Actors’ Theatre of Santa Cruz presents "American Pie in 10-Minute Slices,” Seven 10-minute original performances examine life’s experiences for all their irony, absurdity and intensity. Thurs – Sat 8:00 pm, Sun 3:00 pm, May 2-May 17 at the Actors' Theatre
1001 Center Street, Santa Cruz. Tickets at www.brownpapertickets.com (1-800-838-3006; info: 425-PLAY, www.sccat.org

The Indian Classical Music series at UCSC presents international performing artist K. Sridhar, performing music for sarod, on Saturday, May 3 in the UCSC Music Center Recital Hall. Concerts starts at 7:30 pm. Tickets are available at the door and at santacruztickets.com.

I Cantori di Carmel celebrates the spring season this weekend with “Jubilate!” a program of choral masterworks, conducted by Dr. Sal Ferrantelli and accompanied by Pauline Troia, keyboard, and members of Ensemble Monterey. The program will include Cantata 150, Nach Dir, Herr by Bach, Ave Maria by Mendelssohn, Exaltabo te by di Lasso, Eja mater from Domenico Scarlatti’s Stabat Mater and two offertories by Mozart. Also to be performed are the contemporary works Jubilate Deo by Britten, Alleluia, Dies Sanctificatus by Hawley, Parce Domine by Nowowiejski and four short songs by Hindemith: three Chansons and The harp that once thro’Tara’s halls. A new composition by Dr. Ferrantelli, Selig sind die da Leit Tragen, will be premiered. Saturday, May 3 at 8:00 PM at Carmel Mission Basilica and Sunday, May 4 at 3:00 PM at Santa Catalina Performing Arts Center in Monterey. Info: www.icantori.org

The Santa Cruz County Symphony concludes its 50th anniversary season with major works for chorus and orchestra by Vaughan Williams, Stravinsky, and Borodin performed by the Cabrillo Symphonic Chorus and Cantiamo!. The program also features exotic and romantic orchestra pieces by Ibert and Copland. Saturday, May 3, 8:00 pm at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium and Sunday, May 4, 2:00 pm in the Watsonville Mello Center. For tickets, call 831-420-5260 or visit santacruzsymphony.org.

Kuumbwa Jazz presents the fusion duo Oregon on Monday, May 5 at 7:00 & 9:00pm. Multi-instrumentalists Ralph Towner and Glen Moore originally joined forces amid the tumultuous atmosphere of New York, circa 1969. Though immersed in a community of musicians who would go on to form legendary rock-jazz acts like Mahavishnu Orchestra and Weather Report, the duo shared a much different vision on the trajectory of ‘fusion’. Three decades later, an Oregon performance (though admittedly rare stateside), is still an ever-evolving anomaly; a vital, breathing hybrid of classical, avant garde, folk and world music traditions invigorated by the improvisational essence of jazz. Recently honored with two Grammy nominations for their latest release (1000 Kilometers, Cam Jazz, 2007), the uncategorizable quartet, featuring Mark Walker (percussion) and Paul McCandless (reeds) lives on. Tickets.com, Logos Books and Records in Santa Cruz.

California State University, Monterey Bay presents El Vez, Robert Lopez as the "Mexican Elvis," Thursday, May 8 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased by calling the World Theater box office at (831) 582-4580; TTY/TDD 582-5066; or online at CSUMB.edu/worldtheater

Continuing:
Cabrillo College’s production of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest, directed by Joseph Ribeiro runs through Sunday, May 4 (Friday and Saturday at 8:00 pm; Sunday at 3:00 pm) at the Cabrillo College Theater in Aptos. Tickets available in advance at the Cabrillo box office (831-479-6331) or www.ticketguys.com

Coming up:

Rhythm Fusion presents progressive Middle-Eastern ensemble Raquy and the Cavemen at the Cayuga Vault in Santa Cruz on Friday, May 9 at 8:00 pm. Tickets available at the door.

