CMT San Jose Announces 50th Anniversary Season

Children's Musical Theater San Jose (CMT San Jose), a nationally acclaimed theater company honored 10 times by the NEA and the oldest operating performing arts organization in San Jose, announced its 50th Anniversary season of shows.

CMT San Jose Artistic Director Kevin Hauge introduced the milestone season: "We're excited to have created a season that reflects our full 50 year history including titles that showcase a variety of Broadway classics and iconic CMT productions re-envisioned for our 50th season audience."

The upcoming 50th Anniversary season includes: Marquee Productions-Disney Newsies The Musical (Dec. 1 - 10, 2017) and Guys and Dolls (April 20 - 29, 2018). The Mainstage shows are The Who's Tommy (March 2 - 11, 2018), Avenue Q (May 11 - 20) and West Side Story (July 27 - Aug. 5). Rising Stars shows include Fiddler on the Roof Jr. (November 10 - 19, 2017), Once Upon a Mattress (Feb. 22 - 25, 2018), Seussical the Musical (May 3 -6, 2018), The Wiz (July 13 - 21, 2018), and Robin Hood (Aug. 9 - 12, 2018).
All shows are presented at the historic Montgomery Theater in downtown San Jose (271 Market Street).

"We're honored to be the first non-professional company granted the rights to the Broadway sensation, Newsies," Kevin Hauge explained. "This will not only delight our Bay Area audiences, but will allow us to feature extraordinary professional dancers from this area and alumni from our rich legacy. Beyond our productions, the 50th Anniversary season provides an opportunity to connect with alumni from across the country of our near and distant past. It has been an honor to lead this organization for the past 21 years and I can't wait to see what the future will bring."

The 50th Anniversary season will be celebrated throughout the year with pivotal events including Honors Night (December 9, 2017), GOLD: CMT's 50th Anniversary Gala (February 3, 2018), and a CMT Reunion Weekend celebration (August 3 - 5, 2018). All events will honor CMT's rich history with a spotlight on connecting with and engaging alumni.

One such alum, Tony-nominated Broadway actor Alex Brightman (School of Rock), reflected on his CMT experience: "I have had, by my own gauge, a pretty decent career thus far. And I can trace a direct line from where I am now to where it all began. Where I learned every piece of what makes up my core. Where I learned to be a happy actor, part of one of the best communities in the world. I am a smart and honest performer because of CMT. I'm fortunate to have a community of people that will always support each other in our success and challenges in life." Each year CMT San Jose presents a series of 10 top rated contemporary musicals-a diverse range including popular titles, inspiring stories and bold choices-in four distinct divisions: Junior Talents (ages 6-9), Rising Stars (ages 10-14), Mainstage (ages 14-20) and Marquee Productions, which feature a cast of CMT alumni and working actors from the Bay Area. The guiding principles for Rising Stars and Mainstage shows are: casting all who audition; setting and achieving the highest artistic standards; embracing diversity in performers, audiences and staff; and providing a positive, family-friendly, nurturing community.

"Inspired by my experience at CMT, I've been given the confidence to challenge myself to get better each day, to be a productive team member, and to work hard for things I'm passionate about," said Joy Osborne, Palo Alto Networks, CMT Board Chair. Photo: Alex Brightman, Theatermania

CMT 2017 Marquee Production of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Photo: Curtis Finger CMT strives to continue this artistic excellence and expose the community to musical theater at its finest by providing professional opportunities through its Marquee Productions division. The two annual Marquee Productions, which feature a cast of CMT alumni as well as many working actors from the Bay Area, have become a CMT tradition, highlighting the company's full artistic potential with high-caliber professional level entertainment.

"I can confidently say that without CMT I would not be where I am today. Onstage, the lessons I've learned are countless, from the level of self confidence I now try to take with me everywhere but also the life lessons learned off stage-the premium put on collaboration and that everybody is working together toward a common purpose, that whether you continue as a performer, or not, you will be valued. There's no place that I learned that more than at CMT," explained actor Ryan Vasquez, Hamilton National Tour.

