The judging panel — casting director Michael Donovan; producer, director and choreographer Andy Ferrara; and actress Wendy Rosoff — deemed Novato High School’s “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” as the best overall production, while Archbishop Mitty’s “Les Miserables” got the fan favorite vote from the hometown crowd. Eric Gaydon from San Jose’s Valley Christian High walked away with the award for best lead actor for his role as Curly in “Oklahoma!”, and Natalie Bourgeois won best lead actress for her role as Jo in St. Francis High in Sacramento’s production of “Little Women.” Tyler Harding of Willow Glen High won best supporting actor for various roles in “Disaster!”, and Sana Aladin got the nod for Best Supporting Actress in the Harker School’s production of “High School Musical.”.

Theatre de la Ville: French troupe presents “State of Siege,” based on the Albert Camus story; 8 p.m, Oct, 21, 3 p.m, Oct, 22; Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley; $48-$98; 510-642-9988, calperformances.org, Franc D’Ambrosio: The “Phantom of the Opera” star performs Broadway favorites; 2 p.m, Oct, 22; Firehouse Arts Center; Pleasanton; $25-$35; 925-931-4848; www.firehousearts.org, “The Royale”: By Marco ballet shoes, ballet, ballerina, dancing, dancer, ballet slippers, dance, ballet painting, tip toe, acrylic painting Ramirez, presented by Aurora Theatre Company; Nov, 3-Dec, 3; Aurora Theatre, Berkeley; contact company for prices; 510-843-4822, auroratheatre.org..

The food world noticed, too. When New York’s James Beard House asked Zare to cook a Persian New Year feast in 2009, Zare said, “It was a highlight of my career. No-Rouz is peace and renewal. We celebrate Mother Nature and find hope and a new start after a harsh winter. It’s not religious. It’s human.”. This year, Zare will celebrate No-Rouz at Danville’s Mediterranean-inspired Albatross, consulting with executive chef Brian Bowen (Meadowood, Cavallo Point) on a four-course dinner March 19 and 20 that pays homage to traditional Persian new year dishes but offers new, elevated takes. Bowen is transforming noon-panir-sabzi, flat bread with feta and herbs, for example, into a whipped feta cannoli.

The San Jose Renaissance Faire is one of four annual fairs ballet shoes, ballet, ballerina, dancing, dancer, ballet slippers, dance, ballet painting, tip toe, acrylic painting Miernik and Bill Watters stage each year with their Renaissance Productions, They also stage the San Jose Fantasy Faire in April; the Valhalla Renaissance Faire at Lake Tahoe in June; and on Oct, 19 and 20 they will stage the Folsom Renaissance Faire, near Sacramento, Both Miernik and Watters are veterans of the Renaissance Faire scene, including the original Renaissance Pleasure Faires of Phyllis and Ron Patterson, Miernik played Mary Queen of Scots for years at many fairs, but she says in San Jose she steps into her producer role..

“We have no hidden agenda; we’re 100-percent focused on the community. Antioch gets a lot of bad press and when you see people come to our event and get along, be nice to each other, dance with one another and let their kids frolic down by the waterfront, it’s really rewarding,” he said. “This will be our 16th year and we intend to never charge for this event; we always want to keep it free.”. All proceeds from the concert, 100-percent, go toward the festival. These proceeds along with sponsorship from local organizations and businesses ensure that the festival remains a nonalcoholic, free, family event.