Thu, Dec 5

On Golden Pond TheatreWorks presents the Ernest Thompson play. TheatreWorks veterans George Ward and Linda Hoy star. Preview night. 8pm. Also to be previewed Fri, Dec 6, 8pm. Opening night Sat, Dec 7, 8pm. Also Sun, Dec 8, 2pm and 7pm, Tue, Dec 10, 7:30pm, and Wed, Dec 11, 8pm. Ends Sun, Jan 5. Lucie Stern Theatre, 1305 Middlefield Rd, Palo Alto. For more information, call 650.903.6000 or visit www.theatreworks.org.

Fri, Dec 6

Festival of Lights The SCU Choral Ensembles will present an evening of Renaissance and 20th-century holiday music, including works by Hassler, Sweelink, Britten and Stravinsky and featuring Arvo Part's Magnificat. 8pm. Also Sat, Dec 7, 8pm. $5-$10. Mission Church, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara. For more information, visit www.scu.edu/cpa or call 408.554.4015 or 408.554.4429.

Images in Dance The San Jose State University School of Music and Dance presents a concert of new work by advanced choreography students. A variety of styles and forms will be presented, ranging from jazz to modern to tap. 7pm. Also, Sat, Dec 7, 7pm. $6-$10. San Jose State University, Spartan Complex (SPX) 219, located near the corner of San Carlos and Fourth Sts, San Jose.

The Nutcracker Presented by San Jose Dance Theatre and Dance International. A San Jose family tradition since 1965, starring local youth and featuring professional guest artists. 7:30pm. Also Sat, Dec 7, 2pm and 7pm, and Sun, Dec 8, 1pm. $14-$40. San Jose Center for the Performing Arts, 255 Almaden Blvd, San Jose. For ticket information, call 408.286.9905 or visit www.sjdt.org.

Oliver! CMT kicks off its 35th anniversary season with the return of the triple Tony-winner Oliver. 7pm. Also Sat, Dec 7, noon, 4pm and 8pm, Sun, Dec 8, 1pm and 6pm, and Wed, Dec 11-Fri, Dec 13, 7pm. Ends Sun, Dec 15. $12-$20. Montgomery Theater, Market and San Carlos Sts, San Jose. For more information, call 408.288.5437 or visit www.cmtsj.org.

Peter Pan Presented by Theatre in the Mountains. 7:30pm. Also Sat, Dec 7, 2pm and 7:30pm, and Sun, Dec 8, 2pm. $10-$14. Loma Prieta Community Center, 23800 Summit Rd, Los Gatos. Call 408.353.9999 or visit www.theatreinthemountains.org.

Sat, Dec 7

California Theatre Center Family Season for Young Audiences "The Elves and the Shoemaker." 11am. $11.50-$12. Sunnyvale Community Center Theatre, 550 E. Remington Dr, Sunnyvale. For more information, call 408.245.2978 or visit www.ctcinc.org.

A Christmas Carol Performed by the American Family Theatre. 11am-3pm. $8-$16. Montalvo, Carriage House Theatre, 15400 Montalvo Rd, Saratoga, 408.867.4311 or www.villamontalvo.org.

El Camino Youth Symphony Dr. Camilla Kolchinsky, music director of the El Camino Youth Symphony, will conduct the 2002 California State Honor String Orchestra. The performance will feature

Vivaldi's Concerto Grosso in D, Haydn's Symphony No. 104, Mvt I, Mazurka from Delibes' Coppelia Suites and John Williams' "Theme from Schindler's List." Sat, Dec 7, 2pm. Cal State Hayward Theatre, 25800 Carlos Bee Blvd, Hayward. For more information, contact ECYS at 650.327.2611 or visit www.ecys.org.

The Two Gentlemen of Verona Shakespeare's riotous and romantic romp about the bonds of friendship and fidelity, set in Hollywood during the silent film era. Directed by Jeff Steitzer. Preview night. 8pm. Also to be previewed Sun, Dec 8, 2pm and 7pm, Wed, Dec 11, noon and 8pm, and Thu, Dec 12, 8pm. Opening night Fri, Dec 13, 8pm. Ends Sun, Jan 12. $20-$48. San Jose Repertory Theater, 101 Paseo de San Antonio, San Jose, 408.367.7255 or www.sjrep.com.

