From Register Staff

Tickets for Napa Valley Opera House’s fall/winter season — a compelling line-up that ranges from “The Canterbury Tales” to the San Francisco Comedy Competition — go on sale Monday.

Here’s a capsule look at the upcoming season:

George Winston returns Jan. 5 to perform songs from his melodic seasonal recordings, Vince Guaraldi’s Peanuts pieces and New Orleans R&B piano, as well as tracks from his upcoming CD, “Gulf Coast Blues and Impressions — A Hurricane Relief Benefit.”

Steve March Tormé, the son of Mel Tormé comes to Napa Jan. 11 to present “Tormé Sings Tormé, A Big Band Tribute to the Life and Music of Mel Tormé.” He’ll sing his father’s best known songs, including “Lulu’s Back in Town,” “Mountain Greenery” and “The Christmas Song.” The evening’s program includes family photos, classic and some never before seen Tormé video clips, plus original song arrangements by Marty Paich and Mel himself.  

One of the highlights of the winter season is NV Idol, a county-wide competition for local singers ages 13-18, in solo or duet formats and in all genres of music, can participate in one of five Saturday evening competition rounds, Jan. 13 and 27, Feb. 3 and 24 and March 3. A panel of local judges and the audience vote to see who goes on to the final rounds March 17-18. To apply, go to www.nvoh.org and click on Idol NV Entry.

It is opera in its most accessible form when Donald Pippen’s incomparable Pocket Opera performs Friedrich von Flotow’s “Martha” Feb. 18. Pocket Opera presents the story of two high-born, sheltered (and frightfully bored) young ladies unexpectedly swept into the rude current of life — who find it most exhilarating — in Pippen’s lively English translation, using minimal props and a pocket-sized orchestra.

Josh Kornbluth takes on democracy in an evening of improv, “from the Bay Area’s favorite Red Diaper baby,” Feb. 1 in the Cafe Theatre. Rooted in his colorful autobiography and determination to engage “The System,” the comic’s latest show turns the spotlight on the divided heart of America’s democracy.

Lamplighters Music Theatre presents a treat for musical theater fans with “The Merry Widow” Feb. 10-11. Franz Lehar’s romantic comedy is set in Paris in the early 1900s: When she was young and poor, his family wouldn’t let him marry her. Now that she’s a wealthy widow, his pride won’t let him win her back — or will love find a way in the city of lights?

The Wailin’ Jennys, Canada’s fastest rising folk trio, bring in their inventive arrangements of roots, pop, blues and Celtic tunes Feb. 22. Singer-songwriters Ruth Moody, Nicky Mehta and Annabelle Chvostek are frequent guests on Prairie Home Companion. Their harmonies have been described by critics as “spine-tingling,” “sublime” and “exquisite.”  

Mandy Patinkin is known for his awarding-winning roles on Broadway, television and film, but his favorite role is reaching out to live audiences with the power and the passion of popular song. He’ll be in concert with Paul Ford on piano Feb. 23 with a repertoire including Rodgers and Hammerstein, Stephen Sondheim, Harry Chapin, Claude-Michel Schönberg, Irving Berlin and Cole Porter.

After a mesmerizing performance at the Opera House last year, Word for Word returns with a two-part evening showcasing two female writers March 1. In the first piece, “Mlle. Dias de Corta” by Mavis Gallant, a woman takes a sly look backward on a mysterious tenant, set against the backdrop of a rapidly changing France. The second story, Lorrie Moore’s “Which is More Than I can Say About Some People,” is humorous and revealing mother-daughter road trip through Ireland.  

Designated a “Jazz Master” by the National Endowment for the Arts, Ramsey Lewis has received three Grammy Awards and seven gold records with chart-topping hits like “The In Crowd,” “Hang On Sloopy” and “Wade in the Water.” His performance style and musical selections reflect his early gospel playing and classical training along with a love of jazz and other musical forms. The Ramsey Lewis Trio performs March 7.

In their third performance in Napa, the Capitol Steps return March 9-10 with their merciless, musical take on current events from the Washington viewpoint. Since they began 26 years ago, the Capitol Steps have recorded 26 albums, including their latest, “I’m So Indicted.” They’ve been featured on NBC, CBS, ABC and PBS, and can be heard four times a year on National Public Radio stations nationwide during their “Politics Takes a Holiday” radio specials.

If Monty Python met Umberto Eco at a medieval pageant, the result could be Aquila’s “Canterbury Tales” a fast-moving, saucy, slightly naughty, romantic romp. Aquila, a company of British and American artists dedicated to classical drama, is renowned for its ability to bring a modern, hip sensibility and accessible freshness to classical texts without diminishing these great works. They present their entertaining take on Geoffrey Chaucer’s masterpiece March 16. Special student tickets are priced at $15.

Best of the San Francisco International Stand Up Comedy Competition returns March 24, hosted by Mark Pitta, a national headliner and former Mornings On 2 personaliy.

