By Patti Roberts 

With spring around the corner, a full garden of performing arts is ahead of us. After a winter hiatus for some theater and ballet companies, shows are blooming like crazy.  

Coming up are a couple of world premieres, some Sacramento premieres, local playwright spotlights and a month-long festival devoted to women in the performing arts sector. And the story of the Queen of Rock ’n’ Roll, the legendary Tina Turner is forthcoming on the SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center stage — so there’s no sign that the Ides of March spell any misfortune for Sacramento’s performing arts scene. 

“Everything Beautiful Happens at Night” 

Capital Stage is hosting the world premiere of “Everything Beautiful Happens at Night,” which tells the tale of Ezra, a successful children’s book author and illustrator who must keep his true identity under wraps. It’s the 1980s in Manhattan, and his partnership with his longtime editor is threatened by someone new who enters his life and wants to influence Ezra’s next book.  

According to Capital Stage Artistic Director Michael Stevenson, he first learned  of the play through one of the company’s actors. “Once I read it, I was determined to produce it,” Stevenson said. “It was in consideration at several other theaters, but we were able to secure the rights for its world premiere.” 
 

Venue: Capital Stage  

Address: 2215 J St., Sacramento 

Dates: March 19 – April 20  

Cost: $41–$58 

Tickets: capstage.org  

“Jeeves & Wooster In Perfect Nonsense”  

B Street Theatre worked for 10 years to bring this comedy production from London’s West End to Sacramento. The plot is from the 1938 P. G. Wodehouse novel  “The Code of the Woosters” and is described as a comedy that “combines the wit of Monty Python with the charm of Downton Abbey.”

As with many British comedies, this romp includes the antics of a butler — this one is Jeeves — who saves his aristocratic employer Wooster from making a fool of himself. Wooster thought he was ready for the stage, but Jeeves had to step in to help with lighting, scenery and backup cast members. True to British humor, there are mistaken identities, quick wit and perfect nonsense. 

Venue: The Sofia, Home of B Street Theatre 

Address: 2700 Capitol Ave., Sacramento  

Dates: March 5-30   

Cost: $9–$35   

Tickets: bstreettheatre.org  

“Women’s Wit & Wisdom 2025” 

The Ooley Theatre is presenting a month-long festival with seven events devoted to women.  The “Women’s Wit and Wisdom” festival includes opening and closing galas, and five productions highlighting local playwrights, actors, and directors mainly from the Sacramento area.  

“We feature 10 directors, over 30 actors and four local playwrights in this mix of shows throughout the month,” said Ooley’s Creative Director Elise Hodge, who added that the plays and monologues celebrate notable women who have made a difference. The five plays are also available to live stream. 

Venue: The Ooley Theatre 

Address: 2007 28th St., Sacramento 

Dates: March 8-23 

Cost: $15–$22 

Tickets: the-ooley-theatre-tickets 

“Tina – The Tina Turner Musical”   

Tina is coming to town. Broadway Sacramento welcomes “Tina – The Tina Turner Musical” — the story of the Queen of Rock ’n’ Roll and Soul. Tina Turner is one of the world’s best-selling artists of all time, winning 12 Grammy Awards, and has been seen by millions in concert.. This musical biography traces Turner’s journey as she defies racism, sexism and ageism. The Broadway production opened November 2019 and was nominated for 12 Tony Awards including Best Musical. “We’re pleased to present this Tony-winning musical about the life of one of pop music’s most enduring artists,” said Broadway Sacramento’s President and CEO Scott Klier.

Venue: SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center  

Address: 1301 L St., Sacramento  

Dates: March 4-8 

Cost: $44–$199   

Tickets:broadwaysacramento.com 

“Footloose” 

Music Circus continues its first year-long season with “Footloose,” a musical version of the blockbuster movie. The “Footloose” dance number is iconic, and the musical adds new songs to the Oscar-nominated movie score. 

You’ll be tapping your feet to the classic ’‘80s hits including “Let’s Hear It for the Boy,” “Holding Out for a Hero,” “Almost Paradise” and, of course, the iconic title track “Footloose.” It’s described as a celebration of “the exhilaration of youth, the wisdom of listening to one another and the power of forgiveness.” 

