Thu, July 24

Aida American Musical Theatre of San Jose presents Elton John's and Tim Rice's adaptation of Verdi's epic opera. 2pm and 8pm. Also plays Fri, July 25, 8pm, Sat, July 26, 2pm and 8pm, Sun, July 27, 1pm and 6:30pm, Tue, July 29-July 30, 8pm. Thru Aug 10. $39.50-$68.50. San Jose Center for the Performing Arts, 255 Almaden Blvd, San Jose, 888.455.SHOW or www.amtsj.org.

Eat the Runt Renegade Theatre Experiment presents a unique play in which during each performance the audience chooses which actor will play which role. Preview night, 8pm. Opens Fri, July 25, 8pm. Also plays Sat, July 26, 8pm and Wed, July 30, 8pm. Thru Aug 9. $10-$18. Benson Theatre, Bellarmine High School, Elm Street and Emory Avenue, San Jose, 408.351.4440.

Music in the Park The annual free outdoor music series continues with a performance by the Pat McGee Band performing rock. 5pm-8:15pm. Free. Plaza de Cesar Chavez, Market and San Fernando streets, San Jose, 408.279.1775 or www.sjdowntown.com.

Summer House Party A fundraiser for Villa Montalvo. 6pm. $175. Call for more information. Villa Montalvo, 15400 Montalvo Rd, Saratoga, 408.961.5858.

Fri, July 25

San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art Opening day for a group show of works by emerging artists. Thru Sep 20. Reception: July 25. Also opening: "I'm the Pretty One," a nighttime installation by Kerry Loewen, thru Oct 25, and "Dwellings," a nighttime installation by Tracy Snelling. Thru Sep 20. Tue-Fri, 10am-5pm, Sat, noon-5pm. Closed Sun and Mon. 451 S. First St, San Jose, 408.283.8155 or www.sjica.org.

The Who's Tommy Children's Musical Theatre of San Jose presents a production of the Tony-winning rock opera. A musical production for ages 10 and up. Opening night, 7pm. Also plays Sat, July 26, 2pm and 7pm, Sun, July 27, 1pm and 6pm. Thru Aug 3. $12-$20. Montgomery Theatre, Market and San Carlos streets, San Jose, 408.288.5437 or www.amtsj.org.

William Michals The Broadway singer performs a cabaret show. July 25-26. Call for ticket information and times. 29 N. San Pedro Square, San Jose, 408.283.0200 ext. 15 or go online to www.tosps.com.

Sat, July 26

San Jose Museum of Art Opening day for "Keith Carter: Poet of the Ordinary," an exhibit of black-and-white photography. Exhibit runs thru Sep 14. 110 S. Market St, San Jose, 408.271.6840 or www.sjmusart.org.

Sun, July 27

Along the River A dance performance choreographed and directed by Karin Cabello-Moriarty with live music by Herb Moore. Presented in conjunction with the Cantor Center for the Arts' exhibit "The Changing Garden." Sun, July 27, 5pm. Free. Cantor Center for the Arts, Stanford, 650.723.3469.

Opera in the Park The San Jose Opera Guild co-sponsors this Music in the Park performance by Opera San Jose. Sun, July 27, 5pm-7pm. Free. Los Gatos Civic Center, 110 E. Main St, Los Gatos. Those who choose may attend a post-performance buffet dinner catered by Kuleto's. 7pm. $52 per person. Call for reservations. 408.356.3034.

Pete Fountain Renowned New Orleans clarinetist Pete Fountain performs Dixieland jazz. 7:30pm. $25-$60. Garden Theatre, Villa Montalvo, 15400 Montalvo Rd, Saratoga, 408.961.5858.

Theatre on San Pedro Square Anniversary Celebrate the theater's third anniversary with a performance and refreshments. Call to reserve seats. 29 N. San Pedro Square, San Jose, 408.283.0200 ext. 15 or go online to www.tosps.com.

