‘The Addams Family’
With an opening night appropriately timed to Halloween, the beloved, macabre “Addams Family” take the Lucie Stern stage in Palo Alto Players’ latest production, directed by Janie Scott. In this musical version, daughter Wednesday rocks the boat by falling for – gasp – a “normal” guy. The show boasts music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa, based on the classic TV program (which was itself based on the work of cartoonist Charles Addams). Costumes are encouraged during the opening night gala and the show is recommended for audience members age 8 and up.
Oct. 30-Nov. 15, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m., Lucie Stern Theater, 1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto; prices vary depending on ticket type; paplayers.org/show/the-addams-family.Â
‘Dracula: A Dance Between Love and Darkness’
The eternally compelling tale of the vampire Dracula meets the expressive medium of dance in “Dracula: A Dance Between Love and Darkness,” presented by HaoExpression Dance Company just in time for spooky season’s peak. The show, with choreography and direction by Augusto Silva, made its world premiere in 2023 with San Jose Dance Theater. It’s been reimagined this year with new choreography, staging and perspectives, according to the event announcement, and features the dancers of the local HaoExpression Dance Company, with music by Saint-Saëns, Brahms, Khachaturian, Ravel, Lalo, Sarasate, and others. Parental guidance is suggested and, the event listing states, Dracula-themed costumes are welcome.Â
Oct. 30 at 8 p.m. and Oct. 31 at 2 and 7 p.m., Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts (SecondStage), 500 Castro St., Mountain View; $40-$60; tickets.mvcpa.com/eventperformances.asp?evt=787.
Billy Joel Reimagined: A New York State of Jazz
Pianist and arranger John R. Burr channels the music of another “piano man” — Billy Joel — in an evening that puts a jazzy spin on Joel’s wide-ranging songbook. In addition to jazz, Burr, who has toured extensively with Maria Muldaur and The Alison Brown Quartet, draws on a love of folk music and singer-songwriters, according to label Blue Coast Records. Joined by vocalist Darryl Rowe, drummer Jason Lewis and bassist Matt Finders, Burr will explore Joel’s music through the lenses of jazz, blues, soul, improvisation and more.
Oct. 30, 5 and 8 p.m., at Meyhouse Palo Alto, 640 Emerson St., Palo Alto; $48 (8 p.m. show is sold out); meyhousejazz.com.
The Psychedelic Furs
British New Wave rock band The Psychedelic Furs (“Pretty in Pink,” “The Ghost in You”) has played at the Glastonbury Festival, the Hollywood Bowl, the Royal Albert Hall, Radio City Music Hall and the Grand ‘Ole Opry, and now the post-punk group comes to Menlo Park’s Guild, with a lineup featuring Richard Butler (vocals), Tim Butler (bass), Rich Good (guitar), Amanda Kramer (keyboards) and Zachary Alford (drums). Rock band We Are Scientists is the opening act.Â
Nov. 1-2, 8 p.m., The Guild Theatre, 949 El Camino Real, Menlo Park; waitlist available; guildtheatre.com/shows/the-psychedelic-furs-02-nov.
Thriller and Drama Film Fest
Cinejoy Viewers Voice Thriller and Drama Festival is taking place online through Nov. 1. Presented by South Bay-based film festival Cinequest, the festival offers 13 independent films from around the world that range from thrillers — including several with a touch of the supernatural and otherworldly — to features that delve into real-life family drama and pressing social issues. It’s the second in a series of virtual Viewers Voice festivals in which audiences can weigh in and decide which films will go on to the “Festival of Festivals,” taking place Dec. 7-13. The series kicked off with a comedy festival earlier this month. The final festival in the series before the grand finale will highlight documentaries and takes place Nov. 11-14.
Online through Nov. 1. Individual movie tickets are $5.99 each/all-access pass is $20, Ticket information:creatics.org/cinejoy/how-to. A full lineup of movies and links to purchase tickets: creatics.org/cinejoy/showcase/features.
‘Nature’s Pulse’
East Bay artist Zoe Caron comes to Mountain View for a reception and gallery talk, hosted in collaboration with the City of Mountain View Downtown, Visual Arts and Performing Arts committees. The event includes a moderated discussion about biology-inspired realism, an audience Q&A, and gallery viewing, plus the reception. Caron, who grew up learning about nature from her biologist parents, on her website describes her work as “a celebration of all things alive, and their unique inner worlds.” Caron’s art is featured in the lobby of the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts through Nov. 29.Â
Nov. 4, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts (SecondStage), 500 Castro St., Mountain View; free (reservation required); tickets.mvcpa.com/eventperformances.asp?evt=802.
