TICK, TICK, BOOM: Oregon Cabaret Theatre. First Street and Hargadine, Ashland, presents biographical piece by Jonathan Larson, the creator of "Rent." The musical focuses on the main character’s questions and doubts as he turns 30. The story is told with humor and contemporary rock-influenced music. It runs at 8 p.m. Thursday-Monday, with brunch matinees at 1 p.m. Sunday through June 4. Tickets are available at the box office. Call 488 2902 after 11 a.m. Closed Tuesdays.

BUS STOP: Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Pioneer Street, Ashland, presents William Inge’s down-home drama in the New Theatre. When a group of passengers on the midnight bus to Topeka take refuge from a snowstorm at Grace’s Diner, the locals and their guests get to know each other and themselves a little better. The play is directed by Libby Appel and runs through Oct. 29. Call 482-4331. See osfashland.org on the Web.

THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK: OSF Associate Artist James Edmondson directs Wendy Kesselman’s unflinching adaptation of the Albert Hackett and Frances Goodrich classic. The drama sheds new light on Anne and her fellow refugees, revealing them in all their humanity as they hide from the Nazis. The show runs through July 9 in the Angus Bowmer Theatre, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Pioneer Street, Ashland. Call 482-4331. See osfashland.org on the Web.

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST: Directed by Peter Amster, Oscar Wilde’s drawing-room play in which John Worthing and his friend Algernon Moncrieff fall in love with two young ladies who have their hearts set on marrying men named Ernest. In response, the two men engage in an elaborate deception featuring a fictional wayward brother and an imaginary invalid. The show runs through Oct. 28 in the Angus Bowmer Theatre, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Pioneer Street, Ashland. Call 482-4331. See osfashland.org on the Web.

INTIMATE APPAREL: Directed by Timothy Bond, Lynn Nottage’s play visits the world of Esther Mills, a hard-working, independent black seamstress in 1905 Manhattan, who crafts exquisite undergarments for ladies. The play won five major awards, including the New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award for the Best Play of the 2003–04 Season. The show runs through Oct. 18, at the Angus Bowmer Theatre, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Pioneer Street, Ashland. Call 482-4331. See osfashland.org on the Web.

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UP: Michael Barakiva directs Bridget Carpenter’s bittersweet family portrait of love, longing and dreams unfulfilled. Walter Griffin once managed to float above the earth in a lawn chair suspended from weather balloons. Sixteen years later, Walter is still tinkering with ideas for inventions, while his 16-year-old son languishes, and his wife dutifully supports the family. The show runs through June 23 in the New Theatre, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Pioneer Street, Ashland. Call 482-4331. See osfashland.org on the Web.

THE WINTER’S TALE: Directed by OSF Artistic Director Libby Appel, Shakespeare’s play explores the consequences of the poisonous jealousy of King Leontes. Only the passage of time and the loss of some of his dearest loves can bring forgiveness and reunion. The show runs through Oct. 29 in the Angus Bowmer Theatre, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Pioneer Street, Ashland. Call 482-4331. See osfashland.org on the Web.

CROSSING DELANCEY: Oregon Stage Works, A Street Market Place, 185 A St., Ashland, presents Susan Sandler’s romantic comedy, directed by Peter Alzado. Shows are at 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through April 23. Tickets cost $17, $10 for students. Tickets available at Grocery Outlet, Medford; Music Coop, Ashland and at the door. 482-2334. See oregonstageworks.org on the Web.

ROGUE VALLEY SYMPHONY: The Rogue Valley Symphony will close its season with Prokofiev’s "Lieutenant Kijé Suite," Rodrigo/Galway’s "Fantasia para un gentilhombre" and Grofé’s "Grand Canyon Suite" April 21-23. Flutist Katheryn McElrath will be the featured soloist at the concerts, set for 8 p.m. Friday, April 21, at the SOU Music Recital Hall, Ashland; 8 p.m. Saturday, April 22, at the Craterian Ginger Rogers Theater, Medford; and 3 p.m. Sunday, April 23, at the Grants Pass High School Performing Arts Center, Grants Pass. Tickets cost $22-$39 with discounts for students. Call 552-6398.

FREE DESIGN: North Valley High School’s vocal group Free Design will perform "Summer Dreamin,’" its 26th annual staged show, at 8 p.m. Friday, April 21, and at 8 p.m. Saturday, April 22, at the Grants Pass Performing Arts Center, 830 N. E. Ninth St., Grants Pass. General admission tickets cost $9. See nvhsmusic.com.

BLUE TURTLE SEDUCTION: The band that calls its music "high-altitude bohemian tribal funk grass" will perform at 9 p.m. Friday, April 21, at the Mobius, 281 Fourth St., Ashland. Tickets cost $7-$10. Call 488-8894.

