Call for Plays - Tapas, a new annual short play festival, is accepting submissions of five- to 15-minute plays (max of two per playwright) for production in mid-May 2010. Local writers please submit to Lois Pearlman at lois5@sonic.net or 14290 Sunset Ave, Guerneville, CA, 05446. Email preferred; no fee to enter. Pegasus Theater Company, Guerneville Community Church, 14520 Armstrong Woods Rd, Guerneville (North Bay), 707.522.9043.

A Christmas Carol - A North Bay holiday tradition, adapted by Preston Lane and Jonathan Moscone. Through Dec 20; Wed-Sat at 8, Sun at 2. $25, 707.823.0177. Sonoma County Repertory Theatre, 104 N Main St, Sebastopol (North Bay), 707.823.0177.

ComedySportz - Two teams of act-letes compete for audience laffs and points while improvising scenes, games, operas and musicals based on audience suggestions. A show for all ages. Nov 21 at 7 and 9. $12-$15, 707.588.3400. Bettie Condiotti Theater, Spreckels Performing Arts Center, 5409 Snyder Lane, Rohnert Park (North Bay), 707.588.3400. An interactive improvised comedy show that pits comedy teams against one another. All ages welcome to early Friday show and both Saturday shows. 18+ "Midnight Show" 11pm show Friday. Fri, 9 and 11pm and Sat, 7 and 9pm. $12-$15. ComedySportz, 288 S. Second St, San Jose (South Bay/Silicon Valley), 408.985.5233.

Earth Girls Are Easy - Don't Quit Your Day Job Dancers present cult classic tale of alien men befuddled by local girls. Nov 20-21 at 8, Nov 22 at 3. $25, 415.339.1390. Stage Dor Performance Space, 10 Liberty Ship Way, Ste 340, Sausalito (North Bay).

Hello Dolly! - Dolly Levi, matchmaker, has found the perfect wife for half-millionaire Horace Vandergelder: herself! Now she must win him over before he gets hitched to someone else. Through Dec 6; Fri-Sun at 7:30, Dec 5-6 at 2:30. $16-$25, 707.546.3600. Wells Fargo Center, 50 Mark West Springs Rd, Santa Rosa (North Bay), 707.546.3600.

Looking - Norm Foster's 2005 hit romantic comedy weaves together the lives of four single people looking for love. Nov 19-21 at 7, Nov 22 at 2. $25, 707.226.7372. Napa Valley Opera House, 1030 Main St, Napa (North Bay), 707.226.7372, www.nvoh.org.

The Miracle Worker - Ross Valley Players present this Tony Award-winning classic tale of the inspiring life of Helen Keller and the power of communication. Through Dec 6; Fri-Sat at 8, Sun at 2 (Nov 29, Dec 6), Thurs at 7:30 (Dec 3). $15-$25, 415.456.9555. Barn Theatre, Marin Art and Garden Center, 30 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Ross (North Bay), 415.456.9555.

Native Spirits - Travelers snowed-in at an Idaho motel haunted by the ghost of Chief Joseph experience a hilarious and poignant culture clash. Through Dec 6; Sat-Sun at 7, Dec 6 at 2. $15, 707.538.7543. Graton Community Club, Graton Road and Edison Street, Graton (North Bay).

On the Verge - Three Victorian ladies time-travel through a continuum of space, time, history, geography and fashion to the year 1955. Ending Nov 22; Fri-Sat at 8 and Sun at 2. $17-$22, 707.523.4185. Sixth Street Playhouse, 52 W Sixth St, Santa Rosa (North Bay), 707.523.4185.

Possession of Mrs Jones - Subversive dark comedy musical has God and Satan emerging from Evelyn Jones' washing machine to enlist her help in preventing a hostile corporate takeover of Heaven and Hades. Through Dec 6; Fri-Sat at 8, Sat-Sun at 2. $15-$35, 707.523.4185. Sixth Street Playhouse, 52 W Sixth St, Santa Rosa (North Bay), 707.523.4185.

Romeo and Juliet - Palo Alto Players director Bill Olson hopes to convince us that it’s “possible to root for Romeo and Juliet” in “today’s world of cell-phones and PDAs.” Many of us were probably already convinced, which is why the decision to excise so many of Shakespeare’s most beautiful and informative passages from the play feels so undermining. On the positive side, there are a number of fine performances. Sepideh Moafi, who plays Juliet, is very strong in her scenes with Andrew Gruen's Romeo. She plays Juliet as the young girl the character is supposed to be, with the mannerisms and body language of a 14-year-old reeling from her first crush. (Ben Marks) Thu-Sat, 8pm, Sun, 2pm. Thru Nov 22. $22-$33, 650.329.0891. Lucie Stern Theater, 1305 Middlefield Rd, Palo Alto (South Bay/Silicon Valley).

