State of the arts - calendar of California events

Sunset, Sept, 2001 by Justin Ewers

Santa Cruz. Museum of Art and History. Art Undercover: Tom Killion, Gay Schy, Peter and Donna Thomas looks at four local press artists' books--both inside the covers and the covers themselves (Aug 11-Oct 28). The People's Choice: Most Wanted and Unwanted Art examines the results of a market research poll done to determine what Americans want in art (Aug 25-Nov 18). 705 Front St.; (831) 429-1964.

Stockton. Haggin Museum. 50th Annual Stockton Art League Exhibition (Aug 19-Sep 30); Contemporary Artists Paint Yosemite and the Eastern Sierra: A California Art Club Invitational (Oct 21-Dec 30). 1201 N. Pershing Ave.; (209) 940-6300.

MUSIC

Los Angeles. Los Angeles Opera. Season runs Sep 4-Jun 15. Artistic director Placido Domingo performs in Tchaikovsky's Queen of Spades (Sep 4-25). Wagner's Lohengrin (Sep 12-30). 135 N. Grand Ave.; (213) 972-8001.

Los Angeles Philharmonic. Season runs Oct 5-May 19. In its 83rd season, the orchestra will feature a celebration of Arnold Schoenberg's work (Oct 5-7, 25-28). 135 N. Grand Ave.; (323) 850-2000.

San Francisco. San Francisco Opera. Season runs Sep 7-July 7. Fall highlights include world premiere of Chukhadjian's Arshak II as well as new productions of Wagner's Die Meistersinger and Lehar's The Merry Widow. 301 Van Ness Ave.; (415) 864-3330.

San Francisco Symphony. Season run Sep 5-Jul 31. Special events this fall include Michael Tilson Thomas's performances of Mahler's Symphony No. 6 (Sep 12-15) and Symphony No. 1 (Sep 19-23). 201 Van Ness Ave.; (415) 864-6000.

San Jose. San Jose Symphony. Season runs Sep 8--June 9. Highlights include Yo-Yo Ma performing Tchaikovsky's Variations on a Rococo Theme (Sep 8) as well as concerts with Sergio Mendes, legendary Brazilian bossa nova pianist (Sep 15--16). 100 N. Almaden Ave.; (408) 288-2828.

THEATER

Costa Mesa. Orange County Performing Arts Center. Fall highlights include Tony Award-nominated Swing! (Nov 27--Dec 2). 600 Town Center Dr.; (714) 556-2787.

South Coast Repertory Theatre.

Featuring W. Somerset Maugham's The Circle (Aug 31--Oct 7); Harold Pinter's The Homecoming (Oct 12--18). 655 Town Center Dr.; (714) 708-5555.

Los Angeles. Ahmanson Theatre. In its 35th-anniversary season, shows include The Car Man: An Auto-Erotic Thriller (Sep 12--Oct 28); Disney's Aida, with music and lyrics by Elton John and Tim Rice (Nov 11--Jan 6). 135 N. Grand Ave.; (213) 628-2772.

Mark Taper Forum. Also celebrating its 35th anniversary. Flower Drum Song (Oct 14--Dec 2); Copenhagen (Nov 20--Jan 6). 135 N. Grand Ave.; (213) 628-2772.

Pasadena. Pasadena Playhouse. Presents David Mamet's A Life in the Theatre (Sep 7--Oct 21); Stuart Ross's musical Plaid Tidings (Nov 2--Dec 16). 39 S. El Molino Ave.; (626) 356-7529.

San Diego. La Jolla Playhouse. One of the city's oldest active playhouses offers Diva (Sep 11--Oct 14); Dracula, The Musical (Oct 2--Nov 11). 2910 La Jolla Village Dr.; (858) 550-1010.

San Francisco. American Conservatory Theater. Fall highlights include double bill of Harold Pinter's first play, The Room, and most recent work, Celebration (Sep 19--Oct 14); James Joyce's "The Dead" (Nov 1--25). 405 Geary St.; (415) 749-2228.