The Camerata Singers present “Poems to God,” on May 9 and 11.  Randall Stroope's Lamentations of Jeremiah, and Pablo Casals, O vos omnes, which both utilize the same text; Maurice Durufle's Notre Peré and Rihards Dubra's Pater Noster presenting the Lord's Prayer in two different languages. Also on the program are: Hinei ma tov, as arranged by local pianist Pauline Troia; Knut Nystedt's Be Not Afraid; two pieces by Rene Clausen: Set me as a seal, and Kyrie from Memorial; Gwyneth Walker's Sounding Joy and much more. Concerts are Friday, May 9 at 8:00 pm at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Salinas and Sunday, May 11 at 3: 00 pm at the First United Methodist Church in Pacific Grove. (831-642-2701, www.Camerata-singers.org, Outlets:  locations: Carmel: Pilgrim’s Way; Pacific Grove: Bookmark; Salinas: Zeph’s One-Stop.

The Santa Cruz Chamber Orchestra presents The Threepenny Opera. In their opera "by and for beggars," composer Kurt Weill and playwright Bertolt Brecht transformed saccharine, old-fashioned opera and operetta forms, incorporating a sharp political perspective and the sound of 1920s Berlin dance bands and cabaret. May 9-11 at the Pacific Cultural Center in Santa Cruz. For more info: http://www.scmusic.org/ or call 831.429.1973

An original, dramatic adaptation of The Pirates of Penzance or The Slave of Duty will be performed at the Aptos Academy on May 9 and 10. Aptos Academy students in grade 6 through 8 will perform a youth-friendly version of this musical that makes fun of serious operas and features crazy antics, mock battles, silly stories and songs. Admission is free. 7:00 pm. 1940 Bonita Dr. in Aptos. Info: 831-688-1080, www.aptosacademy.org.

The UCSC Theater Arts Department presents the play Corpus Christi in a two-week run of Terrence McNally's 1998 play which dramatizes the story of Jesus and the Apostles in contemporary Corpus Christi Texas.  Friday-Sunday, May 9-11 and Thursday-Sunday, May 15-18; 7:00 pm (Sundays at 3:00 pm). Experimental Theater, Theater Arts Center at UC Santa Cruz. santacruztickets.com and the UCSC Ticket office (831-459-2159)

California State University Monterey Bay presents the Heritage Music Festival celebrating gospel music with a program called "The Evolution of Gospel Music," featuring multiple-Grammy Award winner Edwin Hawkins and the university’s Gospel Choir under the direction of Professor Paulette Gissendanner.  May 10 at 7:00 pm. Available at the box office, 582-4580

The UCSC Department of Music presents its 32nd Annual Spring Gamelan Concert at UCSC. "Intersections: Bandung Meets Bali” featuring world premieres of new music by Indonesian composer Nano S and traditional Indonesian music & dance with guest dancers I Made Surya and Ben Arcangel. The arts that will be performed represent traditional dance and music from both Hindu-Buddhist and Islamic cultures in central Indonesia. Saturday, May 10 at 7:30 p in the Music Center Recital Hall, University of California, Santa Cruz. Tickets: UCSC Ticket Office (459-2159) and santacruztickets.com

The Santa Cruz Baroque Festival presents The Legend of Tristan and Iseult ["ee-solt"]. Harpist and storyteller Patrick Ball, together with multi-instrumentalists Shira ["shee-ra"] Kammen and Tim Rayborn, brings to life a medieval Celtic romance filled with passion, magic, and death. Sunday, May 11 at the UC Santa Cruz Music Center Recital Hall starting 7:30 pm. For tickets go to www.scbaroque.org or call 831-457-9693.Tickets: SC Baroque Festival (www.scbaroque.org, 831-457-9693), UCSC Ticket Office (831-459-2159), SC Tickets (www.santacruztickets.com), Civic Center Box Office.