School of Headaches - A ridiculous, reverent tribute to the great Moliere, complete with rhymed couplets, gender-bending silliness and the coming out of many closets. Nov 27-28 at 8. $11-$15, 707.528.7554. Imaginists Theatre Collective, 461 Sebastopol Ave, Santa Rosa (North Bay), 707.528.7554.

Servant of Two Masters - A laugh-out-loud comedy of epicurean proportions. Ending Nov 21; Nov 19-20 at 7:30; matinees Sat-Sun. $5-$10, 800.838.3006. Analy High School, 6950 Analy Ave, Sebastopol (North Bay).

Shakespeare Show - "A Midsummer Night's Dream." Nov 19-21. $7-$12, Call for showtimes: 415.258.1989. San Domenico School, 1500 Butterfield Rd, San Anselmo (North Bay).

Sly Fox - A dubiously dying man in 1880s San Francisco tests his friends and loved ones in this three-act farce. Ending Nov 29; Fri-Sat at 8, Sun at 2. $13-$19, 707.433.6335. Raven Theater, 115 North St, Healdsburg (North Bay), 707.433.3145.

Urinetown - A terrible water shortage has crippled the city, and in a mad attempt to regulate consumption, the government has outlawed the use of private toilets. Broadway hit lampoons musical theater all while revealing a deep knowledge and love for it. Ending Nov 22, Thurs-Sat at 8, Sun at 3. $15-$25, 415.883.4498. Pacheco Playhouse, 484 Ignacio Blvd, Novato (North Bay).

A Taffefa Wedding - Tabard Theatre presents the world premiere of the third musical revue about the singing sweethearts of the ’60s. Thu-Fri, 8pm, Sat, 3 and 8pm. Thru Nov 21. $10-$24, 800.838.3006. Theatre on San Pedro Square, 29 N. San Pedro St, San Jose (South Bay/Silicon Valley), 408.460.1696.

To See the Stars - Cynthia Mercati wrote this play about the 1909 NY Ladies' Garment Workers Unions Strike, and the Aptos High theater department is putting it on as a reminder of what it took to get even basic workplace rights. Call the school for ticket prices. Sat., Nov. 21, 3 & 7:30pm. Aptos High School, 7301 Freedom Blvd, Aptos (Santa Cruz).

Asian Comedy Night - CATS presents 18 Mighty Mountain Warries from L.A. Sat., Nov. 21, 7 & 10pm. $20-$25, 408.298..2287. Landmark Ballroom, 75 S. 11th St, San Jose (South Bay/Silicon Valley).

Lisa Lampanelli - Comedy by the "Queen of Mean." Sat., Nov. 21, 7pm. $42.75, 877.598.8497, www.livenation.com. Fox Theatre, 2215 Broadway, Redwood City (The Peninsula), 650.363.8581.

Rainbow Theatre 2009 Season - Every year since 1994 this troupe has presented a collection of four student plays and a play-length recitation of poetry from different segments of our culture, and this time they're cycling three programs, all of which take place at the Stevenson Events Center (UCSC), start at 7pm and play on Nov 5,6,7,8,13, 14, 20 and 21. Through Nov. 21, 7pm. Free. Stevenson College, UCSC, Santa Cruz.

Sleeping Beauty - Nineteen MPC theatre arts students, some on stage for the first time, present a fun version of the classic geared especially for children. Preview Thu Nov 5, 7pm and continues Fri Sat and Sun through Nov 22. Some shows are already sold out, so call for schedule at 831.646.4213. $9-$15. Studio Theater, Monterey Peninsula College, Monterey (Monterey Bay).

Steve Byrne - Young comic who is making waves on Comedy Central. Sat., Nov. 21, 7 & 9pm and Sun., Nov. 22, 7pm. $17. Improv Comedy Club and Restaurant, 62 S. Second St, San Jose (South Bay/Silicon Valley), 408.280.7475.

Tandy Beal's Mixed Nutz: The Nutcracker ReMixed - If anyone can freshen up Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker it's Tandy Beal, and here comes her company's mash-up of over 30 dancers and circus artists including ballroom and folklorico dancers, hip-hoppers, local gymnasts and well-known jugglers, all performing to a cappella vocal group SoVoSO's version of Pyotr's original music. A multi-sensory feast designed for the entire family, the spectacle runs each Fri and Sat at 7pm, and Sat and Sun at 2pm, Nov 20 through Dec 6. Bonus Thanksgiving show Fri Nov 27 at 2pm. $10–$30. UCSC Mainstage Theater, 1156 High St, Santa Cruz, 831.459.2159.