Encore

Meet the Artists: Post-show question-and-answer session following selected 4 p.m. California Shakespeare Festival Sunday matinees. Panelists may include actors, artistic staff members, or the director of the production. Every other Sunday, 6 p.m. Continues through Oct. 3, free. Bruns Memorial Amphitheater, Siesta Valley, Shakespeare Festival Way/Gateway Blvd., Hwy. 24, Orinda, 510-548-9666.

The Mikado: The Lamplighters of San Francisco stage a redux of Gilbert & Sullivan's popular operetta. Thur.-Sat., 8 p.m. Continues through Sept. 4, $10-42. Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater, 700 Howard (at Third St.), 978-2787.

Persians: A revamp of Greek playwright Aeschylus' tales of the ancient Persian Wars. Starting Sept. 3, Sundays, 2 p.m. & 7 p.m.; Wed.-Sat., 8 p.m. Continues through Oct. 10, $28-45. Aurora Theatre, 2081 Addison (at Shattuck), Berkeley, 510-843-4822, www.auroratheatre.org.

The Va Va Voom Room: A lavish variety show featuring pulchritudinous dames, mischievous magicians, sultry chanteuses, heartthrob tenors, and a live three-piece band in a new show every week with rotating headliners from around the country. Fri., Sat., 8 p.m. & 11 p.m., $25-$29.75, www.vavavoomroom.com. Plush Room, York Hotel, 940 Sutter (at Hyde), 885-2800.