City Lights' 40th season reflects the theater company's growth
City Lights Theater Company has changed a lot in the 40 years since it first set up shop in downtown San Jose. These changes are reflected in the company's 2022-23 season, featuring shows that deal with everything from depression to romance and political correctness to stepping outside your comfort zone.
The season opens Sept. 17 with “Every Brilliant Thing,” Duncan Macmillan and Jonny Donahoe's exploration of depression and what makes life worth living. In this one-person show, actor Tasi Alabastro re-enacts scenes from his character's life with help from the audience and actor Dane K. Lentz, who will provide American Sign Language interpretation. The play runs through Oct. 16.
In “The Thanksgiving Play,” a group of teaching artists tries to create a holiday pageant that won't offend anyone. A director who's already in trouble with the school's parents tries to get her troupe to honor both Turkey Day and Native American Heritage Month, all while being culturally sensitive. Larissa FastHorse's satire runs Nov. 17-Dec. 18.
City Lights' first show of the new year is the musical “Miss You Like Hell,” a co-production with Teatro Visión, with book and lyrics by Quiara Alegría Hudes and music and lyrics by Erin McKeown. The show follows Beatriz, an undocumented immigrant, and her 16-year-old daughter Olivia on a road trip from Philadelphia to California before Beatriz is deported to Mexico. The show runs Jan. 19Feb. 19, 2023.
The company is following up this new musical with a classic drawing room comedy, Noel Coward's “Blithe Spirit.” After being conjured up at a séance arranged by her widower, Elvira's ghost is intent on making trouble for him and his new wife. The production runs March 23-April 23, 2023.
“The River Bride” by Marisela Treviño Orta focuses on the romantic lives of two sisters living in a Brazilian fishing village. Three days before one sister is to be married, fishermen pull a mysterious stranger out of the river— a man who offers both sisters an alluring, possibly dangerous future. The play runs May 18-June 11.
City Lights is closing out its 40th anniversary season with “Kinky Boots,” which won the Tony for Best Musical in 2013, as well as Best Original Score for Cyndi Lauper and Best Book of a Musical for Harvey Fierstein. Based on a true story, “Kinky Boots” follows Charlie Price as he tries to save his father's shoe factory from bankruptcy by starting a new fashion line that's decidedly different from the previous generation's. The show runs July 13-Aug. 20, 2023.
For tickets and more information, visit https://cltc. org.