Tri-Valley performing arts organizations have been severely impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic over the last two years but they are now coming back better than ever! Performing arts institutions have developed great performance seasons for patrons with many exciting acts featuring both the tried and true, as well as new features. Be sure to take a moment to review the web sites and online listings available for each of the organizations and venues below for details on what is currently available and what will be coming soon!

Civic Arts Programs and Venues

The Tri-Valley region is fortunate to be the home of a number of programs and venues. Each allows patrons the ability to experience the arts in a variety of quality settings.

Pleasanton’s Amador Theater     The Amador Theater opened in the 1930s and served as Pleasanton’s principal performing arts facility until the Firehouse Arts Center came onto the scene. Currently, there are no productions scheduled for this season while the facility undergoes some much-needed repairs and upgrades.

Pleasanton’s Firehouse Arts Center     The Firehouse Arts Center opened in downtown Pleasanton seven years ago, and has quickly made a name for itself in the regional arts community. The facility’s slogan is “Setting the Arts on Fire,” and that goal is met by inspiring passion through creative expression.

The facility began life in 1929 as Pleasanton’s main fire station. Built of locally manufactured bricks, plans for its rebirth began almost a decade ago, and the results are a stunning 17,000 square foot showcase consisting of a 227 seat studio theater, the 2,000 square feet Harrington Gallery, two large art classrooms, and a spacious lobby for receptions and events.

As the theater pivots to meet the new demands of the entertainment industry through COVID, there are new events listed each month on their web site events calendar. For more detailed information about Firehouse events, exhibits, and classes, as well as to purchase tickets online, access www.firehousearts.org. The box office can also be reached at (925) 931-4848.

Bankhead Livermore Valley Performing Arts Center     Like the Firehouse Arts Center, the Livermore Performing Arts Center is a relative newcomer to the Tri-Valley. The 500 seat Bankhead Theater was completed in 2007 and hosted more than 200 performance and civic events reaching a combined audience of more than 76,000 individuals, including over 14,000 school children, in its first season. It has been busy ever since.

A full calendar of LVPAC events can be found at www.livermoreperformingarts.org. Tickets are available at the web site or by calling (925) 373-6800.

San Ramon Performing Arts      The City of San Ramon and its partners offer a wide variety of visual and performing arts programs, classes, events, and exhibits for the community. Experience a performance at the 600-seat Dougherty Valley Performing Arts Center or 90-seat Front Row Theatre and see performers such as Smokey Robinson, LeAnn Rimes, and more. Explore the arts in San Ramon at one of the five art galleries or nearly 60 public art pieces throughout the city. Try a new dance class or theater summer camp for you or your child. There are so many ways to engage in the arts in San Ramon, so go out and experience it for yourself!

For a complete schedule as well as to purchase tickets, access www.sanramonperformingarts.com or call (925) 973-3343.

The Concerts at Wente Vineyards     Combine a gourmet meal in a beautiful vineyard setting with impressive headliners and what do you get? The Concerts at Wente Vineyards. Past seasons have featured acts like Seal, Rick Springfield featuring Greg Kihn, & Tommy Tutone, Randy Houser, The Tenors and Postmodern Jukebox, Styx, The Temptations and The Four Tops, Daughtry, Brett Eldredge, REO Speedwagon, Boz Scaggs & Aaron Neville, Josh Groban, The Doobie Brothers, & Matt Nathanson who headlined #MakeTime for Wine & Music 2019. Keep an eye on wentevineyards.com for news on the upcoming season.

Individual Arts and Performance Groups

Tri-Valley arts excel at not only quality but breadth. A wide variety of visual and performing arts and related artistic interests are covered in the local scene meaning there is a little something to suit the tastes of just about anyone.

Amador Valley Quilters     Amador Valley Quilters was founded in 1981 and has over 400 members throughout the Tri-Valley and beyond. The guild works to preserve and continue the traditions, culture, and history of quilting, including educating members on quilting techniques. The group also has a significant charitable arm, donating around 800 quilts annually to various agencies in the Bay Area through their “Community Quilts” project. For more information, access www.amadorvalleyquilters.org or email mail@amadorvalleyquilters.org.

