Playful People Productions is holding classes to help those attending the San Jose theater company’s Roaring Twenties fundraiser on Sept. 21 get in the swing of the party scene of a century ago.
Even if they’re not heading to the Saratoga Foothill Club for the fundraiser, folks who want to learn the Charleston and the Lindy Hop can take a class on Sept. 15 on Social Dances of the 1920s and ’30s. That evening, Lucas Leary will teach a Vintage Looks Makeup Workshop. Both classes are for ages 13 and up.
More song and dance classes are set to begin on Sept. 22. Performance choir is back for a second season, with eight almost-weekly afternoon sessions led by Brian Kemper for ages 12 and up. Andrew Dacayanan will lead breakdancing classes for the younger crowd: Intro to Breaking for ages 4-8 and Beginner Breaking for ages 9-12 will both meet twice starting Sept. 22.
Before Playful People stages the first production of its 2024-25 season, the company will host an acting workshop, Scene With Others, with Emily Pennington on Oct. 6. The workshop is for thespians ages 10 and up.
Playful People Productions was founded in 2010 as an inclusive, family-focused theater company and has operated as a nonprofit since 2017. While initially providing classes, camps and shows for kids, the company has grown to offer similar classes for adults, and stages multi-generational performances where family members can perform together.
The cast of “Everybody’s Talking About Jamie,” a coming-of-age musical by lyricist Tom MacRae and Dan composer Gillespie Sells, will be a mix of adults and teens. Inspired by the British television documentary “Jamie: Drag Queen at 16,” the show follows a young man who wants to wear a dress to prom. Playful People’s production, directed by Lysander Abadia, runs Oct. 26-Nov. 3.
Another show about acceptance is set to hit the stage at the Historic Hoover Theatre in November, this one featuring a cast of 4- to 12-year-olds. “Honk! JR.” is a family-friendly musical adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Ugly Duckling,” with music by George Stiles and book and lyrics by Anthony Drewe. Pennington will direct the show along with student directors Eliza Singer and Sayde Derrington, and vocal direction by The T Saffold.
November is also when registration opens for Playful People’s two spring shows, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” and “Frozen JR.” The former, a 1972 musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, will be double cast with teens ages 12-16 and a family cast for ages 16 and up. Rehearsals begin Jan. 21, 2025, and performances are April 10-19, 2025.
“Disney’s Frozen JR.” is based on the 2018 Broadway musical and brings Elsa, Anna and the magical land of Arendelle to the stage with a cast of 4- to 12-year-olds. The show features all of the songs from the animated film, with music and lyrics by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, plus five new songs written for the Broadway production. Rehearsals begin March 3, 2025, and performances are May 16-25, 2025.
All classes, rehearsals and performances will be at the Historic Hoover Theatre, 1635 Park Ave. in San Jose. To register, visit https://www.playfulpeople.org/registration. For more information, call 408-878-5362.
