Playful People Productions is seeking teens and adults (ages 12 and up) for their fall production of Everybody's Talking About Jamie, a coming-of-age musical by Tom MacRae (book and lyrics) and Dan Gillespie Sells (score), inspired by the British television documentary Jamie: Drag Queen at 16. No prior performing experience is necessary. Auditions will be held August 12—13, and the show performs October 26—November 4, 2024 at Historic Hoover Theatre in San Jose. To register, visit
https://playfulpeople.org/jamie-2024/; for more information on Playful People and their programs, visit
https://www.playfulpeople.org or call (408) 878-5362.
This smash hit follows Jamie, a young man who wants to wear a dress to Prom. His mother supports him, although sometimes in ways that prove problematic. His friend Pritti, who is bullied at school for being Muslim, encourages him to do what makes him happy. In addition to being a musical about exploring gender identity and gender expression, it’s also about how we stand up for ourselves, and for the people we love. It’s about the heartbreak that happens when a parent can’t or won’t acknowledge who their child is. It’s about forgiveness, and understanding that sometimes people do what they do because they don’t know a better way to deal with an unfamiliar situation.
Everybody's Talking About Jamie will be directed and choreographed by Lysander Abadia.
This production is supported, in part, by a Cultural Affairs grant from the City of San José, and by SVCreates, in partnership with the County of Santa Clara.
Playful People Productions was first founded in 2010 as a positive, inclusive, family-focused theatre company, and has operated as a 501(c)3 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.
Playful People Productions aims to create an inclusive environment where all feel welcome, and where creative impulses are encouraged by experienced Bay Area artists. The organization follows Positive Discipline guidelines as well as proven child education techniques; continually works to ensure the safety of all participants, volunteers, and staff; and regularly gives families the opportunity to share the exhilarating experience of performing together. During the nonprofit's tenure, they have enjoyed frequent instances of children performing on stage with siblings, parents, aunts, uncles, and grandparents — and have also welcomed adults who wish to perform but find local theater auditions and rehearsals do not fit their needs.
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