Cantabella Children’s Chorus     “Beautiful singing nurturing beautiful children,” is the slogan of the Cantabella Children’s Chorus, a non-profit that offers music education in Pleasanton, Livermore, and Dublin for children from kindergarten through high school.  Recently, a new artistic director Ofer dal Lal took the reins from founder Bee Chow, who started the group in 1992. Cantabella performs in annual holiday and spring concerts, at local corporate and civic functions, and in collaboration with other musical organizations. For more information, visit www.cantabella.org or call (925) 292-2663.

Del Valle Fine Arts     Del Valle Fine Arts present five regular season concerts each year bringing world class chamber music to the Bankhead Theater in Livermore. A volunteer organization, Del Valle is supported by ticket sales and the generous contributions of its patrons. Access www.delvallefinearts.org for details.

Harmony Fusion Chorus     A chapter of Sweet Adelines International, Harmony Fusion Chorus is a women’s chorus performing four-part a cappella in the barbershop style. It is advised to contact the group first to confirm in person rehearsals during this fluid time of gathering restrictions. Visitors are welcome to listen or join in the singing. For information on the group or to catch their next performance, visit www.harmonyfusion.org or call (925) 373-0210.

Las Positas College Performing Arts     Las Positas College offers performances including music, theater, speech, and dance in its main stage and black box theaters, all designed to provide knowledge, training, and practical experience to its participants. Previous theatrical productions include Chicago on the main stage and Welcome Home, Jenny Sutter, The Importance of Being Earnest, and A Raisin in the Sun in the black box theater. All performances are held in the Barbara F. Mertes Center for the Arts on campus. For details, please visit: www.laspositascollege.edu/performingarts/index.php.

Livermore-Amador Symphony     The mission of the Livermore-Amador Symphony is to present musical programs of cultural and educational value for the benefit of the community and to encourage, stimulate, and support community interest in the musical arts. Their community orchestra has a role to play in making progress toward a better world, stronger together. All performances take place at Livermore’s Bankhead Theater. For further information, access www.livamsymph.org.

Livermore Art Association     The Livermore Art Association (LAA), founded in 1957, aims to promote public interest and appreciation of art and to encourage the artistic development of its membership. The group supports the Livermore Art Association Gallery at 2155 3rd Street, Livermore, a co-op sales opportunity for qualified member artists to display their work for sale and/or rental, and sponsors rotating exhibits of members' art at a variety of local merchants. LAA members help judge local school artwork, teach art in the schools and demonstrate arts and crafts to organizations and community functions by request. Beloved events include Art on the Green on and ArtWalk, both in downtown Livermore. More information may be found at www.livermoreartassociation.org.

Livermore Valley Opera     The history of Livermore Valley Opera goes back to its founding in 1992 when the opera loving community produced operas in the Livermore High School. When the Bankhead Theater opened in 2007 with La Boheme, Livermore Valley Opera began its transition to the world class professional opera company that it is today, producing magnificent fully staged operas. They combine the talents of professional musicians, stage directors, principal singers, and designers with the dedication and practical abilities of volunteers filling such critical roles as board members, chorus, stage crew, and set builders to reach our artistic goals. Be sure to access www.livermorevalleyopera.com for all the details on upcoming performances.

Pacific Chamber Orchestra     Pacific Chamber Orchestra (PCO), a premier professional ensemble based in Livermore, was co-founded in 1989 by Music Director and Conductor Lawrence Kohl. Throughout the year, this regional ensemble of eight to 42 experienced, professional musicians enriches local communities with inspiring performances, versatile repertoire ranging from Baroque to classical symphonies of Mozart, Beethoven, and Brahms to more contemporary works, along with engaging educational programs. For the  upcoming 2022-2023 season, PCO will perform a series of four concerts held at Livermore's Bankhead Theater and St. Stephens Episcopal Church in Orinda. For details, please visit: pacificchamberorchestra.org.

