join the Ross Valley Players, Oscar, Felix and friends for a couple hours of pure fun.

Before there was Hamilton, there was Lin-Manuel Miranda’s In the Heights, which tells the universal story of a vibrant community in New York’s Washington Heights neighborhood. It’s a community on the brink of change, full of hopes, dreams and pressures, where the biggest struggles can be deciding which traditions you take with you, and which ones you leave behind. Now, San Francisco's Custom Made Theatre takes this Tony Award-winning musical and presents it on its intimate stage, emphasizing the richness of the communities that make up our cities.

Get out your Stoli and Bolli! It's time for Absolutely Fabulous Live! D'Arcy Drollinger presents this drag parody of the beloved TV cult classic, starring some of San Francisco's premiere drag performers: Michael Phillis, Terry McLaughlin, Dene Larson, Peggy L'Eggs, David Bicha, Lavale Davis, Raya Light, and more. The hit British comedy series Absolutely Fabulous began in 1992 and remains one of the BBC's highest rated and most popular shows. Absolutely Fabulous follows the lives of three (and later four) generations of the Monsoon family and the people around them. Enjoy AbFab Live, directed by Cindy Goldfield. in Oasis San Francisco.

If you’re going on an international quest of historical and personal importance, you’ll need help. For your translator, you probably don’t want a guy with hilariously mangled English and hopelessly dated pop-culture references. His “blind” grandfather and flatulent dog named Sammy Davis Jr. Jr. probably won’t be much help either. But that’s the motley crew Jonathan, a young Jewish American, finds himself relying on in Everything is Illuminated, the “riveting [and] masterful” (Broadway World) adaptation of Jonathan Safran Foer’s acclaimed novel. Follow Jonathan as he travels to the Ukraine and sets out with this quirky fellowship in search of the woman who saved his grandfather from the Nazis. Equally funny and poignant, this modern favorite makes its Bay Area premiere from Aurora Theatre Company.

The East Bay's newest craft beer garden and live music venue, Cornerstone is a stylish new place to hear awesome bands and have a unique dining and entertainment experience. With more than 13,000 square feet and 40 beer taps, and an acoustically mastered concert area to provide one of the best experiences in the Bay, Cornerstone has everything you need for a great night out on the town.

As a sports columnist, C.W. Nevius has spent the last 20 years covering everything from NBA Championships to the World Series and the Olympic Games. Now he's tackling his biggest story yet at The Marsh: his own past. In his solo show, The Oakland Raiders, True Crime & Coming of Age in SF, Nevius takes you back to San Francisco in the '80s, where he went from working at a small town paper to writing about the Super Bowl and investigating a shocking sexual assault case involving an All-American basketball player.

Writer-performer John Fisher -- who's won just about every award ever given for Bay Area theater -- brings his latest one-man show to San Francisco after a prize-winning run at New York City's United Solo Festival. In A History of World War II: The D-Day Invasion to the Fall of Berlin, Fisher recommends the best books on the subject, comments on the cutest battlefield generals and then provides pertinent info on the hottest actors who played said soldiers in the movies. Lauded by the Chronicle, which says his plays "bristle with wit, intelligence, and a wonderfully developed theatrical instinct," Fisher's new work comes to The Marsh SF MainStage.

Head on down the yellow brick road with the Scarecrow, Tin Man, Cowardly Lion, Dorothy and her little dog, Toto, too, as The Wizard of Oz blows its way into the Julia Morgan Theater for an all-new production by the Berkeley Playhouse. When a storm hits her family farm in Kansas, young Dorothy is swept over the rainbow to a magical land where scarecrows talk, tin men sing, lions (barely) roar, and where one very wicked witch rules the skies. One of the most treasured stories of the 20th century, filled with the songs that made the movie an instant classic, this musical journey of finding home -- and yourself -- is one of this holiday season’s must-see family events.

Crazy talented kid Darci Lynne Farmer, the singer-ventriloquist-comedian and recent America's Got Talent champion, is bringing her pals Petunia, Oscar and others to City National Civic in San Jose for Rocking Around the Christmas Tree, a live holiday spectacular. Farmer charmed audiences and judges, including the irascible Simon Cowell, in her winning run on AGT, and the video of her appearance became No. 4 on YouTube's list of the Top Viral Videos of 2017. Now at the ripe old age of 14, she's performed all over the country, including on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, A Very Pentatonix Christmas, Little Big Shots and in Vegas and at the Grand Ole Opry.

98 Degrees is coming to San Jose this Christmas to warm your cockles and melt your heart with cuts off their all-new holiday album, Let It Snow. The amazing vocal stylings of Nick Lachey, Drew Lachey, Justin Jeffre and Jeff Timmons first ruled the airwaves in the late '90s with their pristine harmonies and hits like "Thank God I Found You" and "The Hardest Thing," selling a staggering 10 million records. Now, 19 years after the release of their platinum-certified disc This Christmas, the boys are back with their first new album in four years, featuring more cool seasonal tunes like "What Christmas Means To Me," "Little Saint Nick" and "Run Rudolph Run." This concert at the City National Civic is also set to include the guys' greatest hits, as well as a possible paso doble or two courtesy of Dancing With the Stars winner Drew Lachey, and his brother Nick, who competed in the show's Season 25.

