It was American educator, Gordon Gee who said, "The Arts, quite simply, nourish the soul. They sustain, comfort, inspire. There is nothing like that exquisite moment when you first discover the beauty of connecting with other in celebration of larger ideals and shared wisdom ." The abundance of arts opportunities in the Tri-Valley attests to the agreement paid to this sentiment. Music, drama, dance, opera, and comedy are all part of a vibrant regional scene that features performances on a regular basis, and even opportunities to participate in the arts yourself. Here is our directory of local arts venues and groups.

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 Firehouse Arts Center and Amador Theater     The Firehouse Arts Center in the heart of Downtown Pleasanton lives up to its slogan, "Setting the Arts on Fire" 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. The venue is used for performances in theater, music, comedy, film, and more. Resident theater companies Tri Valley Repertory Theater and Pleasanton Youth Theater Company perform throughout the season. The Firehouse is home to a host of youth and adult programs from traditional art classes and events to music and theatrical camps. Upcoming stage performances include The Fantastiks, November 2-17 and Damn Yankees, April 25 - May 10. Musical performances include The Heart of Rock n' Roll, A Tribute to Huey Lewis and the News, Bluegrass by The Special Consensus and Celebrating Tom Jones. On the arts education side, the two Firehouse classrooms provide for a variety of activities. Upcoming programs are offered for adults, teens, and youth, including a variety of art appreciation and painting classes throughout the fall and winter season. 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. Its 400-seat capacity means that it is still used for a number of events every year. Information on these events and others is also available at www.firehousearts.org.

Livermore Valley Performing Arts Center     With two venues, the Bankhead Theater and the Bothwell Art Center, Livermore Valley Performing Arts Center is an independent non-profit arts organization that provides a wealth of opportunities to explore, experience, and enjoy the arts. More than 250 performances and events are offered throughout the year including music of all genres, dance, theater, comedy and other performing arts - from world-renowned artists and rising stars, to decades old resident companies and young student performers. LVPAC fosters the creative vision of local artists, showcasing their work at exhibits and events and offering affordable classroom, studio and rehearsal space. Cultural traditions are honored throughout the year with celebrations that include music, dance, food, displays, arts and crafts for Native American Day, Filipino Barrio Fiesta, Diwali, Lunar New Year and more. The joy of art is shared with students of all ages through ticket discounts, hands-on art classes, master classes and workshops, as well as major community events such as ArtWalk and the Livermore Innovation Fair. The Bankhead Theater is located at 2400 First Street, the Bothwell Arts Center is at 2466 Eighth Street. Box office hours are Tuesday to Saturday, 12 noon to 6 p.m., or call (925) 373-6800. For more information and a complete schedule of events, visit lvpac.org.

San Ramon Performing Arts     The Dougherty Valley Performing Arts Center is the primary home of San Ramon Performing Arts, San Ramon's cultural arts program. The 600-seat theater has a variety of performances scheduled for its 2019 - 2020 season, including music, comedy, and more. The season's major fall highlights include I Am King: The Michael Jackson Experience on October 18th, LeAnn Rimes on January 25th and much more! For a complete schedule as well as to purchase tickets, access www.sanramonperformingarts.com or call (925) 973-3343.

The Concerts at Wente Vineyards     For more than 30 years, The Concerts at Wente Vineyards have showcased world-renowned entertainers in the winery's picturesque natural amphitheater. Guests enjoy pre-concert sunset dinners outdoors or in The Vineyard Table & Tasting Lounge. Past artists include James Taylor, Sheryl Crow, Harry Connick, Jr., John Fogerty, Ringo Starr, Willie Nelson, Cheap Trick, Train, Colbie Caillat, Third Eye Blind, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Matt Nathanson and many more. Northern California's most unique concert experiences are The Concerts at Wente Vineyards. The Concerts offer the ultimate entertainment experience, by combining stellar performances by top name headliners with the stunning ambiance of a spectacular vineyard setting.Together with superb dining and the Wente Vineyards commitment to service and hospitality, you'll find each and every performance presents a memorable evening of entertainment.

