Since its publication more than 150 years ago, Little Women has been adapted into plays, musicals, operas, ballets, silent movies, feature films, TV series and Japanese anime.

One of the most referenced literary works in pop culture, it was even name checked on an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm, whose star—neurotic curmudgeon Larry David—described the March sisters “mawkish and twee.”

Playwright Lauren Gunderson adds her own spin on the classic Civil War-era story in Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women, running at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley Sept. 24 through Oct. 12. In Gunderson’s adaptation, directed by Giovanna Sardelli, Alcott is inserted into the play to show how much of her life directly influenced the book and its themes of family, feminism and resilience.

“I have always loved the book,” Gunderson says. “I was in middle school when I played Jo March in our production, and it meant so much to me back then. I really wanted to do something special with it. So instead of just being the story of the March sisters, it’s also the origin of those beloved characters and Louisa discovering the reason to write them, and stepping into the story through herself and putting her sisters into it. We get to know both the Alcott and the March families.”

Gunderson, who lives in San Francisco, has created several plays inspired by famous historical women, namely supreme court justices, French revolutionaries, tennis player Billie Jean King, author Lorraine Hansberry, astronomer Henrietta Levitt and the first woman in congress, Jeannette Rankin.

TheatreWorks recently staged part of her trilogy Christmas at Pemberley, based on Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice and co-authored by Margot Melcon. The theater, along with City Theatre Company (Pittsburgh), Northlight Theatre (Skokie, Ill.) and People’s Light (Malvern, Pa.), co-commissioned Gunderson to come up with a “fresh take” on Little Women “that is still really true to the book.”

“It’s really a rare model for developing plays,” Gunderson says. “All of the theaters were looking for a similar thing. But because of the cuts in arts funding and precariousness of our arts sector, none of the theaters could really do this commission on their own, so they all came together. It was a wonderful, fruitful collaboration. And I love all these theaters independently. It was a chance to meet all of them and talk about what each of them is looking for. I just absorbed all of that and filtered it through my own artistic lens.”

Gunderson began writing the play in 2023 and the following year presented a reading of the script at Alcott’s Orchard House and museum in Concord, Mass., where Little Women takes place.

In her interpretation, Alcott’s real-life mother and sisters interact with the fictional Marmee, Meg, Beth, Amy and Jo (the middle March sister and aspiring writer, who also plays the author). The characters speak Gunderson’s dialogue as well as some of the original language from the book, which was published in two parts in 1868 and 1869. The male characters—Laurie, John, Friedrich and the sisters’ father—are also represented. Gunderson’s modern take highlights the parallels between the novel and Alcott’s biography, but it also retains the story of a close-knit family struggling with war, poverty, independence and gender roles in 19th-century society.

“Alcott admits that so much of the book is drawn from her life and her sisters,” Gunderson says. “So it was really easy to see them in each other. By working that into the script we could mix it up. They don’t just stay in their lane. There’s a lot of Meg in Jo, and there’s a lot of Jo in Marmee. Beth isn’t just weak and Meg isn’t just domestic and sweet. Meg has some of Amy’s pluckishness and humor in her. They’re one unit as a family, but they build upon each other’s characteristics.”

After debuting last year at the Northlight Theatre, the production has been commissioned by other theaters beyond the end of its initial run in 2026.

“I hope the audience sees this as an American classic and a classic that is as universal as American classics written for men and boys,” Gunderson says. “Little Women is not a polite, tidy, easy and sweet story, but something that’s raucous, deeply intellectual and romantic. It’s all the things that I want from a great work of literature. And I want audiences to be reminded that women can be brave, brazen, creative, ambitious and, yes, absolutely head over heels in love. And they deserve a big, full-throttled love story.”

The TheatreWorks Silicon Valley production of Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women runs Sept 24–Oct 12 at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St., Mountain View. Tickets are $39-$109. theatreworks.org

Sculpture has traditionally been a male-dominated art form until the emergence of female sculptors in the 19th century. One such artist was Edmonia Lewis, who not only carved a name for herself in the medium as a woman, but also broke the color barrier.

Lewis was the most famous female sculptor of color in America. Done in neo-classical style, her sculptures were inspired by Civil War heroes, abolitionists, biblical characters and mythical creatures, as well as her Black-Indigenous heritage. The Cantor Arts Center’s new exhibit, “Edmonia Lewis: Indelible Impressions,” which runs Sept. 17 to Jan. 4, explores both her life and work and her connection to the Bay Area.