Cardboard Piano finds the grace notes in "a deeply moving" story of "kindness, love and faith in the midst of a civil war" (Louisville Courier-Journal). Set in a small Ugandan church in 1999, two teenage girls -- one an American, one a local villager -- are in the middle of pledging their love to one another in a secret marriage ceremony when a traumatized child soldier arrives seeking help. This powerful drama from playwright Hansol Jung explores violence and its aftermath, as well as the human capacity for hatred, forgiveness and compassion. Don't miss Cardboard Piano when it takes the stage of San Francisco's New Conservatory Theatre Center.

Are you ready to dance?! Disney Junior Dance Party On Tour Presented by Pull-Ups Training Pants is an all-new interactive live concert experience. Sing and dance along to Disney Junior's greatest hits with your favorite characters. Kids of all ages and their families are all invited to the biggest dance party around, at San Jose's City National Civic. The Disney Junior Dance Party features live appearances by Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Vampirina, Elena of Avalor, Sofia the First, Fancy Nancy and Doc McStuffins, and magical on screen moments with Puppy Dog Pals, Muppet Babies and the Lion Guard.

The California Golden Bears are back for another season of Pac-12 action in Berkeley, and this year, they are aiming for the top of the standings and a trip to a bowl game. Coach Justin Wilcox brings back a host of key contributors, including QB Ross Bowers and NT Chris Palmer. Visit one of the most scenic stadiums in college football to see the Bears battle non-conference foes and Pac-12 rivals.

You're sure to be dazzled by the International Gem and Jewelry Show's unmatched display of gems, jewelry, beads, accessories and minerals. For close to 50 years, the acclaimed bauble fest known as InterGem has traveled to locations across the country with the largest selection of jewelry all under one roof. Expect to find colored gemstones, exquisite fine jewelry, gold and silver earrings, necklaces and bracelets, beads and crystals, ethnic jewelry, classic pearls, vintage estate jewelry, engagement rings and wedding bands, designer watches and one-of-a-kind seasonal pieces. With special show pricing and a huge selection direct from worldwide designers and manufacturers, this event at the San Mateo Events Center is perfect for gem enthusiasts, jewelry lovers or anyone looking for unique new accessories at great prices.

A pure dose of comedic storytelling crack from David Rodwin, F*ck Tinder: a love story is a strange-but-true tale of relationships in the modern era. After getting held up at gunpoint the night his girlfriend breaks up with him, Rodwin moves from LA to SF and goes on dates with 120 women in 2 years -- searching for love, but finding everything else. Surprisingly, these crazy stories grow into a tale of love ... that takes a strange twist. Hear the whole wild story at PianoFight in San Francisco.

Once called "the love child of David Bowie and Liza Minnelli" by the Los Angeles Times, Taylor Mac first made a name for himself with his 24-hour performance art project A 24-Decade History of Popular Music. Now the recipient of a 2017 MacArthur "genius grant," Mac takes on holiday music in his latest yuletide-themed installment of the project. Holiday Sauce features collaborator Machine Dazzle, a spectacular band and surprise special guests to reframe the songs you love and the holidays you hate. This celebration of the holiday season in all its dysfunction comes to Curran in San Francisco.

Get ready for a high-energy Cinderella, with a not-so-familiar story line. Filled with dance, song, and a storyline a cut above, Sincerella (Black Cinderella) is making its debut at the Black Repertory Group in Berkeley. This original piece is a transformative journey of a timeless classic. If you want a production with fabulous sets, fabulous costumes, dynamic singing and a host of spectacular actors, you've got it with Sincerella (Black Cinderella).

A certain "charismatic crankiness" is what drives Roy Wood Jr., according to Entertainment Weekly. Wood, who starred as Roy on the TBS show Sullivan & Son, got his start as a stand-up, appearing on Letterman, Chelsea Lately, HBO's Def Comedy Jam and as a finalist on NBC's Last Comic Standing. Along with his debut stand-up comedy album (Things I Think, I Think), he's also released three albums of hilarious prank calls, which have been featured on national radio shows like The Tom Joyner Morning Show and Jamie Foxx's The Foxxhole station on Sirius. Currently, you can catch Wood as a regular correspondent on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah. Or you can see the Alabama native live when he brings his hilarious, lovable grumpy self to Cobb's Comedy Club in San Francisco.

Five directors enter the theater, each with an inspiration for a new improvised play. Only one of the productions in Un-Scripted Theater Company's Super Scene! will emerge victorious. And you get to help decide which plays survive and which are eliminated. Which will get your vote? Sci-fi, romance or, maybe a gladiator adventure? Any genre could clinch it in this five-way fracas. It's improv where only the strong survive.

Once again, the Love Train is pulling into Oakland, and this time, The O'Jays are celebrating six decades of releasing platinum albums and #1 pop, soul and R&B hits. Members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the trio qualifies as a true American treasure. When their concert tour hits the Paramount Theatre, the Philly Sound icons will perform such legendary tracks as "Back Stabbers," "For the Love of Money" and "I Love Music."

Contra Costa Ballet's condensed one-hour version of The Nutcracker is a sweet treat even the youngest in your family will enjoy. Filled with fanciful sets and costumes and performed by the company's talented young dancers, the timeless story follows young Clara and her nutcracker-turned-prince on an exciting adventure. Their magical journey takes them past dancing giant mice and toy soldiers to reach the delicious Kingdom of Candy. Now in its 29th year, this production at Lesher Center for the Arts has become a beloved Bay Area tradition.