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 (AVQ) is a creative group of people who like to explore all aspects of the quilting world. There's something for everyone in this guild, from traditional to art quilting, handwork or machine, and every combination you can imagine. 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 and are also proud to support Quilts of Valor since 2013. Meetings are held on the second Saturday of each month at Pleasanton Middle School. 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. This group was started in 1992 and is now in it's 28th season. Wait list applications and audition applications are now being taken. The Cantabella Children's Chorus is guided by Artistic Director Eileen Chang. 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 presents world class chamber music concerts at the beautiful Bankhead Theater in downtown Livermore, California. The organization originally was formed as a vehicle for raising funds to buy a piano that would be available for use in the community. Over the years, the focus shifted to bringing world class chamber music to the Tri-Valley area and introducing school children to classical music. Del Valle Fine Arts presents five regular season concerts per year along with occasional special concerts. Every season includes a piano recital to recognize the roots of the organization. A string quartet is also regularly included in the season offering. Del Valle Fine Arts is in its 42nd season of presenting quality chamber music. The organization is managed by volunteers and is supported by ticket sales and generous contributions of patrons. Contributions allow the board of Del Valle Fine Arts to assure the quality of artists is outstanding. Revenues and grants also support free tickets for students through high school and outreach programs in the local schools.

Diablo Regional Arts Association     The Lesher Center is renowned for providing exceptional arts programming through the mediums of live theater, visual arts, and youth education, while providing avenues of accessibility for everyone to enjoy the arts. In addition to investing in professional groups like Center Repertory Company, Smuin Ballet, California Symphony, Contra Costa Musical Theatre, and the Bedford Gallery, DRAA presents their own productions this year. In July, Country Artist Mark Mackay performed country and rock n' roll and Jazz at the Lesher Center Concert Series wrapped up in August. On October 5th, the On Broadway Gala will be held to raise funds for supporting arts education and artistic excellence initiatives at the Lesher Center. Visit www.draa.org.

Free Shakespeare in the Park     In 2019, San Francisco Shakespeare Festival celebrates 37 years as the Bay Area's acclaimed provider of free and accessible Shakespeare performances and education programs. This year, SF Shakes will present As You Like It: a new musical with original music by award-winning Bay-Area duo, The Kilbanes, and Resident Artist, Phil Wong. The San Francisco Shakespeare Festival is dedicated to arts education, using its programs to foster a life-long appreciation of learning and the arts. Each year, the San Francisco Shakespeare Festival schedules performances of one of Shakespeare's plays in the Amador Valley Community Park in Pleasanton, as well as venues in San Francisco, Cupertino, and Redwood City. As You Like It: a new musical was performed from June 29 to July 14 in Pleasanton and wraps up on September 22 at McLaren Park's Jerry Garcia Amphitheater in San Francisco. For more information, access www.sfshakes.org.

Harmony Fusion Chorus     Harmony Fusion Chorus is proud to be a chapter of Sweet Adelines International, a worldwide organization of women singers committed to advancing the musical art form of barbershop harmony through education and performances. Sweet Adelines International boasts an international membership of nearly 27,000 women, including more than 1,200 registered quartets and 600 choruses. The organization's motto is "Harmonize the world." The chorus, under the direction of Barbara Vander Putten, meets Monday evenings at the Hill & Valley Club, 1808 B Street, Hayward, from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. 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. All performances are held in the Barbara F. Mertes Center for the Arts on campus. Information on music, speech, and dance events is available at www.laspositascollege.edu.

Livermore-Amador Symphony     The 2019-2020 season of the Livermore-Amador Symphony, now entering its 56th year, begins with on December 7th with a free family concert at 3:00 p.m., just before Livermore's Holiday Parade. The group's formal concert calendar kicks off with a full-length program consisting of Winter Dreams, Angels and Demons, Firebird and Frederic Chiu and Brilliance and Beethoven. All performances take place at Livermore's Bankhead Theater. For more information, access livermoreamadorsymphony.org.

