Arts Listings

ALTARENA PLAYHOUSE  

"Steel Magnolias," by Robert Harling, through Aug. 8, Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m.; Jul. 29, Aug. 5, 8 p.m. Truvy's beauty salon in small-town Louisiana is the social nucleus for a close-knit circle of women. $19-$22.  

1409 High St., Alameda. (510) 523-1553, www.altarena.org.< 

ASHBY STAGE  

CLOSING -- "Left of Oz," by Stephanie Reif, through July 18, Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 7 p.m. Follow Dorothy as she comes out to Aunt Emma and goes to San Francisco to seek out womanly love. $25. www.leftofoz.com. 

1901 Ashby Ave., Berkeley. < 

AURORA THEATRE COMPANY  

CLOSING -- "Speech and Debate," by Stephen Karam, through July 18, Wednesday-Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 2 and 7 p.m. Sex. Secrets. Videoblogs and blackmail. Just another day in the life of a teenager in Salem, Oregon. $15-$55.  

Aurora Theatre, 2081 Addison St., Berkeley. (510) 843-4822, www.auroratheatre.org.< 

BERNAL COMMUNITY PARK  

OPENING -- "Two Gentlemen of Verona," by William Shakespeare, July 24 through Aug. 8, Saturday and Sunday, 7:30 p.m.; Jul. 31, 6 p.m. Julia conspires to win back Proteus by dressing up like a boy.  

Off Valley Ave. south of Bernal Ave., Pleasanton. < 

CALIFORNIA SHAKESPEARE THEATER  

"Mrs. Warren's Profession," by George Bernard Shaw, through Aug. 10, Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 4 p.m.; Tuesday-Thursday, 7:30 p.m. Forthright Cambridge student Vivie Warren comes home to discover a shocking secret about her mother and the source of her family fortune.  

$112-$220 for series. Bruns Memorial Amphitheater, 100 Gateway Blvd., Orinda. (510) 548-9666, www.calshakes.org.< 

CASA PERALTA Once the home of descendants of the 19th-century Spanish soldier and Alameda County landowner Don Luis Maria Peralta, the 1821 adobe was remodeled in 1926 as a grand Spanish villa, using some of the original bricks. The casa features a beautiful Moorish exterior design and hand painted tiles imported from Spain, some of which tell the story of Don Quixote. The interior is furnished in 1920s decor. The house will be decorated for the holidays during the month of December. Call ahead to confirm hours. 

OPENING -- "Earth vs. Altair, Queen of Outer Space! Episode II, the Deadly Ray," by Daniel Dickinson, July 24 through Aug. 22, Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m. San Leandro Players Theatre Company presents the saga of Pilot Craig Domer. $10-$15. www.sanleandroplayers.org. 

Free but donations accepted. Friday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. 384 Estudillo Ave., San Leandro. (510) 577-3474, (510) 577-3491, www.ci.sanleandro. ca.us/sllibrarycasaperalta.html.< 

CEDAR ROSE PARK  

"Posibilidad," July 17 through July 18, 1:30 p.m. San Francisco Mime Troupe presents this modern song and tango about politics in the workplace featuring a live band. Free. (415) 285-1717, www.sfmt.org. 

1300 Rose St., Berkeley. < 

CONCANNON VINEYARD  

"Romeo and Juliet," by William Shakespeare, through Aug. 7, Jul. 10-11; 18, 24, Aug. 1, 6-7. Featuring Patrick Jones, Jennifer Le Blanc, Hope Mirlis, Ryan Taster, Joseph Salazar, Ashley Wickett, William Wolak and Tiffany Hoover. $25-$39.  

OPENING -- "The Real Thing," by Tom Stoppard, July 16 through July 31, Jul. 16-1, 23, 25, 30-31. Featuring Patrick Jones, Jennifer Le Blanc, Hope Mirlis, Ryan Taster, Joseph Salazar, Ashley Wickett, William Wolak and Tiffany Hoover. $25-$39.  

4590 Tesla Road, Livermore. < 

DIABLO ACTORS ENSEMBLE THEATRE  

OPENING -- "Laughter on the 23rd Floor," July 16 through Aug. 7, Thursday-Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m. A team of writers vie for the approval of Max Prince, the star of '50s TV variety show. $10-$25.  

1345 Locust Street, Walnut Creek. (925) 482-5110, www.diabloactors.com.< 

EAST BAY IMPROV  

"Tired of the Same Old Song and Dance?" 8 p.m. East Bay Improv actors perform spontaneous, impulsive and hilarious comedy on the first Saturday of every month. $8.  

Pinole Community Playhouse, 601 Tennent Ave., Pinole. (510) 964-0571, www.eastbayimprov.com.< 

JOHN HINKEL PARK  

"Much Ado About Nothing," by William Shakespeare, through July 11 and July 17, 1 p.m. Woman's Will presents an all-female production.  

2 Southampton Ave., Berkeley. < 

JULIA MORGAN CENTER FOR THE ARTS  

OPENING -- "The Mothers of Ludlow," July 16 through July 25, Friday and Saturday, 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m. Youth Musical Theater Company presents a world premiere musical drama about the massacre of striking coal miners and their families in Ludlow, Colorado in 1914. $12-$22.  

2640 College Ave., Berkeley. (510) 845-8542, www.juliamorgan.org.< 

LA PENA CULTURAL CENTER  

"La Esquinita USA," July 22 through July 23, 8 p.m. Ruben C. Gonzalez presents a solo performance about a town whose main source of employment has gone to China. $8-$10.  

3105 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley. (510) 849-2568, www.lapena.org.< 

LIVE OAK THEATRE  

OPENING -- "Blithe Spirit," by Noel Coward, July 23 through Aug. 21, 8 p.m. A medium and his two wives vie for his attention. $12-$15.  

1301 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley. (510) 841-5580.< 

WILLOWS THEATRE COMPANY  

"Avenue Q," through Aug. 1, Wednesday, 3:30 and 7:30 p.m.; Thursday, 7:30 p.m.; Friday, 8 p.m.; Saturday 2 and 8 p.m.; Sunday, 3 p.m. This "adult Sesame Street'' romp features puppets and live actors in high-energy, naughty fun. $25-$30.  

Willows Theatre, Willows Shopping Center, 1975 Diamond Blvd., Concord. (925) 798-1300, www.willowstheatre.org.< 

WOODMINSTER AMPHITHEATRE  

CLOSING -- "Hairspray," by Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan, through July 18, Jul. 9-11 and 15-18, 8 p.m. The dreams of a teenage girl play themselves out in equal parts social commentary and dance numbers. $10.  

3300 Joaquin Miller Road, Oakland. (510) 531-9597, www.woodminster.com.<