By AJ Jaffari
Is it just me, or is everything happening at once this fall?
We’re barely into September, and I already feel like I’ve been living at the theatre. The exciting part is that the Bay Area has such a wide variety of plays and musicals happening this season that there really is something for everyone. From huge touring productions to intimate local theatre, spooky-season favorites, comedies, and even an early holiday pick, my calendar is already looking pretty packed.
So, for the very first time, I’m putting together my Top 5 Fall Theatre Picks for Broadway with AJ! Narrowing this list down was no easy task, and aside from my very clear #1, these are in no particular order. These are simply five productions I personally cannot wait to see—or, in one case, see again.
👻 AJ’s #1 PICK: The Phantom of the Opera
Broadway San Jose | October 7–18
If you’ve been following me for a while, this choice probably won’t surprise you.
I had the chance to see this revitalized production of The Phantom of the Opera earlier this year in San Francisco, and it was so damn good. Seriously. This was one of the best reincarnations of Phantom I’ve seen, beautifully balancing the grandeur of the original production with enough refreshed elements to make the show feel alive again.
Now the Phantom is heading down to San Jose, and you better believe I’m ready to descend beneath the opera house again.
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s score remains one of the most iconic in musical theatre, but what impressed me about this tour was just how spectacular the entire package felt. The production retains Maria Björnson’s legendary original design while presenting the material with a refreshed theatricality that made me fall in love with the show all over again.
I already know what happens. I already know the music. I literally saw this production earlier this year.
And yet this is still the show I’m most excited to see this fall.
🖍️ Eureka Day
City Lights Theater Company | September 24–October 18
Okay, full disclosure: I may be slightly biased here because I’m technically understudying this production.
But that also means I’ve gotten to spend some time with Jonathan Spector’s script, and I genuinely think audiences are going to have a blast with this one.
Eureka Day is a hilarious dramedy that manages to balance biting comedy with genuine heart and a message underneath all of the chaos. The play has deep Bay Area roots and recently received the 2025 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play, so getting to see it performed in the intimacy of City Lights feels especially fitting.
It’s funny. It’s uncomfortable. It’s heartfelt. And it gives you just enough to chew on after you leave the theatre without ever forgetting to entertain you.
Yes, I’m involved with this one—but I’d be recommending it either way.
🎸 RENT
San Francisco Playhouse | December 11–February 6
I know, I know. December 11 is technically creeping into holiday-show territory.
I’m counting it anyway.
RENT is one of my favorite musicals, and I’ve always had such a deep connection to Jonathan Larson’s music and story. There’s something about this group of artists navigating love, friendship, loss, and the desire to create something meaningful that continues to hit me no matter how many times I encounter the material.
And I have a really good feeling about San Francisco Playhouse taking this one on.
The intimacy of their space could lend itself beautifully to a show like RENT. Beneath all of the rock music and larger ensemble numbers is an incredibly personal story, and I’m especially curious to see what happens when these characters are placed only a few feet away from the audience.
This is definitely one I’ll be making room for during an already very busy holiday season.
🔎 Clue
San Jose Stage Company | November 18–December 20
I’ve somehow never seen the stage adaptation of Clue, which makes me even more excited to experience this production for the first time. Sandy Rustin’s adaptation takes the familiar suspects of Boddy Manor and throws them into a 90-minute whirlwind of murder, mayhem, and comedy.
San Jose Stage Company’s intimate space is one of my favorite things about seeing work there, and I can already imagine how much fun a fast-paced mystery like Clue could be when the chaos is unfolding practically right in front of you.
I also have to mention that The Stage has put together a really exciting season overall, so this certainly won’t be my only trip there. But for fall, Clue is absolutely the one I have circled.
🕷️ The Addams Family
Palo Alto Players | October 30–November 15
What would fall be without at least one trip to see the Addamses?
I’ve seen The Addams Family many times at this point, but it’s one of those shows I still enjoy revisiting with a new company of performers. Every cast seems to find slightly different ways into these wonderfully bizarre characters, and Andrew Lippa’s score remains ridiculously fun.
The story is whimsical, the music is catchy, and the whole thing fits spooky season perfectly. Even better? Palo Alto Players opens the production on Halloween weekend, which feels like exactly the right time to step into the Addams household.
I always enjoy making my way back to Palo Alto Players, and seeing what their team does with this delightfully strange family has me especially excited.
If you want something spooky without actually being scared, this might be your fall pick.
So… What Are You Seeing?
Five shows, five completely different theatrical experiences—and honestly, there are so many other productions happening around the Bay Area that could have made this list.
That’s what I love about being a theatre fan here. On any given weekend, you can choose between a massive Broadway tour, an intimate play, a Golden Age classic, something completely new, or a community production happening practically in your backyard.
My September calendar has already been a little ridiculous, and judging by this list, I don’t think things are slowing down anytime soon.
But would I have it any other way? Absolutely not.
These are my five picks—but now I want to hear yours. What show are you most excited to see in the Bay Area this fall? Let me know in the comments below!
See you at the theatre!
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