Northside Theatre Company

09/08/2021

Dear Friends and Family of Northside Theatre Company,

I am very sad to announce that, after 43 years, Northside Theatre Company is closing.

There are many things we have survived in the past 5 years. Richard's death, the Flood, the Fire, the Reconstruction of Olinder Center, and the Covid Shutdown. But there is one thing we are not able to survive, not being approved for re-entry to Olinder Center under the Reuse Program.

As some of you may know, Northside operates out of Olinder Center based on the fact that we are part of the Reuse Program (now called the NCPP). Until now Parks and Recreation have agreed that we provided a community service, and that we were allowed to operate out of Olinder Center without paying rent. That is how we have survived since Richard founded Northside. This year the NCPP program has decided that we do not meet the goals and objectives of the NCPP Program. I have fought against this, but, based on our contract, Parks and Recreation has the right to say no. They have exercised that right. And legally, there is nothing I can do. Without access to the Olinder space, and especially after Covid closures, we find ourselves in the position of having to close our doors.

Please understand that this letter is not a call to arms. NCPP has done nothing wrong. For as long as Northside has operated at Olinder Center, we were under a Reuse contract, which needed to be renewed every three years. NCPP gets to decide which programs operate within San Jose City community centers and which don't. And while, of course, I am extremely disappointed, these were always the terms of our contract. We have had a very good working relationship with Parks and Recreation for 43 years and they are allowed to make this choice.

But here is the important part, even though we are closing, this takes nothing from what Northside means to all of us. It is still the theatre company that Richard Orlando founded. It is still the place where we learned what Art is, it is still the place we made lifelong friends, it is still the place that was our home. Nothing can take that away.

Richard created something beautiful, something essential to us all, and just because we are closing down after 43 years, it doesn't take anything away from that. It never will.

I want to take a moment to thank all of you. For your dedication, your support, your talent, and your hard work. Northside has always survived and thrived because we are a team. Richard knew that, JR knows that, I know that. Thank you for everything you have done.

I know this is heartbreaking news, and I'm so sorry. But, and this is what is most important, Richard's legacy will always survive. Because, WE are Richard's legacy. We always have been and we always will be.
Thank you again for your love and support.

With all my love,

Meredith King
Managing Artistic Director
Northside Theatre Company

12/20/2020

Tonight is the night! Please join us online at 7pm for our Zoom Presentation of "A Christmas Carol"! This event is FREE!

https://youtu.be/WdiJtzLICvE

You can also find us on your TV! Go to YouTube, Search under northside theatre, and scroll to Christmas Carol 2020.

We go live at 7pm!

If you would like to learn more about Northside Theatre Company, or make a donation, please visit us at www.northsidetheatre.com.

From all of us at Northside Theatre Company, have a Happy and Safe Holiday Season. We love you, we miss you, and we can't wait to see you in 2021!

Zoom presentation of Northside Theatre Company's Christmas Carol - 2020

12/19/2020

Here is our link to Sunday night's presentation of "A Christmas Carol"! 7pm Sunday, December 20th. You can see it on YOUTUBE.COM.
https://youtu.be/WdiJtzLICvE

Zoom presentation of Northside Theatre Company's Christmas Carol - 2020

09/29/2020

Dear Friends and Family of Northside Theatre Company,

First and foremost, I hope this email finds you all healthy and safe. Everyone at Northside Theatre Company wishes the best for you, your friends and your family.

Due to the effects of Covid-19, and the extension of Shelter-In-Place, you all know that we were forced to cancel the last two productions of our 41st Anniversary Season. This included "Crimes of the Heart" by Beth Henley, which was scheduled to perform April 16 - May 10, 2020 and "Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare, which was scheduled to perform June 18 - July 12, 2020. We were, of course, heartbroken about this, but the Quarantine is what is most important. We all need to STAY HOME and STAY SAFE.

The Board of Directors and I were hoping against hope that we would be able to reopen, even in a smaller capacity, in time for the beginning of our 42nd Anniversary Season, but it has become clear that is not going to happen.
We had picked the shows we wanted to perform for you. Show one was going to be "The Turn of the Screw", a ghost story by Henry James and adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher. This was scheduled to run from October 8 - November 1, 2020. And, last but not least in 2020, our 38th Annual production of "A Christmas Carol", written by Charles Dickens and adapted by Richard T. Orlando, will need to be cancelled as well. This production was scheduled to run December 9 - December 24, 2020. All of these cancellations hurt, but I think "A Christmas Carol" hurts the most.

Obviously, the financial impact of these closures on Northside Theatre Company is overwhelming. As it is for live theatre companies everywhere, nationwide. It is a difficult time for all of us.

But, I would like to leave you all with a glimmer of hope, and that is this: we are not giving up! We are going to keep trying!

We have been through many seemingly impossible tragedies in our 42-year history. Budget cuts, a flood, an arson fire, burglaries, and last but certainly not least, the loss of our beloved Founder and Managing Artistic Director, Richard T. Orlando, in 2016, but we have kept going. We are doing what we can. We are applying for Covid-19 relief funding and we are conserving what little resources we have. We are blessed with an amazing Board of Directors and a team of volunteers who are helping in every way that they can. And we, as individuals, are doing the most important thing we can do every day: wearing our masks, social distancing and washing our hands. We want to be able to open safely again, and provide our community with the theatrical experiences and training you have all enjoyed for the last 42-years as soon as possible. Doing what we can to stop the spread of Covid-19 now is the best way to ensure that.

