Major change coming to Children’s Musical Theater San Jose (2024)

It’s hard to imagine Children’s Musical Theater San Jose without Kevin Hauge. But we’re going to have to as the longtime artistic director has announced that CMT’s upcoming season — its 57th and his 30th — will be his last with the acclaimed youth theater company.

“It has been my life’s joy to call CMT home and there are countless milestones, accomplishments, and memories that will stay with me forever,” Hauge, 68, said in an announcement to supporters Wednesday.

“I’ve witnessed this organization grow exponentially, and yet, at its core, the basic principles from more than a half century ago remain intact,” said Hauge, who was hired as the company’s first artistic director in 1996 and raised the bar on CMT’s material considerably. “I’m incredibly proud and humbled to see my artistic vision take shape through generations of performers.”

Some of those performers have become well known names including Myha’la, Ryan Vazquez, Dennis O’Bannion, Alex Brightman and Will Brill, who was nominated for a Tony Award this year.

It’s no surprise that Hauge aims to depart on a high note and promises that his farewell season, which starts this fall, will be filled with “extra special” shows for the Rising Stars, Mainstage and Marquee divisions. Most of the season’s titles will be announced at a preview night event Saturday at CMT’s Creative Arts Center on Parkmoor Avenue, but some titles won’t be revealed until later this year.

CMT Managing Director Dana Zell said it’s been a privilege and a joy to work alongside Hauge for the past 10 years.

“His creative mind and the ability to bring projects to life in unimaginable ways astounds me,” she said. “Kevin and CMT go hand in hand. His artistic vision and the truly simple and inspiring way he works with young people has not only allowed this organization to grow into what it is today, but he has set us up for success for the future.”

SHARKS’ VOICE IN ‘INSIDE OUT 2’: Sharks fans who go to see Disney Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” — which opens at theaters this weekend — will hear a familiar voice of San Jose Sharks broadcaster Randy Hahn doing hockey play-by-play in the movie.

Hahn also had a voice cameo in the original “Inside Out” in 2015, and being cast again in the sequel scored him an invite to the glitzy Hollywood premiere this week at the El Capitan Theatre.

“It was a blast,” Hahn said. “This was a much bigger premiere than the first movie. You could tell there were a lot of Pixar people in the audience because they all cheered at the credits.”

Now, if you missed Hahn’s brief appearance in the first “Inside Out,” he calls the game that hockey-obsessed Riley’s dad is daydreaming about. Hahn’s star turn was the result of meeting then-Pixar boss John Lasseter at the Sonoma County Wine Auction, and Lasseter dropped the broadcaster’s name when they were casting the part in 2015.

He went up to Pixar HQ in Emeryville and recorded about two hours of material — providing his expertise on the play-by-play script. Of course, it really was an acting job since he had to bring his voice up to the energy level of doing an NHL playoff game when all he was looking at were animated scoreboards.

While Hahn’s voice was all over an early trailer for the movie, he was a little crestfallen to find out all but a few seconds of a his work wound up on the cutting room floor — though the residual checks he received certainly helped him deal with any disappointment.

About six weeks ago, he got a call from Pixar letting him know they were interested in using him again for the sequel. And because they had so much material from his 2015 recording session, all he needed to do was sign a contract for the new movie. At the premiere, Hahn had no idea where or when his voice was being used — and it turns out you’ve got to get to the end of the movie to hear him.

Still, the Voice of the Sharks might be a good luck charm for “Inside Out.” The first movie won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, and Hahn thinks the new one is even better.

“If this one wins the Oscar, too, I might have to retire,” Hahn said. “But I’ll look at scripts.”

FABULOUS 50TH: Longtime San Jose Earthquakes fans won’t want to miss the team’s big 50th anniversary alumni gala on June 28 at PayPal Park — the eve of the California Clasico game against the L.A. Galaxy at Stanford. The evening will feature players, coaches and front-office staff from the team’s half-century of history — including members of the original 1974 Quakes, its 1990s Clash era and its MLS Cup championship teams.

Individual tickets to the gala are $500, with a co*cktail party at the Epicenter and dinner on the field. Proceeds will benefit the Quakes Foundation and Grow the Game: Next 50 initiative. Tickets and more details are available at www.sjearthquakes.com/thisis50/50gala.