The Bay Area is a hub of artistic expression, attracting artists, writers and musicians from around the globe to live, work and create. We highlight some of the offerings here.
• “Entre Tú y Yo”: The acclaimed flamenco troupe Noche Flamenca returns to the Bay Area with a new evening-length performance blending music, dance and theater and featuring a cast of first-rate performers, including the famed dancer Soledad Barrio. While the group’s most famous production, “Antigona,” tackled the world of Greek tragedy, “Entre Tú y Yo” explores the twists and turns of relationships. Performances are Oct. 31-Nov. 16 at Z Space performance complex in San Francisco. Tickets are $30-$70 at http://www.zspace.org.
• SFJazz Collective: This ever-evolving band administered by SFJazz has a new lineup and a set of concerts this weekend paying tribute to two groundbreaking musical acts: Miles Davis and the Bay Area’s own Sly and the Family Stone. It was 50 years ago that Davis (with “In a Silent Way”) and Family Stone (with “Stand!”) released pivotal, iconic albums, both of which will be represented in the SFJazz Collective shows. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 31-Nov. 2 and 7 p.m. Nov. 3 at SFJazz’s Miner Auditorium in San Francisco. Tickets are $25-$70 (and going fast); www.sfjazz.org.
• “Elevada”: Shotgun Players in Berkeley presents this sweet romantic comedy by acclaimed young playwright Sheila Callaghan, who is usually associated with biting, clever, feminist satire. But this playful play isn’t meant to mock — it really is about a romance that contends with social media, cancer and tango dancing. Performances run through Nov. 17 at the Ashby Stage in Berkeley. Tickets are $7-$40; www.shotgunplayers.org.
• Lucinda Williams: Even though Madonna is bringing her (relatively) intimate and supposedly deeply personal “Madame X” tour to San Francisco’s Golden Gate Theatre on Nov. 2, 4 and 5 (you can find tickets on Ticketmaster), the singer-songwriter we’d rather spend an evening with this weekend is country rocker Lucinda Williams. She’s touring to celebrate the 20th anniversary of her brilliant “Car Wheels on a Gravel Road,” one of the best albums of the ’90s. She’ll perform the album in its entirety, plus other tracks, in a Nov. 2 concert at Oakland’s Fox Theater. Show starts at 8 p.m.; tickets are $45-$95 at http://apeconcerts.com.
• Blue Man Group: The performance group has been entertaining folks with its patented blend of music, percussion, comedy, high-tech stage effects and delightful strangeness since 1987. The troupe is on tour with new show titled “Speechless” (the performers, actually, never speak on stage) helmed by acclaimed New York director Jenny Koons. The tour lands at the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts for five shows Nov. 1-3. Tickets are $48-$128 at www.broadwaysanjose.com.