Broadway San Jose season: ‘Lion King,’ ‘Tootsie,’ more
‘Evan Hansen,’ ‘1776,’ ‘Rent’ also in lineup
“Dear Evan Hansen,” “Disney’s The Lion King” and the Bay Area premiere of “Tootsie” are among the highlights of Broadway San Jose’s recently announced 2020-21 season lineup. In addition to those three Broadway blockbusters, the regular season lineup also includes the pre-Broadway engagement of “1776,” the popular animated-filmturned-musical “Anastasia” and the beloved “Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” But, wait, there’s more. Season add-ons include the “The Simon and Garfunkel Story,” the culinary variety show “Alton Brown Live: Beyond the Eats,” the Tony Award-winning hit “Jersey Boys” and the iconic Pulitzer Prize-winning rock musical “Rent.” “Building upon last season’s incredible lineup, we are thrilled to present our biggest season to date,” Broadway San Jose General Manager Gretchen Feyer said in a news release. “This season is filled with several San Francisco Bay Area exclusives, returning favorites you know and love, as well as other can’t-miss Broadway hits.” Broadway San Jose season subscriptions, ranging in price from $256-$694 for the basic six-show package, are available now at broadwaysanjose.com or 866-3952929. All performances are held at the 2,600-seat San Jose Center for Performing Arts, unless otherwise noted. Here is the full lineup and show schedule.
“DISNEY’S THE LION KING”
(JULY 15-AUG. 9) » This blockbuster musical, featuring choreography from Garth Fagan and music by Elton John and Tim Rice, has won six Tony Awards (including for best musical) and been seen by over 100 million people to date.
“1776” (SEPT. 29-OCT. 4) »
Catch this pre-Broadway engagement, a reimagination of the Tony Award-winning musical. This production got its start at American Repertory Theater at Harvard University and is headed for Roundabout Theatre Company on Broadway.
“THE SIMON & GARFUNKEL STORY” (OCT. 8 — SEASON ADD-ON) »
The show about the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame duo features such great tunes as “Mrs. Robinson,” “Cecilia,” “Bridge Over Troubled Water” and “Homeward Bound.”
“DEAR EVAN HANSEN” (NOV.
10-29) » This deeply moving critics’ favorite, dealing with a high school senior who desperately wants to fit in with his fellow students, was called “one of the most remarkable shows in musical theatre history” by The Washington Post. It features a book by Tony Award winner Steven Levenson, a score by Grammy/Tony/Oscar winners Benj Pasek and Justin Paul and direction from multiple Tony nominee Michael Greif.
“ALTON BROWN LIVE: BEYOND THE EATS” (DEC. 15 —
SEASON ADD-ON) » Brown visits San Jose with an adventurous new culinary variety show. The news release advises: “Prepare for an evening unlike any other and if Brown calls for volunteers … think twice.”
“JERSEY BOYS” (JAN. 8-10 —
SEASON ADD-ON) »
You’ve heard the music, but do you know the story of the “Jersey Boys” — aka Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons? Millions have enjoyed this musical since it made its Broadway debut in 2005.
“ANASTASIA” (JAN. 26-31, 2021) »
The musical, which is based on the 1997 animated film of the same name, follows an amnesiac young woman claimed to be the surviving daughter of Russia’s last czar, from Russia to Paris in the 1920s. It’s brought to us by the same Tony Award-winning creators of the Broadway hit “Ragtime,” featuring a book by Terrence McNally, score by Stephen Flaherty (music) and Lynn Ahrens (lyrics) and direction from Darko Tresnjak.
“TOOTSIE” (MARCH 23-28, 2021) »
This marks the Bay Area premiere of the hit comedy musical, which, of course, is based on the classic Sydney Pollack-directed film, which starred Dustin Hoffman and went on to become the second highest grossing movie of 1982 (trailing only “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial”).
“ROALD DAHL’S CHARLIE AND
THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY” (MAY 4-9, 2021) »
Grab a Everlasting Gobstopper and relive the marvelous story of young Charlie Bucket, the Oompa-Loompas and Willy Wonka.
“RENT” (JUNE 4-6, 2021 —
SEASON ADD-ON) »
Jonathan Larson’s Tony Awardand Pulitzer Prize-winning work is a rock musical with a huge heart, featuring some of the best Broadway numbers of the last 25 years.