Children’s Musical Theater San Jose 408-288-5437 Email
A child’s train set magically comes to life and the various engines compete to become the “Fastest – engine in the World”! The underdog, Rusty the Steam train, has little chance until he is inspired by the legend of the “Starlight Express” and ultimately defeats his arch-rivals Greaseball and Electra before going on to win the hand of the lovely first class coach, Pearl.
Shannon Self is excited to skate through CMT’s new Creative Arts Center studios this summer! CMT directing/choreography credits and collaborations include: Summer Revue 2020, Anything Goes, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, 13, Crazy for You, Joseph, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Ragtime, Mary Poppins, Jekyll & Hyde, Disney’s Tarzan, Aida, Barnum, Tom Sawyer, Cinderella, Singin’ in the Rain, Disney’s When You Wish, The Who’s Tommy, West Side Story, Leader of the Pack, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, Chess, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Miss Saigon. Shannon’s regional performing credits include: A Chorus Line (Cassie, Val, Sheila); Chicago (Roxie Hart); White Christmas (Judy); Ragtime (Evelyn Nesbitt); Beauty and the Beast (Babette, Silly Girl, Carpet); The King and I (Anna); Chess (The Arbiter); Seven Brides (Martha); The Full Monty (Pam), and Disney’s When You Wish (Cinderella). Shannon is a CMT alumna, has a BA in Theater and Dance from Santa Clara University, and is currently teaching Music and Performing Arts at Almaden Country Day School.
LYSANDER ABADIA is thrilled to return to his theatrical roots during this exciting season at CMTSJ. He brings his extensive experience in the industry to serve the company which started it all. His production credits include serving as the Artistic Director for the Las Vegas Little Theatre Black Box, as one of the founding members of Poor Richard’s Players, and as production staff for several shows at Springfield Little Theatre. He has also served in a teaching capacity at these companies, as well as Rainbow Company Youth Theatre, the Clinical Simulation Center of Las Vegas, and Super Summer Theatre in Las Vegas. Lysander has directed and choreographed shows at the San Francisco and New York Fringe Festivals, for PBS Kids, and for Henderson Shakespeare in the Park. He has also tread the boards as Pepper in Mamma Mia!, alongside Tommy Tune in EFX at the MGM Grand, and appeared on various television series. Lysander is grateful for this opportunity that has been a dream come true and is happy to be home.
Jerry Lovejoy is incredibly excited to be working this 54th season on Starlight Express, his 21st show with Children’s Musical Theater of San Jose. Jerry hails from San Jose and nearly 45 years of Jerry’s life have been spent as a church vocalist and musician. Jerry is married to his wife of 32 years, Karen, and is very involved in his local church. Jerry’s home is in Hayward.
Jerry has taught music to all ages from kindergarten to adult in school and church settings, including 12 years as music director at Milpitas Christian School and 4 years at Presentation High School. Jerry also works as vocal director at Stage 1 Musical Theatre in Newark where he vocal directed Annie and Sister Act.
During the day, Jerry works as the office manager/volunteer coordinator at City Serve’s Compassion Network, a faith-based non-profit organization in Fremont.
Jerry received his BA in vocal performance from Bethany University (CA), and an MA in choral conducting from Kansas State University.
Amie Jan graduated from Rice University with a Computer Science degree, and briefly worked as a software programmer and IT consultant before she decided that she simply needed to have more music in her life! She moved to California, and began her second undergraduate degree at San Jose State University, double majoring in Violin Performance and Music Education, subsequently earning her teaching credential in Music. In her spare time, Amie performed as a freelance violinist/violist all over the Bay Area, which led her to discover another passion: musical theater. Since moving to California in 2003, she has played in over fifty pit orchestras all over the Bay Area, and has musical directed over fifty more – most of them here at CMTSJ. Amie is currently Orchestra Director at Lincoln HS, and is also a certified Suzuki violin instructor with a small private studio of young violinists and violists. Among her exciting gigs as a freelance musician, Amie has performed in concerts with Josh Groban, Kanye West, and Smokey Robinson.
