Bialystock and Bloom! Those names should strike terror and hysteria in anyone familiar with Mel Brooks’ classic cult comedy film. Now as a big Broadway musical, The Producers once again sets the standard for modern, outrageous, in-your-face humor. It is a truly “boffo” hit, winning a record twelve Tony Awards and wowing capacity crowds night after night.
The plot is simple: a down-on-his-luck Broadway producer and his mild-mannered accountant come up with a scheme to produce the most notorious flop in history, thereby bilking their backers (all “little old ladies”) out of millions of dollars. Only one thing goes awry: the show is a smash hit! The antics of Max Bialystock and Leo Bloom as they maneuver their way fecklessly through finding a show (the gloriously offensive “Springtime for Hitler”), hiring a director, raising the money and finally going to prison for their misdeeds is a lesson in broad comic construction. At the core of the insanely funny adventure is a poignant emotional journey of two very different men who become friends.
With a truly hysterical book co-written by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan (Annie) and music and lyrics by Mr. Brooks, The Producers skewers Broadway traditions and takes no prisoners as it proudly proclaims itself an “equal opportunity offender!”
This classic American comedic drama is every bit as touching, warm, and witty today as when it debuted off Broadway in 1978. Retired couple Ethel and Norman Thayer are spending their 48th summer at their vacation home on Golden Pond, in the woods of Maine. Their daughter Chelsea visits for Norman’s 80th birthday, bringing her boyfriend Bill and Bill’s teenage son, Billy Jr. The play explores the turbulent relationship between father and daughter, the generation gap between young and old, and the difficulties of a couple in the twilight years of a long marriage, effortlessly illustrating the hilarious, heartbreaking, human moments of which life is made. Please note: This final Limelight show of the 23-24 season will be performed at the Morgan Hill Community Playhouse instead of at the Gilroy Center for the Arts.
Enjoy an evening of world-class Flamenco dance and music with Savannah Fuentes and Diego Amador Jr. in honor of International Romani Day Please join us for an evening of Flamenco featuring dancer Savannah Fuentes and singer, guitarist & pianist Diego Amador Jr., direct from Spain. Volar means “to fly” in Spanish. It represents our basic human need to feel free, to spread our wings, to make our own choices, and to reach our highest potential, not just for ourselves but for every living being. International Romani Day (April 8) is a day to celebrate Romani culture and raise awareness of the issues facing Romani people. Flamenco is an art form created by Roma in Spain using the musical elements they brought with them and those that were already there, and in response to centuries of oppression and hardship, and as such cannot be separated from the history of Romani people in Spain. Savannah Fuentes, Dancer Born in Seattle to parents of Puerto Rican and Irish ancestry, Savannah discovered Flamenco in her late teens and has never looked back. For the past ten years, she has toured extensively throughout Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Montana, Utah, and Idaho. She draws from her unique background and traditional training to develop deeply emotional and transformative performances. “Real Flamenco, straight up and stunning.” - Regina Hackett, the Seattle P-I Diego Amador Jr., Vocals/Guitar/Piano From Seville, Diego was born into Flamenco royalty. His father is the celebrated Flamenco pianist/composer Diego Amador, and his uncles are Rafael and Raimundo Amador (Pata Negra). More than a master of the cajón, the young Amador is an extraordinary singer and multi-instrumentalist. In his early teens, he began performing and touring with some of Spain’s top Flamenco artists, including Remedios Amaya, La Susi, Lole Montoya, Farruquito, and Joaquín Cortés. He has also worked alongside jazz greats such as Pat Metheny, Bireli Lagrene, and Charlie Haden. In 2022, he released his first album, Presente en el Tiempo. At the request of the artists, cell phone use, photography, and videography are not allowed during the performance. Thank you for your cooperation. Tickets are $30 general admission. Children under 12 are free. Advance tickets are available here, or if the show is not sold out, you may purchase your tickets at the door before the show. Doors open one half hour before show time. We accept cash or Venmo only at the door. The Back Room is an all-ages, BYOB (for those 21+) space, dedicated to (mostly) acoustic music of all kinds. You are welcome to bring your own food and beverages. The venue is ADA accessible. If you need more information or have any questions, please call us: #510-381-1997.
A beautiful wintery tale adapted from the classic Aesop’s fable. Throughout the long winter, Silas sits high on a mountain, reluctantly watching over his family’s flock of sheep. His mum and grandad count on him, but he’s bored, while below, his village is full of happy knitters, clicking their needles and crafting projects for the annual knitting competition. To shake things up, Silas cries “wolf” to make the villagers come running, but what happens when they discover his trick? A gifted ensemble of actor musicians sing and dance to bring all the delightful characters to life, including hilarious sheep and perhaps a scary wolf or two!
Vanya and his niece Sonya doggedly devote their lives to managing the crumbling family farm visited occasionally by their idiosyncratic neighbor, Dr. Astrov. Then Sonya’s celebrated father and his restless, charismatic wife suddenly decide to move in, and everything falls apart as only the master ironist Anton Chekhov could foresee. The wrong people fall in love and lives unravel as the summer wanes. Opportunities evaporate and long hidden resentments come home to roost. How do you find what you’ve lost…and does it matter? Directed by Clark Lewis in a unique and intimate setting, Uncle Vanya features a stellar cast of Sonoma County actors: John Craven, Tamar Cohn, Bill Davis, Peter Downey, Dale Leonheart, Sheila Lichirie, Ilana Niernberger and Jared Wright. Don’t miss Roustabout’s Professional Ensemble production of the extraordinary playwright Anton Chekhov’s acclaimed masterpiece, Uncle Vanya, in a stirring new translation by Conor McPherson (“The finest dramatist of his generation”, Telegraph). Roustabout Theater is the longest-running Resident Theater at the LBC offering Ensemble performances utilizing professional talent from across the Bay Area and our award-winning Apprentice Program, a leading training program for actors and stage managers ages 11 – 18.
