Thu, Jan 30

Ghosts San Jose Stage Company presents Henrik Ibsen's classic drama, in a new adaptation from Atlanta's Alliance Theatre Company. Preview night. 8pm. Also to be previewed Fri, Jan 31, 8pm. Opening night Sat, Feb 1, 8pm. Also plays Sun, Feb 2, 2pm, Wed, Feb 5, 8pm. Ongoing thru Sun, Feb 23. $16-$36. The Stage, 490 S. First St, San Jose, 408.283.7142.

Robert Bly Poetry Center San Jose presents a reading by award-winning poet Robert Bly. The author of, among other volumes, "The Light Around the Body," "Sleepers Joining Hands," "The Man in the Black Coat Turns" and "The Soul is Here for Its Own Joy," Bly is also the head of Sixties Press. 7:30pm. $5-$10. Le Petit Trianon, 72 N. Fifth St, San Jose, 408.292.3254.

Fri, Jan 31

Arts Coalition Gala The Silicon Valley Arts Coalition presents its first annual fundraising gala. The event, catered by Eulipia restaurant, features wine and champagne, hors d'oeuvres, a silent auction and performances by local arts organizations, including the American Guild of Organists, Lyric Theatre, Mission Chamber Orchestra, Palo Alto Philharmonic, San Jose Metropolitan Band and the San Jose Wind Symphony. 6:30pm. $15 per person or $25 for two. Le Petit Trianon, 72 N. Fifth St, San Jose, 408.251.8440 or www.svarts.org.

Culture Clash in AmeriCCa San Jose Repertory Theatre presents performance group Culture Clash and a show which offers the group's unique perspective on Silicon Valley. Preview night, 8pm. Also previews Sat, Feb 1, 8pm, Sun, Feb 2, 2pm and 7pm, Wed, Feb 5, noon and 8pm, Thu, Feb 6, 8pm. Opening night Fri, Feb 7. Thru Sun, March 2. $28-$40. San Jose Repertory Theatre, 101 Paseo de San Antonio, San Jose, 408.367.7255 or www.sjrep.com.

Sat, Feb 1

California Theatre Center Theater for children and families. "The Ugly Duckling." 11am. Thru Sat, Feb 15. $11.50-$12. Sunnyvale Community Center Theatre, 550 E. Remington Dr, Sunnyvale, 408.245.2978 or www.ctcinc.org.

Il Trovatore Opera San Jose presents Verdi's epic opera. Opening night Sat, Feb 1, 8pm. Also plays Sun, Feb 2, 3pm, Tue, Feb 4, 8pm. Thru Sun, Feb 23. $40-$58, Montgomery Theatre, Market and San Carlos streets, San Jose, 408. 437.4450 or www.operasj.org.

Ives String Quartet Part of the winter concert series at the San Jose Museum of Art. Sat, Feb 1, 3pm. San Jose Museum of Art, 110 S. Market St, San Jose, 408.294.2787.

San Francisco Symphony All-French Program. Sat, Feb 1, 8pm. $25-$50. Flint Center, 21250 Stevens Creek Blvd, Cupertino, 408.998.TIXS.

Sun, Feb 2

William Michals Performer William Michals, currently playing the role of Captain Von Trapp in AMTSJ's "The Sound of Music," gives two cabaret concerts. Sun, Feb 2-Mon, Feb 3, 7pm. $25. Theatre on San Pedro Square, 29 N. San Pedro St, San Jose, 408.283.0200.

Wed, Feb 5

Arcadi Volodos The pianist performs a solo program. 7:30pm. $80. Carriage House Theatre, Villa Montalvo, 15400 Montalvo Rd, Saratoga, 408.961.5858.

Stanford's Cantor Arts Center "Time Stands Still: Muybridge and the Instantaneous Photography Movement." An exhibit featuring works by Eadweard Muybridge. Wed, Feb 5-Sun, May 11. Cantor Arts Center, Stanford University, Museum Way (off Palm Dr), Stanford, 650.723.4177 or www.stanford.edu/dept/ccva.

Ongoing

Book of Days TheatreWorks presents a new play from Lanford Wilson, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Talley's Folly. Thu, Jan 30, 8pm, Sat, Feb 1, 2pm and 8pm, Sun, Feb 2, 2pm and 7pm, Wed, Feb 5, 8pm. Thru Sun, Feb 9. Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St, Mountain View. For more information, call 650.903.6000 or visit www.theatreworks.org.

