Thu, Dec 11

A Christmas Carol Northside Theatre Company presents its annual production of Charles Dickens' classic holiday tale. Thu, Dec 11-Sat, Dec 13, 8pm, Sun, Dec 14, 3pm, Wed, Dec 17, 8pm. Thru Dec 28. $12-$15. Olinder Theatre, 848 E. William St, San Jose, 408.288.7820 or www.northsidetheatre.com.

Concert 4 Kids With Blues Traveler, Robben Ford and Los Lonely Boys. 7pm. $30-$40. Flint Center, 21250 Stevens Creek Blvd, Cupertino, 408.864.8816, 408.998.TIXS or www.flintcenter.com.

David Allan Coe The Pittsburg Pre-School and Community Council present down-to-earth country legend in concert. A benefit for the children of the El Pueblo housing community. 9pm. Call for ticket information. San Jose Civic Auditorium, Market and San Carlos streets, San Jose. For more information, call 925.439.2061.

Talking Art The San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art presents the a series of monthly salon-style discussions focusing on issues of importance to the Bay Area artistic community. This month features brief slide presentations by a variety of alternative Bay Area venues that are especially receptive to emerging artists followed by a question and answer session. Thu, Dec 11, and every second Thu, 6pm-7pm (schmoozing), 7pm-9pm (discussion). Free to SJICA members/$5 nonmembers. San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art, 451 S. First St, San Jose, 408.283.8155.

Fri, Dec 12

California Theatre Center Plays for the whole family. "A Little House Christmas," Fri, Dec 12, 7:30pm, Sat, Dec 13, 11am. $11 advance/$12 at the door. Sunnyvale Community Center Theatre, 550 E. Remington Drive, Sunnyvale, 408.245.2978 or www.ctcinc.org.

Eric Idle The legendary comedian performs. 8pm. $30-$50. Flint Center, 21250 Stevens Creek Blvd, Cupertino, 408.864.8816, 408.998.TIXS or www.flintcenter.com.

Nutcracker Western Ballet presents Tchaikovsky's beloved holiday ballet. 8pm. Also, Sat, Dec 13, 2pm and 8pm, Sun, Dec 14, 2pm and 6pm. $18.50-$22.50. Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St, Mountain View, 650.903.6000.

Sat, Dec 13

Babes in Toyland Lyric Theatre presents a holiday treat for the whole family, featuring a live orchestra and audience participation. 1pm, 4pm and 7pm. Also Sun, Dec 14, 1pm and 4pm. $25. Saratoga Civic Auditorium, 13777 Fruitvale Ave, Saratoga, 408.986.1455 or www.lyrictheatre.org.

Christmas Favorites The Studio Theatre of California presents STOCtet performing an array of traditional, gospel and popular Christmas music. The concert will feature soloists, small groups and a full choir. Directed by Kevin Cormier, with accompaniment by pianist Laura Green. 7:30pm. $8-$10. Congregational Church of Campbell, 400 W. Campbell Ave, Campbell, 408.370.6639 or www.stoc.org.

Ebie & Savash in Concert 9pm. $45-$70. Flint Center, 21250 Stevens Creek Blvd, Cupertino, 408.864.8816, 408.998.TIXS or
www.flintcenter.com.

Elves and the Shoemaker A theatrical retelling of the fairy tale. 11am, 1pm and 3pm. $8-$16. Carriage House Theatre, Montalvo, 15400 Montalvo Rd, Saratoga, 408.961.5858 or www.villamontalvo.org.

Nutcracker Ballet The Santa Clara Ballet Association presents its 30th annual full-length traditional production of the favorite holiday ballet. The performance features more than 40 local children and professional dancers in the principal roles. 2pm and 7pm. Also Sun, Dec 14, 1pm and 5pm. $15.50-$25. Santa Clara Convention Center Theater, 5001 Great America Parkway, Santa Clara, 408.881.0879 or www.santaclaraballet.org.

