This week, catch Peninsula Youth Theatre’s production of “Les Mis,” check out mixed-media paintings at Gallery House and enjoy a free family-friendly piano recital.
Theater
‘Les Miserables’
Heartbreak. Passion. Resilience. Victor Hugo’s story of a French peasant who serves a 19-year jail sentence for stealing a loaf of bread for a starving child, “Les Miserables” has captured the imagination of theatergoers worldwide since its musical adaptation in 1980. Now, Mountain View’s Peninsula Youth Theatre presents the challenging full-length version of the musical — all three and a half hours of it. Directed by Michael Champlain with music direction by Dan Shaindlin, PYT’s production includes “Les Mis” hit songs “On My Own” and “One Day More.” Student groups are welcome, though the show includes some mature content and may not be appropriate for young children. The production runs from Saturday, March 7, through Sunday, March 15. Tickets range from $10-$22. For a full schedule of performance times and castings, go to pytnet.org. For tickets, go to mvcpa.com or call 650-903-3000.
Art
‘Emotional Landscapes’
If you didn’t know to look for it, you might almost miss Gallery House, the art exhibition space tucked inside Printers Cafe at 320 California Ave., Palo Alto. Just a few steps past the glass cases of tempting baked goods lies a haven for regional visual art. Tonight, Friday, March 6, catch the opening reception for “Emotional Landscapes,” a show of acrylic paintings and prints by Sydell Lewis and mixed-media paintings by Midori McCabe.
In Lewis’ works, panels of abstract geometric lines reminiscent of geological striations give way to aerial views of earth, with white clouds floating over fields and urban landscapes. McCabe’s bright, kinetic canvases combine the grace of calligraphy with the dynamism and boldness of Jackson Pollock’s action paintings.
“Emotional Landscapes” runs March 3-28; the gallery is open Tuesday through Sunday. On Friday, March 6, from 6-8 p.m., Gallery House will hold an opening reception for the show, with artist talks beginning at 7 p.m.
To learn more about the artists, go to miko4art.com or sydellart.com. For more about the gallery, go to galleryhouse2.com or call 650-326-1668.
Concert
‘Musique de Joie’
In the era of MP3s and Internet streaming, it’s easy to hear recorded music of all kinds from the comfort of your home. But there’s nothing like witnessing music played live, especially for children. This Sunday, March 8, at 2 p.m., Mountain View’s Community School of Music and Arts (230 San Antonio Circle) will host a free, family-friendly concert at the Tateuchi Hall.
“Musique de Joie” features faculty members and accomplished concert pianists Klara Frei and Temirzhan Yerzhanov, who will perform a sprightly Georges Bizet piano duet, “Jeux d’enfants” (“Children’s Games”), as well as lively works by composers Dmitri Shostakovich and Witold Lutoslawski. The concert is aimed at children of all ages — as well as their parents.
The Community School of Music and Arts is Northern California’s largest nonprofit provider of arts-education programs. To learn more about the CSMA and for a full schedule of its free community concerts, go to arts4all.org or call 650-917-6800.