“In the course of my research, I learned that three of her sculptures were on exhibition at the San Jose Public Library,” says curator and Stanford University professor Jennifer DeVere Brody, who’s writing a forthcoming biography on Lewis. “And while they’re accessible to the public, they are behind a wall and not in a museum context. So I had the idea to bring them to the Cantor and to the larger public.”

Lewis was likely born in 1844 near Albany, N.Y., of mixed African, Haitian and Ojibwe descent. She was orphaned at a young age and raised Catholic; her half brother, Samuel, lived for a time in San Francisco. She attended Oberlin College in Ohio—one of the few colleges that admitted female students—but was forced to leave before graduating due to accusations of stealing and poisoning classmates, which were thought to have been racially motivated.

Lewis opened a studio in Boston, where she created portrait medallions of well-known abolitionists. After moving around Europe, she set up another studio in Rome that was home to a group of female expatriates, namely Harriet Hosmer, the most famous female sculptor, and Emma Stebbins, who designed the central sculpture in Central Park’s Bethesda Fountain.

Frederick Douglass visited her there. Ulysses S. Grant commissioned a bust of himself. Lewis also sculpted a bust of poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, whose poem The Song of Hiawatha inspired her sculpture, Old Arrow Maker.

In 1876, she displayed her most famous sculpture, The Death of Cleopatra, at the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition. The statue, which took ten years to complete and weighs more than 3,000 pounds, depicts Cleopatra at the moment of her death. It went missing for nearly a century, having traveled around various locations, including a saloon, golf course and a mall. The sculpture currently resides in the Smithsonian American Art Museum along with several other Lewis works.

Lewis exhibited in San Francisco in 1872 and in San Jose in 1873; an article published in a local Black newspaper described her art as having “indelible impressions.” A fundraiser was organized to purchase her bust of Abraham Lincoln as a gift to the San Jose Public Library. Sarah Knox-Goodrich, a women’s suffrage activist in San Jose, bought Awake and Asleep, Lewis’ companion sculptures of two small children. All three are housed inside the library’s California Room. The Cantor exhibit, which also features historical text, articles, photographs and video, will be the first time the three sculptures have been shown together outside the library in 30 years.

“The sculptures are about sleep and peacefulness,” says Brody. “These images of sentimental innocence were very popular in that period.They were made to sit in homes, on a table. They talk about the cycles of life. And they were cut from a block of stone, so you have to remember how much was involved in chiseling the exquisite details.”

There has been a resurgence in Lewis’ art the last couple of years. She died in 1907 in London in an unmarked grave, but her grave was restored thanks to a GoFundMe. There was a play and opera made about her life. In 2017, Google announced a Google Doodle in Lewis’ honor. In 2022, the U.S. Postal Service celebrated Lewis with a Black Heritage stamp. And that same year, Oberlin College issued her a posthumous diploma.

“There was a historic precedent for art and culture in the Bay Area during the Gilded Age,” Brody says. “One of the key figures to help foment that was this American sculptor who produced works for this burgeoning culture. She was a sculptor from the U.S. who had made a name for herself globally, and she brought that cachet back to the Bay Area.”

Edmonia Lewis: Indelible Impressions runs through Jan. 4, 2026, at the Cantor Arts Center, 328 Lomita Dr., Stanford. museum.stanford.edu

Last month, through a cruel trick played by fate, City Lights had to cancel the closing weekend of its season finale, Head Over Heels, due to illness in the cast. As Executive Artistic Director Lisa Mallette stated at the time, “It’s painful to lose performances for any show, but this one is particularly hard, with such a beautiful cast and story, and with such a timely message of love and pride.”

Fortunately, this week the theater troupe is back and ready to deliver a seasonal treat: Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors, a gender-bending comedy with six actors playing over a dozen roles. This vampire story, from veteran comedy writers Gordon Greenberg and Steve Rosen, owes as much to Mel Brooks as it does to Bram Stoker. Caitlin Lawrence Papp, who played Queen Gynecia in Head Over Heels, directs the play, which Forbes magazine describes as “sexy and campy with non-stop hilarity.” 

The production previews on Sept. 25 and 26, with opening night on Saturday, Sept. 27. Performances continue through Oct. 19; tickets are available at cltc.org. 

