Thu, March 13

Dance 2003 The San Jose State University School of Music and Dance presents its University Dance Theatre in a concert of new works by guest artists, faculty and advanced choreography students. Opening night, 7pm. Also plays Fri, March 14, 10:30am and 7pm. Closes Sat, March 15, 7pm. $8-$12. Spartan Complex, San Jose State University, near San Carlos and Fourth streets, San Jose, 408.924.5041.

Money Matters A panel discussion which will provide information on artist residencies, fellowships, grants, awards and other forms of artist funding. 6pm cocktails, 7pm discussion. $5 nonmembers. San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art, 451 S. First St, San Jose, 408.283.8155.

Fri, March 14

Alex de Grassi Acclaimed acoustic guitarist. 7:30pm. $40-$45. Carriage House Theatre, Villa Montalvo, 15400 Montalvo Rd, Saratoga, 408.961.5858 or www.villamontalvo.org.

Asian American Film Festival Selections from the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival. Opening day. Ongoing thru Sun, March 16. $7-$9. Camera 3 Cinema, 288 S. Second St, San Jose. For tickets and full program, call 415.255.4299 or see www.naatanet.org/festival.

De Anza Spirit Dances New choreography composed and performed by the De Anza Dancers. The program includes hip-hop, contemporary, ethnic, tap and jazz dancing. 8:15pm-10:30pm. $10-$13. Flint Center, De Anza College, 21250 Stevens Creek Blvd, Cupertino, 408.998.TIXS or www.flintcenter.com

San Jose Taiko The Sunnyvale Evening of Cultural Arts series presents Japanese drumming by this popular group. 8pm. Also Sat, March 15, 8pm. $18-$20. Sunnyvale Community Center Theater, 550 E. Remington Dr, Sunnyvale, 408.733.6611.

Santa Clara Chorale "Lift Every Voice and Sing," an evening of spirituals and gospel music. 8pm. $12-$18. Mission Santa Clara, Santa Clara University, 500 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, 408.225.8276.

Sat, March 15

Abhinaya Dance Company The company presents a program of Indian dance entitled "Surya: The Sun God," which venerates the sun as the source of all life and explores the legends and poems woven around this god. 7pm. $10-$15 ($25 donor tickets). Louis B. Mayer Theater, Santa Clara University, 500 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, 408.983.0491 or www.indogram.com/sjs/TicketList.html.

Baroque Choral Guild "There Is Sweet Music: The English Choral Tradition, Then and Now," an a cappella concert highlighting two eras of British music with works by 13 composers. A lecture by Peter Susskind, formerly of the UC Berkeley Symphony, precedes the concert. 8pm. $17-$22. First United Methodist Church, 625 Hamilton Ave, Palo Alto, 650.969.4095 or www.bcg.org.

Forever Plaid The West Valley Light Opera Association presents a 1950s musical. Opening night, 8pm. Also plays Sun, March 16, 2:30pm. Ongoing thru Sat, April 12. $18-$20 (student price $10). Saratoga Civic Theater, 13777 Fruitvale Ave, Saratoga, 408.268.3777 or www.wvlo.org.

Palo Alto Philharmonic A program of chamber music that includes works by Schubert, Milhaud, Mendelssohn and others. Featured performers include Al Goldsmith on flute, Linda Harjono and Greg Clemenson on piano, Richard Ogier and Geoffrey Burr on clarinet and the Revelation Brass Band. 8pm. $5-$12. Palo Alto Art Center Auditorium, 1313 Newell Rd, Palo Alto, 408.395.2911 or www.paphil.org.

Peninsula Symphony A concert featuring works by Dvorak, Ravel, Brahms and Debussy. The featured soloist is cellist Mi-Ji Kim. 8pm. $19-$25. Flint Center, 21250 Stevens Creek Blvd, Cupertino, 650.941.5291 or www.peninsulasymphony.org.

Stanford's Cantor Arts Center "A Thing of Beauty Is a Joy Forever...Or Is It?" exhibit. Opening day. Ongoing thru Sun, July 13. Cantor Arts Center, Stanford University, Museum Way (off Palm Dr), Stanford, 650.723.4177 or www.stanford.edu/dept/ccva.

