A theatrical fall harvest: Our top autumn picks on stage in musicals, dramas, comedies and solo shows

Every work of art is an act of defiance against ignorance, and this season we’ve got a lot of defying to do in order to counter the rampant idiocracy. Here are just a few upcoming selections in dramatic and musical theater. For dance concerts, check out Philip Mayard’s companion article in this week’s issue. For dance, music (pop and classical), and museum and gallery exhibits worth viewing, see our other two roundups. For weekly arts and nightlife events, scroll through Going Out each week.

9 to 5 the Musical @ Victoria Theatre
Ray of Light Theatre company performs Dolly Parton and Patricia Resnick’s musical adaptation of the hit 1980 film about three women who get revenge on their boss. $25-$75, Sept. 5-27, 2961 16th St. www.rayoflighttheatre.com

The Break-Up! A Latina Torch Song @ Theatre Rhinoceros
Tina D’Elia returns with her witty solo show about the heartache of love and loss, and finding a queer support group. Nov. 6-23, 4229 18th St. https://www.therhino.org

Cabaret @ Los Altos Stage
Los Altos Stage Company performs the classic Kander & Ebb/Masteroff musical based on Christopher Isherwood’s ‘Berlin Diaries’ about a performer in Weimar Germany. $28-$51, Sept. 4-28, 97 Hillview Ave. www.losaltosstage.org

A Chorus Line @ GK Hardt Stage, Santa Rosa
6th Street Playhouse performs Michael Bennett and collaborators (book by James Kirkwood & Nicholas Dante, music by Marvin Hamlisch, lyrics by Edward Kleban) classic musical about dancers auditioning and revealing their lives through song and dance. $32-$56, Aug. 29-Sept. 28, 52 West 6th St. www.6thstreetplayhouse.com

The Compton’s Cafeteria Riot
Collette LeGrande, Donna Personna and Mark Nassar’s immersive play about the 1966 historic pre-Stonewall uprising of drag and trans patrons at the Tenderloin diner, with breakfast served. $75, Fri & Sat. extended thru Oct. 25. 835 Larkin St. www.comptonscafeteriariot.com (Read our feature article .)

The Day the Sky Turned Orange @ Z Space
SFBATCO and Z Space present playwright Julius Ernesto Rea and composers Olivia Kuper Harris and David Michael Ott’s hip hop dance musical about people coming together amid the ominous time in Sept. 2020 when wildfires caused dark days and nights amid the COVID pandemic. $25, in-person and streaming, Sept. 5-Oct. 5, 450 Florida St. www.zspace.org

The Golden Girls Live @ Curran Theatre
Too popular for smaller venues, the girls (D’Arcy Drollinger, Matthew Martin, Coco Peru & Holotta Tymes) are out from the lanai to perform two Christmas episodes of the hit ’80s TV show. $37-$140, Dec. 4-21, 445 Geary St. https://www.broadwaysf.com/events/bsf-golden-girls/

The Hills of California @ Berkeley Repertory
Tony winner Jez Butterworth’s acclaimed play weaves the compelling, tender, and savagely funny tale of the Webb sisters’ return to their childhood home in an English seaside town. As girls, their fierce and ambitious mother trained them for a singing career à la The Andrews Sisters. But past and present collide within the once-vibrant guesthouse as memories resurface with haunting clarity. $38-$138, Oct. 31-Dec. 7. 2025 Addison St. https://www.berkeleyrep.org/

The Hot Wing King @ New Conservatory Theatre Center
Katori Hall’s vibrant Pulitzer Prize-winning play centers around a hot wing food competition in a Memphis Black community. $26-$45.50, Sept. 19-Oct. 19, 25 Van Ness Ave., lower level. https://nctcsf.org/

Into the Woods @ San Francisco Playhouse
Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Tony-winning 1988 magical and dark take on a blend of fairy tales features great songs and a timeless moral quandary. $35-$135, Nov. 20-Jan. 17, 450 Post St. https://www.sfplayhouse.org/sfph/  

Kim’s Convenience @ Toni Rembe Theater
American Conservatory Theatre and Soulpepper Theatre Company present Ins Choi’s heartwarming drama (already adapted into a TV series) about a Korean family in Canada and their struggles running a small store. $25-$116, Sept. 18-Oct. 19, 415 Geary St. https://www.act-sf.org/whats-on/2025-26-season/kims-convenience/

Laura Benanti: Nobody Cares @ Berkeley Repertory
She’s won a Tony Award, starred on Broadway in “Gypsy,” guest-starred on “The Gilded Age,” and other hit TV shows, but some might only know Laura Benanti for her impersonations of a certain First Lady on “The Late Show with Steven Colbert.” She’s also very funny! Yet, nobody cares, she facetiously proclaims in her new funny storytelling and music solo show about aging, show business, motherhood and life. $49-$89, Sept. 17-25, 2025 Addison St. https://www.berkeleyrep.org/