Pat Metheny with the Brad Mehldau Trio presents two giants of jazz in one evening, March 27. Guitarist Metheny has always pushed musical boundaries, establishing himself as an international superstar with his genre-bending blend of jazz, rock, pop and fusion. Pianist Mehldau is an emerging star whose talent as an improviser are just as likely to be applied to songs by Radiohead and the Beatles as Gershwin or Monk. Backed by Mehldau’s regular trio members Larry Grenadier on bass and Jeff Ballard on drums, these master musicians form a powerful quartet that promises to redefine the possibilities for jazz in the new millennium.

In time for opening day, Z Space and the Opera House present “The Baseball Plays: Nine Short Plays About Baseball.” April 6. Playwrights Naomi Iizuka, Eric Overmeyer, Arthur Kopit, Anne Galjour Michelle Carter are featured.

Since the 1920s the Cab Calloway Orchestra has been delighting audiences at the historic jazz club “Birdland” in New York. Now under the baton of Cab’s grandson, Calloway Brooks, the Orchestra delivers the sound of a hot jazz orchestra and a snazzy stage style using original vintage orchestrations performed by musicians who have played with this big band for decades. They perform in Napa April 7.

Na Lei Hulu I Ka Wekiu, a San Francisco-based Hawaiian dance company featuring hula as a full theatrical experience, comes to Napa April 14. They blend traditional movements with non-Hawaiian music. Performances are given in a “talk-story” format incorporating narration and dance to provide a rich cultural context to understand the hula.

Celebrating four generations of the historic Guthrie Family, Arlo Guthrie, the eldest son of Woody Guthrie, brings a celebration of songs, stories, photos and archival recordings April 19-20 with “The Guthrie Family Legacy Tour: Woody, Arlo and the Guthrie family, featuring special guests Abe, Cathy, Annie, Sarah Lee Guthrie and Johnny Irion.” Joining Arlo are his children and grandchildren in an epic interpretation of his father’s songs with homespun candor and tradition.

Lamplighters Music Theatre presents “Carousel” April 21-22, presented as a staged concert, with a full orchestra and singers in costume. Rodgers and Hammerstein’s classic story of love, fate, atonement and redemption, features familiar songs such as “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” “Soliloquy/My Boy Bill,” “If I Loved You” and “Carousel Waltz.”

Ballet Hispanico — performing April 27 — has performed for more than 2 million people since it was founded in 1970. The company’s repertory fuses ballet, modern and Latin dance forms into a spirited image of the contemporary Hispanic world. More than 70 new works have been commissioned by artistic director Tina Ramirez from choreographers of international stature such as Alberto Alonso, Talley Beatty and Graciela Daniele.

Napa Valley resident Wesla Whitfield, accompanied by Mike Greensill on piano, performs April 28. Trained in classical music and opera, Whitfield has, for more than three decades, interpreted the Great American Songbook, a world where jazz meets cabaret.  

Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, a versatile troupe of 12 young dancers, perform an eclectic repertoire of pieces by some of the world’s foremost choreographers May 4.

Will Shortz, the crossword editor of the New York Times and puzzle master for NPR’s Weekend Edition Sunday, presents “An Evening With The Puzzle Master” May 11. Shortz holds the world’s only college degree in enigmatology, the study of puzzles, from Indiana University. He has written and edited more than 150 books, including several best-selling volumes of sudoku puzzles. He is the subject of the acclaimed 2006 documentary film “Wordplay.” During his Opera House appearance, Shortz discusses his favorite crosswords and puzzlemakers, how crosswords are created, their curious history, and his lifelong passion for puzzles in general. He will also answer questions about puzzles and conduct audience-participation word games.

TheatreworksUSA, a professional not-for-profit theater for young and family audiences, brings to life eight stories in “If You Give A Mouse A Cookie And Other Story Books” May 12. The mini-musicals are based on popular books including “Amazing Grace,” “Owen,” “Martha Speaks,” “Borreguita and the Coyote,” “Math Curse,” “Master Man” and “Imogene’s Antlers.”

Moscow Cats Theatre, an international family smash hit from Russia, features non-stop action by a group of 30 talented felines, two dogs and six clowns, performing original and astounding acrobatic feats. Making its U.S. debut in New York City a year ago, Moscow Cats Theatre has been embraced by the media and fans alike. A sell-out when they performed in Napa last year, “Cats” perform a new show in Napa May 17, 18 and 19.

Back by popular demand, Rockapella performs at the Opera House May 25-26. A five-man powerhouse of vocal talent, known as the Kings of Contemporary A Cappella, Rocapella began by singing on New York City street corners with a hat out at their feet. They caught the eye of a producer putting together a television special titled “Spike & Co.: Do It A Cappella,” hosted by Spike Lee. This led to a daily appearance on “Where In The World Is Carmen Sandiego?” the popular kids’ game show on public television, commercials and international recording contracts. Rockapella has released 20 albums in the last 18 years, with their most recent titled, “Live in Japan.”

Finally, the season with a return of Pocket Opera to present “The Queen of Spades” (“Pique Dame”) by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, a tale of wildly romantic passion thwarted by a sinister obsession, where playfulness and horror, intoxicated rapture and suicidal despair are capped off by a touch of the supernatural.

Opera House box office: 226-7372 or nvoh.org