Dean Lesher Center

Covering The San Francisco Bay Area & Sacramento Valley Since 2001

Dean Lesher Center for the Arts • 1601 Civic Dr, Walnut Creek, CA 94596

Plays • Musicals • Opera • Dance

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Next Production

• JAN 15-25, 2026 •

Improvised Stephen King / Play

For Tickets & Info:

Improvised Stephen King is an improv comedy play that builds a brand new horror tale each night, shaped entirely by audience suggestions, and performed with a mix of quick wit, eerie atmosphere, and playful parody. The cast takes classic Stephen King elements like mysterious small towns, unsettling creatures, haunted pasts, or quirky outsiders, then spins them into a fresh storyline that never repeats, blending real suspense with sharp humor. One moment the lights drop and a creeping chill settles in, and the next the actors twist the tension into something ridiculous and laugh out loud funny, creating a tone that feels spooky but never heavy. Because the audience chooses key ingredients, each show grows in unpredictable directions, letting improv performers lean into big characters, wild twists, and clever callbacks that make the whole thing feel alive and collaborative. The joy comes from watching a horror world form in real time, complete with improvised scares, dramatic flourishes, and tongue in cheek nods to Stephen King’s style. It plays like a love letter to campfire storytelling, where the fear is fun, the surprises are constant, and the comedy keeps you hooked without ever giving away what comes next.