SPOTLIGHT ON THE GERSHWINS: Camelot Theatre Company will present the second in this year’s Second Stage Music Series, "Spotlight on The Life and Music of George and Ira Gershwin…a Little Biography and a Lot of Music!" starring Rebecca Campbell, Renée Hewitt and Don Mathews at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays April 21-30, 101 Talent Ave., Talent. Tickets are $15 for adults and $13 for students and seniors. Reserved seats are available for an additional $2 per ticket. Call 535-5250.

Saturday, April 22

LATIF BOLAT ENSEMBLE: St. Clair Productions presents the Latif Bolat Ensemble performing the music of ancient Turkey at 8 p.m. Saturday, April 22, at the Rogue Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 87 Fourth St., Ashland. The show includes music, poetry, Sufi mystic stories and slide images from Turkey. Tickets cost $17 at the door, $15 in advance and $8 for children 5-17. Tickets are available at the Music Coop in the A Street Market Place, Ashland, on-line at st.clairevents.com or by calling 535-3562.

QUARTETTO GELATO: Chamber Music Concerts will present Quartetto Gelato at 8 p.m. Saturday, April 22, at the SOU Music Recital Hall. The program, "Quartetto Gelato Travels the Orient Express," will explore the music from the countries visited in the 1883 odyssey of the famous train, including music from London, Paris, Munich, Vienna, Budapest and Bucharest. Tickets are $23/$25 general, $5 for students. For tickets, call 552-6154 or see sou.edu/cmc on the Web.

HYIM: Urban World Beat singer/songwriter Hyim of the San Francisco Bay Area will perform in concert at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 22, at Havurah Shir Hadash, 185 N. Mountain Ave., Ashland. Tickets cost $7-$15 on a sliding scale and are available at the door and in advance by calling 488-7716. See havurahshirhadash.org on the Web.

EARTH DAY CELEBRATION: The non-profit conservation group The Equilibrium presents The King Britt Experience and special guests performing original funk, soul, hip hop, deep house and Nigerian grooves as part of a benefit that begins at 8 p.m. Saturday, April 22, at the Historic Ashland Armory. The music begins at 9 p.m. The event is free. See themobius.com on the Web.

BO DIDDLEY: Rock ’n’ roll legend Bo Diddley will perform a benefit for Kids Unlimited at 7 p.m. Saturday, April 22, at VIBES Main 1, Medford. The Rogue Suspects will open the concert and play as Bo Diddley’s backup band. Tickets cost $25 and are available in Medford at Six One Nine and Bad Ass Coffee, and in Ashland at the Music Coop. Call 774-3000.

Sunday, April 23

ROSSUM’S UNIVERSAL ROBOTS: Ashland Community Theatre will present a reading of Karel Kapek’s play which was written in the 1920s and set in the distant future and which coined the word "robot." From the remote island where robots are produced and distributed, a new Adam and Eve emerge. Performances are at 7 p.m. Sunday evenings April 23 and 30, at Nuwandart Gallery, 258 A St., Ashland. Call 840-1527.

CURIOUS GEORGE: Craterian Performances hosts Theatreworks USA in a one-hour musical production of the popular children’s story based on the books by Margaret and H. A. Rey at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 23, at Craterian Ginger Rogers Theater, 23 S. Central Ave., Medford. The show is specially designed for ages 4-9. Tickets cost $14 for adults, $9 for children (ages 1- 12). Call 779-3000. See craterian.org on the Web.

LESLIE KENDALL: Singer Leslie Kendall and pianist Bob Milrad will present a New York cabaret-style presentation of Broadway classics and jazz standards from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday, April 23, at A Street Market Place, Oak Street entrance, Ashland. Tickets cost $10 at the door. Call 488-0762.

PIANO RECITAL: PianoVoce, a group from the Eureka area of Northern California, consisting of two pianists and two singers, plus a narrator, will give a recital of piano duets and art songs at 4 p.m. Sunday, April 23, at the Rogue Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Ashland, at the Unitarian Center, 87 Fourth St., Ashland. The concert is a benefit for the Music Fund of the Fellowship. Tickets cost $12 for general admission, $10 for seniors and students and are available at the door. Children under 12 are admitted free. Call 482-4755.

Monday, April 24

MARIMBA MUSIC: The Southern Oregon University Marimba Ensemble, directed by Terry Longshore, will perform a free concert from noon to 1 p.m., Monday, April 24, in the Hannon Library Plaza near the main entrance on the SOU campus, 1250 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland. The ensemble will present folkloric marimba music from around the world including the music of Mexico, South America, and Zimbabwe. The event is part of the Music in the Library Series. Call 552-6842.

