Get ready for some ‘Ruddygore’
1“Ruddygore”: This Gilbert and Sullivan work serves up a ghost story, tortured romantic entanglements and a deadly curse, plus lots of catchy tunes and overall silliness. Lamplighters Music Theatre, the talented troupe dedicated to the G&S canon, is taking “Ruddygore” on the road, with stops in Walnut Creek, Mountain View and San Francisco.
Details: Friday-Sunday at Lesher Center for the Arts, Walnut Creek; Feb. 19-21 at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San Francisco, and Feb. 27-28 at Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts; $20-$59; www.lamplighters.org.
2 “Bridges”: This musical by Cheryl L. Davis and Douglas J. Cohen, based on a concept by Elizabeth McKoy, combines the bloody milestone Selma civil rights march with a woman’s contemporary fight for equality in a narrative that explores the sacrifices made in the name of freedom. It gets its world premiere at Berkeley Playhouse beginning this week.
Details: In previews Thursday through Saturday afternoon, opens 6 p.m. Saturday and plays through March 6; Julia Morgan Theatre, Berkeley; $17 previews, $23-$60 main run; 510-845-8542, http:// berkeleyplayhouse.org.
3 Zeppelin Live!: Since we can pretty much forget about the real Led Zeppelin reuniting anytime in the near future, this national touring act (formerly named Heartbreaker) might be the next best thing. The band stops at the Montgomery Theater in San Jose Saturday to perform hits and standards from throughout the iconic band’s legendary three-decade career.
Details: 7:30 p.m.; $39-$49; http://sanjose theaters.org.
4“Exit Cuckoo (Nanny in Motherland)”: Oakland’s Ubuntu Theater Project presents this solo show by company member Lisa Ramirez, a Helen Merrill Award-winner for playwriting in New York City, that riffs on the social, ethical and political currents running through the child care business.
Details: Opens at 8 tonight and plays through Feb. 28 at The Blueprint workspace, Oakland; $15$35; www.ubuntutheaterproject.com.
5 Dianne Reeves: Over her three-decade career, the iconic singer has been one of jazz’s most revered performers, heralded for her sophisticated interpretations of standards as well as her spectacular scatting talents. Tonight, she kicks off a mini-run at SFJazz’s Miner Auditorium in San Francisco, with a show dedicated, appropriately, to romantic classics. Note, however, that tickets are going fast.
Details: 7:30 p.m. today through Saturday; 3 p.m. Sunday; $35-$95; 866-9205299, www.sfjazz.org.
6 Claire Lynch Band: Lynch is a Grammynominated singer-songwriter with a voice often compared to Alison Krauss and a knack for instilling her bluegrass sound with elements of pop, country, gospel and swing. She brings her band to the Freight & Salvage tonight.
Details: 8 p.m.; $23-$25; 510-644-2020, http://thefreight.org.
7 Song’s From Cupid’s Blacklist: Not everyone celebrates Valentine’s Day with chocolates, sparkling gifts and cooing pillow talk. The Celtic Society of Monterey Bay is presenting this concert featuring the talented Irish band Charmas, which will regale listeners with traditional ballads, chanteys and more celebrating the dark, raunchy and tragically funny side of romance.
Details: 7 p.m. Sunday; Don Quixote’s International Music Hall, Felton; $12-$14 (21 and over show); www.donquixotesmusic.info.
8 International Guitar Night: Brian Gore, who has been dubbed “the poet of the guitar” for his expressive style, has been organizing this tour celebrating the best in acoustic fretwork for some 20 years. The current lineup — featuring Gore, gypsy jazz master Lulo Reinhardt, fingerstyle wizard Mike Dawes and versatile performer Andre Krengel — comes to Bankhead Theater in Livermore Friday.
Details: 8 p.m.; $16-$39; 925-373-6800, www.livermoreperformingarts.org.
9 Flanders Recorder Quartet: This acclaimed outfit from Belgium comes to a San Jose Chamber Music Society hosted concert on Sunday to perform a program titled “Musical Banquet” that will feature a bevy of Bach compositions as well as other selections.
Details: 7 p.m.; Trianon Theatre, San Jose; $37-$49; www.sjchambermusic.org.
10 “Blood Tango”: Piedmont Oakland Repertory Theater presents the world premiere of this “vampire story with a twist” musical by John McMullen, Tal Ariel and Elizabeth Jane Dunn.
Details: Through March 13; Pacific Boychoir Academy, Oakland; $14-$19; http://piedmontoakland rep.org.