Les Misérables @ Orpheum Theatre
One day more, with Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg’s Tony Award-winning musical set in 19th-century France, based on Victor Hugo’s novel. $72-$269, Sept. 24- Oct. 5, 1192 Market St. https://www.broadwaysf.com/events/les-miserables/  

The Motion @ Ashby Stage, Berkeley
Shotgun Players perform the world premiere of Obie Award-inning Bay area playwright Christopher Chen’s sci-fi drama about a group of people debating the ethics of animal testing, while becoming trapped themselves. $8-$80, Sept. 13- Oct. 12, 1901 Ashby Ave. https://shotgunplayers.org/show/the-motion/

Moulin Rouge! The Musical @ Orpheum Theatre
See it again, because you can, can, can! The national touring company of the rousing super-jukebox ten-Tony-winning musical based on the Baz Lurman film returns. $84-$293, Dec.16-28, 1192 Market St. https://www.broadwaysf.com/events/moulin-rouge-the-musical/

Noises Off @ San Francisco Playhouse
The acclaimed theater company kicks off its 23rd season with Michael Frayn’s hilarious slapstick comedy with chaotic goings-on offstage and on. $52-$135, Sept. 25-Nov. 8. 450 Post St. https://www.sfplayhouse.org/sfph/  

The Reservoir @ Berkeley Repertory
Jake Brasch’s acclaimed comic play about a young gay alcoholic man in recovery who rekindles a bond with his aging grandparents. Sept. 5–Oct. 12. $25-$135. Berkeley Repertory’s Peet’s Theatre, 2025 Addison St. www.berkeleyrep.org (Read our interview with playwright Jake Brasch.)

The Rocky Horror Show @ Oasis
A toast, to the return of Ray of Light Theatre and Oasis Arts’ immersive, stylish and fabulous nightclub-set production of Richard O’Brien’s cult fave musical about Brad and Janet’s eventful night over at the Frank-N-Furter mansion, with D’Arcy Drollinger and a talented ensemble. $52 (standing room)-$109 (VIP seating), Oct. 9-Nov. 1,  298 11th St. https://www.rayoflighttheatre.com/rocky25

Ruthless @ New Conservatory Theatre Center
Back by popular demand; Joel Paley and Marvin Laird’s wacky musical tells of eight-year-old Tina, who’ll stop at nothing to snag the lead role in a grade-school production of “Pippi Longstocking,” including committing murder. $38-$55, Dec. 5-Jan. 11, 25 Van Ness Ave., lower level. https://nctcsf.org/

San Francisco Opera @ War Memorial Opera House
The company and guest artists perform new and classic operas, with online livestreams. The new season begins with Giuseppe Verdi’s Rigoletto,’ $29-$447, Sept. 5-27; Opera Ball, cocktail reception, formal dinner and after-party, $350 and up, Sept. 5, 5pm; Opera in the Park, free, Sept. 7, 1:30pm, Robin Williams Meadow, Golden Gate Park. 301 Van Ness Ave. www.sfopera.com

Shucked @ Curran Theatre
The touring company of Robert Horn and Brandy Clark/Shane McAnally’s Tony-winning hit Broadway musical comedy about small town corn farmers facing a mysterious crop failure. $62-$169, Sept. 9-Oct. 5, 445 Geary St. https://www.broadwaysf.com/events/shucked/

Spanish Stew @ New Conservatory Theatre Center
Fresh off the success of her solo performance in “The Search for Signs of Intelligence Life in the Universe, award-inning lesbian Latina comic Marga Gomez returns to her own playwriting as she tells a story sumptuously told about family and food. After moving to San Francisco, she needs to recreate her mother’s stew recipe, which could unite families born and chosen. $43-$55, Oct. 17-Nov. 23. 25 Van Ness Ave., lower level. https://nctcsf.org/

Stereophonic @ Curran Theatre
David Adjmi’s winner of multiple Tonys is set in a music studio as a new rock band records what may become a classic album, or it may destroy the band. $79-$181, Oct. 28-Nov. 23, 445 Geary St. https://www.broadwaysf.com   

Suffs @ Orpheum Theatre
Shaina Taub’s two-Tony-winning musical tells the story of women suffragettes who fought for the right to vote. $62-$252, Oct. 2-Nov. 9, 1192 Market St. https://www.broadwaysf.com/events/suffs/

Sunday in the Park with George @ Ashby Stage
Shotgun Players performs Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s beautiful musical based on the painstaking pointillist art of George Seurat, and his grandson, a conceptual artist. $8-$80, Nov. 15, Dec. 30, 1901 Ashby Ave. https://shotgunplayers.org/show/sunday/

Xmas Fun @ Theatre Rhinoceros
Enjoy a holiday extravaganza at the intimate Castro venue. Dec. 18, 4229 18th St. https://www.therhino.org