The Toxic Avenger is coming to The Stage Theater Jun 7-23

2009 Outer Critics Circle Award- Outstanding Musical

THE TOXIC AVENGER
Book and Lyrics by Joe DiPietro
Music and Lyrics by David Bryan
Based on Lloyd Kaufman's film of the same name

Directed by Jonathan Williams
June 7 – July 17, 2017
Opening Night: Saturday June 10, 2017


San Jose, CA (April 2017) - San Jose Stage Company is proud to wrap its culturally diverse 34th season with the award winning Off-Broadway hit musical The Toxic Avenger.

TOXIC LOVE STORY WITH AN ENVIRONMENTAL TWIST

Based on Lloyd Kaufman's cult film, this laugh-out-loud musical has it all: an unlikely hero, his beautiful girlfriend, a corrupt New Jersey mayor, bullies, mobsters, and stiletto-wearing back-up singers.

After attempting to clean up Tromaville, the most polluted town in New Jersey, Melvin Ferd is dumped into a vat of radioactive toxic waste, only to reemerge as The Toxic Avenger. Affectionately known as Toxie, our new hero is a mutant freak with superhuman strength and a heart as big as Newark. He's out to save New Jersey, end global warming, and woo the blind librarian in town.

About the Playwrights:

Joe DiPietro’s current Broadway hit Memphis won the Tony Award for Best Musical and two additional Tony Awards (Best Book of a Musical, Best Original Score (Music and Lyrics) Written for the Theatre (with David Bryan). Joe was born and raised off Exit 166 in New Jersey and thus has been a Toxic Avenger fan for the last twenty years. Joe wrote the book & lyrics to I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, the longest running musical revue in New York history which has had hundreds of productions across the country and around the world. He also wrote the book and lyrics to the Broadway musical All Shook Up, and the award-winning musical, The Thing About Men, which has played internationally. His plays include the Edgar Award-winning mystery, The Art of Murder, as well as the long-running hit comedy Over the River and through the Woods, which has had over a hundred productions around the world and is currently being developed into a feature film. He lives in Manhattan and Connecticut, but his heart will always be in New Jersey.

David Bryan  is the keyboard player, songwriter and a founding member of Bon Jovi. They have sold over 130 million records worldwide, performed more than 2,600 concerts in over 50 countries for more than 34 million fans, and were inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2006. On the band s award-winning CD Have A Nice Day , David and Jon wrote the song Last Cigarette. David began a career as a composer and lyricist of musicals. The song, Memphis Lives In Me, which he performs on Bon Jovi’s recent box set, is actually from his musical, MEMPHIS which won four Tony Awards, including Best Musical. David also won a Tony for Best Orchestrations (with Daryl Waters) and Best Original Score (Music and Lyrics) Written for the Theatre (with Joe DiPietro). David has also dedicated his time to become a National Spokesperson for VH1’s Save The Music Program, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of music education in America’s schools.  He was conceived, born and raised in New Jersey. As a young man, he saw The Toxic Avenger at a midnight showing in Newark, and from that day on, he dreamed of writing a musical about the first mutant superhero from his home state.

About the Director:

Jonathan Williams is the Producing Director of San Jose Stage Company, recently playing Isaac in DISGRACED & Kenneth in THE NIGHT ALIVE earlier this season.  He made his San Jose Stage directorial debut with the 2013 production of THE ELABORATE ENTRANCE OF CHAD DIETY.  Jonathan has worked extensively throughout the BAY AREA as an actor & director with companies like TheatreWorks, The Aurora Theatre, Theatre on San Pedro Square, San Francisco Shakespeare Company and American Musical Theatre of San Jose.  In 2002 he relocated to Sacramento where he co-founded Capital Stage Company, producing over 75 productions and leading the organization to becoming the region's premier new works theatre. Jonathan has directed numerous productions, including GUARDS AT THE TAJ, UNCANNY VALLEY, TRIBES, THE ELABORATE ENTRANCE OF CHAD DEITY, DYING CITY, MASTER CLASS, HUNTER GATHERERS, DIRTY STORY, BOY GETS GIRL and THE SHAPE OF THINGS.

Cast Includes:    

COURTNEY HATCHER*
JOSHUA MARX*
ALLISON F. RICH*
WILL SPRINGHORN, JR*
BRANDEN NOEL THOMAS
*Actors appear courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association.

