Thu, March 20

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 Fri, March 21, 8pm. Opens Sat, March 22, 8pm. Also plays Wed, March 26, 8pm. Ongoing thru Sun, April 13. $16-$36. The Stage, 490 S. First St, San Jose, 408.283.7142.

Mary Black Irish vocal music. 7:30pm. $40-$45. Carriage House Theatre, Villa Montalvo, 15400 Montalvo Rd, Saratoga, 408.961.5858 or www.villamontalvo.org.

Molly Giles The San Jose State University Center for Literary Arts presents Molly Giles, author of "Iron Shoes" and "Rough Translations." Giles will read from and discuss her work. Conversation at noon in the Spartan Memorial Chapel, San Jose State University; reading at 7:30pm in University Theater, Fifth and San Fernando streets, San Jose, 408.924.4600 or www.sjsu.edu/depts/litart.

Fri, March 21

The Big Bang American Musical Theatre of San Jose presents a musical comedy about two would-be producers trying to stage the world's most expensive musical, a 12-hour extravaganza about the history of civilization. Preview night, 8pm. Opens Fri, March 21, 8pm. Also plays Sun, March 23, 3pm. Ongoing. $45. Theatre on San Pedro Square, 29 N. San Pedro Square, San Jose, 408.283.0200 or www.tosps.com.

Sat, March 22

California Theatre Center Theater for children and families. Tickets are $11.50-$12. "Ancient Memories, Modern Dreams." 11am and 7:30pm, also Sat, March 29, 11am. Sunnyvale Community Center Theatre, 550 E. Remington Dr, Sunnyvale, 408.245.2978 or www.ctcinc.org.

H.M.S. Pinafore Lyric Theatre presents a comic operetta by Gilbert and Sullivan. Opening night, 8pm. Also plays Sun, March 23, 2pm. Ongoing thru Sun, March 30. $22-$24. Montgomery Theater, Market and San Carlos streets, San Jose, 408.986.1455 or www.lyrictheatre.org.

Schola Cantorum The choral group presents "Let Freedom Sing: A Portrait of American Songs," a tribute to America's choral composers, which also includes familiar folk songs, popular standards and camp songs. Sat, march 22, 8pm. Also Sun, March 23, 2pm. $18-$22. Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St, Mountain View, 650.903.6000.

Sun, March 23

El Camino Youth Symphony Benefit A benefit concert featuring San Francisco Symphony concertmaster Alexander Barantschik. Featuring a program of works by Rachmaninov, Prokofiev and Rimsky-Korsakov. 7:30pm. $15-$25. Spangenberg Theatre, Gunn High School 780 Arastradero Rd, Palo Alto, 650.327.2611 or www.ecys.org.

The Irish Rovers The well-known troupe of Irish musicians performs. The group is celebrating nearly 40 years of performances. 2pm. $16-$26. Flint Center, 21250 Stevens Creek Blvd, Cupertino, 408.988.2277.

Palm Room Sunday Jazz Series The San Jose Jazz Society sponsors a series of Sunday afternoon jazz concerts. Steve Turre performs this week. 3pm-5pm. $25. Hyatt Sainte Claire, 302 S. Market St, San Jose, 408.288.7557 ext. 2328 or www.sanjosejazz.org.

Robben Ford Guitarist/singer Ford performs a mix of R&B, jazz fusion and blues. 7:30pm. $30-$35. Carriage House Theatre, Villa Montalvo, 15400 Montalvo Rd, Saratoga, 408.961.5858 or www.villamontalvo.org.

Ongoing

Dames at Sea The Tabard Theatre Company presents a satirical musical tribute to 1930s Busby Berkeley movie musicals. Fri, March 21, 8pm, Sat, March 22, 3pm. Closes Sat, March 22, 8pm. $10-$15. South Valley Christian Church, 590 Shawnee Lane, San Jose, 408.679.2330.

