CMT San Jose CABARET NIGHT Benefit to Honor Brian Bumb and San Jose Flea Market

Children's Musical Theater San Jose (CMT San Jose), the oldest operating performing arts organization in San Jose, now in its 49th year, will host its 26th annual benefit, Cabaret Night, on Saturday, February 4 at the City National Civic (135 West San Carlos) in downtown San Jose. Tickets and more information available at www.501auctions.com/cabnight2017.

Cabaret Night is the theater's biggest fundraiser of the year and features dinner, dancing, silent and live auctions and live performance featuring CMT alumni and current performers.

Brian Bumb and the San Jose Flea Market will be honored this year with the 2017 Spotlight Award. The San Jose Flea Market has shown unwavering support as one of CMT's longest corporate sponsors and is committed to the arts programming and opportunities that CMT provides the community. The Spotlight Award made its debut three years ago, honoring an individual who has gone above and beyond to help CMT thrive in Silicon Valley. Past recipients include Case Swenson and Shirlee DiNapoli Schiro.

Entertainment at this year's Cabaret Night will feature CMT alumni from around the country and current performers who will join together for an original cabaret created exclusively for Cabaret Night guests. This year's theme CMT-Opoly will take guests on a journey around a musical game board that ties together memories from the musical past and present. Alumni scheduled to perform include Lindsay Anderson, Frankie Mulcahy, Josh Miyaji, and Mary Theresa Capriles. The show will feature Matthew Dean from last season's sensation Billy Elliot, local favorite Samantha Cardenas and Mark Martinez, along with many current CMT performers.

Popular Bay Area cover band, the Peelers, renowned for their distinctive non-stop DJ-like mash-ups and medleys of the latest hits will accompany the dancing portion of the event.

CMT, a nationally acclaimed theater company, was the first youth arts organization to receive a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. That initial recognition has been followed by an unprecedented nine additional NEA grants, a distinction no other youth arts organization in the country can claim. CMT remains 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 commitment to never turn a child away, regardless of financial or physical limitations. What distinguishes CMT from all other similar theater organizations is their commitment that "Every child who auditions for CMT participates."

Each year CMT presents a series of 10 musicals in three distinct divisions: Rising Stars (ages 6-14), 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. 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

For tickets and more information, visit www.cmtsj.org.

In his 21st season as artistic director at CMT, Kevin Hauge has led the nation's leading theater company for youth in taking on increasingly challenging and professional-quality productions. His innovative approach to productions includes incorporating modern techniques and technology, all culminating in recognition of artistic excellence from the National Endowment for the Arts for nine consecutive years. A recipient of the prestigious Lin Wright Special Recognition Award by the American Alliance for Theater and Education, he has 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 has 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.

CMT, a nationally acclaimed theater organization, honored 10 times by the NEA and the oldest performing arts organization in San Jose, is celebrating its 49th year. A key provider of life building opportunities for youth in Silicon Valley, CMT remains committed to its mission 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 2016-2017 Season marks the 49th 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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