RFK, THE 39 STEPS & More Set for San Jose Stage Company's 2015-16 Season

San Jose Stage Company Artistic Director Randall King today announced a 2015-2016 Season of compelling and critically-acclaimed shows for the professional company best known for cutting-edge and artistically excellent productions - presented in the intimate theater where the connection between actor and audience is profoundly visceral. The season launches with the powerful and politically rife California premiere of RFK by Jack Holmes. The world premiere of Valley of the Heart, Luis Valdez's sweeping epic, presented bySan Jose Stage Company in partnership with El Teatro Campesino is the centerpiece of this richly diverse line-up. These profound dramas are embedded between two award-winning comedies - an American and British farce - and a smash-hit summer musical that has become a tradition for the venerable theatre company.

"In our 33rd Season, The Stage is thrilled to be working with Luis Valdez and El Teatro Campesino (ETC) to bring the world premiere of Valley of the Heart, exemplifying our mission to bring bold and politically provocative new work to our region," said Randall King, The Stage's Artistic Director. The exciting partnership with ETC that began this past spring will focus on developing the 'New American Audience.'

"Both Bobby Kennedy in his short yet inspirational life and Luis Valdez have dedicated their life's work to creating change by shining light on injustice and human rights issues. The struggles of RFK's legacy lives on in today's cultural leaders like Luis who take action and ignite hope in us all. We're proud to partner with Luis and El Teatro Campesino, and I look forward to presenting these important works to our community," added King.

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2015-2016 Season

California Premiere
RFK
By Jack Holmes
September 30 - October 25, 2015
Opening Night: Saturday, October 3

Award-winning Hilarious 'Whodunit'
The 39 Steps
Adapted by Patrick Barlow
Based on novel by John Buchan
From movie by Alfred Hitchcock
November 25 - December 20, 2015
Opening Night: Saturday, November 28

World Premiere
San Jose Stage Company in partnership with El Teatro Campesino present
Valley of the Heart
Written and directed by Luis Valdez
February 10 - March 6, 2016
Opening Night: Saturday, February 13

High-flying Hysterical Farce
Boeing Boeing
By Marc Camoletti
Translated by Beverly Cross and Francis Evans
April 6 - May 1, 2016
Opening Night: Saturday, April 9

Sensational Summer Musical (TBA)
June 1 - July 17, 2016
Opening Night: Saturday, June 4

As the country's presidential election heats up, The Stage launches its season with RFK, a high-stakes political drama by Jack Holmes in what the New York Magazine says is "... measured and intelligent, optimistic yet clear-eyed." Bobby Kennedy's words, struggles and ideals come to life in this tour de force of the short, inspirational life of the would-be President and committed advocate for civil rights, the poor and racial minorities. "Issues that were at the center of RFK's campaign - peace, justice, equality, poverty and responsibility - have as much, if not more, relevance today as they did in 1968," said the original producers and creative team.

The spellbinding intrigue continues when Hitchcock meets hilarity in The 39 Steps, adapted by Patrick Barlow. Mix a Hitchcock masterpiece with a juicy spy novel and a dash of Monty Python and you have a hilarious, high-speed spoof of the silver-screen classic in what the New York Times calls, "Absurdly enjoyable, gleefully theatrical ... a perfect soufflé." This delicious Tony and Drama Desk award-winner is packed with zany characters, planes, trains, handcuffs, missing fingers and good old-fashioned romance to its death-defying finale.

The New Year kicks off the exciting partnership with El Teatro Campesino for the World Premiere of Valley of the Heart, written and directed by Luis Valdez for the "new American audience" that is reflective of the culturally diverse fabric of California. The fight to maintain dignity, identity, family and love in the face of war and fear are at the heart of this American love story, deeply rooted in the fertile Santa Clara Valley.

Famed playwright, director and producer Luis Valdez's sweeping epic illustrates the ironic divide between America's ideals and its actions in what the San Jose Mercury News says is "a ... multicultural touchstone," and the Los Angeles Times says "We need memory plays as powerful as this one ... a quintessentially California play, written by a master of the genre."

The season takes flight out of Santa Clara Valley with the hysterical farce, Boeing Boeing, by Marc Camoletti. Winner of the 2008 Tony Award for "Best Revival of a Play," this uproarious jet-propelled comedy is a high-flying fiancée fiasco in what the Wall Street Journal called, "The funniest play to hit Broadway in ages." Bernard, an American architect, attempts to juggle multiple relationships, but it isn't long before his cunning deception is hurtled toward disaster as schedules change, flights are delayed, and chaos ensues - providing lift-off for non-stop laughter.

The 2015-16 Season wraps with a soon-to-be announced smash-hit musical sensation that has become a tradition for the venerable theatre company.

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