Voices of Angels Soli Deo Gloria and Orchestra Gloria, under the direction of Allen H. Simon, will present a concert of angelic music featuring Schubert's Mass in G, other works by Palestrina, Scarlatti, and Purcell and a newly-composed carol medley for audience and choir. 7:30pm. $15-$20. St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 600 Colorado, Palo Alto. For tickets, call 415.447.9823 or visit www.sdgloria.org.

Sun, Dec 8

California Youth Symphony Holiday concert. 2:30pm. Free. Gunn High School, Spangenberg Theater, 780 Arastradero Rd, Palo Alto. For more information, call 650.325.6666.

Chamber Players & Camerata Featuring Catherine Wang on violin. 2pm. Cubberley Theatre, 4000 Middlefield Rd, Palo Alto. For more information, contact ECYS at 650.327.2611 or visit www.ecys.org.

Festival of Found and Invented Sound The groups Mobius Operandi and Twine and artist Loop.Pool (a.k.a. Rick Walker) will each perform a set of contemporary music using exotic and unusual instruments they have invented or recontextualized from ordinary "found" objects. 2pm. San Jose Museum of Art, 110 S. Market St, San Jose, 408.271.6840 or www.sjmusart.org.

Lionheart Vocal chamber music. 2pm. $25-$35. Montalvo, Carriage House Theatre, 15400 Montalvo Rd, Saratoga, 408.867.4311 or www.villamontalvo.org.

Peninsula Pops Orchestra Holiday extravaganza. 7:30pm. $8-$12. Gunn High School, Spangenberg Theater, 780 Arastradero Rd, Palo Alto. For more information, visit www.peninsulapops.org or call 650.856.8432.

San Jose Chamber Orchestra Featuring conductor Michael Ching and violinists Eleanor Angel and Melinda Rayne. The program will include Bach's Brandenburg Concerto #6, new works by Conni Ellisor and Michael Touchi, seasonal favorites and a festive holiday reception. 7pm. $25-$35. Le Petit Trianon Theatre, 72 N. Fifth St, San Jose. For more information, call 408.295.4416 or visit www.sjco.org.

Shanna Carlson Quintet Presented by the Stanford Jazz Workshop. 7:30pm. $5-$20. Stanford University, Campbell Recital Hall, Stanford. For more information, call 650.736.0324 or visit www.stanfordjazz.org.

Mon, Dec 9

El Camino Wind Orchestra Conducted by Tony Clements. 2pm. Cubberley Theatre, 4000 Middlefield Rd, Palo Alto. For more information, contact ECYS at 650.327.2611 or visit www.ecys.org.

San Jose Chamber Orchestra Prep A new chamber orchestra for young people, conducted by Susan Stein. First concert. Willow Glen Educational Park, Little Theater, 2105 Cottle Ave, San Jose. For more information, call 408.377.4647.

Wed, Dec 11

The Nutcracker Presented by Ballet San Jose Silicon Valley. Music by Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Choreography by Dennis Nahat. 7:30pm. Also Thu-Sun, Dec 12-15, 18-22, 7:30pm (with 1:30 performances Sat-Sun), and Mon, Dec 23, 4pm. $22!=$65. San Jose Center for the Performing Arts, 255 Almaden Blvd, San Jose. For ticket information, call the box office at 408.288.2800 or visit www.balletsanjose.org.0

Ongoing

Cheaper by the Dozen Dramatized by Christopher Sergel. From the book by Frank B. Gilbreth, Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey. Fri, Dec 6-Sat, Dec 7, 8pm. Sun, Dec 8, 2pm. Ends Sun. $8-$10. West Valley College Campus Theatre, 14000 Fruitvale Ave, Saratoga, 408.741.2058.

Jazz at Hakone Gardens Presented by the San Jose Jazz Society. Third Thu of each month. 5-9pm. Free. Hakone Gardens, 21000 Big Basin Way, Saratoga. For more information, call 888.726.5673.