Summer’s last gasp

Summer doesn’t officially end until mid-September but the seasonal theater festivals are already starting to wrap up. No need to despair, however, as there are still a few new shows to enjoy.

This will be the final week to catch the Davis Shakespeare Festival, through this Sunday, August 6, with the swashbuckler adventure The Three Musketeers and the musical Wonderful Town, running in repertory at the Veterans Memorial Theatre (203 East 14th Street in Davis). Tickets are $15-$25. For a complete schedule of times visit www.shakespearedavis.org or call (530) 802-0998.

The Music Circus is also closing out its current season with the 1950s musical Damn Yankees, which runs through Sunday, August 13, followed by Sister Act, which runs August 22-27. All shows take place in the Wells Fargo Pavilion (1419 H Street). Tickets are $45-$71. For more, visit www.california musicaltheatre.com or call (916) 557-1999.

Or, head to the foothills for Main Street Theatre Works’ rendition of Arthur Miller’s The Crucible. The show will be staged outdoors Friday and Saturday at the Kennedy Mine Amphitheatre (1127 N. Main Street in Jackson). Gates open at 6:30 p.m., and the show starts at 8 p.m. Arrive early to have a picnic and bring chairs and jackets—the latter for the evening cooldown. Tickets are $12-$20 and the show runs through September 9. Learn more at www.mstw.org or by calling (916) 799-3430.

Finally, next weekend the Fair Oaks Theatre Festival launches SHREW! A Jazz Age Musical Romp. This rendition of the Shakespeare tale, The Taming of the Shrew, is set in 1930s Paris. Performances take place every Friday, Saturday and Sunday through September 18 at the Veteran’s Memorial Amphitheatre (7991 California Avenue in Fair Oaks). Tickets are $15-18. Get details at www.fairoakstheatrefestival.com/ or by calling (916) 966-3683.