Traditional Jazz Ted Shaefer's Jelly Roll Jazz Band performs at a concert sponsored by the South Bay Traditional Jazz Society. Dancing, food and drinks. Sun, July 27, 1pm-5pm. $9. Sunnyvale Elk's Lodge, 375 Pastoria Ave, Sunnyvale, 408.247.3794 or 408.736.3589 or
www.jazzdance.org.

Mon, July 28

Summer Sings Local choral group Schola Cantorum hosts a series of weekly choral sing-alongs. Scores provided. Thru Aug 18. Featured this week: "Verdi's Requiem" with guest conductor Joseph Jennings, music director of Chanticleer. 7:30pm. $6. Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St, Mountain View, 650.903.6000.

Tue, July 29

John Richter A performance of Flamenco and Spanish guitar. 8pm. Inca Gardens Peruvian Restaurant, 87 E. San Fernando St, San Jose, 408.977.0816.

Ongoing

Art Museum of Los Gatos "Faces of Los Gatos," photography by SVCN photographer George Sakkestad and "Designs on Los Gatos," graphic work by Tharp Did It. Thru Sun, July 27. Open Wed-Sun, noon-4pm. Art Museum of Los Gatos, 4 Tait Ave, Los Gatos, 408.354.0071.

Bat Boy TheatreWorks presents the regional premiere of a new musical inspired by a tabloid story about a boy who is half-human, half-bat. Thu, July 24-Sat, July 26, 8pm, Sun, July 27, 2pm, Tue, July 29, 7:30pm, Wed, July 30, 8pm. $20-$48. Lucie Stern Theater, 1305 Middlefield Rd, Palo Alto, 650.903.6000 or www.theatreworks.org.

Children's Theatre in the Park "The Elves and the Shoemaker," presented by Peninsula Youth Theatre and the city of Mountain View. Fri, July 25, 6:30pm. Free. ParkStage at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St, Mountain View, 650.903.6000.

Cookin' at the Cookery San Jose Repertory Theatre presents a musical about jazz legend Alberta Hunter. Thu, July 24-Fri, July 25, 8pm. Sat, July 26, 3pm and 8pm, Sun, July 27, 2pm and 7pm, Tue, July 29-Wed, July 30, 8pm. $26-$66. San Jose Repertory Theatre, 101 Paseo de San Antonio, San Jose, 408.367.7255 or www.sjrep.com.

Concerts in the Mountains Northern Cross performs bluegrass, gospel and swing. Sat, July 26, 8pm. Free. Optional pre-concert barbecue dinner $10. Call for barbecue reservations. Mt. Hermon Christian Conference Center, 37 Conference Drive, Mount Hermon (near Felton), 831.335.4466 or www.mounthermon.org.

CTC Summer Rep California Theatre Center presents its Summer Rep season of four plays. Alan Ayckbourn's TV satire "Comic Potential" plays Wed, July 23 8pm and Sun, July 27, 2pm. Closes Sun, July 27, 7pm . "ART," Yasmina Reza's witty examination of art and friendship, plays Fri, July 25, 8pm and closes Sat, July 26, 4pm. "Lost in Hollywood," a comedy about early filmmaking by CTC artistic director Gayle Cornelison plays Thu, July 24, 8pm and closes Sat, June 28, 4pm. Moliere's "The Miser" closes Sat, July 26, 8pm. $18-$25. Sunnyvale Community Center, 550 E. Remington Dr, Sunnyvale, 408.720.0873 or www.ctcinc.org.

de Saisset Museum "Cut, Copy, Paste: The Art of Contemporary Collage," Thru Aug 3. Tue-Sun, 11am-4pm. 500 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, 408.554.4528

Forbes Mill Museum "Respecting Tradition, Honoring Change," an exhibition of Native American artifacts. Many special weekend programs will be offered in conjunction with the exhibit, such as discussions with local tribal leaders, traditional craft-making and more. Exhibit runs thru Tue, Aug 5. Wed-Sun, noon-4pm. Forbes Mill Annex, 75 Church St, Los Gatos, 408.395.7375.