Metropolis Lights Theater Firm marked its fortieth anniversary final Saturday with a Ruby Gala on the Vacation Inn in San Jose that lived as much as the identify — no less than when it got here to the purple decor and apparel. It was an evening full of tributes to longtime supporters and showstopping musical performances that had the group cheering.
But it surely was additionally an evening with a message delivered by Government Creative Director Lisa Mallette: Metropolis Lights must discover a new house — and quick. The corporate’s present 100-seat efficiency area at 529 S. Second St. is anticipated to be developed into housing — a menace that’s been hanging over Metropolis Lights for greater than 5 years now.
“Theater takes a neighborhood to construct a neighborhood,” she stated, including that theater adjustments individuals’s lives — each the performers and the viewers members. “That’s why we’re searching for a brand new area. … We’re not going anyplace. We’re going to be right here for one more 40 years.”
She’s stated it’s been a really tough search to search out the appropriate area to suit the wants of each the corporate and its viewers. And whereas Metropolis Lights has been in downtown San Jose because it was based — and at its present spot since 1991 — Mallette stated she’s been wanting past downtown, too.
However till that new area is discovered, the comfortable theater on Second Avenue is the place you’ll discover Metropolis Lights because it prepares for its last two reveals of the season, “The River Bride,” operating Might 18-June 11, and the musical “Kinky Boots,” opening July 13. Go to www.cltc.org for all the small print.
LAUGHING MATTERS: There’s some actual humorous enterprise happening on the Improv in downtown San Jose — particularly on the second Wednesday of the month. That’s when dozens of aspiring Bay Space comics do one of the best to get the viewers rolling on the Open Mic evening, hosted by Ato Walker — a really humorous man in his personal proper.
About 30 comedians rise up to three minutes on the Improv stage, and the highest two performers — decided by a panel of judges that features Walker, different comics and the occasional interloper like me — are invited again to a showcase later within the yr. The reveals begin at 8 p.m. and seats are simply $5 every, although the same old two-item minimal applies. Tickets can be found at improv.com/sanjose/calendar.
Improv Basic Supervisor David Williams says there may be loads of nice expertise popping out of the realm proper now, and there’s much more expertise — in the case of skilled comedians — hitting the San Jose Improv stage nowadays than ever earlier than. The comedy membership is bringing in additional large names — Kevin Nealon, Bobby Lee and Melissa Villaseñor have all headlined in 2023 and Carlos Mencia is on stage this weekend — than in years previous. And in case you see the strains forming on the historic Jose Theatre, you may inform audiences are responding.
CHORAL CELEBRATION: Greater than 120 San Jose State alumni joined their voices in tune with present college students final Saturday on the SJSU Choral Program’s seventy fifth anniversary live performance at St. Joseph Cathedral Basilica in downtown San Jose. The night honored Charlene Archibeque, who served as choral director at San Jose State for 35 years, and kicked off this system’s $75,000 Choral Legacy Fund.
The singers aren’t getting a lot of a relaxation, although, as their last live performance of the season is Friday. The SJSU Live performance Choir is becoming a member of the college’s Wind Ensemble for “Recreation Play,” the second of a three-part live performance sequence on the artwork of video video games on the Hammer Theatre Middle that opens with SJSU’s Jazz Orchestra on Thursday and concludes with the Symphonic Choir on Saturday. Get extra info at www.hammertheatre.com.