Downtown San Jose theatrical pillars Opera San Jose, San Jose Stage Company and City Lights Theatre Company are all performing fall arts season openers this weekend in downtown San Jose.

Opera San Jose opens its 40th season with the tragic “Romeo and Juliet” — Shawna Lucey’s inaugural production since taking over as OSJ’s general director.  Opera San Jose’s season also includes “The Barber of Seville” Nov. 11-26; “Rigoletto” Feb. 17-March 3; and “Florencia en el Amazonas” April 20-May 5.

The Stage brings a new comedy, “Bald Sisters,” to its stage this weekend. Before the end its 41st season, The Stage will present “The Play That Goes Wrong,”  “People Where They Are,” “Hangmen,” and a summer musical to be announced.

City Lights Theatre Company, founded in 1982, presents the world-premiere drama “Toxic” through Oct. 15 and Ken Ludwig’s “The Game’s Afoot; or Holmes for the Holidays.”  CLTC’s season also includes “Nora: A Doll’s House,” “King Liz,” “Clyde’s” and Richard O’Brien’s “The Rocky Horror Show.”

Each year as events move indoors, the performing and visual arts scene adds buzz and energy to downtown, and these three groups over the years have significantly impacted downtown’s economy.

Also this weekend, the visual arts gallery San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art has three exhibitions opening, including Adia Millett’s “Wisdom Keepers,” and Heesoo Kwon’s “Leymusoom Garden: Following Naked Dancing and Long Dreaming.”

Also in September:
Symphony San Jose:  Myths, Fairy Tales and Legends; Sept. 20-Oct. 1, California Theatre.  The symphony has 11 programs scheduled for 2023-24.
San Jose Playhouse: “Ric Iverson is Alive and Well and Living in Milpitas,” Sept. 23-30
Broadway San Jose:  2023-24 touring productions open with “Hadestown,” Sept. 26-Oct.1.
Mission Chamber Orchestra of San Jose: At Hammer Theatre Center three dates including Sept. 30 — Zoltan Kodaly Dances of Marosszek; Luigi Boccherini Cello Concerto G. 482; and Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony no. 7.  Also Dec. 2 and Feb. 24
San Jose Jazz:  Michael Feinberg featuring Jeff “Tain” Watts, Sept. 29. Also Break Room shows Oct. 6, Oct. 7, Oct. 27, Nov. 10, Nov. 11, Nov. 17, Dec. 9.

More coming up this fall:
Broadway San Jose: “Les Miserables” Oct. 17-22; “Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of the Temptations” Oct. 31-Nov. 5; Spider-Man: Into the Spider Verse” Nov. 13; “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” Nov. 28-Dec. 3; “Mamma Mia” Decd. 12-17; plus” Chicago,” “Mean Girls,” “Peter Pan” and Disney’s “Frozen” in the first half of 2024.
San Jose Playhouse:  “Disenchanted,” Oct. 14-Nov. 11; “Monster Bash,” Oct. 32; “Frozen Sing-Along,” Nov. 11-12; “Sondheim on Sondheim,” Nov. 25-Dec. 17
Lyric Theatre:  “Madame Sherry – A Musical Comedy,” Nov. 2-5 at Hammer Theatre Center
Children’s Musical Theater San Jose has two marquee productions, starting with Roald Dahl’s “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” Dec. 1-10 and “School of Rock” April 12-21. CMT San Jose’s schedule also includes three “Mainstage” productions and six musicals showcasing Junior Talents and Rising Stars.
San Jose Museum of Art:  “Encode/Store/Retrieve,” and “Forensic Architecture” exhibitions, Dec. 8 openings.
New Ballet:  The San Jose Nutcracker, Dec. 16-23