{"id":196197,"date":"2026-02-27T08:06:10","date_gmt":"2026-02-27T08:06:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/196197\/"},"modified":"2026-02-27T08:06:10","modified_gmt":"2026-02-27T08:06:10","slug":"santa-claras-showtime-returns-with-the-dastardly-disaster","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/196197\/","title":{"rendered":"Santa Clara\u2019s Showtime Returns with \u201cThe Dastardly Disaster\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

Santa Clara\u2019s annual fundraiser for senior center programs<\/a> is back on stage at the Community Recreation Center on March 6, 7 and 8. Showtime is fun for all ages and is once again an audience participation show.<\/p>\n

The Santa Clara tradition, founded by the great Cleo Stuckrath, is now headed by Robin Burdick. This year, Burdick is paying homage to Stuckrath by putting on one of the first melodramas Stuckrath wrote \u2013 \u201cThe Dastardly Disaster.\u201d It was drafted when the senior center was facing a similar funding situation to the one it currently faces.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn \u201983, it\u2019s kind of a replay of what\u2019s going on now,\u201d said Burdick. \u201cThe federal government started pulling back funding for programs. The Senior Center had a nursing program, and so Cleo and one of the employees at the senior center got together. Cleo wrote the play, recruited the actors, directed, produced, got all the acts together, and Showtime was born. That was it, and all the money went to the Parks and Recreation Department in Santa Clara, specifically for the senior center for their nutrition and nursing programs.\u201d<\/p>\n

SPONSORED<\/p>\n

\"BrainShare\"BrainShare<\/a><\/p>\n

Burdick is a Showtime veteran, recruited by Stuckrath herself. Beverly Schuler, who plays Mrs. Breitheart, was also recruited by Stuckrath in the \u201980s. She\u2019s returned every year since.<\/p>\n

\u201cFirst of all, it\u2019s for such a good cause. It\u2019s so much fun to do it and it keeps my brain alive,\u201d said Schuler. \u201cI worked in a hospital with many doctors who all taught me how to be very melodramatic.\u201d<\/p>\n

SPONSORED<\/p>\n

\"\"\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Rita Dietrich, who plays a washerwoman, is another Stuckrath recruit and Showtime veteran. She also recruits the next generation of Showtime cast, including Janae Cubeiro. Cubeiro is the Assistant Director of Showtime and plays Bessie Breitheart.<\/p>\n

For her, the joy of performing keeps her coming back every year.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom a purely selfish perspective, I love being on stage, and there\u2019s not a lot of opportunity to do it,\u201d said Cubeiro. \u201cIt\u2019s nice to be able to have that little passion and that scratch that itch, as well as be able to, again, be around these wonderful people and support a great cause for our seniors in our community.\u201d<\/p>\n

Santa Clara resident Leah Hokanson is a newer Showtime recruit. She plays a washerwoman and a pirate while her husband, Leland, plays the villain. For her, the audience participation stole her heart.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s so fun. I love it. Audience participation is the best part, especially for the children,\u201d said Hokanson. \u201cThey\u2019re told, \u2018You get to boo at the villain; you get to yay at the good guy.\u2019 Then you get kids going wild, and I love it.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had an introduction for the villains a couple of years ago, and there was one kid that yelled, \u2018Boo. Get off the stage. You stink.\u2019 It was so funny. It was great,\u201d she laughed.<\/p>\n

Showtime takes the stage on Friday, March 6, and Saturday, March 7, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, March 8, at 2 p.m. at the Community Recreation Center at 969 Kiely Blvd. in Santa Clara. Tickets are $5 for kids and $10 for adults. You can buy tickets online<\/a> at santaclarawomensleague.org\/showtime or at the door. There\u2019s also a raffle for prizes, including a Samsung television and a 50-50 raffle.<\/p>\n

To volunteer with Showtime, email the Santa Clara Women\u2019s League at scwl@santaclarawomensleague.org.<\/p>\n

SPONSORED<\/p>\n

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