Jake Chen and Erica Teeple in CMT's 2017 Mainstage production of Evita. Photo: Curtis Finger
THE SHOWS FOR THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON Fiddler on the Roof Jr. (November 10 - 19, 2017) This special adaptation of the nine-time Tony Award-winning Broadway musical follows Tevye the milkman as he tries to protect his daughters and his way of life, tackling the universal theme of tradition in ways that reach across barriers of race, class, nationality and religion. (RS)

Disney Newsies The Musical (December 1 - 10, 2017) Adapted from the Disney film, New York City's newsboys seize the day when they strike against unfair working conditions, with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Jack Feldman, and a book by Harvey Fierstein. (MP)

Once Upon a Mattress (February 22 - 25, 2018) A popular musical comedy adaptation of the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale, The Princess and the Pea. (RS)

The Who's Tommy (March 2 - 11) An exhilarating rock musical that tells the story of a deaf, dumb and blind boy's journey from pain to triumph. Based on The Who's iconic 1969 rock concept album. (MS)

Guys and Dolls (April 20 - 29, 2018) Tony Award-winning musical comedy, set in author Damon Runyon's post Prohibition New York City, about rolling the dice and falling in love under the bright lights of Broadway. (MP)

Seussical the Musical (May 3 - 6, 2018) A fantastical family musical based on the books of Dr. Seuss, including favorites like "Horton Hears a Who," "Horton Hatches the Egg," and "Miss Gertrude McFuzz." (RS)

Avenue Q (May 11 - 20, 2018) A puppet-filled musical comedy following a group of twenty-somethings seeking their purpose in big-city life. Tony Award-winner for Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book. (MS)

The Wiz (July 13 - 21, 2018) Dorothy and her friends tunefully trot down the yellow brick road in this clever urbanized retelling of L. Frank Baum's classic 1900 children's novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. (RS)

West Side Story (July 27 - August 5, 2018) Young lovers are caught between prejudice and warring street gangs in this seminal retelling of Romeo and Juliet with a score by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim, widely regarded as one of the best ever written. (MS)

Robin Hood (Aug 9 - 12, 2018) A long time ago in a far away place a traveling troupe of performers set up tents at the edge of the forest and presented the story of Robin, Marion, and the Merry Men as they rob from the poor and give to the rich. CMT Junior Talents will present this all-new version of the classic tale to complete the 50th season. (JT)

(JT=Junior Talents, RS= Rising Stars, MS= Mainstage, MP=Marquee productions)

Subscriptions are now on sale by calling 408-288-5437 or at www.cmtsj.org. Single tickets will go on sale at later dates throughout the season. About Artistic Director Kevin Hauge In his 21st season as Artistic Director at CMT San Jose, Kevin has led the nation's premier theater company for youth in taking on increasingly challenging and professional-quality productions. His innovative approach to productions includes incorporating modern techniques and technology, culminating in recognition of artistic excellence from the National Endowment for the Arts for nine consecutive years. Recently, Kevin was honored by Silicon Valley Creates receiving their 2016 Legacy Laureate Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement and Community Impact. A recipient of the prestigious Lin Wright Special Recognition Award by the American Alliance for Theater and Education, he's been the guest speaker at the International Association of Theater Educators Conference in Washington D.C., and the Education and Technology conference in New York City. Kevin has collaborated on productions in a variety of venues all over the world. He's staged ice shows, magic shows, musical revues, industrial shows, corporate parties, television specials and book musicals for a variety of companies, including Tropworld (Atlantic City), Harrah's (Reno), Six Flags Parks (nationwide), and Royal Viking Cruise Lines (worldwide). Some of the unique productions Kevin has worked on include You're in the Movies (MGM Grand) in Las Vegas, World of Wonders (Everland) in Seoul, South Korea, and a special Easter Celebration (The White House) in Washington D.C. Kevin has appeared several times as a guest artist with the San Jose Symphony, and has served on the Exhibits Committee at the Tech Museum of Innovation.

About CMT San Jose
Since 1968, throughout the time CMT San Jose has been an integral part of the South Bay arts community, over 50,000 young people have participated in their programs. During their 49th season alone, CMT cast over 1200 performers and performed for 40,000 audience members, including 8,000 young people at Student Matinees. Now in its 50th season, CMT remains committed to train and educate today's youth through musical theater, to set and achieve high artistic and personal goals, and to inspire them to become exemplary artists, patrons and citizens of tomorrow. Inclusiveness and quality are the two touchstones of CMT's vision. CMT is dedicated to providing the highest possible caliber of musical and theatrical training to children from ages 4 to 20, spanning all abilities and stands behind its promise never turn a child away, regardless of financial or physical limitations.

The 2017-2018 Season marks the 50th year for Children's Musical Theater San Jose, the nation's largest musical theater and training program for youth of its kind. CMTSJ strives to foster a lifelong love of the theater in their participants, their audiences, and the community.

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