Stepping Out

Kevin Berne/Special to the Town Crier
Francesca (Joan Hess) recounts her journey from young woman in Italy to wife and mother in Iowa in “The Bridges of Madison County.” The TheatreWorks production closes April 29.

TheatreWorks’ production of the Tony Award-winning musical romance “The Bridges of Madison County” is scheduled to run through April 29 at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St.

Based on the novel by Robert James Waller, the musical is set amid the cornfields of Iowa in 1965. It follows the unexpected affair of a devoted Italian-born housewife and a roving National Geographic photographer over four days. Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Marsha Norman wrote the adaptation, which features music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown.

Pear Theatre recently released its lineup of plays for the 2018-2019 season, which includes a mix of classic works and contemporary pieces.

“Our goal was to create a season that would stay true to the Pear’s mission of cultivating new works, offering classics and continuing to challenge and engage audiences,” said Betsy Kruse Craig, Pear’s artistic director.

The Community School of Music and Arts has scheduled a three-day, interactive Electronic Music Festival Friday through Sunday at CSMA, 230 San Antonio Circle, Mountain View.

CSMA organized the festival to celebrate the intersection of music and technology.

Kevin Berne/Special to the Town Crier
Joan Hess and Rob Richardson star in TheatreWorks’ production of the musical “The Bridges of Madison County.”

TheatreWorks’ production of the Tony Award-winning musical romance “The Bridges of Madison County” opened last weekend and is scheduled to run through April 29 at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St.

Based on the novel by Robert James Waller, the musical is set amid the cornfields of Iowa in 1965. It follows the unexpected affair of a devoted Italian-born housewife and a roving National Geographic photographer over four days.

Richard Mayer/Special to the Town Crier
Los Altos Stage Company’s “Distracted” stars, from left, Jeff Clarke (as Dad), CJ Aaronson (Jesse) and Dana Morgan (Mama).

The Los Altos Stage Company is slated to perform Lisa Loomer’s comedy “Distracted” Thursday through May 6 at Bus Barn Theater, 97 Hillview Ave.

The play follows 9-year-old Jesse as adults attempt to find out what is wrong with him. His teacher says he has ADHD, his dad says he’s “just a boy” and his mom is on a quest for answers. The show looks at the challenges of modern daily life, posing the question: Are we so tuned in to our 24/7, information-rich world that we’re tuned out to what really matters?

The Albany Consort is scheduled to perform an orchestrated version of Bach’s “Goldberg Variations” 7-9 p.m. Saturday at Los Altos Lutheran Church, 460 S. El Monte Ave.

Consort founder Jonathan Salzedo changed parts of Sitkovetsky’s orchestra version and eventually created his own version.