Creative Staff:                
         
Jonathan Williams                                       Director
CJ & Brett Blankenship                              Choreographers
Brian Allan Hobbs                                      Music Director
Michael Palumbo                                        Scenic/Lighting Design
Vijay M Rajan                                             Video Design
Ashley Garlick                                            Costume Design
Cirby Hatano*                                             Stage Manager


SHOWS:        Previews:      June 7 @ 7:30 pm / June 8 @ 7:30 pm/ June 9 @ 8:00 pm
                       Opening:       June 10 @ 8:00 pm
                       Run Dates:    June 7 - July 17
                                             Wednesday & Thursday @ 7:30 pm
                                             Friday & Saturday @ 8:00 pm
                                             Sunday @ 2:00 pm

WHERE:        490 S 1st St, San Jose, CA 95113

TICKETS:      For tickets ($30-$65) or more information, the public may contact San Jose Stage Company box office at 408-283-7142, or www.thestage.org

Great America Red, White, and Brews

As one who hasn’t frequented Great America since I last owned a season pass (back when houses were affordable), it was with a keen sense of nostalgia that I devoted this past Saturday to checking out their Red, White & Brews event. Would the place be as vast as I remember? Could I handle the permanently-looped opening strains of the Top Gun soundtrack while in line for 45 minutes at the eponymous ride?

Spoiler alert: it’s even more fun as an adult. Because, you know, alcohol; and you’re grown-up enough to remember to wear sunscreen.  Also Top Gun was re-named years ago when Paramount sold the park to Cedar Fair, so at least there was no threat of death-by-soundtrack. As an added bonus, Great America has these lovely things called Fast Passes, which (for a fee) let you skip most of the lines anyways. Who says the world isn’t becoming a better place?

Back to the original reason for this posting. The Great America staff kindly invited members of the San Jose Blog team to cover their Red, White & Brews event. They provided us with the press release (previously covered), which showed an impressive number of brewery/winery choices, and well as some special food offerings.

It was a rollicking good time. The SJ Blog team divvied up the beer tastings so we got to at least try the majority of the beers served in tidy little kiosks around the event area. The San Jose Beer Bike was also present, so we hopped on that and pedaled around the park doing our best Avril Lavigne karaoke, much to the amusement of the other park goers... at least judging by how many decided to participate as we cycled by.

The food was quite tasty, and, being the adventurous souls that we are, we all started off with the chicken heart skewers (see photo). The skewers are proof that one can grill nearly anything, slather it in BBQ sauce, wrap bacon around it, and feed it to the pickiest eater with no shame. The grilled corn was excellent. We split up the desserts so we could try each – but the clear winner was the apple bacon cheddar parfait, followed up by an off-menu selection that tasted vaguely like peaches soaked in a cinnamon-bourbon syrup. You had us at bourbon.

We then decided to make use of our Fast Passes and hopped on several roller coasters, which were just as amusing as any of us remembered (particularly the front row to Top Gun… er, Flight Deck). For those readers over the age of 30, if you haven’t been to the park since your teens, just remember that your spines aren’t the robust things they once were, and plan your riding schedule accordingly, perhaps interspersing them with regular stops at the food and beer kiosks.

The event was immensely enjoyable. Count us in next year; we look forward to continued events that highlight local brewing and winemaking talent.

Introducing Josh Hunter

The San Jose Blog will no longer be a one-Josh town! Josh Hunter is a longtime South Bay resident, having grown up in Morgan Hill before escaping to San Jose after grad school. He currently lives downtown and regularly bikes to his office in North San Jose. As a cyclist, he’s interested in transportation planning and the Bay Area trail systems. As a downtown resident he applauds the progress the city has made in the last couple of decades, and the influx of a critical-mass of residents that has elevated the restaurant and bar scene to more appropriate levels for a city our size. One can find him at San Pedro square often, or sampling one of the local breweries (Hapa being the current favorite). He has a master’s in Public Policy and an MBA from Pepperdine, and is currently the Senior Manager for Technology at Blach Construction Company.

Josh Hunter's first post for The San Jose Blog will go live in one hour!

The 10th Annual SubZERO Festival is this Fri & Sat!

This weekend, in addition to the monthly South FIRST FRIDAYS art walk, the SoFA district will be celebrating the 10th annual SubZERO Fest. Every year the festival gets bigger and better, and it plays an important role in the neighborhood's culture and identity.