Sun, Dec 14

Bidding You Joy The Vivace Youth Chorus presents a concert of music with a winter and holiday theme. Appropriate for ages 5 and up. 4pm. $6-$8. The Stone Church of Willow Glen, 1108 Clark Way, San Jose, 408.979.9997.

Brian Setzer Orchestra 7pm. $35.50-$69.50. Flint Center, 21250 Stevens Creek Blvd, Cupertino, 408.864.8816, 408.998.TIXS or www.flintcenter.com.

California Youth Symphony A concert of classical music and holiday favorites by young performers. 2:30pm. Free. Smithwick Theatre, Foothill College, 12345 El Monte Rd, Los Altos Hills, 650.325.6666 or www.cys.org.

El Camino Youth Symphony The symphony presents a holiday concert featuring its concerto competition winners and a program of works by Rimsky-Korsakov, Dvorak, Mendelssohn, Bizet and Anderson. 2:30pm. $5-$10. Spangenberg Theatre, 780 Arastradero Rd, Palo Alto, 650.327.2611 or www.ecys.org.

Holly Near and Cris Williamson Two icons of feminist music perform songs of peace, community, joy and love. 7pm. $20-$32. San Jose Repertory Theatre, 101 Paseo de San Antonio, San Jose, 408.367.7255 or www.sjrep.com.

Winter's Gifts The San Jose Chamber Orchestra presents a holiday concert featuring music by Leopold and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Brent Heisinger and Michael Touchi. With pianist Donna Stoering. 7pm. $25-$35. Le Petit Trianon, 72 N. Fifth St, San Jose, 408.295.4416 or www.sjco.org.

Ongoing

The Bible: The Complete Word of God (abridged) City Lights Theater Company presents a comic condensed version of stories from the Bible. Thu, Dec 11-Sat, Dec 13, 8pm, Sun, Dec 14, 7pm. Thru Dec 27. $15-$28. City Lights Theater Company, 529 S. Second St, San Jose, 408.295.4200 or www.cltc.org.

Chinese Martial Arts Photo Exhibit "The Joy of Wushu Photo Creation," an exhibit of photos of wushu (Chinese martial arts) by award-winning journalist Lily Liu. Thru Dec 14. World Journal Cultural Center, 1606 S. De Anza Blvd, Cupertino, www.joyofwushu.com.

Fiddler on the Roof Children's Musical Theatre opens its season with the popular musical about life a small Jewish Russian village. Featuring CMT alumni and guest director John McCluggage of the San Jose Repertory Theatre. Thu, Dec 11-Fri, Dec 12, 7pm, Sat, Dec 13, noon and 4pm, Sun, Dec 14, 1pm. Closes Sun, Dec 14, 5pm. $12-$20. Montgomery Theatre, Market and San Carlos streets, San Jose, 408.288.5437 or email tickets@amtsj.org.

The Fourth Wall TheatreWorks presents the West Coast premiere of a new play about a woman who rebels against complacency among her friends, family and society. By A.R. Gurney and featuring songs by Cole Porter. Thu, Dec 11, Fri, Dec 12, 8pm, Sat, Dec 13, 2pm and 8pm, Sun, Dec 14, 2pm and 7pm, Tue, Dec 16, 7:30pm, Wed, Dec 17, 8pm. Thru Dec 28. $20-$48. Lucie Stern Theatre, 1305 Middlefield Rd, Palo Alto, 650.903.6000 or www.theatreworks.org.

Gallery Blu "Formations With Clay," sculpture and photographs in variety of artistic styles by French artist Tiny Morel. Exhibit runs thru Dec 21. 2255 The Alameda, Santa Clara, 408.246.4247.

Japanese American Museum "1942: Luggage From Home to Camp." Thru June 2004. Tue-Fri, 11am-3pm, Sun, 11am-2pm. 535 N. Fifth St, San Jose, 408.294.3138 or www.jamsj.org.

The Listening Hour The San Jose State school of music and dance hosts a regular music series featuring a variety of performances: classical, jazz and world music. Every Tue and Thu, 12:30pm-1:15pm. Concert Hall, San Jose State University, 408.924.4631.