One of the most celebrated living writers of the Mexican-American experience, Octavio Solis pens a 21st-century tale inspired by John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath. William Joad has no heir to bequeath the family farm to — until he learns about Martín Jodes, a young Mexican-American migrant worker descended from Steinbeck’s protagonist Tom Joad. In a reversal of the Joads’ mythic journey, William and Martín embark on a road trip from California’s migrant farm camps back to Oklahoma, where they reckon with their brutal pasts and forge an unlikely bond. Along their journey on the Mother Road, they gather a chorus of travelers. Witness Solis’ soaring poetry, gritty realism, and mythic scope as he captures the intersection of people, cultures, and migration in the American West.
Four-time Tony Award nominee Raúl Esparza stars in a dazzling world-premiere musical helmed by Tony Award winner Michael Mayer (Spring Awakening, American Idiot, Swept Away), written by two-time Emmy winner Danny Strong (Dopesick, Empire, The Butler). When maverick scientist Galileo Galilei makes celestial observations that challenge humanity’s understanding of its place in the universe, he’s summoned to Rome to defend his discoveries before the most powerful religious institution in the world, which is facing a rebellion of its own. With an original rock score and lyrics by Michael Weiner (Broadway’s First Date) and Zoe Sarnak (Jonathan Larson Award winner), Galileo is an explosive collision of science and faith, truth and power. Galileo will likely join the constellation of world premieres that traveled from Berkeley Rep to Broadway — be the first to see it here!
Following a critically acclaimed debut in New York, Pulitzer Prize finalist Lloyd Suh brings The Far Country back to its roots in a triumphant West Coast premiere. In the wake of the Chinese Exclusion Act, Moon Gyet has arrived at San Francisco Bay’s Angel Island Immigration Station with an invented biography and a new name, both given to him by a man who made the same arduous crossing several years earlier. But passage to San Francisco — and the dream of a better life for future generations — commands a very high price. Spanning two countries and three generations, Lloyd Suh’s breathtaking account of immigration, identity, and memory has been called “Artful…an act, loving and sorrowful, of reclamation” by The New York Times.
WHY YOU SHOULD SEE THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW Because it’s time to do the Time Warp, again! Because it’s the 21st celebration of this show at City Lights. Because science fiction, on a stage, is a spectacle for the eyes. Because of the antici……pation. Because last time CLTC did the show, our waiting list was around the block. SYNOPSIS In this cult classic, sweethearts Brad and Janet, stuck with a flat tire during a storm, discover the eerie mansion of Dr. Frank-N-Furter. As their innocence is lost, Brad and Janet meet a houseful of wild characters, including a rocking biker and a creepy butler. Through elaborate dances and rock songs, Frank-N-Furter unveils his latest creation: a muscular man named “Rocky.” Complete with sass from the audience, this deliberately kitschy rock ‘n’ roll sci-fi gothic musical is more fun than ever. City Lights had hit productions of Rocky Horror in 2003 and 2013, and we can’t wait to do the Time Warp with you again!
WHY YOU SHOULD SEE CLYDE’S Because everyone deserves a second chance. Because playwright Lynn Nottage is the most produced living playwright in America. Because if you liked the TV show The Bear, you’ll love this play. Because the perfect sandwich is a rare and beautiful thing. SYNOPSIS Past the long line of truckers waiting outside, Clyde’s Sandwich Shop is more than just a greasy spoon. It serves up a chance at redemption for its formerly incarcerated kitchen staff. Owner Clyde may be a devil of a boss, but the workers discover purpose in their lives as they find themselves banding together – and sharing a quest to create the perfect sandwich. “Fast-paced and uproariously funny, Clyde’s is a spicy feast for the senses.” –Chicago Sun-Times
WHY YOU SHOULD SEE KING LIZ Because March Madness. Because the behind-the-scenes drama of a female sports agent is sure to pull you in. Because even if you’re not the biggest basketball fan, you’ll be rooting for these characters. SYNOPSIS Veteran sports agents know they have to fight to stay on top. If you’re a woman, it’s doubly hard. With an elite client roster and a nearly unbeatable drive, Liz Rico is poised to take over the agency that she’s helped build. Then she takes on high school basketball superstar Freddie Luna. With his troubled past and a temper as hot as his talent, he could make his career and hers if she can keep things under control. But at what price?
Unplugged is a recurring platform offering a rare and candid look into the creative process of ODC's choreographers. Delve into the specifics, question the process, and learn something new during these exclusive evenings with ODC's creative force. Join ODC Founder and Artistic Director Brenda Way for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look into her upcoming world premiere A Brief History of Up and Down during Dance Downtown (March 27 - 31, 2024).
Throckmorton Team: Director/Choreographer: Erin Gentry; Choreographer: Gina Chapman; Musical Director: Noah Bossert SYNOPSIS: A Chorus Line examines one day in the lives of seventeen dancers, all vying for a spot in the “chorus line” of a Broadway musical. After the first round of cuts, Zach, the director and choreographer, asks each dancer to speak about themselves. Discomfort opens into revelation, confession leads to redemption, and within the bright, outwardly homogenous chorus, the audience begins to see each dancer’s individuality. Based on real Broadway dancers’ stories, as told to fellow dancer and choreographer Michael Bennett, A Chorus Line is funny, heartbreaking, and refreshingly honest. MUSIC: MARVIN HAMLISCH LYRICS: EDWARD KLEBAN BOOK: JAMES KIRKWOOD, NICHOLAS DANTE Please double check the cast for the day you want to book - to ensure the person you want to see is on it.