Triton Museum of Art "New Works by California Artists: Tony Natsoulas." Opening day. Ongoing thru Sun, May 11. 1505 Warburton Ave, Santa Clara, 408.247.3754 or www.tritonmuseum.org.

Sun, March 16

City Lights Fundraiser City Lights Theater Company holds its annual fundraiser, featuring a catered reception, a silent auction and a performance of improvisational comedy featuring Comedy Sportz. 6pm. $30 per person or $100 for four. City Lights Theater Company, 529 S. Second St, San Jose, 408.295.4200 or www.cltc.org.

Palm Room Sunday Jazz Series The San Jose Jazz Society sponsors a series of Sunday afternoon jazz concerts. Mark Levine's Latin Tinge performs this week. 3pm-5pm. $15. Hyatt Sainte Claire, 302 S. Market St, San Jose, 408.288.7557 ext. 2328 or www.sanjosejazz.org.

Peninsula Pops Orchestra "Cops, Robbers and Secret Agents," a program of popular music from the movies, TV and the stage. 7:30pm. $8-$12. Spangenberg Theater, 780 Arastradero Rd, Palo Alto, 650.856.8432 or www.peninsulapops.org.

Saratoga Symphony A program featuring works by Nicolai, Williams, Bruch and Popper. 3pm. Free. St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, 13601 Saratoga Ave, Saratoga, www.saratogasymphony.com.

Tue, March 18

De Anza College Wind Ensemble A concert featuring works by Sweelinck, Tichelli and Shostakovich, featuring Matthew Guthrie on French horn. Tue, March 18, 7:30pm. $5-$7. Flint Center, De Anza College, 21250 Stevens Creek Blvd, Cupertino, 408.864.8507.

Wed, March 19

But First ... Sammy Shore The San Jose Stage Company presents a one-man show starring Comedy Store founder and Elvis opener Sammy Shore. Preview night, 8pm. Also previews Thu, March 20-Fri, March 21, 8pm. Opens Sat, March 22. Ongoing thru Sun, April 13. $16-$36. The Stage, 490 S. First St, San Jose, 408.283.7142.

Ongoing

California Theatre Center Theater for children and families. "Miss Nelson Is Missing." Closes Sat, March 15, 11am. $11.50-$12. Sunnyvale Community Center Theatre, 550 E. Remington Dr, Sunnyvale, 408.245.2978 or www.ctcinc.org

Dames at Sea The Tabard Theatre Company presents a satirical musical tribute to 1930s Busby Berkeley movie musicals. Fri, March 14, 8pm, Sat, March 15, 3pm and 8pm. Ongoing thru Sat, March 22. $10-$15. South Valley Christian Church, 590 Shawnee Lane, San Jose, 408.679.2230.

Les Miserables American Musical Theatre of San Jose presents the hit musical based on the novel by Victor Hugo. Thu, March 13-Fri, March 14, 8pm, Sat, March 15, 2pm and 8pm, Tue, March 18-Wed, March 19, 8pm. Ongoing thru Sun, March 23. $39.50-$68.50. San Jose Center for the Performing Arts, 255 Almaden Blvd, San Jose, 888.455.SHOW.

On the Twentieth Century Foothill Music Theatre presents a quirky romp about the denizens of the theater world on a luxurious passenger train in the 1930s. Thu, March 13-Fri, March 14, 8pm, Sat, March 15, 2pm and 8pm. Closes Sun, March 16, 2pm. $10-$20. Foothill College Studio Theatre, 12345 El Monte Rd, Los Altos Hills, 650.948.4444.

Smokey Joe's Cafe Children's Musical Theater of San Jose presents a musical revue highlighting the songs of Mike Stoller and Jerry Leiber, who strongly influenced early rock & roll. Thu, March 13, 7pm, Fri, March 14, 7pm, Sat, March 15, 2pm and 7pm. Closes Sun, March 16, 1pm. $12-$18. Montgomery Theatre, Market and San Carlos streets, San Jose, 408.288.5437 or www.cmtsj.org.