If you're not familiar with South FIRST FRIDAYS, the streets on 1st St south of San Carlos St are closed off to cars during the art walk. This gives an opportunity for local artists and DIY vendors to come together and share their work with the public. People crowd the streets to visit some of their favorite local shops, and artists get a chance to show off their work. Local art galleries are also open a little later so visitors can get a chance to explore.

SubZERO builds on this concept by adding stages for music, inviting many more performance artists, and bringing in 10+ food trucks. To get a sense of what to expect, the video below gives a small taste of the festival in 2016.

If anyone asks me where the indie scene is in the South Bay, I can't imagine a better example. It's still a small scene, it's still growing, it deserves support, and it is most definitely worth checking out. Best of all, it's all free to attend! For more information, check out the website, including the music schedule, the list of artists & vendors, and the art walk map.

Introducing Lawrence Lui

Today we get to introduce a new blogger who has been involved in the San Jose Development Forum for quite some time. This was the first true online hangout for San Jose enthusiasts.

Lawrence Lui grew up in the South Bay suburbs, watching Silicon Valley evolve over the years. After graduating from UC Davis with a background in managerial economics, he became fascinated with the growth and development of San Jose. That's when he moved Downtown to be closer to the action (and the rapidly expanding craft cocktail scene!). Lawrence is a fan of live music, local artists, business news, and every cuisine imaginable.

Lawrence's first post for The San Jose Blog will go live in one hour!

May 2017 Downtown Dimension Highlights

Here are my notes from the latest edition of Downtown Dimension:

• Fountain Alley is being cleaned up by a number of community groups and property owners, making it more colorful, pleasant, and safe. Some contributions:
• A police services office opened up at 30 E. Santa Clara, driving out a lot of crime in the area.
• The Sharks Foundation donated $20k for beautification.
• Local Color on First Street and the TechShop on Second Street have activated formerly vacant spaces.
• SJSU industrial design students have been creating prototypes for furniture and gardens to improve the area.
• This summer the SJDA will produce or partner on a total of 55 Downtown Events. These include Music in the Park, Restaurant Week, the Downtown Farmer's Market, Starlight Cinemas, South First Fridays, and STREET MRKT.
• Wrike has moved its headquarters with 75 employees to 10 Almaden, Suite 1000.
• Gong Cha has opened a franchise in the former Quickly Tea space at 140 Paseo de San Antonio near SJSU.
• West Coast Athletics opened an urban boutique gym in the Sperry Building at 30 N. Third St.
• $2 million has been dedicated to revitalizing St. James Park, which will be used for activation, security, and beautification.
• 55 new hanging planters have been placed throughout Downtown in May. Planters along First Street, Fountain alley, Post Stret, Paseo de San Antonio, Santa Clara Street, and San Fernando Street will be refreshed with new flowers.

To read the newsletter, click here!

There was one other interesting fact in the latest newsletter. May 2017 marks the 10-year anniversary of City Heights, Downtown's first high-rise residential building. It is crazy to think that we have only had high-rise housing for ten years. Downtown has come a long way in the past decade.

California's Great America introduces Red, White & Brews

Great America is introducing an ambitious new event this Memorial Day weekend with an encore the following week. Red, White & Brews features 25 different craft beers, American cuisine, local wines, live music from Bay Area bands, the San Jose Brew Bike for transportation, and a fireworks show.

Food options be more than just be hamburgers and hot dogs. They are going all out with true Americana cuisine--brisket sliders, bacon wrapped chicken hearts, corn ears with chili powder, and bourbon peaches and cream.

Admission is included with your theme park ticket. Tasting cards are $25 for 6 savory items while craft beer and wine tasting cards are available at the same price. For more info, the full press release is below.

Instead of just plugging the event, I'll be there along with Andy Lee (our beer expert) and two of our new bloggers: Kimberly Vacca and Josh Hunter. We'll provide a full write-up next week!

CALIFORNIA’S GREAT AMERICA INTRODUCES RED, WHITE & BREWS

The Hometown Celebration of Americana Food and Fun is May 27-29 & June 3-4

SANTA CLARA, CA – California’s Great America will add to its incredible lineup of live entertainment and festivals with Red, White & Brews, a hometown celebration of Americana food and fun taking place May 27-29 and June 3-4. Red, White & Brews will bring the Hometown Square area of the park to life with locally sourced food experiences, more than 25 regional craft brews, Northern California wines, Bay Area bands, outdoor games and kids entertainment.

