{"id":282831,"date":"2026-04-23T23:37:13","date_gmt":"2026-04-23T23:37:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/282831\/"},"modified":"2026-04-23T23:37:13","modified_gmt":"2026-04-23T23:37:13","slug":"its-the-final-curtain-for-3below-theaters-in-downtown-san-jose-the-mercury-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/282831\/","title":{"rendered":"It\u2019s the final curtain for 3Below Theaters in downtown San Jose \u2013 The Mercury News"},"content":{"rendered":"

The 200-seat auditorium at downtown San Jose\u2019s 3Below Theaters sat empty earlier this week. The stage, however, was set with a mock-up of a Mondrian-painted school bus and an orange sofa that both screamed \u201cIt\u2019s the Seventies!\u201d<\/p>\n

And starting tonight, a cast of 15 actors will fill those spaces for the final five performances of \u201cThe Bardy Bunch,\u201d a Shakespearean-style mashup that pits the \u201cThe Brady Bunch\u201d and \u201cThe Partridge Family\u201d in a bloody \u2014 and funny \u2014 confrontation.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The cast playing the Partridge Family performs in “The Bardy Bunch,” a comedy on stage at 3 Below Theaters in downtown San Jose through April 26, 2026. (Photo courtesy 3 Below Theaters)<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The San Jose Playhouse cast of “Assassins” performs the Stephen Sondheim musical at 3Below Theaters in San Jose. The production runs through Aug. 14. (Dave Lepori Photography\/San Jose Playhouse)<\/p>\n

\"JOHN<\/p>\n

John Huan\/Guggenheim Entertainment<\/p>\n

JOHN HUAN VU\/GUGGENHEIM ENTERTAINMENT
\nThe revue \u00e2\u20ac\u0153A Spoonful of Sherman\u00e2\u20ac\u009d is getting its U.S. premiere at 3Below Theaters & Lounge in San Jose. From left are Stephen Guggenheim, musical director and performer; Shannon Guggenheim, choreographer and performer; Susan Gundunas, performer; Barry Koron, pianist; Robert J. Sherman, songwriter and show creator; Theresa Swain, performer; and F. James Raasch, performer.<\/p>\n

\"Guggenheim<\/p>\n

Guggenheim Entertainment is prepping the former Camera 3 Cinemas in downtown San Jose to reopen Jan. 11 as 3Below. The Guggenheims are planning programming much like they did at the Retro Dome, where they staged shows like ‘You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown,’ seen here, and screened movie sing-alongs and quote-alongs as well.<\/p>\n

\"SAN<\/p>\n

SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 8: Audience members watch the movie “John Lewis: Good Trouble\u00d2 for the “Up on the Roof\u00d3 movie series, four weeks of curated movies on the roof of 3Below Theaters & Lounge, in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer\/Bay Area News Group)<\/p>\n

\"SAN<\/p>\n

SAN JOSE, CA – APRIL 2: Movie memorabilia lines the walls of a screening room at 3Below Theaters, Friday, April 2, 2021, as the theater prepares to reopen for the first time since the pandemic shutdown. (Karl Mondon\/Bay Area News Group)<\/p>\n

Show Caption<\/p>\n

1 of 6<\/p>\n

The cast playing the Partridge Family performs in “The Bardy Bunch,” a comedy on stage at 3 Below Theaters in downtown San Jose through April 26, 2026. (Photo courtesy 3 Below Theaters)<\/p>\n

Expand<\/a><\/p>\n

When the curtain falls Sunday afternoon \u2014 metaphorically since 3Below has no curtain \u2014 it\u2019ll also mark the end for the downtown venue after eight years<\/a>. In addition to losing another place to see live theater, it also means downtown will lose its last screen devoted to first-run movies.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m glad that we\u2019re ending with something fun,\u201d 3 Below co-owner Scott Guggenheim told me in an interview Wednesday.<\/p>\n

Fun has actually been a hallmark for 3Below since it opened, hosting sing-along screenings of \u201cThe Sound of Music\u201d and quote-along showings of \u201cThe Princess Bride,\u201d among others. Their live shows have leaned into musicals and comedies, especially lesser-seen productions, like \u201cXanadu,\u201d \u201cShout! The Mod Musical\u201d and \u201cThe Game Show Show,\u201d which Guggenheim created with his brother, actor Stephen Guggenheim, and his wife and co-owner, Shannon Guggenheim.<\/p>\n

They had high hopes for 3 Below when they opened in 2018<\/a>, but the COVID-19 pandemic two years later forced them to close along with other theaters. With the city\u2019s blessing, they held screenings on the roof of the garage in fall 2020. But even after they were allowed to reopen, audiences never returned consistently enough to keep up with expenses. They tried to lure audiences back with movies about social issues, classic movie anniversaries and a membership deal.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor us, how many times can you pivot?\u201d Scott Guggenheim said. \u201cThere\u2019s only so much we can do in this world.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"An<\/p>\n

An false door that opens to a Winnie the Poor art scene will be one of many items available at a liquidation sale at 3 Below Theaters on May 2-3, 2026. The downtown San Jose venue is closing its doors April 26, 2026. (Sal Pizarro\/Bay Area News Group)<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

