San Jose Stage Company Announces Cast And Creatives For THE SMUGGLER West Coast Premiere

San Jose Stage Company has announced the full cast and creative team for The Stage's upcoming West Coast Premiere of THE SMUGGLER by Ronán Noone.

Directed by Johnny Moreno, THE SMUGGLER will run from September 25 – October 13, 2024 at San Jose Stage Company (490 South 1st Street, San Jose, CA, 95113). The press opening will take place on Saturday, September 28, at 8:00 p.m. Tickets range from $34 - $74 and can be purchased through the Box Office at (408) 283-7142 or online at www.thestage.org.

Ronán Noone's THE SMUGGLER is a one-man thriller in rhyme. It's 2023. Tim Finnegan is an Irish immigrant trying to make it as a writer on Amity, an affluent summer colony in Massachusetts, where tensions flare between the migrant and local communities after a fatal car crash. When he loses his job as a bartender, Tim gets drawn into the dark underbelly of the island. THE SMUGGLER examines how far one man will go to restore his self-respect and asks the question, "What does it mean to be an American citizen today?"

"A gripping and poetic tour de force—storytelling at its finest." —CHICAGO TRIBUNE   "Irish American playwright Ronán Noone's THE SMUGGLER is a powerful, gripping migration manifesto in the pursuit of the American Dream. Written in verse, it offers a unique and poetic lens on migration, identity, and the quest for opportunity and self-respect. In today's world, where migration and identity are at the forefront, this play resonates deeply. Our incredible cast and creative team brings this timely, thought-provoking story to life, making it the perfect moment for audiences to experience and reflect on what it truly means to strive for opportunity," says Artistic Director Randall King. 

"With THE SMUGGLER, Ronán Noone has crafted an exhilarating thriller that delves into immigration, family, and giant rats, brilliantly written in rhyming verse. The play challenges audiences to question their own morality in the face of citizenship, protecting one's family, and the price we pay for the American Dream," adds Director Johnny Moreno. "THE SMUGGLER immediately grabbed my attention with its provocative and haunting perspective. I'm excited to collaborate with our creative team and actor Jonathan Rhys Williams* in this tour de force performance. This one-man, dark comedy offers a distinctive and compelling take on the American Dream, one I believe will resonate powerfully with our audiences."  

The cast of THE SMUGGLER features Jonathan Rhys Williams* in the tour de force role of “Tim Finnegan.” A critically acclaimed actor with a distinguished reputation in the Bay Area theater, Jonathan was most recently seen at San Jose Stage Company as Lawrence Jameson in DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS and Chris in THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG. His notable performances at The Stage also include THE POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE, DISGRACED, THE NIGHT ALIVE, BLOODY BLOODY Andrew Jackson, ROCK AND ROLL, BIEDERMANN AND THE FIREBUGS, A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE, and CUMBERLAND BLUES. Jonathan's career spans prominent theaters across California, including Capital Stage Company, B Street Theatre, TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, Aurora Theatre Company, Pacific Repertory Theatre, American Musical Theatre, San Francisco Shakespeare Festival, and Tahoe Shakespeare Festival. As a co-founder of Capital Stage Company, Jonathan has played a key role in shaping the theatrical landscape in the Greater Sacramento Area.

In addition to Johnny Moreno, the creative team includes Robert Pickering (Scenic Design), Ashley Garlick (Costume Design), Aaron Gin (Lighting Design), Steve Schoebeck (Sound Design), Kimily Conkle (Dialect Coach) and Iliana Karbowski* (Stage Manager).   *Member of Actors' Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers. 

ABOUT SAN JOSE STAGE COMPANY

Through powerful, provocative and profound theatre, San Jose Stage Company (The Stage) seeks to expand community, forge creative partnerships and challenge individuals in order to illuminate the human condition.  

San Jose Stage Company is recognized as the South Bay's leading professional theatre company, having earned a reputation for artistic excellence through imaginative and edgy theatrical experiences that spark ideas and dialogue with the audience. The Stage is dedicated to the presentation and development of new works, with a concentration on American literature scripted by modern playwrights that speak to the conditions, hopes and fears of humanity. With the farthest seat in the house no more than 15 feet from the three-quarter thrust stage, the connection between actor and audience is profoundly visceral.  

The Stage is a multi-award-winning theatre company, including the 2018 Paine Knickerbocker Award for continued contributions to Bay Area theatre from the San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle. The Stage has produced over 200 productions, including 20 world premieres and 50 new works and is ranked as the 2nd largest professional theatre and 8th largest performance arts organization in Silicon Valley (Silicon Valley Business Journal).  

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