Thu, Sept 25

Oktoberfest Downtown Redwood City—This peninsula city salutes Germanic traditions with gusto, becoming a magnet for lederhosen-wearing, beer-guzzling crowds, drawn by seasonal contests (stein-holding, yodeling, dancing), lively music, and lots and lots of brats and brews. Tickets: $10-$35 (includes a commemorative stein); food and extra drink tickets are sold separately. Sept 19-28 (every day except Sept 22) in Courthouse Square. redwoodcity.org

McNeal—San Jose Stage presents the West Coast premiere of this play by Ayad Akhtar. The drama explores artificial intelligence, artistic integrity, and the line between genius and fraud. Directed by Randall King. $34–$84. Previews Sept 24-26; opening night Sept. 27, with shows through Oct. 19. The Stage, 490 S 1st St, San Jose. 408.283.7142. thestage.org

A Taste of Ireland—The “Irish music and dance sensation” comes to California on its 2025 world tour, featuring a cast of acclaimed Irish dancers and musicians. Sept 25. Fox Theatre, 2215 Broadway, Redwood City. ATasteofIrelandShow.com

Quilt National 2025—The San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles features selections from Quilt National, a juried biennial exhibition of contemporary quilt art, first held in 1979. Sept 25, 2025-Jan 2, 2026. 520 S 1st St, San Jose. sj-mqt.org

Fri, Sept 26

Festival Fright Nights—In honor of the spooky season, Winchester Mystery House debuts three haunted attractions, themed food and beverage offerings, and access to never-before-used spaces. $54.99+. Sept 26–Nov. 1. Winchester Mystery House, 525 S Winchester Blvd, San Jose. festivalfrightnights.com

Live on Main—Bring a lawn chair or blanket, grab a meal from a local eatery and catch a concert of country pop and rock by Michelle Lambert. Free. Sept 26, 6:30-8:30pm. Town Square, 19419 Stevens Creek Blvd, Cupertino. 

Marcos Varela Trio—The SJZ Break Room Fall Series begin with this trio, whose other members are Liberty Elman and Mark Ferber. $21.80. Sept 26, 8pm. SJZ Break Room, 310 S 1st St, San Jose. sanjosejazz.org

Sat, Sept 27

The Sound of Music—South Bay Musical Theatre presents the beloved Rodgers and Hammerstein musical. Sept 27-Oct 18. Saratoga Civic Theater, 13777 Fruitvale Ave, Saratoga. southbaymt.com

Mozart and More—Mission Chamber Orchestra of San José opens its season with a program of Mozart’s most popular works, plus Jacques Ibert’s Hommage à Mozart, a tribute to the composer within a 20th century idiom. Plus, pianist Sandra Wright Shen performs the Piano Concerto No. 21. $26.62 (discounts for seniors, students, children). Sept 27, 7:30pm. Shannon Theatre at Fremont High School, 1279 Sunnyvale Saratoga Rd, Sunnyvale. missionchamber.org

Great Glass Pumpkin Patch—Pumpkins come in all colors at this festive annual event sponsored by the Bay Area Glass Institute and the Palo Alto Art Center. Sept 27-28, 10am-5pm. Palo Alto Art Center, 1313 Newell Rd, Palo Alto. greatglasspumpkinpatch.org

Services Search & Rescue K-9 Benefit—The Quarter Note serves up live music, a car show, a charity auction and a barbecue meal to raise funds for the crucial services provided by K-9 officers and their dogs with the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Department. Free. Sept 27, noon-6pm. 1214 Apollo Way Sunnyvale. 408.732.2110. quarternote.com

Sun, Sept 28

El Ultimo Baile—San Jose Jazz, in collaboration with the Culture Night Market, presents the closing celebration of the Alebrijes in San Jose installation, featuring music by DJ Chale Brown, Spaghetti Cumbia, Chika Di and La Misa Negra. Sept 28, 2-8:30pm. Plaza de César Chávez Park, 1 Paseo de San Antonio, San Jose. alebrijes.sanjosejazz.org

Mon, Sept 29

Cook Like a King Book Signing—Top Chef All-Stars winner Melissa King celebrates the release of her debut cookbook, Cook Like a King. $40 (includes signed copy of the book). Sept 29, 6pm. Williams Sonoma at Stanford Shopping Center, Palo Alto. melissaking.squadup.com

Tue, Sept 30

Maria Pazos—A solo exhibition by the painter goes on view today, with an opening reception Oct 3, 5-8pm. On view Sept 30-Nov 2. Gallery 9, 143 Main St, Los Altos. gallery9losaltos.com

A native of Monkton, Maryland, Dennis Jones got his musical start on drums, but by age 13 he had switched to guitar and joined a band. After traveling the world, he landed in Los Angeles, joining Mississippi bluesman Zac Harmon’s band, with whom he won the 2004 International Blues Challenge. Jones’ solo debut, Falling Up, came in 2003. Subsequent albums showcased his artistry and featured guests including Kenny Neal, Guitar Shorty, and Etta James saxophonist Jimmy Zavala. In 2023, Jones was the recipient of the Bobby Rush Entertainer Award. His latest release is About Time, released in June 2024.