Livermore Art Association     The Livermore Art Association (LAA) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1957 to promote public interest and appreciation in the fine arts and in the fine crafts, as well as to encourage the artistic progress and the development of its membership. We invite you to become a member of LAA. The membership is open to anyone interested in the fields of arts and crafts. The LAA 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. The public is invited to visit and shop at the Gallery.

Livermore Valley Opera     LVO is a professional opera company founded in 1992, and presents two fully-staged and fully orchestrated operas. These operas take place at the Bankhead Theater in Livermore in the spring and fall. This gem of a theater features excellent sight lines and acoustics, helping the Livermore Valley Opera to attract internationally acclaimed singers and stage directors for their performances. All opera productions have English supertitles (opera's version of subtitles) so that the audience will always understand the story as it unfolds. Livermore Valley Opera strives to make opera accessible to all through free student outreach programs and family friendly pricing $20 - $90.

Pacific Chamber Orchestra     The Pacific Chamber Orchestra (PCO) is a 40 piece symphony orchestra composed of professional musicians from throughout the Bay Area. It was founded over 20 years ago by its talented conductor and musical director, Lawrence Kohl. The orchestra combines the precision of a small ensemble with surprising dynamic range and power. PCO is notable for innovative and insightful interpretations of music of all eras. Performances take place at the Bankhead Theater in Livermore. For more information or to purchase tickets, access www.pacificchamberorchestra.org or call (800) 630-7836.

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. A PAL Members Show takes place from September to October at the Firehouse Arts Center. 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 and conducted by Bob Williams since 1989, 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. Upcoming appearances include a September 28th show at the Pleasanton Farmers' Market, and a Family Concert on October 20th, and a Holiday Concert on November 24th. For more information, visit pleasantonband.org or call (925) 846-5897.

Shakespeare's Associates     Producers of the annual Livermore Shakespeare Festival, Shakespeare's Associates currently performs two plays each year at Wente Vineyards Estate Winery. This year, audiences will enjoy Othello and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged and revised). Go to livermoreshakes.org or call (925) 443-BARD (2273) for additional information.

The Sunol Repertory Theatre     Since 1982, the Sunol Repertory Theatre has produced a show benefitting the Sunol Glen School, donating over $130,000 in total. The Theatre has proudly operated for 38 seasons to date, and has created an opportunity to raise funds to benefit education. This year's production was Caught in the Act, performed March 9 - 30. Look for announcements of upcoming productions at www.sunol.net/srt.

Tri-Valley Repertory Theatre     This popular non-profit volunteer organization recently announced the schedule for its 36th year of musical theater. The 2019 - 2020 lineup includes Mamma Mia!, which will hit the stage in January and February; Children of Eden in July, and The Fantasticks which will be performed in November 2019. All told, attendance at the group's various productions exceeds 15,000 annually. Call (925) 462-2121 or access trivalleyrep.com for details.

Valley Concert Chorale     Valley Concert Chorale, now in its 56th season, is the Tri-Valley's premier adult chorus. Under the direction of John Emory Bush, the Chorale continues to offer a variety of choral performances to serve the diverse tastes of our communities. Valley Concert Chorale's mission is to engage audiences in the transforming power of music by sharing our passion and joy in live performance. Its members are dedicated to excellence in singing choral music of all genres, nurturing the next generation of singers, and supporting musical endeavors in the Tri-Valley. The Chorale's educational outreach program, Music In the Schools, presented original musical performances in Tri-Valley elementary schools for 22 years to celebrate and demonstrate the joy of music and singing: Presently the Chorale collaborates with local high schools and colleges, and with Cantabella Children's Chorus, in concert presentations. Individuals and corporations are invited to provide financial contributions to support this effort. For information and tickets, go to www.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.