It’s no coincidence that October is National Arts and Humanities Month. For most performing arts groups, fall kicks off a new season of performances as well as a new season of opportunities to bring new audiences to their work. Here’s what coming up:

Driftwood Players

• “The Seven Year Itch,” now through Sept. 24. George Axelrod’s comedy continues at the Wade James Theatre, 950 Main St., Edmonds.

• “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus,” Nov. 24-Dec. 17. The holiday classic inspired by eight-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon’s turn of the century letter to the editor of the New York Sun.

• Plan to see these shows in 2007: “Deathtrap,” Feb. 9-25; “Oklahoma,” April 13-May 6; “Don’t Drink the Water,” June 15-July 1.

For tickets call 425-774-9600, or visit www.driftwoodplayers.com.

Driftwood Players’ Alternative Stages

• “The Patient,” now through Sept. 25. Agatha Christie’s hospital mystery continues at the Wade James Theatre, 950 Main St., Edmonds.

• “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” Oct. 20-29. The Headless Horseman rides again this Halloween after sellout crowds in 2006.

• Also in this fall’s lineup: “Billy Shakespeare’s Christmas Extravaganza and Traveling Freak Show,” Dec. 3-11. A collection of three unconventional Christmas-themed short comedies.

Tickets are available by calling 425-774-9600, or at www.driftwoodplayers.com.

Edge of the World Theatre

• “Everybody Loves Opal,” Sept. 29-Oct. 27. Edge of the World Theatre, 9673 Firdale Ave., Edmonds, gets their season underway with John Patrick’s comedy about an eccentric recluse with a sizable fortune, and the con artists who conspire to separate the two.

Tickets available at 206-542-PLAY (7529).

Arts in Culture series

• Breaking Point Dance Company’s “Hip Hop Live!” Oct. 28. Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Arts Council kicks off its annual performing arts series with this showcase of the contemporary art of choreographed Hip Hop dance.

• Magical Strings Celtic Yuletide Concert, Nov. 26, The 26th annual concert has become a tradition for many families to welcome in the holiday season.

• Tickets are also on sale now for the series’ 2007 performances in Shoreline: Jan. 20, Pianist George Cables’ “Jazz it Up!”; Feb. 10, “Chocolate Confessions” a one-woman musical comedy about love, life, and chocolate; March 3, a cappella groups The Coats and Groove for Thought; April 7, The Seattle Chinese Orchestra &the HengDa Dancers; April 21, The Four Bitchin’ Babes in “Hormonal Imbalance.”

Call the Arts Council office at 206-417-4645 or go online to www.Shorelinearts.net and www.brownpapertickets.com for ticket information.

Olympic Ballet Theatre

• “The Nutcracker,” Dec. 2, 3, 16 &17 at the Edmonds Center for the Arts; with the Everett Symphony Orchestra at the Everett Civic Auditorium, 2415 Colby Ave., Dec. 9 &10. Now in its 26th year, Olympic Ballet Theatre presents its signature performance of the Tschaikovsky holiday classic.

• The season also includes: “Requiem,” to name the John Wilkins Memorial Stage at the Edmonds Center for the Arts, Jan. 13; “Swan Lake” Act II, plus repertory ballets, March 24; “Carnival of the Animals” with the Cascade Symphony, April 14 .

Tickets for ECA shows are available from Olympic Ballet Theatre, 425-774-7570; for Everett performances, call the Everett Symphony 425-257-8382 or visit everettsymphony.org.

Cascade Symphony Orchestra

The symphony presents its 45th season with “Symphonic Treasures” in its new home at the remodeled Edmonds Center for the Arts, 410 Fourth Ave. N., Edmonds, with music director Michael Miropolsky at the podium.

• “Gems,” Oct. 23. An evening of symphonic favorites by Dvorak, Sibelius, Brahms, J. Strauss and others. Featuring Elisa Barston, violin Bruch: Concerto in G Minor for Violin and Orchestra.

• “The Bear,” Nov. 19. Chamber Orchestra of Cascade Symphony does Tchaikovsky: Children’s Album, Op. 39; Boccherini: Concerto for Cello and Orchestra, with Amos Yang, cello.

• In 2007, the symphony will present: “1812,” Jan. 15; “Cascade Ensembles Concert”; “Carmina Burana,” March 5; “Concert for Children (and parents),” April 14; “New, Old Names,” April 23; “Cascade Symphony Celebration,” May 13.

For more information, go to cascadesymphony.org or call 425-776-4938.

Choir of the Sound

• Holiday Concert, Dec. 2 &3. The Choir with director Judy Filibeck present a holiday music program covering the divine to the popular, at the Shorecrest Performing Arts Center.

• 2007 concerts: “Carmina Burana,” date and location TBA. The choir celebrates its 30th anniversary performing with the Cascade Symphony Orchestra; Spring Pops Concert, “Songs for the Open Road,” June 2 and 3.

Tickets are available by calling 206-528-9990.

Sno-King Community Chorale

• “Holiday Concert,” Dec. 16. Edmonds Center for the Arts, 410 Fourth Ave. N., Edmonds. Traditional seasonal music and a presentation of the musical “The Magic of Music” written by Debra DeMiero.

• Looking ahead to 2007: “Concert for Children — Of All Ages,” Feb. 10; “Spring Concert,” March 17; Vancouver Performance, April 1; “Pops Concert,” June 16 and June 17.

For tickets and more information, call 425-673-7671.

New Everett Theatre

The New Everett Theatre group is the resident company at the Everett Theatre at 2911 Colby Ave., formerly known as the historic Everett Theatre.