Montalvo Gallery "Inez Storer: Encore Narratives," recent works by Inez Storer. Part of a collaborative exhibit of Storer's works, also at the de Saisset Museum and the San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art. Thru March 7. "Sculpture on the Grounds," a new installation piece created by sculptor Herb Parker during his residency at Montalvo. Thru May 3, 2004. Montalvo, 15400 Montalvo Rd, Saratoga, 408.961.5813.

San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art "An Artist's Artist: The Legacy of Inez Storer," works by 14 of Storer's students. Part of a collaborative exhibit of Storer's works, also at the de Saisset Museum and Montalvo Gallery. Thru Jan 3. "Mixed Reviews," and "Dream," nighttime installations by Christian Marclay and Andrew Chung. Thru Jan 3. 451 S. First St, San Jose, 408.283.8155 or www.sjica.org.

San Jose Museum of Art "Hidden Lives: Eleanor Prager and Don Martin," works from the museum's permanent collection (thru Jan 2004). "The Not-So-Still Life: A Century of California Painting and Sculpture." Thru Feb 15. "Beyond Tradition: Permanent Collection Photographs," a survey of new and less-recent acquisitions from the museum's permanent collection. Thru Aug 22, 2004. Tue-Sun, 11am-5pm, Fri, 11am-10pm, closed Mon. 110 S. Market St, San Jose, 408.271.6840 or www.sjmusart.org.

San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles "Moe Uhani Nani: Contemporary Hawaiian Quilts." Thru Jan 18. San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles, 110 Paseo de San Antonio, San Jose, 408.971.0323 or www.sjquiltmuseum.org.

Stanford's Cantor Arts Center "Hudson River School Masterworks," an exhibition of 55 paintings that include works by Thomas Cole, Frederic Church and others. "Print Matters: Explorations With Paper in Contemporary Prints." Ongoing thru Oct. ""Portraits by a Victorian Photographer," photos by Julia Margaret Cameron, which include portraits of Tennyson and Darwin. Thru Feb. 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.

Wed@Text-Listings:The Tale of the Allergist's Wife San Jose Stage Company presents an award-winning comedy by Charles Busch about a middle-class, middle-aged woman who finds a new life with the help of a more adventurous old friend. Thu, Dec 11-Sat, Dec 13, 8pm, Sun, Dec 14, 2pm, Wed, Dec 17, 8pm. Thru Dec 21. $20-$42. The Stage, 490 S. First St, San Jose, 408.283.7142 or www.sjstage.com.

Triton Museum of Art Works by Theodore Wores. Thru Feb 2004. Mon-Wed, 11am-5pm, Thu, 11am-9pm, Fri-Sun, 11am-5pm. 1505 Warburton Ave, Santa Clara, 408.247.3754 or www.tritonmuseum.org.

Wine Galleria "Recent Paintings," large-scale acrylic paintings by Mary Medrano. Thru Jan 3. 377 S. First St, San Jose, 408.298.8877.

Wintertime San Jose Repertory Theatre presents an insightful comedy by Charles Mee in which three couples find their romantic getaways unexpectedly complicated. Thu, Dec 11-Fri, Dec 12, 8pm, Sat, Dec 13, 3pm and 8pm, Tue, Dec 16-Wed, Dec 17, 8pm. Thru Jan 4. $18-$52. San Jose Repertory Theatre, 101 Paseo de San Antonio, San Jose, 408.367.7255 or www.sjrep.com.

You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown Theatre on San Pedro Square presents a musical based on Charles Schulz's "Peanuts" comic strip. Fri, Dec 12-Sat, Dec 13, 8pm, Sun, Dec 14, 3pm. Dinner or brunch available 2 1/2 hours before show starts. Extended thru Jan. $15-$30. Theatre on San Pedro Square, 29 N. San Pedro St, San Jose, 408.283.0200 or www.tosps.com.