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Coming Soon

• OPENS FEBRUARY 8, 2026 • Tutti Frutti / Musical Tutti Frutti: The Life and Music of Little Richard is a full-length stage musical that brings to life the meteoric rise of music legend Little Richard. The show traces his journey from discovery in 1948 by Sister Rosetta Tharpe through the explosive years that defined what rock and roll would become, up to his sudden pause in 1957. The story unfolds partly through the eyes of a young journalist assigned to profile him for the first Rock and Roll Hall of Fame class. As this reporter unravels Little Richard’s past, the audience witnesses how his childhood struggles, his identity and fluidity, the challenges of a segregated music industry, and the emotional weight of family shaped his electrifying style. A live band fuels the atmosphere with his signature hits like “Tutti Frutti,” “Lucille,” “Good Golly Miss Molly,” and more, delivering an energetic soundtrack that captures the era. The production is equal parts biography and concert musical, offering a powerful message about artistic freedom, racial barriers, and the courage to be authentically yourself.
• OPENS MARCH 5, 2026 • The Magic of Merlin's The Sword in the Stone / Play Magic of Merlin’s The Sword in the Stone is a live-theatre adaptation of the classic Arthurian tale, aimed squarely at family audiences. The genre blends fantasy adventure with comedy and light drama. In this compact, energetic show a young, humble squire crosses paths with the enigmatic and powerful wizard Merlin. Under Merlin’s guidance the young hero embarks on a series of magical lessons and adventures that test his courage, character, and sense of worthiness. As the story unfolds we see friendship, transformation, and the quiet forging of destiny. With lively performances, playful humour, and a touch of wonder, the production captures the charm of legend and invites the audience to believe in magic and possibility.
• OPENS MARCH 27-28, 2026 • Diablo Ballet's Romeo & Juliet / Ballet Diablo Ballet’s Romeo and Juliet is a full length ballet production choreographed by Penny Saunders and set to the powerful and emotional score of Sergei Prokofiev. The work sits firmly in the classical and neoclassical ballet genre, using movement and music to explore young love caught in a world shaped by loyalty, rivalry, and expectations. The story unfolds through expressive choreography that captures everything from quiet moments of discovery to thrilling bursts of energy as the dancers trace the growing connection between two teens who sense something bigger than the world around them. The ballet paints their journey with graceful partnering, vivid character interactions, and sweeping ensemble scenes that fill the stage with tension, excitement, and hope. Rather than relying on dialogue, every turn, lift, and gesture helps the audience feel the tenderness, intensity, and conflict stirring beneath the surface. The production creates a rich emotional landscape that invites viewers to lean in, follow each beat of the unfolding romance, and sense that hearts are moving toward something unforgettable.
• OPENS MARCH 29, 2026 • Lost in Yonkers / Play Lost in Yonkers, a play by Neil Simon, unfolds as a comic drama set in 1942, following two teenage brothers, Jay and Arty, whose father leaves them in the care of their intimidating grandmother and their gentle but emotionally fragile aunt in a modest apartment above a candy shop. The boys quickly discover that this new home operates by rules far stricter than anything they have known, shaped by old-world expectations, unspoken pain, and a family history that hangs heavily in every conversation. As they navigate unfamiliar territory, they learn to read the moods of the house, adapt to its tensions, and find small sparks of warmth in unlikely places. Their unpredictable uncle, juggling risky business of his own, adds another layer of mystery and curiosity to their days. The story blends humor with heartfelt moments as the brothers try to figure out how to grow up while surrounded by adults who are still learning how to handle their own lives. Lost in Yonkers invites the audience into a world where resilience is earned, love is complicated, and even the hardest edges of family can reveal surprising softness.
• OPENS APRIL 16, 2026 • Improvised Clue / Play Improvised Clue drops audiences into a stormy night at a mysterious old manor, where a colorful lineup of oddball guests arrives with secrets they’d rather keep buried. Tension mixes with sharp humor as strange motives, suspicious behavior, and unexpected alliances start bubbling to the surface. Because the entire show is created on the spot by Synergy Theater’s improvisational cast, no two performances are ever the same. The actors build the story from audience suggestions, shaping who the victim is, what weapon was used, and how the puzzle pieces connect. The result is a fast-moving blend of comedy and mystery built around the beloved Clue universe, complete with spontaneous twists, character quirks, and clever callbacks that reward anyone paying attention. As the investigation unfolds, the improvised chaos makes every moment feel unpredictable and alive, turning the classic whodunit format into a playful theatrical game that keeps the audience leaning in, laughing hard, and eager to see how the next clue changes everything.
• OPENS APRIL 30, 2026 • The Emperor's New Clothes / Play The Emperor’s New Clothes is a live-theatre musical adaptation of the classic fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen, shaped as a playful mix of comedy, satire, and light drama. Set inside a lavishly over-the-top royal kingdom, the story follows a youthful emperor whose obsession with image makes him an easy target for two smooth-talking tricksters promising a miraculous suit that only the wise can see. Their so-called masterpiece quickly becomes the talk of the court, sending ministers, attendants, and nobles scrambling to pretend they see greatness rather than admit uncertainty. As the tension between truth and appearance grows, a single honest voice begins to question the spectacle everyone else is too afraid to challenge. Packed with energetic songs, colorful characters, and a sharply humorous look at vanity and fear, the musical invites the audience into a world where pride rules the palace and common sense has to fight its way back to the throne. It’s an engaging, clever, and inviting retelling that highlights the courage it takes to speak up when everyone else is too busy pretending.
• OPENS MAY 1, 2026 • Smuin Contemporary Ballet: Future Forward / Ballet Smuin Contemporary Ballet: Future Forward is a mixed repertory dance production by Smuin Contemporary Ballet that blends contemporary ballet and modern choreography into a vibrant theatrical experience. The program features two brand new premieres created especially for this season by Amy Seiwert and Andrea Schermoly, alongside returning favorites such as Sextette by Kate Skarpetowska and Hearts Suite by the company’s late founder Michael Smuin, set to evocative music including recordings by Édith Piaf. The result is a dynamic dance story that moves between lyrical softness and sharp, high-energy bursts, creating a journey that honors the company’s history while reaching confidently toward what comes next. Expect graceful lines, striking emotion, and inventive movement that come together in a way that feels both familiar and refreshingly new. For anyone curious about where ballet can go from here, this performance offers an enticing glimpse and invites audiences to lean in and experience the evolution of the art form.
• OPENS MAY 15, 2026 • Diablo Ballet's Coppélia / Ballet Diablo Ballet’s Coppélia is a comic ballet that blends romance, whimsy, and a dash of mystery, and it’s sure to charm anyone who enjoys a touch of magic. The story unfolds in a cheerful village where a beautiful, silent girl named Coppélia sits reading on a balcony, mesmerizing a young villager named Franz. His intended bride, a spirited woman named Swanhilda, grows suspicious and follows her instincts to uncover the truth. As it turns out, Coppélia is not a real girl but a life-sized doll created by an eccentric toymaker, and the discovery sets off a chain of mistaken identities, daring disguise, and clever trickery. As secrets are revealed and relationships tested, the villagers swoop in, lively dances break out, and love along with laughter finds its footing again. With bright, playful choreography, a lively orchestral score by Léo Delibes, and a lighthearted tone, this ballet invites audiences into a world of enchantment, mischief, and joyful celebration, making it an irresistible choice for anyone who wants a night where fantasy and fun dance together.
• OPENS MAY 31, 2026 • Jagged Little Pill / Musical Jagged Little Pill springs from the music of Alanis Morissette and the book by Diablo Cody, shaping a modern rock musical drama that follows the seemingly picture-perfect Healy family as cracks quietly form beneath their polished suburban life. At the center is Mary Jane, a mother determined to hold everything together while juggling expectations, secrets, and the pressure to appear flawless, even as the truth keeps tugging at her edges. Her husband, wrapped up in work and routine, misses the emotional distance growing at home, while their children navigate their own storms, some loud, some unspoken, all achingly real. The story weaves through themes of identity, connection, and the messy beauty of trying to be human, using Morissette’s iconic songs as emotional anchors that feel both nostalgic and freshly charged. Rather than dealing in melodrama, the show leans into relatable moments, the kind families whisper about, avoid, or finally confront when something forces them to. Jagged Little Pill invites the audience into a world where everyone is struggling with something, and the heart of the journey lies in watching how each character edges toward honesty, healing, and the courage to stop pretending everything is fine.
• OPENS JUNE 16, 2026 • Spontaneous Shakespeare / Play Spontaneous Shakespeare is a live theatre show by The Spontaneous Shakespeare Company, a troupe that specializes in fully improvised plays delivered in the style of William Shakespeare. The genre is best described as improvised comedy drama steeped in Shakespearean language and convention. Audiences supply a prompt, maybe a title, character trait, or secret, and the actors build the rest on the spot, weaving fresh characters, tangled relationships, clever wordplay, and dramatic turns right before your eyes. The result feels like a real Shakespeare play, complete with “thees” and “thous,” sudden tension, romance, mistaken identities, wit that can get playfully bawdy, and sometimes even stirring emotional beats. Every performance is unique, hilarious, surprising, and full of that magical live theatre energy where you never know whether you’ll laugh, gasp, or find yourself unexpectedly moved by a story no one has ever seen until that very night.