Dennis Jones

Wed, Oct 1, 6pm, $13

Club Fox, Redwood City

The iconic sludge metal shredder, Matt Pike, continues to prove why he’s one of the greats with the unrelenting High On Fire. Founded in Oakland in 1998, this sludge metal act is in a league of their own with an armory of heavy albums in their back pocket, ready to melt faces and rot brains. Truthfully, it’s a miracle Pike is still alive with the crazy life he has lived, so for those who haven’t seen him play, this show is a perfect opportunity. Plus, they’re playing with the Motorhead-loving Charger and Bastardane featuring Castor Hetfield, son of Metallica frontman James Hetfield.

High on Fire

Tue, Sept 30, 6:30pm, $28-$32

The Ritz, San Jose

British electronic act Disclosure is very of the moment, but members Guy and Howard Lawrence come from a diverse musical background. Their father played in various rock bands, and their mother worked as a session musician, sang advertising jingles, and even performed for the British Army. This background provided the Lawrence Brothers with the perfect musical education. They started Disclosure in 2010 and quickly scored a record deal for their fresh mix of pop structures and electronic grooves. Since then, Disclosure has taken the electronic and house scene by storm. Not only has Disclosure been nominated for eight Grammy Awards and four BRIT Awards, but the duo’s single “Latch” featuring Sam Smith recently passed 1 billion streams.

Disclosure

Sun, Sept 28, 7pm, $85

Frost Amphitheatre, Stanford

The all-volunteer orchestra, Redwood Symphony, will celebrate 40 years of making music, while also honoring the 100th birthday of their friend, Kirke Mechem, by performing his “The Jayhawk, Magic Bird Overture!” a piece Music Director Eric Kujawsky describes as “If Stravinsky’s Firebird and Woody Woodpecker had a son, it would be the Jayhawk. This is one wacky piece of music!” In addition, the orchestra will showcase superstar soloist, pianist Daniel Glover, as they perform Sergei Prokofiev’s Second Piano Concerto, and they’ll close the festive evening out with Hungarian composer Béla Bartók’s much-loved Concerto for Orchestra.

Virtuosi!

Sat, Sept 27, 7:30pm, $35

Cañada College Main Theater, Redwood City

Jorge Luis Pacheco is a pianist, arranger, composer, percussionist, and singer born in Havana, Cuba. His work draws from his Afro-Cuban roots as well as from classic, jazz, and pop. At age 25, Pacheco was the only semifinalist from Latin America in the 2009 Montreux Solo Jazz Piano Competition. He toured the U.S. for the first time in 2011 with Soneros de Verdad. A restlessly ambitious and creative artist, Pacheco has composed for quartet and orchestra. His most recent release, 2020’s The Lockdown Album, was actually released in 2022; it emphasizes Pacheco’s synthesis of jazz and classical forms.

Jorge Luis Pacheco

Sat, Sept 27, 7pm, $30

SJZ Break Room, San Jose

One of the things that brings people into the punk scene is its sense of community. They rally around one another in the good times and especially the bad, and that will be proved once more this Saturday at the Caravan Lounge for the Mark Fredrickson Memorial Show. As the lead singer of American Standard, Fredrickson was larger than life. When he passed away unexpectedly in May, he left behind a wife, two daughters, and a giant hole in the local scene. This weekend, his band will be joined by Local Bylaws and Facekicker for a night of punk rock, cold beer, and good times spent with even better friends to honor his memory.

Mark Fredrickson Memorial Show

Sat, Sept 27, 9pm, Free

Caravan Lounge, San Jose

In the early 2000s, the band Simon Dawes, formed by high school friends Taylor Goldsmith and Blake Mills, brought a Malibu flavor to the solidifying indie rock sound. Once Mills left, it reformed as simply Dawes featuring Taylor Goldsmith and his brother Griffin. It also ditched the “indie” label and settled into a more folk sound, keeping that ocean breeze but incorporating a Laurel Canyon flavor. With each successive release, Dawes’ sound becomes more enigmatic, taking pop sensibilities and flipping them upside down, or at least, sideways with introspective lyrics. The group released the album Oh Brother last year, resulting in an inviting but slightly demanding address to the modern world, full of great melodies.

Dawes

Fri, Sept 26, 8pm, $59

Guild Theatre, Menlo Park