Tuesday, April 25

THE MIKADO: Craterian Performances hosts the Carl Rosa Opera, Britain’s oldest opera company, in a lavish production of Gilbert & Sullivan’s classic at 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 25, at Craterian Ginger Rogers Theater, 23 S. Central Ave., Medford. Tickets cost $52, $46 and $40. Call 779-3000. See craterian.org on the Web.

Wednesday, April 26

INTO THE WOODS: The Performing Arts Department at North Medford High School is producing the award-winning musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine. The show runs at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 26 through Saturday, April 29, Lynn Sjolund Auditorium, 1900 N Keeneway Drive, Medford. Tickets cost are $10 general admission and $5 for students and senior citizens and are available at the door.

Thursday, April 27

AS YOU LIKE IT: South Medford High School Theatre Arts Department presents "A Night of Shakespeare: ‘Romeo and Juliet’ and ‘As You Like It’" at 7 p.m. April 27-29, Auditorium, 815 S. Oakdale, Medford. Tickets cost $7 for adults and $5 for students. Call 842-1416.

GLENN MILLER ORCHESTRA: Craterian Performances will present The Glenn Miller Orchestra at 8 p.m. Thursday, April 27. This show is SOLD OUT.

Friday, April 28

CHICAGO: Le Cirque Centre of Ashland will present a musical dance production of "Chicago" at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 28; 3 p.m. Saturday, April 29; 3 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday, April 30, at the Historic Ashland Armory, 208 Oak St., Ashland. The show will be a multi-dimensional, family -friendly adaptation of the John Kander-Fred Ebb-Bob Fosse Broadway musical about greed, murder and show biz. Tickets cost $10 for the April 27 show; $15 for all other shows and are available at Tree House Books and The Music Coop, Ashland and Tights & Tards, Medford. Call 301-6804.

GUITAR CONCERT: The Siskiyou Institute will present guitarist Gene Bertoncini in concert at 8 p.m. Friday April 28, in the Old Siskiyou Barn, Ashland. The event is co-sponsored by the Jefferson Guitar Society. Tickets cost $20. Student discounts are available. Call 488-3869 for reservations and directions.

Saturday, April 29

GYPSY SOUL: Craterian Performances’ Spotlight Series will present Gypsy Soul at 8 p.m. Saturday, April 29. Cilette Swann and Roman Morykit offer an evening of folk/Celtic/New Age music. Guest artists will join the duo for their return visit to the Craterian. General admission tickets cost $15. Call 779-3000 or see craterian.org on the Web

PERCUSSION RECITAL: The Southern Oregon University Department of Music will present "Drummer in a Percussionist’s Skin," a senior recital by Bryan Jeffs, percussion, at 8 p.m., Saturday, April 29, in the SOU Music Recital Hall, 1250 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland. The program will include works by David Lang, G.H. Green, Andrew Thomas, Frederic Rzewski, Michael Colgrass and a world premiere by Mark Knipple. Admission is free. Call 552-6101.

REPERTORY SINGERS: In honor of its 20th anniversary season and Mozart’s 250th birthday, the Southern Oregon Repertory Singers will present the West Coast premiere of the newly completed Robert D. Levin edition of Mozart’s Mass in C Minor at 8 p.m. Saturday, May 6, and 3 p.m. Sunday, May 7, at the SOU Music Recital Hall, 1250 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland. There will be a pre-concert lecture by Ed Wight one hour before each performance. Tickets cost $25 for adults, $5 for students and are available at the door and in advance at Paddington Station and Music Coop, Ashland and Grocery Outlet, Medford. Call 552-0900 or see repsingers.org on the Web.

MUSIC AT ST. MARK’S: Music at St. Mark's will present the Terra Nova Consort and Shira Kammen in a free concert at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 30, at Sixth and Oakdale, Medford. The program, "The Song That Never Ends," will feature traditional Renaissance secular music from Gallicia, in the northwest corner of Spain. The musicians will play various instruments, including vihuela, viola da gamba, recorder, shawm, violin, and percussion, as well as sing. A reception will follow.

WOMEN WITH WINGS: The theme for this year’s annual Women with Wings concert will be "Keeping the Fire Burning" at 7 p.m. Saturday, April 29, at the First Presbyterian Church of Ashland, corner of Siskiyou and Walker, Ashland. Tickets cost $10 to $15. Call 482-4394.

SYZYGY: SyZyGy Ensemble will host SOU Faculty Brass Ensemble performing works by six composers from the Rogue Valley and one from Florence at 8 p.m. Saturday, April 29, at the First United Methodist Church, 175 N. Main St., Ashland. The composers are Todd Barton, Mark Jacobs, I'lana Cotton, Markus Tannenholz, Mark Knippel, Stephen Trulove, and Wilke Renwick. Several of the composers will be present to talk about their pieces. Tickets cost $10 general, $5 for students and are available at the door. Call 488-5506.