Stepping Out

Michael Kruse Craig/ Special to the Town Crier
Betsy Kruse Craig plays Elizabeth in Pear Theatre’s “Taking Steps,” opening Jan. 17.

Pear Theatre kicks off the new year with Alan Ayckbourn’s “Taking Steps,” scheduled to preview Jan. 16, open Jan. 17 and run through Feb. 9 in Mountain View.

“Steps” is set in 1979 on three floors of an old and reputedly haunted house, but the stage is arranged so that the “stairs” are flat and all three floors are on a single level (hence the play on words in the title). The audience will sit on three sides of the stage in an effort to make patrons feel a part of the action.

Solo guitarist Kaki King is scheduled to perform 7:30 p.m. Jan. 18 at the Community School of Music and Arts in Mountain View.

The concert, to be held in Tateuchi Hall, is part of CSMA’s Community Concert Series.

Richard Mayer/Special to the Town Crier
Los Altos Stage Company’s “Oslo” features, from left, Robert Sean Campbell (as Terje Rod-Larsen), Mohamed Ismail (Ahmed Quire), Tanya Marie (Mona Juul) and Michael Sally (Yair Hirschfeld).

Los Altos Stage Company’s South Bay premiere of “Oslo,” the 2017 Tony Award winner for Best Play, is scheduled to preview Jan. 23, open Jan. 24 and run through Feb. 16 at Bus Barn Theater, 97 Hillview Ave.

The play tells the story of the back-channel talks, unlikely friendships and quiet heroics that led to the Oslo Peace Accords between the Israelis and Palestinians.

Kevin Berne/Special to the Town Crier

Mr. Bingley (Travis Leland, left) and Jane (Sharon Rietkerk) dance the night away at the ball at Netherfield in TheatreWorks Silicon Valley’s world premiere musical “Pride and Prejudice.”

TheatreWorks Silicon Valley’s world premiere production of a new musical version of Jane Austen’s novel “Pride and Prejudice” is set to close Saturday at the Lucie Stern Theatre, 1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto.

Although “Pride” has been musicalized in the past, director Robert Kelley said this rendition – featuring book, music and lyrics by Paul Gordon – “is very exciting and special.”

Courtesy of Hershey Felder Presents
Mona Golabek stars in TheatreWorks Silicon Valley’s “The Pianist of Willesden Lane,” a solo show set to run Jan. 15 through Feb. 16 at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts.

The Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St., has scheduled several events for January. Details follow.

• TheatreWorks Silicon Valley’s “The Pianist of Willesden Lane,” Jan. 15 through Feb. 16, MainStage. Holding fast to dreams of concert success, a young Jewish pianist escapes Vienna via the Kindertransport, arriving in England at the outset of World War II. Concert pianist Mona Golabek recounts her mother’s poignant saga of hope and resilience, underscored with music from Bach, Beethoven and many more. Created by TheatreWorks regular Hershey Felder, it celebrates the power of music to transcend even the darkest times. Performances are slated 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 8 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, 2 and/or 8 p.m. Saturdays and 2 and/or 7 p.m. Sundays; the Jan. 15-17 shows are previews; Jan. 18 is opening night. Tickets are $45-$105; discounts are available for seniors, students, educators and children.

Kevin Berne/Special to the Town Crier
Mr. Bingley (Travis Leland, left) and Jane (Sharon Rietkerk) dance the night away at the ball at Netherfield in TheatreWorks Silicon Valley’s world premiere musical “Pride and Prejudice.”

TheatreWorks Silicon Valley’s world premiere production of a new musical version of Jane Austen’s novel “Pride and Prejudice” is slated to run through Jan. 4 at the Lucie Stern Theatre, 1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto.

Although “Pride” has been musicalized in the past, director Robert Kelley said this rendition – featuring book, music and lyrics by Paul Gordon – “is very exciting and special.”