Milpitas has expanded its longtime theatre program to welcome performers of all ages and offer a wider variety of productions. Performances are held in the Milpitas Community Center auditorium. Shows are selected by a committee that includes participants, volunteers and residents who enjoy theatre. The City contracts with theatre professionals to direct, choreograph and provide vocal direction for our productions. We welcome resumes from interested, qualified individuals. Performers of all abilities are welcome to audition. For youth productions, those who are cast pay a participation fee that helps offset the costs of the production. Milpitas Assistance Program participants may use their discount toward this program.
Milpitas Community Theatre will present a full season of in-person shows in 2022-23. We are excited to return to a true community theater format, welcoming performers of all ages and offering a wider variety of productions. Performances are usually held in the Milpitas Community Center Auditorium, but some shows may also perform in our parks on the mobile stage, at Bob McGuire Park’s Sal Cracolice Amphitheater, at the Barbara Lee Senior Center Community Room and other venues around town.
For more information about Milpitas Community Theatre, contact to Tegan McLane.
Thanks to all the community members and performers who participated in our survey to help select the 2022-23 season. Our titles* are:
Clue: The Musical – November 4-6, 2022
Elf Jr. – December 1-12, 2022
Shrek Jr. – March 3-12, 2023
A Year with Frog and Toad – Early Summer 2023
The SpongeBob Musical – July 21-30, 2023
*Titles are subject to change based on licensing availability.
ABOUT THE SHOW
Based on the beloved holiday film, this hilarious fish-out-of-water comedy follows Buddy the Elf in his quest to find his true identity. Buddy, a young orphan, mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts and is transported to the North Pole. The would-be elf is raised, unaware that he is actually a human, until his enormous size and poor toy-making abilities cause him to face the truth. With Santa’s permission, Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father and discover his true identity. Faced with the harsh reality that his father is on the naughty list and that his half-brother doesn’t even believe in Santa, Buddy is determined to win over his new family and help New York remember the true meaning of Christmas.
ABOUT THE DIRECTOR
Mei Wan Chai has directed children’s musical theatre in Milpitas Community Theatre since 2012. She is the owner of Center Stage Performing Arts. Her directing credits here include Hairspray, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast Jr., Fame, and, most recently, Disney’s Descendants and Freaky Friday.
PERFORMANCES
Thursday, December 1, 5pm Tree Lighting Ceremony performance
Wednesday, December 7, 9:30 a.m. & 11 a.m. school performances
Thursday, December 8, 7 p.m. general audience
Friday, December 9, 7 p.m. general audience
Saturday, December 10, 2:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. general audience
Sunday, December 11, 2:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. general audience
LOCATION
Performances will be held at the Milpitas Community Center: 457 E. Calaveras Blvd, Milpitas.
SOUVENIR SHIRTS
Cast members can purchase an Elf Jr. souvenir shirt for $25.00. An order form will be emailed to all cast members.
CHARACTERS
Santa Claus – Santa Claus has a lot on his plate during the Christmas season, and it is starting to show. He is annoyed with the Elves, tired of lying to Buddy and sad that people seem to be losing their Christmas spirit. He is still the same jolly old St. Nick underneath it all, but the job is getting to him.
Buddy – Buddy is the perfect elf! He’s good-natured, he means well, and he’s happy all the time. There’s only one problem. He’s not an elf, he’s an adult human.
Elves – The Elves are Santa’s special helpers who love their job making toys to meet their Christmas Eve deadline.
Charlie – Charlie is in charge of monitoring the other Elves, making sure every present is wrapped and every bow is tied.
Shawanda – Shawanda is a dependable and caring elf. She will do whatever she can to help out others, including Buddy, even though she accidentally reveals that he is a human.
Sam – Sam is one of Walter’s Office Staff who is in a bind at the top of the show.
Walter Hobbs – Walter Hobbs, Buddy’s real father, is so focused on keeping his job that he is not making time for his family. He can be stern and unemotional at times, but ultimately he learns to recommit to his family.
Deb – Deb, Walter’s secretary, has the big responsibility of keeping her boss and the whole office happy. She does this by sharing her positive attitude with everyone.
Emily Hobbs – Emily Hobbs is Walter s devoted wife who would prefer her husband to spend a little more time at home. She is a problem solver and an excellent mother who is doing everything she can to provide a positive family dynamic.
