THE HISTORY (AND MYSTERY) OF THE UNIVERSE to Run 1/30-2/23 at San Jose Rep

"Each one of us could make the difference." These are the words of the late radical futurist, inventor, environmentalist, humanist and genius visionary, R. Buckminster Fuller, portrayed onstage by Bay Area veteran actor and Cirque de Soleil performer, Ron Campbell, in R. Buckminster Fuller THE HISTORY (and Mystery) OF THE UNIVERSE at San Jose Repertory Theatre January 30 through February 23, 2014.

Written and directed by D. W. Jacobs, this multimedia production dazzles in its timeless insights into Bucky's life, ideas and his belief in the power of individual imagination to solve our biggest problems and make the world work for all of humanity. Ringing an urgent alarm at earth's "critical moment," Bucky's message resonates today as profoundly as it did decades ago. Hailed by Marshall McLuhan as 'the Leonardo da Vinci of our time,' Bucky successfully bridged the arts and sciences with his systems approach, innovative designs, insatiable curiosity and passionate call to save what he referred to as "Spaceship Earth."

The San Francisco Chronicle has said this play, starring Ron Campbell, is "startlingly funny, intellectually stimulating and genuinely moving." The Los Angeles Times described it as "hugely entertaining," and Back Stage West says the show is "spellbinding ... Jacobs, both as director and adaptor, has done a masterful job... Fuller may have moved on to a higher geodesic sphere, but you can still encounter his questing spirit ..."

Press Opening Night is Wednesday, February 5, 2014, at 7:30 p.m.

"R Buckminster Fuller is the perfect show for our smart, forward-thinking audiences in Silicon Valley," says Rick Lombardo, San Jose Rep's Producing Artistic Director. "Bucky challenged the status quo with cutting-edge ideas and his ability to integrate concepts, designs and ideas across multiple disciplines. Like so many early founders and current entrepreneurs of Silicon Valley, Bucky was a true visionary and I'm looking forward to Ron Campbell bringing him to life for our community."

Campbell's tour-de-force performance explores Bucky's life and work through comedic flair, revealing personal stories, philosophical riffs, poetry, dance and video. This adventurous play travels through Bucky's childhood in Massachusetts to his meeting with Albert Einstein and onto his breakthrough inventions - as it spins through myriad ideas and experiences that lead to exploring alternative ways of solving our most vexing problems.

R. Buckminster Fuller: THE HISTORY (and Mystery) OF THE UNIVERSE was developed and received its world premiere at the San Diego Repertory Theatre, March 31, 2000.

TICKETS range from $29 to $74 (prices subject to change). NEW THIS YEAR: 30 and Under Pricing. All tickets for individuals 30 years old or younger are 50% off the regular ticket price. Full-time students also receive 50% off each regular price ticket.

Tickets can be purchased at www.SJRep.com, by calling 408-367-7255, or at the Box Office located at 101 Paseo de San Antonio in downtown San Jose.

Pictured: Ron Campbell stars as Bucky Fuller. Photo by Ana Zavala.

To post a comment, you must register and login.