By Dave Kempa

April is arguably the most beautiful time of year for Sacramento. The sun is out, the trees and flowers are bursting back in bloom, and it’s not yet so hot that you need to hide out at home all day.

It’s also one of the best times for local theater, with just about every company back in full swing after their winter break. This spring, our region is positively spoiled with productions of all kinds — from “Guys & Dolls” by Folsom’s Sutter Street Theatre to “Sister Act” by the Davis Musical Theatre Company, and everything in between, there’s bound to be something for everyone this April in local stagecraft.

“Guys & Dolls”

This Tony-winning tale of gamblers, nightclub performers, missionaries and unexpected love has been going strong onstage for 75 years: and there’s a reason for that. Set in early 20th century New York City, this musical follows gamblers Nathan Detroit and Sky Masterson in their love stories with Adelaide and Sarah Brown (a nightclub performer and missionary, respectively) accompanied by classic tunes like “Luck Be a Lady” and “A Bushel and a Peck.”

Venue: Sutter Street Theatre 

Address: 717 Sutter St., Folsom

Dates: March 28 – April 27

Cost: $21-$30

Tickets: https://www.tix.com/ticket-sales/sutterstreettheatre/5276

“American Night: The Ballad of Juan José”

What better time than today to reaffirm our appreciation for our immigrant neighbors and to savor a moment to laugh together? Written by Richard Montoya, this irreverent production follows an immigrant (Juan José) who is feverishly cramming for his citizenship exam. When he inadvertently falls asleep, we’re taken on a raucous expedition through American history. This is a fresh and welcome twist on our understanding of the American Dream.

Venue: Harris Center for the Arts 

Address: 10 College Parkway, Folsom

Dates: April 4-19

Cost: $17-$32

Tickets: https://www.falconseyetheatre.com/american-night

“Barefoot in the Park”

Opposites attract in the latest production from Sacramentos’ premier Black theater. Free-spirited Corie and Paul Bratter — a reveling free spirit and an uptight attorney, respectively — are newlyweds who have just moved into a starter apartment suffering from faulty plumbing and peeling paint. When Corie’s off-the-wall mother pays them a surprise visit, hilarity ensues as they try to match her with Velasco, their housemate residing in the attic. With all these stressors, can Corie and Paul make their budding odd-couple marriage work in the long haul? 

Venue: Celebration Arts 

Address: 2727 B St., Sacramento

Dates: April 11-27

Cost: $15-$25

Tickets: https://celebrationarts.vbotickets.com/event/BAREFOOT_IN_THE_PARK/143288

“Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”

There’s a reason that Andrew Lloyd Webber’s sung-through classic enjoyed so many West End revivals since its first run on the big stage in 1973. Following the story of Joseph from the Bible (you may have heard of him), this tale has been told tens of thousands of times by students and amateur theatre groups. If you enjoyed Lloyd Webber’s later classic filled with biblical bops and bangers, “Jesus Christ Superstar,” you won’t want to miss this.

Venue: UC Davis Health Pavilion 

Address: 1419 H St., Sacramento

Dates: April 11-17

Cost: $58-$1119

Tickets: https://www.broadwaysacramento.com/production/joseph-dreamcoat-2/

Jane Austen’s “Sense & Sensibility”

Come celebrate Jane Austen’s 250th birthday with a live production of her iconic novel at American River College. Set in what we might call the “Bridgerton era” in common parlance, sisters Elinor and Marianne Dashwood desperately want to marry for love over money, but they soon find that the odds — and cultural norms of the time — are stacked high against them. We’re reminded of Austen’s knack for writing three-dimensional characters (as well as for creating palpable sexual and romantic tension) in this Regency era classic.

Venue: American River College Theater 

Address: 4700 College Oak Dr., Sacramento

Dates: April 25 – May 4

Cost: $15-$18

Tickets: https://arctheatre.ticketleap.com/sense-and-sensibility/

“Nosotros la Gente (We the People)”

Jerry Montoya tells the true-to-life tale of his own family back in World War II-era Coachella Valley. When Santiago answers the call to fight in the war, his brother Salvador vows to protect all that he holds dear until he returns. It’s a story of “romance, family bonds, and impossible choices” that serves as a reminder that love knows no boundaries. Be the first to see the west coast premiere of a family tale that is sure to resonate with all.

Venue: The Sofia, Home of B Street Theatre 

Address: 2700 Capitol Ave., Sacramento

Dates: April 23 – May 18

Cost: $23-$35

Tickets: https://bstreettheatre.org/mainstage/nosotros-la-gente/

“Sister Act”

Who doesn’t look back on Whoopi Goldberg’s 1992 classic film with deep, nostalgic joy? Well, now you can relive the magic in person. Disco diva Deloris Van Cartier needs to lay low after witnessing a murder, so of course she finds herself wearing a full habit in a rigid, stuffy convent. With flair and a joie de vivre, she tries to loosen the place up as head of the church choir. You’ll have trouble not singing along to Alan Menken’s iconic, unforgettable songs.

Venue: Jean Henderson Performing Arts Center 

Address: 607 Pena Dr. #10, Davis

Dates: April 25 – May 18

Cost: $20

Tickets: https://dmtc.vbotickets.com/event/sister_act_2025/131552 

“The River Bride”

You’re not going to want to miss this production at Del Paso Boulevard’s increasingly popular community theater. Just three days before a wedding, townspeople pull a handsome, mysterious man out of the Amazon River near a quaint Brazilian fishing village. It’s a tale of two sisters, of love, remorse, transformation and, ultimately, the impossible challenges of staying true to one another while also following their own hearts. 

Venue: Big Idea Theatre 

Address: 1616 Del Paso Blvd., Sacramento

Dates: April 25 – May 17

Cost: $15-$20

Tickets: https://bigideatheatre.ludus.com/index.php?sections=events

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.