Pleasanton Art League     Founded in 1969, the Pleasanton Art League is a group of local artists and patrons who are dedicated to making the visual arts an integral part of the fabric of life in the Tri-Valley Area. The Pleasanton Art League (PAL), a 501(c)3 charitable non-profit organization established to encourage the progress and development of the creative talents of its members. Their members include artists of all skill levels, from the beginner, to the hobby artist, to the professional artist. PAL also sponsors a variety of classes and workshops at both the Firehouse and the Bothwell. Access www.pal-art.com for details.

Pleasanton Chamber Players     The Pleasanton Chamber Players, founded in 2003, are a loosely-knit group of professional musicians who perform and teach in the Bay Area. Under the leadership of classical harpist  Dominique Piana, the group has become the ensemble-in-residence at Pleasanton’s Firehouse Arts Center. Piana is also available for solo harp performances. For more information, visit www.DominiquePiana.com or call  (925) 455-5333.

Pleasanton Community Concert Band     Pleasanton Community Concert Band, founded in 1975, provides an opportunity for local residents to develop their talents and participate in musical performances. The band sponsors three free concerts each year and performs at a variety of other events. For more information, visit pleasantonband.org or call (925) 846-5897.

SPARC     For nearly 20 years, Shakespeare’s Associates, Inc, dba Shakespeare & Performing Arts Regional Company (SPARC) has built community in the region through the production of high quality theatrical experiences in vineyards, public establishments, performing arts venues, schools, colleges and universities. In 2020, SPARC was named Best in the East Bay’s “Best Live Theater” for a third consecutive year by the readers of the East Bay Times. Beginning in 2002, their artists and volunteers produced Shakespeare in the Vineyard and other events locally. For details on upcoming productions, please visit sparctheater.org or call (925) 443-BARD (2273) for additional information.

The Sunol Repertory Theatre     Since 1982, the SRT has produced a show benefiting the Sunol Glen School, donating over $130,000 in total. For details on Sunol Repertory Theatre productions, please visit: www.sunol.net/srt.

Tri-Valley Repertory Theatre     The Tri-Valley Repertory Theatre is a non-profit 501(c)3 corporation, a volunteer organization dedicated to providing affordable quality theatre, theatrical training, a showcase for talent, and a cultural experience within the Tri-Valley and East Bay communities. Each season provides professional quality musical theater. Attendance at our various productions exceeds 12,000 people annually. Past productions include classic musicals such as Mamma Mia!, In the Heights, Les Miserables, The Sound of Music, Mary Poppins, Shrek the Musical, and Guys and Dolls. Call (925) 462-2121 or access trivalleyrep.com for details.

Valley Concert Chorale     The Valley Concert Chorale is the Tri‑Valley’s premier chorus. Under the direction of John Emory Bush, the Chorale continues to offer a variety of musical performances to serve the diverse musical tastes of its audiences. Valley Concert Chorale’s mission is to engage audiences in the transforming power of music by sharing their passion and joy in live performance. Valley Concert Chorale is dedicated to excellence in singing choral music of all genres, nurturing the next generation of singers, and supporting musical endeavors in the Tri‑Valley community. The Chorale’s educational outreach program, Music in the Schools, presents original musical performances at Tri‑Valley primary school assemblies to celebrate the joy of music and singing with area students. For details, please visit valleyconcertchorale.org or call (925) 866-4003.

Valley Dance Theatre     Valley Dance Theatre (VDT) has been providing professionally staged dance performances featuring talented local dancers since 1980. Now the resident ballet company of Livermore’s Bankhead Theater, VDT will bring its full-length production of The Nutcracker to the Bankhead stage for a series of performances in December. The company also presents a mid-year showcase of local talent and choreography and runs an affiliated school offering classical dance training in studio classes for ages 2.5 to adult. For tickets, information, and more, visit valleydancetheatre.com or call (925) 243-0925.