San Jose Stage Company: A Theatrical Year of Mystery, Satire, and Heart
Prepare to be captivated by an exhilarating series of plays and musicals at San Jose Stage Company. Whether you're a fan of classic literature adaptations, engaging satire, or soul-stirring musicals, this year's lineup promises a diverse theatrical experience. Dive into the mystery with 'A Sherlock Carol,' explore corruption and climate issues with 'An Enemy of the People,' laugh with the absurd satire of 'The Underpants,' and dance to the rhythms of 'Sweet Charity.' Each production is set to bring fresh energy to the stage, showcasing brilliant performances and creative storytelling.
Moriarty is dead, to begin with. And Sherlock Holmes is a haunted man. But, when a grown-up Tiny Tim asks Holmes to investigate the death of Ebenezer Scrooge, the Great Detective must use his gifts to solve a Dickens of a Christmas mystery! Six actors take on the beloved characters of Arthur Conan Doyle and Charles Dickens in this heartwarming and highly theatrical holiday treat for all ages!
Dr. Thomas Stockmann discovers that the water in his town’s therapeutic spa is contaminated. The polluted spa has created prosperity for the town but is also making people sick. The play examines how a scientific expert becomes “an enemy of the people” when he threatens to expose an ecological human disaster. Will he be silenced by those who seek to protect their personal financial gains? Thomas Ostermeier’s scorching adaptation successfully pulls Ibsen’s play out of a small Norwegian town in 1882 and into a modern day global theatrical debate about corruption, climate emergency, and inequality.
The renowned comic actor and author of Picasso at the Lapine Agile provides a wild satire adapted from the classic German play about Louise and Theo Markes, a couple whose conservative existence is shattered when Louise's bloomers fall down in public. Though she pulls them up quickly, he thinks the incident will cost him his job as a government clerk. Louise's momentary display does not result in the feared scandal but it does attract two infatuated men, each of whom wants to rent the spare room in the Markes' home. Oblivious of their amorous objectives, Theo splits the room between them, happy to collect rent from both the foppish poet and the whiny hypochondriac.
Inspired by Federico Fellini's Nights of Cabiria, Sweet Charity explores the turbulent love life of Charity Hope Valentine, a hopelessly romantic but comically unfortunate dance hall hostess in New York City. With a tuneful, groovy, mid-1960s score by Cy Coleman, sparkling lyrics by Dorothy Fields, and a hilarious book by Neil Simon, Sweet Charity captures all the energy, humor, and heartbreak of Life in the Big City for an unfortunate but irrepressible optimist.
San Jose Stage Company's upcoming season is a testament to the power of theater to entertain, educate, and inspire. From the mysteries of 'A Sherlock Carol' to the satirical humor of 'The Underpants,' and the heartfelt tunes of 'Sweet Charity,' each production is crafted to resonate with audiences on multiple levels. As these plays explore themes of truth, societal norms, and the pursuit of happiness, they invite viewers to reflect on their own experiences and perspectives. Don't miss the chance to be part of this remarkable journey through drama, laughter, and song.