Conjunto Teatro Visión presents the world premiere of a play by Oliver Mayer set in the early years of World War II. The play tells the story of the friendship that grows between the wife of an interned Japanese American farmer and the farm's Mexican American foreman. Thu, March 20-Sat, March 22, 8pm. Closes Sun, March 23, 2pm. $12-$17. Mexican Heritage Plaza, Alum Rock Avenue and King Road, San Jose, 408.272.9926 or www.teatrovision.org

Five Women Wearing the Same Dress City Lights Theater Company presents a comedy about five disgruntled bridesmaids. Written by Alan Ball ("Six Feet Under," "American Beauty"). Thu, March 20-Sat, March 22, 8pm, Sun, March 23, 7pm. Ongoing thru Sat, April 12. $15-$25. City Lights Theater, 529 S. Second St, San Jose, 408.295.4200 or www.cltc.org.

Forever Plaid The West Valley Light Opera Association presents a 1950s musical. Fri, March 21-Sat, March 22, 8pm, Sun, March 23, 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.

The Legacy Codes TheatreWorks presents the world premiere of a drama inspired by the story of nuclear weapons scientist Wen Ho Lee. Thu, March 20-Fri, March 21, 8pm, Sat, March 22, 2pm and 8pm, Sun, March 23, 2pm and 7pm, Tue, March 25, 7:30pm, Wed, March 26, 8pm. Ongoing thru Sun, April 6. $20-$43. Lucie Stern Theatre, 1305 Middlefield Rd, Palo Alto, 650.903.6000.

Les Miserables American Musical Theatre of San Jose presents the hit musical based on the novel by Victor Hugo. Thu, March 20-Fri, March 21, 8pm, Sat, March 22, 2pm and 8pm, Sun, March 23, 1pm. Closes Sun, March 23, 6:30pm. Ongoing thru Sun, March 23. $39.50-$68.50. San Jose Center for the Performing Arts, 255 Almaden Blvd, San Jose, 888.455.SHOW.

San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art "Bytes and Pieces: The Art of Contemporary Collage," featuring the work of 15 artists who explore new interpretations of collage using digital and video media. Ongoing thru April 5. San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art, 451 S. First St, San Jose, 408.283.8155 or www.sjica.org.

San Jose Museum of Art "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. "Tino Rodriguez: The Darkening Garden/El Jardin al Anochecer." The first solo museum exhibition for emerging San Francisco artist Tino Rodriguez. Thru Sun, July 13. "Collection Highlights," an exhibit of works from the museum's permanent collection. Thru Fri, Sept 12. "Nemo Gould: Detritus Ascending." Thru Sun, March 23. "David Jones." Thru Sat, April 12. "Disarming Parables." Extended thru Sun, June 29. Tue-Sun, 11am-5pm, Fri, 11am-10pm, closed Mon. 110 S. Market St, San Jose, 408.271.6840 or www.sjmusart.org.

Stanford's Cantor Arts Center "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. "Di Alte Heym: Photographs of Jewish Eastern Europe Before the Holocaust." Ongoing through Sun, June 15. "Time Stands Still: Muybridge and the Instantaneous Photography Movement." An exhibit featuring works by Eadweard Muybridge. Thru Sun, May 11. "The Butterfly Emerges: The Transformation of Chinese Painting." Ongoing thru Sun, Jul 6. The center also features free docent-led tours of the Stanford campus' outdoor art collection. Two different tours are offered, one on the first Sun of the month, the other on the third Sun of the month. Both tours begin at 2pm. Tours are held rain or shine on an ongoing basis. 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.

Triton Museum of Art "New Works by California Artists: Mitchell Johnson," an exhibition of works by figurative and landscape painter Mitchell Johnson. Thru Sun, March 9. "Jessica Dunne: Synchronized Lights," monotypes, canvases and aquatints, Thru Sun, May 25. "Gary Snifer: Calafia," collages, drawings and poetry inspired by Catalonian art. Thru Sun, June 1; "Bay Area Glass Institute," glass art. Thru Sun, June 1. Mon-Wed, 11am-5pm, Thu, 11am-9pm, Fri-Sun, 11 am-5pm. 1505 Warburton Ave, Santa Clara, 408.247.3754 or www.tritonmuseum.org.