Venue: Broadway At Music Circus, UC Davis Health Pavilion 

Address: 1419 H St., Sacramento 

Dates: March 21-27 

Cost: $58–$130 

Tickets: www.broadwaysacramento.com  

“Play It Straight” 

City Theatre presents “Play It Straight,” a production about a new district mandate requiring schools to out LGBTQ students against their will. The play follows a gay student who is outed to her conservative Christian father. What follows is a swirl of parents, principals, teachers and students pitted against one another in the high school’s version of “Romeo and Juliet” in the face of a  culture war.  

Local playwrights Richard Winters, Kerri Yund and GaryTK  worked on the script for four years and debuted it at Cosumnes River College last fall. 

Venue:  Performing Arts Center/Art Court Theatre 

Address: 3835 Freeport Blvd, Sacramento 

Dates: Feb. 27 – March 16 

Cost: $10-$20 

Tickets: Citytheatre

“Titus Andronicus”  

Sometimes, old tales resonate in modern times. Big Idea Theatre is staging William Shakespeare’s “Titus Andronicus” which dives into the manipulative politics surrounding the succession of the Roman emperor. After returning home from war, Titus discovers that he’s the people’s choice to be emperor, but he rejects it. This displeases the people, resulting in a swirl of imprisonment, violence and gruesome murders. 

Venue: Big Idea Theatre   

Address: 1616 Del Paso Blvd., Sacramento 

Dates: March 7-29  

Cost: $15–$20  

Tickets: bigideatheatre.org  

“The God of Hell” 

Resurrection Theatre is presenting “The God of Hell,” which takes place on a small Wisconsin dairy farm where the quiet lives of  Frank and Emma are disrupted by the arrival of  a mysterious government. “Resurrection chose this play that  explores themes of  American identity, government overreach, and rural life through a distinctly absurdist lens because it mirrors today’s political and social climate,” Resurrection Theatre’s Jackie Lahr said. 

Venue: Wilkerson Theatre, 

Address: 2509 R Street, Sacramento 

Dates: Feb. 28 – March 22 

Cost: $20–$22 

Tickets: www.resurrectiontheatre.com  

“Visions” 

Sacramento Ballet begins its 2025 season with “Visions.” This production will host the world premieres of internationally acclaimed choreographers Amy Hall Garner, Thang Dao and Julia Feldman. “Visions” is described as “the start of the ballet’s mixed-repertoire series, featuring fresh new commissions and company premieres from some of the most forward-leaning and inspirational choreographers in the world today.” And two choreographers will be making their Sacramento Ballet debuts: Marika Brussel “a noted Bay Area choreographer” and Ihsan Rustem, whose work is described as “an exercise in impeccable control and elegance.” Joining them is Ma Cong, who returns with a new company premiere. 

Venue: The Sofia, Home of B Street Theatre  

Address: 2700 Capitol Ave., Sacramento  

Dates: March 21, 22 and 23 

Cost: $35-$75  

Tickets: bstreettheatre.org 

“Swan Lake” Grand Kyiv Ballet 

Later this month is a chance to see the Ukrainian ballet dancers of Grand Kyiv Ballet as they stop in town on their world tour. The ballet company, which began in 2014, is staging the classic “Swan Lake” at the Sierra 2 Center for the Arts & Community. The principal roles will be performed by premiere ballet dancers of the National Opera of Ukraine Olexander Stoyanov and Kateryna Kukhar.  

Venue: Sierra 2 Center for the Arts 

Address: 2791 24th Street, Sacramento 

Dates: March16 and 17 

Cost: $65 

Tickets: Grandkyivballet 

Edgar Allen Poe Speakeasy 

A traveling pop-up featuring an evening with Edgar Allen Poe’s works is traveling through Sacramento. Titled “The Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy,” it’s described as “a chilling cocktail experience that brings four of Poe’s stories onto the stage while pairing them with classic cocktails inspired by four of Poe’s most beloved stories.” 

Venue: The Rink Studios 

Address: 1031 Del Paso Blvd, Sacramento  

Dates: March 27, 28 and 29 

Cost: $55 

Tickets: Speakeasy 

This story is part of the Solving Sacramento journalism collaborative. This story was funded by the City of Sacramento’s Arts and Creative Economy Journalism Grant to Solving Sacramento. Following our journalism code of ethics, the city had no editorial influence over this story. Our partners include California Groundbreakers, Capital Public Radio, Outword, Russian America Media, Sacramento Business Journal, Sacramento News & Review, Sacramento Observer and Univision 19. Sign up for our “Sac Art Pulse” newsletter here.