Michael Hobbs – Michael Hobbs is the smarter-than-average 12-year-old son of Walter and Emily. He quickly befriends his new adult brother, Buddy, and does everything he can to make sure Buddy becomes a permanent part of the family.
Security Guards – Security Guard #1 and Security Guard #2 are a stern duo from Walter’s office, making sure everyone who enters has permission.
Saleswoman – The Saleswoman is the first person to greet Buddy as he enters Macys. She’s the consummate sales person: smiling, overfriendly, and always trying to sell something.
Manager – The manager is a terrific featured acting role for a performer with good comedic timing. As the manager of Macy’s, he’s doing everything he can to make sure all the employees stay in line.
Jovie – Jovie works as a store elf at Macy’s, but don’t be mistaken, she doesn’t quite exude the Christmas spirit. She’s kind of cynical, a bit tough around the edges, and now the target of Buddy’s complete adoration.
Santa’s Helper – Santa’s Helper works as a Macy’s Employee and announces when each kid gets to visit with Santa.
Fake Santa – Fake Santa is a poor replacement for the real Santa. He’s an employee of Macy’s who is a bit rough around the edges.
Policemen – Policeman #1 and Policeman #2 are a friendly pair of cops who return Buddy to the Hobbs household.
Sarah – Sarah is a staff member at Walter’s office.
Mr. Greenway – Mr. Greenway is one of the crankiest businessmen around.
Chadwick and Matthews – Chadwick and Matthews are staff members at Walter’s office who are doing everything they can think of to save the day and make their boss happy.
Charlotte Dennon – Charlotte Dennon is a TV reporter with a big personality. She does her best to keep her professional persona in public and doesn’t like being shown up.
Finale Soloists
Darlene Lambert & Emma Van Brocklin – Darlene Lambert and Emma Van Brocklin are on the scene in Central Park and are convinced of Santas magic after Buddy reveals their past Christmas gifts.
Ensemble – The Ensemble, including New Yorkers, Comforting New Yorker, Macy’s Employees, Macy’s Employee #1, Members of the Rockefeller Crowd, Office Staff, Business Woman, Flyer Guys, Teenager, Jogger, Carolers, Passerby, Children and Parents are all important roles for creating the distinct worlds of the North Pole and New York City.
Download audition packet.
ABOUT THE SHOW
A Year with Frog and Toad is our first-ever touring production, a theater for young audiences show that will perform at parks and other locations around Milpitas.
A hit on Broadway, A Year with Frog and Toad was nominated for three Tony Awards – including Best Musical. Based on Arnold Lobel’s well-loved books, and featuring a hummable score by Robert and Willie Reale, this whimsical show follows two great friends – the cheerful, popular Frog and the rather grumpy Toad – through four fun-filled seasons.
ABOUT THE DIRECTOR
Ryan Lee has taught acting and Shakespeare privately, at NYU, Lee Strasburg institute and California State University Long Beach. He has directed numerous shows in New York, Los Angeles, Denver, here in the Bay Area and elsewhere. His Comedy of Errors at the Ojai Shakespeare Festival was a Los Angeles Times Critics Choice production, and his New York production of Othello was nominated for Broadway World’s Best Play Award. His musical theater credits have included such diverse titles as Annie Get Your Gun, The Wiz and High School Musical 2.
PERFORMANCES
Saturday, June 24, 7 p.m., Bob McGuire Park, Cracolice Amphitheater (public show)
Sunday, June 25, 4 p.m., Murphy Park (public show)
Tuesday, June 27, 7 p.m. Milpitas Library (public show)
Thursday, June 29, 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Milpitas Sports Center (summer camp shows)
Friday, June 30, 7 p.m. Milpitas Community Center (public show)
CHARACTERS
All roles available.
All genders accepted for any role.
All actors are 18 and over.
FROG – friendly and playful spirit. Always up for an adventure
TOAD – serious, self-conscious, kind and caring
BIRDS / TURTLE / MOUSE / LIZARD – mischievous and playful taunters, who like to cause trouble
SNAIL – diligent and focused, will get the job done, but also has a lot of charisma
YOUNG FROG / MOTHER FROG / FATHER FROG – a classic fairytale happy family
THE LARGE AND TERRIBLE FROG – a scary monster
SQUIRRELS and MOLES – ensemble
The SpongeBob Musical is our summer production, featuring teen performers, ages 13-18. Audition information will be released in March.