• “Rocky Horror Show,” Sept. 29-Oct. 15. You’ve seen the movie, but check out the outrageous stage version that spawned such songs as Sweet Transvestite,” “Damnit Janet” and “Time Warp.”

• “Miracle on 34th Street,” Nov. 24-Dec. 10. Santa Claus must prove his existence — and his sanity — before a judge.

• Coming up: “The Exonerated,” March 9-25; “The Velveteen Rabbit,” April 7-22; “Boy Gets Girl,” May 4-20; a world premiere original play, June 8-24.

For tickets visit www.everetttheatre.org or call 425-258-6766.

Village Theatre

Village Theatre productions are staged at the Everett Performing Arts Center, 2710 Wetmore Ave., Everett.

• “Evita,” Oct. 27-Nov. 12. This Tony Award-winning masterpiece with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber sets the story of Argentina’s beloved, controversial Eva Peron to an irresistible Latin beat.

• Don’t miss: “Bye Bye Birdie,” Jan. 5-21; “Shadowlands,” March 2-18; “Once Upon a Time in New Jersey,” April 27-May 13; “The Who’s Tommy,” June 29-July 15.

For tickets information visit www.villagetheatre.org or call 425-257-8600.

The Northwest Savoyards

This Everett community theater troupe mounts three musical theater productions this season at the PUD Auditorium, 2320 California Ave. in Everett.

• “The Mikado,” Oct. 20-Nov. 12. The company kicks off the season with a trademark Gilbert &Sullivan operetta.

• Coming up: “The Sound of Music,” Jan. 26-Feb. 18; “Guys &Dolls,” May 25-June 17.

For tickets call 425-953-1413 or visit www.northwestsavoyards.org; the Savoyards are partnering with the Everett Symphony to offer a combination “Symphony &Savoyards” package consisting of three symphony concerts and two theatrical presentations. Contact the Everett Symphony office at 425-258-1605 or visit www.everettsymphony.org.

Northshore Performing Arts Center

The Northshore Performing Arts Center Foundation hosts its second season in its location on the Bothell High School campus, 18125 92nd Ave. NE in Bothell.

• The Yellowjackets, Oct. 8. The quintessential jazz fusion band celebrates 25 years of visionary, improvisational jazz.

• Rita Coolidge, Oct. 13. This two-time Grammy winner will perform songs from her “And So Is Love” release, a collection of jazz standards as well as her classic 1970’s hits.

• “Sophisticated Ladies, The Duke Ellington Broadway Musical,” Oct. 28. The Tony Award-winning tribute to Ellington features a swinging cast accompanied by an 11-piece jazz orchestra.

• “Huun Huur Tu, Throat Singers from Tuva,” Nov. 2. From the Siberian steppes of Tuva, near Mongolia, the music of this throat-singing group encapsulates navigational information that enables this horse-centered nomadic people to traverse Asian trade routes.

• Celtic Fiddle Festival, Nov. 5. Fiddle stylists Kevin Burke (Ireland), Christian Lemaitre (Brittany) and Andre Brunet (Quebec) combine their talents, musical traditions and spontaneous humor.

• Great Big Sea, Nov. 19. This band combine the traditional music of their isolated Newfoundland home with a myriad of pop influences.

• Some of what’s in store for 2007: Cowboy poet Baxter Black, Jan. 6; “In the Mood, A 1940’s Musical Review,” Jan. 7.

For more information, visit www.npacf.org or call 425-489-6018.

Everett Symphony

Performances are at Everett Civic Auditorium, 2415 Colby Ave., under the direction of music director Paul-Elliott Cobbs.

• “Opening Night: A Night of Drama,” Oct. 6. Classical selections.

• “BOO!!!” Oct. 27. The Explore Music I children’s concert with narration by Cliff Lenz.

• “A Night in Vienna,” Nov. 10. Pops concert.

• “Messiah Sing-A-Long,” Dec. 17 (at First Presbyterian Church, Wall Street and Rockefeller Avenue).

• “Night Before New Year’s Eve Celebration,” Dec. 30. With Tony Ventrella.

• On tap for 2007: “Of Emperors and Masters,” Jan. 19; “The Mozart Effect,” Feb. 9; “Duel of the Fates,” March 2; “Peter and the Wolf,” March 30-31; “Spider Sings Gershwin,” April 13.

For tickets call 425-258-1605 or visit www.everettsymphony.org.

Taproot Theatre

• “Arms and Man,” Sept. 22-Oct. 21. The Taproot Theatre, 204 N. 85th St., Seattle, closes out its 30th season, “A Season to Celebrate,” with George Bernard Shaw’s love story.

• “It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play,” Nov. 17-Dec. 30. This production, adapted by Joe Landry, comes to the stage as a live 1940s radio broadcast. And you’re a member of the live studio audience.

For more information go to www.taproottheatre.org or phone the box office at 206-781-9707.

Civic Light Opera

Civic Light Opera’s 29th season of musical theater opens at 7400 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, and most performances are at the Magnuson Community Center, 7110 62nd Ave. NE, Seattle.

• “Man of La Mancha,” through Sept. 24. A play-within-a-play, based on Cervante’s “Don Quixote,” this is a poignant story of a dying old man whose impossible dream takes over his mind.

• “Children of Eden,” Nov. 17-Dec. 3. A frank, heartfelt and often humorous examination of the age-old conflict between parents and children, freely based on the story of Genesis.

• Check out 2007’s lineup: “The Baker’s Wife,” Jan. 26-Feb. 11; “My Way — A Tribute to Frank Sinatra,” March 16-April 1; “Cabaret,” May 11-27.

For box office information, call 206-363-2809 or go to www.clo-musicaltheatre.org.