{"id":20184330,"date":"2025-09-24T00:30:00","date_gmt":"2025-09-24T07:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.metrosiliconvalley.com\/?p=20184330"},"modified":"2025-09-23T23:18:28","modified_gmt":"2025-09-24T06:18:28","slug":"city-lights-explores-draculas-lighter-side-plus-more-events","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.metrosiliconvalley.com\/city-lights-explores-draculas-lighter-side-plus-more-events\/","title":{"rendered":"City Lights Explores Dracula\u2019s Lighter Side, Plus More Events"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Last month, through a cruel trick played by fate, City Lights had to cancel the closing weekend of its season finale, Head Over Heels<\/em>, due to illness in the cast. As Executive Artistic Director Lisa Mallette stated at the time, \u201cIt\u2019s painful to lose performances for any show, but this one is particularly hard, with such a beautiful cast and story, and with such a timely message of love and pride.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fortunately, this week the theater troupe is back and ready to deliver a seasonal treat: Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors<\/a><\/em>, a gender-bending comedy with six actors playing over a dozen roles. This vampire story, from veteran comedy writers Gordon Greenberg and Steve Rosen, owes as much to Mel Brooks as it does to Bram Stoker. Caitlin Lawrence Papp, who played Queen Gynecia in Head Over Heels<\/em>, directs the play, which Forbes<\/em> magazine describes as \u201csexy and campy with non-stop hilarity.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The production previews on Sept. 25 and 26, with opening night on Saturday, Sept. 27. Performances continue through Oct. 19; tickets are available at cltc.org<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thu, Sept 25<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Oktoberfest Downtown Redwood City<\/strong>\u2014This peninsula city salutes Germanic traditions with gusto, becoming a magnet for lederhosen-wearing, beer-guzzling crowds, drawn by seasonal contests (stein-holding, yodeling, dancing), lively music, and lots and lots of brats and brews. Tickets: $10-$35 (includes a commemorative stein); food and extra drink tickets are sold separately. Sept 19-28 (every day except Sept 22) in Courthouse Square. redwoodcity.org<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

McNeal<\/strong>\u2014San Jose Stage presents the West Coast premiere of this play by Ayad Akhtar. The drama explores artificial intelligence, artistic integrity, and the line between genius and fraud. Directed by Randall King. $34\u2013$84. Previews Sept 24-26; opening night Sept. 27, with shows through Oct. 19. The Stage, 490 S 1st St, San Jose. 408.283.7142. thestage.org<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Taste of Ireland<\/strong>\u2014The \u201cIrish music and dance sensation\u201d comes to California on its 2025 world tour, featuring a cast of acclaimed Irish dancers and musicians. Sept 25. Fox Theatre, 2215 Broadway, Redwood City. ATasteofIrelandShow.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Quilt National 2025<\/strong>\u2014The San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles features selections from Quilt National, a juried biennial exhibition of contemporary quilt art, first held in 1979. Sept 25, 2025-Jan 2, 2026. 520 S 1st St, San Jose. sj-mqt.org<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fri, Sept 26<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Festival Fright Nights<\/strong>\u2014In honor of the spooky season, Winchester Mystery House debuts three haunted attractions, themed food and beverage offerings, and access to never-before-used spaces. $54.99+. Sept 26\u2013Nov. 1. Winchester Mystery House, 525 S Winchester Blvd, San Jose. festivalfrightnights.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Live on Main<\/strong>\u2014Bring a lawn chair or blanket, grab a meal from a local eatery and catch a concert of country pop and rock by Michelle Lambert. Free. Sept 26, 6:30-8:30pm. Town Square, 19419 Stevens Creek Blvd, Cupertino. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Marcos Varela Trio<\/strong>\u2014The SJZ Break Room Fall Series begin with this trio, whose other members are Liberty Elman and Mark Ferber. $21.80. Sept 26, 8pm. SJZ Break Room, 310 S 1st St, San Jose. sanjosejazz.org<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sat, Sept 27<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Sound of Music<\/strong>\u2014South Bay Musical Theatre presents the beloved Rodgers and Hammerstein musical. Sept 27-Oct 18. Saratoga Civic Theater, 13777 Fruitvale Ave, Saratoga. southbaymt.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mozart and More<\/strong>\u2014Mission Chamber Orchestra of San Jos\u00e9 opens its season with a program of Mozart\u2019s most popular works, plus Jacques Ibert\u2019s Hommage \u00e0 Mozart, a tribute to the composer within a 20th century idiom. Plus, pianist Sandra Wright Shen performs the Piano Concerto No. 21. $26.62 (discounts for seniors, students, children). Sept 27, 7:30pm. Shannon Theatre at Fremont High School, 1279 Sunnyvale Saratoga Rd, Sunnyvale. missionchamber.org<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Great Glass Pumpkin Patch<\/strong>\u2014Pumpkins come in all colors at this festive annual event sponsored by the Bay Area Glass Institute and the Palo Alto Art Center. Sept 27-28, 10am-5pm. Palo Alto Art Center, 1313 Newell Rd, Palo Alto. greatglasspumpkinpatch.org<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Services Search & Rescue K-9 Benefit<\/strong>\u2014The Quarter Note serves up live music, a car show, a charity auction and a barbecue meal to raise funds for the crucial services provided by K-9 officers and their dogs with the Santa Clara County Sheriff\u2019s Department. Free. Sept 27, noon-6pm. 1214 Apollo Way Sunnyvale. 408.732.2110. quarternote.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sun, Sept 28<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

El Ultimo Baile<\/strong>\u2014San Jose Jazz, in collaboration with the Culture Night Market, presents the closing celebration of the Alebrijes in San Jose installation, featuring music by DJ Chale Brown, Spaghetti Cumbia, Chika Di and La Misa Negra. Sept 28, 2-8:30pm. Plaza de C\u00e9sar Ch\u00e1vez Park, 1 Paseo de San Antonio, San Jose. alebrijes.sanjosejazz.org<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mon, Sept 29<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Cook Like a King Book Signing<\/strong>\u2014Top Chef All-Stars winner Melissa King celebrates the release of her debut cookbook, Cook Like a King<\/em>. $40 (includes signed copy of the book). Sept 29, 6pm. Williams Sonoma at Stanford Shopping Center, Palo Alto. melissaking.squadup.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tue, Sept 30<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Maria Pazos<\/strong>\u2014A solo exhibition by the painter goes on view today, with an opening reception Oct 3, 5-8pm. On view Sept 30-Nov 2. Gallery 9, 143 Main St, Los Altos. gallery9losaltos.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This week in Silicon Valley entertainment includes a gender-bending \u2018Dracula,\u2019 Mozart and More, a benefit at the Quarter Note, and more.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14789,"featured_media":20184332,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_eb_attr":"","_expiration-date-status":"","_expiration-date":0,"_expiration-date-type":"","_expiration-date-categories":[],"_expiration-date-options":[]},"categories":[1865,34,7979],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n