I'm not going to lie to you, this is a really hard time for Northside Theatre Company. But, if there is anything I have learned from my 36-years here, especially the ones I got to spend with Richard, it's this: Things are gonna get hard. But you get up, you put one foot in front of the other, and you keep going. And that's what we're going to do....we're going to keep going!

Thank you all SO MUCH for your patience, your understanding, and your support. When I call you Northside's Friends and Family, I mean it. We can not do this without you!

If you have any questions, comments, concerns, please write to Northside at [email protected] or call 408-288-7820.

Everyone here at Northside Theatre Company wishes you and all of your loved ones Health, Happiness and Safety.

Thank you so much,

Meredith King
Managing Artistic Director
Northside Theatre Company

08/12/2020

For those of you who don't know, Northside was robbed last week. They broke in twice, two days in a row, actually, and they took our stuff. Because of Covid-19, we were not there. Normally we would be, 6 to 7 days a week, all hours of the day and night, but with the quarantine......
Of everything they stole, the drill guns hurt me the most. When you build and strike sets, it's the drill guns you use most often. Richard and I bought a 2 pack of Milwaukee guns, one for him, one for me. Within 24 hours of buying them he got paint all over the handle of his gun! (Richard almost always had paint on his hands. ❤️) I saw it and laughed. "How did you do this?" I asked. "We JUST got these! How have you already messed them up?!" He said, " Well Mere, what can I tell you? You gotta do what you gotta do." I threw my head back and laughed, which is how I spent most of my time with Richard. After he passed, I loved using his gun. It made me feel closer to him. They stole our guns. I would happily give up the $9,000 dollars of equipment they stole to get those guns back. Richard's gun, the one with the purple paint. 😥

03/25/2020

Dear Friends and Family of Northside Theatre Company,

Northside Theatre Company of San Jose is very sad to announce that due to the quarantine mandated by the COVID-19 outbreak, we will not be able to produce "Crimes of the Heart" this April. We have officially postponed this production until 2021.

We are, of course, terribly disappointed. Not just because of the devastating financial impact this has on the company, but because we had assembled an amazingly talented and dedicated group of artists, designers and technicians. As we mentioned before, we were able to rehearse for one week before the quarantine came into effect, and the first table read was brilliant: funny and poignant, and this production promised to be extraordinary. We are heart-broken we will not be able to share it with you at this time.

But, there is a silver lining. We have every intention of producing "Crimes of the Hear"t next season. And, if they are all available, with the same team in place. It will take us a little while, but the show will go on!

Our final show of this season, "Romeo & Juliet" is still scheduled to perform. This show doesn't open until June 18, 2020, and we are very hopeful that life will return to normal by then. We will, of course, keep you posted as updates from the Governor's office come in.

By the way, we were in the process of casting Romeo & Juliet when the quarantine came into effect. If you are a non-equity actor, and would be interested in auditioning for this production, please call 408-288-7820 to reserve your slot. We don't know the date we can meet yet, but we'd love to be able to call all interested actors when we do!

If you are a subscriber, on have already purchased tickets for "Crimes of the Heart" please be assured you can receive a full refund, or if you are so inclined, donate the cost of the tickets to Northside, it is up to you. Please just call our office line at 408-288-7820 for assistance and information.

We are so sorry that this message doesn't contain better news, but hopefully, if we adhere to the shelter in place order and do what we can to flatten the curve, we will all be together again soon. Please remember that now, as always, we are so grateful for your patronage and support.

All of us at Northside hope you and your friends and family stay safe and healthy. And we very much look forward to seeing you all again soon.

03/07/2020

Northside Theatre Company of San Jose is holding auditions for Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare! Directed by Meredith King. Auditions will be held on Saturday, March 14, 2020 from 12pm - 3pm at Olinder Center. We are looking for Male and Female actors ages 20 - 60+. Non-Equity. Rehearsals start May 11, the production opens June 19 and runs through July 12. Please call 408-288-7820 to schedule your audition or for more information. www.northsidetheatre.com

02/21/2020

Don't Miss Northside Theatre Company's current production "Other Desert Cities" by Jon Robin Baitz. Directed by Meredith King and starring Jaime Wolf, Gwendolyne Wagner, Bob Siegmann, Andy Cooperfauss and Rasa Lina. This is an excellent show and you don't want to miss it! Running now through March 8. Call 408-288-7820 or visit www.northsidetheatre.com for tickets now!
Photo Credit: Evelyn Huynh

12/10/2019

Northside Theatre Company's 2019 production of "A Christmas Carol" opened this week! And it is wonderful! You don't want to miss it! Call 408-288-7820 or visit www.northsidetheatre.com for tickets now!
Photo Credit: Evelyn Huynh

11/28/2019

*ATTENTION* Northside Theatre Company of San Jose is looking for a Backstage Manager for our 37th Annual Production of "A Christmas Carol". Production runs December 5 - December 24, 2019. Tech Starts this Saturday, November 30th. Paid Position. Call 408-288-7820 ASAP to apply. www.northsidetheatre.com