Hammer Theatre

The Hammer Theatre Center is a performance venue in downtown San José operated by San José State University.

History

The Hammer Theatre began with the San José Repertory Theatre Company that was founded in 1980. The company became known during its early years as the fastest-growing professional theatre company in the U.S. To have a theatrical home, the company collaborated with the San José Redevelopment Agency to build the Hammer Theatre in downtown San Jose.^[1] The Hammer Theatre, named after former mayor Susan Hammer and her husband, Phil Hammer, was completed in 1997.^[2]

This distinctive theatre offered theatrical productions for many years for San Jose and Bay area patrons and to national acclaim. In June 2014, the San José Repertory Company eventually disbanded, and the Hammer Theatre was shuttered.^[3]

Efforts to reopen the theatre resulted in a partnership between San José State University and the city of San José.^[4] The Hammer Theatre reopened in March 2016 as a multi-faceted performance venue in the heart of downtown San Jose.^[5]

The theatre serves San Jose's multi-cultural community and the university through high quality programming expressive of the unique characteristics and diverse cultures that comprise Silicon Valley. The Hammer Theatre showcases live theatre, music, dance, film, futuristic multi-media performances and lecture series.

Facilities

• Sobrato Auditorium
• Hammer 4
• Café
• Lounge
• Rooftop Terrace
• Dressing rooms
• Bar/concessions area
• 2nd floor lobby
• Outside balconies^[6]

Hammer Series Sub-Brands & Events

The Hammer Theatre offers seven sub-brands as follows:

• SJSU@Hammer -- Premiere San Jose State University music, theatre, dance and guest speaker events
• Lights & Action -- Live theatre and off-Broadway theatrical productions
• Music w/o Borders -- Music from around the world including jazz, blues, reggae, country, classical and world music
• ArtTech -- Performances that connect arts, technology and/or multi-media
• Hammer Speaks -- National Geographic Live, Sundance Film Institute and other educational lectures
• Holidays@Hammer -- Music, dance and theatrical events related to the holiday season
• Also@Hammer -- Corporate, cultural or other events that are "also at the Hammer"

Events that the Hammer Theatre has hosted include the following:

• SJSU@Hammer

-- A production of Theresa Rebeck’s play Seminar starring David Prete and San José State students.[7]—A presentation of Elijah by the SJSU School of Music and Dance and Digital Arts Department.[8]—A production of Lin Manuel-Miranda's play In the Heights showcasing the Broadway tour set, fast-paced music and premiere SJSU student acting.

• Lights & Action

-- A showcase by the professional dance company Grupo Folklórico Los Laureles Company.[9]—Live movie screenings, including No Man’s Land starring Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart, Obsession with Jude Law, Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead with Daniel Radcliffe, Joshua McGuire and David Haig, and Hamlet starring Benedict Cumberbatch.[10]

• Music w/o Borders

-- An exciting night of world-quality jazz music with jazz violinist Regina Carter celebrating the music of Ella Fitzgerald.
-- A performance by the leading proponent of Latin American music for string quartet, Cuarteto Latinoamericano.

• ArtTech

-- Performance by Elevenplay who have appeared on America’s Got Talent.—A celestial view of Earth, it cultures and natural resources accompanied with multi-media videos, music and dance presented by Bella Gaia.

• Hammer Speaks

-- A reading with Pulitzer Prize-winning author Viet Thanh Nguyen.[11]—The National Geographic Live series featuring live presentations by photographers Cory Richards (#LifeNoFilter), Steve Winter (On the Trail of the Big Cats), Brian Skerry (Oceans Soul) and Ami Vitale (Rhinos, Rickshaws and Revolutions)

References