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.
• “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child”: If you see people in black coats and carrying wands around on Geary Street in San Francisco these days, here’s why. The stage blockbuster drawn from the famed Harry Potter legend — but set 19 years after the end of the books and movies — premieres in its open-ended run at San Francisco’s Curran theater on Oct. 23. It’s great news for Harry Potter fans, and it’s a feather in the cap for the Fog City — which now has two of the biggest stage shows in the world (the other being “Hamilton”) playing just blocks away from each other. “Cursed Child” is a five-hour production presented in two parts; tickets run $59-$199 per part; harrypottertheplay.com.
• “Nine”: Federico Fellini’s classic film “8½” captured a famous director in the throes of a crippling writer’s block and a nasty midlife crisis. “Nine” transports the story to the stage in an impressionistic musical that won a Tony Award for best musical in 1982 and again for best revival in 2003. It’s getting a new production by the South Bay’s Guggenheim Entertainment. Performances run through Nov. 10 at San Jose’s 3Below Theatres and Lounge. Tickets are $36-$54; 408-404-7711; www.3Belowtheaters.com.
• Berkeley Symphony: The orchestra brought in rising young conductor Joseph Young to guest-helm a concert in January and must have liked what it saw and heard. Young makes his debut as the full-time Berkeley Symphony music director with a program centerpieced by Beethoven’s gorgeous Fifth Symphony. The concert is at 7 p.m. Oct. 24 at UC Berkeley’s Zellerbach Hall. Tickets are $15-$96; 510-841-2800, www.berkeleysymphony.org.
• Lizzo: The vocalist has taken the popular music world by storm since she released her third studio album “Cuz I love You” in April. The release spawned the hits “Juice” and “Tempo” and showcased the singer/rapper’s (aka Melissa Vivianne Jefferson) extraordinary talents and endearing personality. She performs Oct. 27 at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, the first of two straight shows at the famed San Francisco music hall. Tickets are $49.50 at www.ticketmaster.com.
• MOMIX: The Connecticut troupe founded in 1981 by choreographer Moses Pendleton merges contemporary dance with hair-raising acrobatic stunts, mime, theater and gymnastics — and delivers it all with stunning outfits and sets. The family-friendly act comes to UC Berkeley’s Zellerbach Hall for shows at 8 p.m. Oct. 26 and 3 p.m. Oct. 27. Tickets are $19-$76; 510-642-9988; calperformances.org.