Kevin Hauge’s last show as artistic director of Children’s Musical Theater of San Jose hits the stage of downtown’s Montgomery Theater this weekend, but his legacy will certainly remain long after “Disney’s Frozen” closes Aug. 3.
And the city of San Jose is doing its part to make sure that’s true. At 4 p.m. Sunday, the courtyard of the Montgomery Theater will be dedicated in his honor, recognizing his 30-plus years leading CMT San Jose and the hundreds of productions that he’s helmed on its stage.
What a great way to remind us about Hauge’s impact on not only San Jose but the national theater scene — helping to raise the profile of youth theater while also inspiring generations of people who may have gone into various roles in the arts as adults or using the life lessons they learned in whatever careers they took on.
San Jose City Councilmember Carl Salas, who himself will be stepping aside for a successor in early August, said it was a very appropriate way to honor Hauge. “It’s such a huge loss,” Salas said, “but it’s great to remember him in the place where he shaped so many young lives.”
The laurels won’t end on Sunday, either. The city’s Office of Cultural Affairs announced this month that Hauge will be the recipient of this year’s Cornerstone of the Arts award. He joins an impressive roster of arts leaders that includes San Jose Stage’s Cathleen and Randall King, Roy and PJ Hirabayashi of San Jose Taiko, former Teatro Visión Artistic Director Elisa Marina Alvarado, San Jose Jazz’s Bruce Labadie, Silicon Valley African Film Festival founder Chike Nwoffiah and former SVCreates CEO Connie Martinez.
The Oct. 24 ceremony at the Hammer Theatre Center also will honor the late Chris Esparza with the Creative Impact award and Works/San Jose Executive Director Joe Miller with the Luminary Artist award.
THERE GOES THE NEIGHBORHOOD: Patt Curia says the Preservation Action Council’s “rummage sale” Friday and Saturday — held at four houses on the 200th block of South 13th Street — is expected to be the history-minded nonprofit’s final neighborhood sale. After I picked my jaw up off the floor, Curia explained that PACSJ is in talks to take over a warehouse space in the downtown area that’ll serve as both storage and a retail outlet for future sales.
But you can still enjoy the yard-sale charm this weekend, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. Items for sale include lots of housewares, glasses, books, vintage 45 rpm records, furniture and more.
MUSICAL WEEKEND: Music in the Park returns to Plaza de Cesar Chavez in downtown San Jose this weekend, and it’ll make for a full weekend of tunes. Freestyle DJ Stevie B hits the stage on Friday night, and the island music of Fia will fill the park on Sunday. But the biggest draw should be Saturday night’s headliner, the Psychedelic Furs. Tickets are available at www.mitpsj.org.
And while the Ritz nightclub in downtown is known as a great place to catch a band after dark, it’s opening early Saturday for the touring School of Rock AllStars, who’ll be joined by the School of Rock San Mateo House Band. The show, which starts at 1:30 p.m., is raising awareness (and money) for the Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide. Tickets are available at www.theritzsanjose.com.
