The Hammer Theatre Center has been dark since March because of Santa Clara County’s public health orders, but the San Jose State team that runs the downtown San Jose venue has been using the past four months to think about what performances may look like in the future.
It may look a lot like the last “live” performance held at the Hammer, a streamed production of the Mummenschanz mime troupe.
“With no audience seating in the near future, we are pivoting into a scenario where we can live stream artists from our stages by investing in a high definition, multi camera system, including retraining stage hands and student workers into a video crew,” said Chris Burrill, executive director of the Hammer.
However, that kind of video equipment isn’t in the Hammer’s budget, so it’s asking patrons and communty art supporters to contribute to a $30,000 fundraising effort by July 15. The campaign, online at power.sjsu.edu/hammertheatre, has raised a third of its goal by Thursday afternoon.
Burrill says that the investment should be beneficial for the community even after the current restrictions are eased.
“This pivot will be especially useful to community arts organizations as we will offer a low cost opportunity for them to reach their audiences, both before audiences are again allowed,” he said, adding that it will allow people to see performances when crowd capacity is limited or for patrons who may not feel comfortable attending a public gathering yet.
NEW FACE AT SOBRATO PHILANTHROPIES: Sandy Herz, currently the vice president of partnernships and engagement at the Skoll Foundation, will join Sobrato Philanthropies as its new president on Aug. 15.
John A. Sobrato, chairman of Sobrato Philanthropies, said Herz’s expertise in the social and business sectors made her an ideal choice to succeed Rick Williams, who retired at the end of 2019 after seven years at the organization’s helm.
“Sandy’s combination of integrity, intellect, and empathy is a great fit for our family, our organization, and our external partners,” Sobrato said.
TALENT RUNS IN THE FAMILY: New Ballet San Jose has been keeping its fans entertained by posting dance videos recently (created using appropriate social distance, of course). The latest one features Naomi Le, a professional dancer in New Ballet’s Studio Company, performing to music by Vivaldi.
But it doesn’t just feature Naomi. The music is performed by her father, Chin Le, a violinist with Symphony Silicon Valley, and her younger brother, Daniel Le, who plays the guitar (and studies ballet at the New Ballet school). The video was made by her sister, Deborah Le, another ballet student. And the choreography Naomi performs is by Brennan Wall, a New Ballet alum who is now with Smuin Ballet and taught her the dance using Zoom.
SCHOOL DAZE: OK, it’s clear that it’s totally unclear what’s going to happen with Santa Clara County schools this fall. But whether kids are in masks in class or learning at home when many schools start next month, one thing is for sure: They’re going to need school supplies.
And that’s why two programs that help keep lower-income kids ready for class — wherever that may be — are gearing up to provide supply-filled backpacks.
Sacred Heart Community Service in San Jose opened registration Monday for its annual Pack-A-Back program, which is expected to provide backpacks and school supplies for 3,800 kids — 500 more than last year. And a key change this year because of COVID-19 is that new families can register online at sacredheartcs.org/pab-reg. Sacred Heart also will provide 300 teachers in low-income schools with hand sanitizer, Post-It notes and other classroom supplies.
Of course, financial donations or purchasing items on Sacred Heart’s Amazon Wishlist are more than welcome. Get more details at www.sacredheartcs.org/pab.
And Darrell Cortez reports that Shop With a Cop Silicon Valley’s eighth annual Operation Backpack will be serving students from three San Jose elementary schools but needs corporate partners and individual donations at www.shopwithacopsv.com.
“Since 2012, we have delivered over 1,000 backpacks to underserved children, but this year the need is even greater,” said Cortez, a retired San Jose Police officer and executive director of the local foundation. “The COVID-19 pandemic has put many families in a financial crisis. By doing this, we are lessening the burden.”