Eating Dis Order, Eating Dat Order Theatre on San Pedro Square presents a new comedy about America's obsession with food and cooking. Wed-Sat, 8pm (cocktails at 7pm), and Sun, 2pm. $20-$25. Thru Fri, Jan 31. Theatre on San Pedro Square, 29 N. San Pedro St, San Jose. For ticket information, call the box office at 408.283.0200.

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. Call 888.726.5673.

San Jose Museum of Art "Collection Highlights." Selections from the museum's permanent collection. Ongoing. "Evocations: Sharon Ellis, 1991-2001." This exhibition is a 10-year survey of Sharon Ellis' work. Thru Sun, Feb 16. "L.A. Post-Cool." This major exhibition, curated by Los Angeles-based writer and critic Michael Duncan, features new works from Southern California artists. Thru Sun, Mar 23. "Celebrating Home: Gertrude Bleiberg." Thru Sun, Mar 16. "David Jones." Thru Sat, Apr 12. Tue-Sun, 11am-5pm, Fri, 11am-10pm, closed Mon. 110 S. Market St, San Jose, 408.271.6840 or www.sjmusart.org.

The Sound of Music American Musical Theatre of San Jose presents the beloved family musical. Thu, Jan 30-Fri, Jan 31, 8pm, Sat, Feb 1, 2pm and 8pm. Closes Sun, Feb 2, 1pm. $44-$68.50. For more information, call 888.455.SHOW or see www.amtsj.org.

Stanford's Cantor Arts Center "The Photograph as Document/as Art." Ongoing thru Sun, Feb 23. "Multiple Exposure: Photographic Imagery and Contemporary Prints." Ongoing thru Sun, Apr 6. "Nsila--El Camino: Jose Bedia and the Spirit's Path in Congo Art." Cuban painter Jose Bedia explores African art. Thru Sun, Apr 20. "The Butterfly Emerges: The Transformation of Chinese Painting." Ongoing thru Sun, Jul 6. Wed-Sun, 11am-5pm, Thu, 11am-8pm. Cantor Arts Center, Stanford University, Museum Way (off Palm Dr), Stanford, 650.723.4177 or www.stanford.edu/dept/ccva.

Sylvia City Lights Theater Company presents a comedy about a man and his dog by A.R. Gurney, the author of "Love Letters." Thu, Jan 30-Sat, Feb 1, 8pm, Sun, Feb 2, 7pm. Thru Sat, Feb 22. $15-$25. City Lights Theater, 529 S. Second St, San Jose, 408.295.4200 or www.cltc.org.

Triton Museum of Art "Who We Are: Selections From the Permanent Collection." A showcase of the museum's acquisitions over the last 15 years. Ongoing thru Sun, Feb 23. "Biennial Statewide Watercolor Competition and Exhibition." Featuring works by watercolor artists from throughout California. Ongoing thru Sun, Feb 23. "New Works by California Artists: Mitchell Johnson," an exhibition of works by figurative and landscape painter Mitchell Johnson. Thru Sun, Mar 9. Mon-Wed, 11am-5pm, Thu, 11am-9pm, Fri-Sun, 11 am-5pm. 1505 Warburton Ave, Santa Clara, 408.247.3754 or www.tritonmuseum.org.

Upcoming

Hookslide with the Razzcals Acappella music presented as part of the city of Sunnyvale's Evening of Cultural Arts Series. Fri, Feb 7-Sat, Feb 8, 8pm. $18-$20. Sunnyvale Community Center Theatre, 550 E. Remington Dr, Sunnyvale, 408.733.6611.

Portuguese Fado Concert Romantic Portuguese music featuring guitarist Jorge Fernando and singer Ana Moura. Fri, Feb 7-Sat, Feb 8, 7:30pm. $30. Le Petit Trianon, 72 N. Fifth St, San Jose, 510.207.2387.

Palo Alto Philharmonic The orchestra presents a program of popular classics, which includes selections from Offenbach, Gounod, Puccini, Donizetti, Strauss, Suppe, Weber, Copland and Bernstein. $5-$12. Sat, Feb 8, 8pm. Spangenberg Theatre, 750 Arastradero Rd, Palo Alto. Also Sun, Feb 9, 3pm. San Jose City College Theatre, 2100 Moorpark, San Jose. 408.395.2911 or www.paphil.org.