The genius of Mystery Science Theater lies in its simplicity. Essentially, it’s a well-rehearsed trash-talking sesh—the kind of riff-fest that good friends have been enjoying over cold beers and bad movie reruns for decades. The brainchild of actor and comedian Joel Hodgson, Mystery Science Theater 3000 (MST3K) follows a janitor trapped by mad scientists and forced to watch ridiculous B-movies as a part of a harebrained plot to take over the world. To stay sane, the janitor enlists some robot friends to join him in mocking various (and preposterous) sci-fi titles.

Mystery Science Theater
Thu, 7:30pm, $38+
San Jose Center for the Performing Arts

Men wrapped in blue second skins, like The Watchmen’s Doctor Manhattan, will soon be looking at San Jose audiences with their disconcerting wide-eyed stares. Mere words don’t seem up to the task of describing the Blue Man Group’s latest Speechless Tour, but you can’t mime in print. First, a disclaimer for introverts. You should know that this show includes “large-scale audience participation.” My guess is that “fostering communal moments” means: Plan on playing a tube-based musical instrument. To sum up, your days as a passive spectator are at an end!

Blue Man Group
Fri-Sun, $48+
Center for the Performing Arts, San Jose

Riding high on a Tony Award nomination and favorable reviews, A Night With Janis Joplin takes audiences through the life and career of one of rock & roll’s original leading ladies. The production celebrates Joplin’s biggest hits, such as “Piece of My Heart,” “Cry Baby” and “Me and Bobby McGee.” The show will also consider the work of her biggest influences, including Aretha Franklin, Etta James, Nina Simone and Bessie Smith. Written and Directed by Randy Johnson, the show features Mary Bridget Davies, Amma Osei, Ashley Tamar Davis, Tawny Dolley and Jennifer Leigh Warren.

Janis Joplin Experience
Wed, 7:30pm, $45+
San Jose Center for the Performing Arts

Mom and dad can never really be sure what the kids are learning at school. Based on the Jack Black-starring film of the same name, this Andrew Lloyd Webber musical brings Richard Linklater’s 2003 film to life on stage. Booted from his band, Dewey Finn’s gotta make rent. Posing as his substitute teacher friend and roomate, Ned, he finagles a job at Horace Green School. With the big Battle of the Bands approaching, he enlists his students to back him up. Life lessons ensue—in song form. Highlights include “Stick it to the Man” and “Give Up on Your Dreams.” Runs through June 9.

School of Rock the Musical
Tue, 8pm, $43+
San Jose Center for the Performing Arts

Space opera junkies rejoice! Symphony Silicon Valley’s ongoing Movies in Concert series presents Star Wars: A New Hope. Watch Han shoot first on the big screen and feel the force of a full orchestra perform John Williams’ legendary Oscar-winning score, led by Jeffrey Schindler. With a résumé long enough to make Bach blush, Schindler boasts more than 250 production credits and is a skilled conductor, orchestrator, arranger, maestro and an organist and harpsichordist to boot. The symphony will give four shows over the weekend, so grab a ticket or go hang with the rest of the nerf herders.

Star Wars Symphony
Fri, 7:30pm, $50+
San Jose Center for the Performing Arts, San Jose

This jukebox musical classic has been winning over audiences for more than a decade. Jersey Boys tells the tale of Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito and Nick Massi—four blue-collar kids from Jersey who found great success with their pop vocal group, The Four Seasons—rising up from their working-class roots with hits like “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry” and “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” and selling 175 million records in the process. The production has claimed a Tony, a Grammy and an Oliver award for best musical. The Broadway San Jose show runs through June 10. (WR)

Jersey Boys
Thru June 10, 7:30pm, $43+
San Jose Center for the Performing Arts

I was sprawled out on the floor of my childhood home when I first saw Princess Mononoke. The heady conflict between humankind’s constant consumption and nature’s inherent need for preservation flew right over my 6-year-old head. However, I do vividly recall the one-two punch of the film’s ornate animation and moving score.

In the Studio Ghibli film, the story’s hero, Ashitaka, battles industrialism and old mountain gods against a sonic backdrop of soaring violins and traditional Japanese instruments—like taiko drums and the 13-stringed koto.

Studio Ghibli’s most popular films have always featured intricate animation, endearing characters and sweeping orchestral scores—the latter of which has primarily been the work of one man. His given name is Mamoru Fujisawa, but most know him as Joe Hisaishi.

He spent the ’70s composing for various anime as Fujisawa. After releasing a pair of studio albums under his new alias, Hisaishi was tapped to compose for Hayao Miyazaki’s directorial debut, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind.

It would only be a year later that Miyazaki would found Studio Ghibli. Upon working together, the two became great friends. In the studio’s 30-year lifespan, Hisaishi has composed for every single Miyazaki-directed release, among others.

As the centerpiece of the studio’s 2001 film, Spirited Away, the lilting “One Summer’s Day” is perhaps his best-known piece. Propelled by a singular piano, the song blossoms into full-bodied orchestration at the 1:20 mark before crashing into a heavily violin-assisted crescendo.

“A Town With an Ocean View” from Kiki’s Delivery Service does something similar. Hisaishi begins with a simple melody that evokes the titular character perfectly. As the song progresses, it meanders, stutters and stops, reflecting the coming-of-age story it scores.

Hisaishi is also known for his work with famed director Takeshi Kitano. While Miyazaki’s work has always had a family friendly tilt to it, Kitano made his name directing yakuza flicks. In response, Hisaishi’s scores took on a much darker and nihilistic tone. Opting for minimalism and unsettling synthesizer melodies where his Ghibli work swelled with traditional instrumentation.

Hisaishi will come to San Jose later this month to play movements from select Ghibli films. For this performance he will be conducting a full orchestra and choir as montages from the films play above the musicians.

Joe Hisaishi
May 25-28, Various Times, $75+
San Jose Center for the Performing Arts
symphonysiliconvalley.org

Take in a sweeping, leaping, musical history of China. The new Shen Yun program dances its way through 5,000 years of Chinese mythology, war and political upheaval—combining age-old legends with modern technological achievements. The globally acclaimed program has been updated for 2018. Hundreds of handmade costumes and cutting-edge digital projection backdrops will merge with some of the world’s best dancers and musicians to bring the story of the world’s most populous country to Silicon Valley. The show runs through Dec. 30.

Shen Yun
Thu, 7:30pm, $80
Center for the Performing Arts, San Jose