Tasting cards will be available for just $25 per person (6 selections per card) to sample savory items that include jumbo smoked chicken drumsticks, BBQ pulled pork sandwiches, skewered bacon wrapped chicken hearts, corn ears roasted in chili powder and lime juice, and tombstone sliders with shaved brisket. There will also be a delicious dessert choice between an innovative apple pie, bacon and cheddar parfait or a traditional strawberry shortcake with the tasting card.

Craft beer and wine tasting cards, $25 per person for six, six-ounce samples, will feature renowned and niche microbreweries from throughout Northern California, including Gordon Biersch, Sierra Nevada, Anchor, Stone, Mendocino, Hanger 24, Lagunitas, Speakeasy Ales & Lagers and many others. Wine pouring options will include William Hill, Flora Springs, J. Lohr, White Oak, Concannon and more.

Unique food items for sale individually in and around the Hometown Square area are: a brisket mac and cheese conewich with crispy brisket tips, crispy onions and BBQ sauce; red, white & blue funnel cakes topped with strawberries, vanilla ice cream and blueberries; tantalizing bourbon peaches and cream with cinnamon cream and candied walnuts; cinnamon dessert nachos, which are fried tortillas paired with vanilla ice cream and chocolate and caramel syrup.

For an additional fee, the San Jose Brew Bike will tour guests through the park each day, providing up to 15 friends the opportunity to view Great America while sipping and cycling (with a designated cyclist at the wheel). Hometown Square entertainment will feature oversized board games, free balloons for kids, giant Adirondack chairs for lounging and photo opportunities, and more.

“Red, White & Brews will create a vibrant, dynamic atmosphere inside the park and showcase the region’s incredible food and drink possibilities,” said California’s Great America Vice President & General Manager Raul Rehnborg. “Red, White & Brews joins Taste of Orleans and Fiesta Hispana as wonderful reasons to visit the park multiple times each year. 

An outdoor stage will be constructed in front of the Great America Theater where four local bands will perform rock, country, and bluegrass music throughout the day. Adding to the live entertainment, dueling pianos will be positioned in the gazebo, intensifying the outdoor atmosphere.

The entire festival will take pace under the thrills of Patriot, the park’s new floorless roller coaster experience featuring a nine-story drop where riders’ feet dangle inches above the track.

Red, White & Brews is free with park admission.

CEDAR FAIR

California’s Great America is owned and operated by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, a publicly traded partnership that is listed for trading on The New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “FUN.”  In addition to Great America, Cedar Fair owns and operates ten other amusement parks, two water parks, one indoor water park, and five hotels.  Cedar Fair also operates the Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park in California under a management contract.

www.cagreatamerica.com

Urban Villages are on the way!

On Wednesday, May 10^th, the City’s Planning Commission recommended that City Council approve two Urban Village Plans: the Valley Fair/Santana Row Urban Village and the Winchester Boulevard Urban Village. These Urban Villages are located on the west side of San José and include developments such as the Westfield Valley Fair mall, Santana Row, and properties along Winchester Boulevard.

The purpose of Urban Village Plans is to guide new job and housing growth within Urban Village areas and to guide the preservation of existing neighborhoods. San José is projected to grow by over 400,000 people by the year 2040; in order to accommodate for this massive growth in population, the City created the Urban Village concept as part of the Envision San José 2040 General Plan update in 2011. In addition to facilitating this growth, Urban Village Plans will guide the characteristics of future development including buildings, parks, plazas, public art, streetscape and circulation. The Winchester Urban Village Plan sets a capacity for 2,000 jobs and 2,200 housing units, and the Santana Row/Valley Fair Urban Village Plan sets a capacity for 8,500 jobs and 2,635 housing units to the year 2040.

These Urban Village Plans are the fruition of over two years of community engagement, of which included online surveys, community workshops, and discussions between City staff, developers and community stakeholders.

City Council will vote on June 27^th to approve or deny these Urban Village Plans. If adopted, residential, commercial, office, and mixed-use development will be able to move forward within the boundaries of the Urban Villages. This area of the city is VERY HOT right now for both office and residential development, so we can expect many development proposals within these areas if the Plans are approved.

Other Urban Village Plans currently under development by the City include the West San Carlos Street Urban Village, the Stevens Creek Boulevard Urban Village, the East Santa Clara Street Urban Village, and the South Bascom Urban Village.

To learn more about Urban Villages, please check out the City’s Urban Village webpage.

Winchester Boulevard Urban Village Land Use Map

Valley Fair/Santana Row Urban Village Land Use Map