A Bard rivalry, a Sellars opera and more

‘Chasing Mem’ries: A Different Kind of Musical’

The one and only Tyne Daly stars in a new musical with songs by Alan and Marilyn Bergman and a romantic story line that sounds at once wistful and heartening. Let’s hope the show isn’t schmaltzy. It opens Nov. 7 at the Geffen Playhouse in Westwood. (310) 208-5454, www.geffenplayhouse.org — Charles McNulty

‘Something Rotten!’

This backstage musical, set in the cutthroat theatrical world of Elizabethan London, follows the nutty schemes of two brothers tired of being caught in the shadow of that conceited upstart, William Shakespeare. The shtick, perfectly executed on Broadway, earned a Tony nomination for best musical. The national tour has two stops here: Nov. 7-19 at Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa; (714) 556-2787, www.scfta.org; and Nov. 21-Dec. 31 at the Ahmanson Theatre in L.A.; (213) 972-4400, www.centertheatre group.org — Charles McNulty

‘Refuse the Hour’

South African artist and opera director William Kentridge bases Philip Miller’s opera on a vast installation work that includes gripping animation, startling choreography, unexpected music and a vision of the world that mixes science, philosophy, race, religion and socialism into a brew like no other. Presented by the Center for the Art of Performance at UCLA on Nov. 17-18 at Royce Hall. (310) 825-2101, www.cap.ucla.edu — Mark Swed

‘Painted in Mexico, 1700-1790: Pinxit Mexici’

The art produced in Mexico in the century before the 1810 War of Independence reflects lavish complexities. More than 100 works here form the first full survey of 18th century Mexican painting to be seen in an American museum. The show opens Nov. 19 at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. (323) 857-6010, www.lacma.org — Christopher Knight

‘Girls of the Golden West’

The most highly expected opera of the season is John Adams’ California Gold Rush tale directed by Peter Sellars, who supplied the libretto. The San Francisco Opera production has faces familiar to L.A.: spectacular young singers in Julia Bullock and Davone Tines, and a conductor in Los Angeles Master Chorale music director Grant Gershon. Performances begin Nov. 21 at the San Francisco War Memorial & Performing Arts Center. (415) 864-3330, www.sfopera.com — Mark Swed