A bookshelf filled with clocks will be among many items available at a liquidation sale at 3 Below Theaters on May 2-3, 2026. The downtown San Jose venue is closing its doors April 26, 2026. (Sal Pizarro\/Bay Area News Group)<\/p>\n

\"Movie<\/p>\n

Movie poster frames will be among the many items available at a liquidation sale at 3 Below Theaters on May 2-3, 2026. The downtown San Jose venue is closing its doors April 26, 2026. (Sal Pizarro\/Bay Area News Group)<\/p>\n

\"Before<\/p>\n

Before or after shows, 3Below patrons can grab a seat in the lobby’s vintage-style snack bar. (Karl Mondon\/Bay Area News Group)<\/p>\n

\"Concession<\/p>\n

Concession stand equipment will be one of many items available at a liquidation sale at 3 Below Theaters on May 2-3, 2026. The downtown San Jose venue is closing its doors April 26, 2026. (Sal Pizarro\/Bay Area News Group)<\/p>\n

Show Caption<\/p>\n

1 of 5<\/p>\n

An false door that opens to a Winnie the Poor art scene will be one of many items available at a liquidation sale at 3 Below Theaters on May 2-3, 2026. The downtown San Jose venue is closing its doors April 26, 2026. (Sal Pizarro\/Bay Area News Group)<\/p>\n

Expand<\/a><\/p>\n

3Below\u2019s relationship with its landlord \u2014 the city of San Jose \u2014 was often rocky, but it really seemed to get unfriendly in the past year. Installation of a giant digital billboard operated by Orange Barrel Media on the garage made the theater appear closed in the prime holiday months, and 3Below\u2019s own digital marquee was removed. The Guggenheims collectively decided enough was enough and announced the end back in March.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Bardy Bunch\u201d closes Sunday, and the following weekend, May 2 through May 3, 3 Below will be holding a liquidation sale for all of its props, set pieces, and equipment \u2014 including seats from one of its three theaters. You can get more information on the show, as well as the inventory list for the sale, at www.3belowtheaters.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The popcorn machines are for sale, as are all the furniture and decor from the lobby \u2014 including the purple baby grand piano. Looking through the inventory is like perusing a catalog of Guggenheim productions, going back to \u201cSchoolhouse Rock Live!\u201d which they originally staged back in the 1990s at the old Oasis nightclub by St. James Park. Some of the items, like false doors that open to reveal art-rendered scenes from beloved books like \u201cWinnie the Pooh,\u201d are one-of-a-kind.<\/p>\n

Guggenheim says he hopes some of the more practical items are bought by theater companies or caterers who could use them and the rest is taken by fans for sentimental value.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople like having mementos from the shows they liked,\u201d Guggenheim said. \u201cThey\u2019ll own a piece of history.\u201d<\/p>\n

INNOVATION SHOWCASE: If you want to be inspired by the future, then the San Jose Convention Center\u2019s South Hall is the place to be this weekend. That\u2019s because the 39th annual Tech Challenge will be taking place inside the tent-like structure on South Market Street.<\/p>\n

More than 400 teams \u2014 made up of about 1,500 students from fourth-graders to high-school seniors \u2014 will be showcasing the devices they created to solve a real-world engineering problem. This year\u2019s theme was \u201cRaise the Roof,\u201d and the students have spent months designing and building \u2014 and re-designing and re-building \u2014 something that can pick up and place housing modules with precision. That\u2019s also a construction challenge facing grown-up builders as they try to make more low-cost housing.<\/p>\n

The final showcase sessions \u2014 which are staged like TV show competitions with a studio audience of fans \u2014 are open to the public. Teams of fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders will test their devices Saturday, and middle-schoolers and high school students will be in the spotlight Sunday. You can get more information at www.thetech.org\/tech-challenge<\/a>.<\/p>\n

ANNIVERSARY HONORS: Washington High School in Fremont is celebrating its 135th anniversary this year, tracing its roots back to 1891 when it opened as Union High School District No. 2 on Peralta Boulevard. It moved to its current location on Fremont Boulevard in 1924 and officially became Washington High in 1941, as Fremont \u2014 like much of the southern East Bay and the Santa Clara Valley \u2014 went from a farming community to a key part of Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n

On Saturday, the Washington High School Alumni Foundation will be marking the anniversary with a noon ceremony on campus. The foundation will welcome special guest Richard Dutrow, who is believed to be the school\u2019s oldest living alum at age 101, and induct 21 graduates into the school\u2019s Hall of Fame, which was created in 2014.<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s honorees include legendary Oakland A\u2019s closer Dennis Eckersley (Class of 1972), pizza chef extraordinaire Tony Gemignani (Class of 1992), Fremont Mayor Raj Salwan (Class of 1991), Laurel Mayer (Class of 1954), a retired U.S. Air Force colonel who also had a long career as a political science professor in Ohio. You can see the full list of inductees at the foundation\u2019s website, www.whsaf.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The 200-seat auditorium at downtown San Jose\u2019s 3Below Theaters sat empty earlier this week. The stage, however, was…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":282832,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[417,184,7,4978,1533,181,23,1399,419,182,88,90,89,198,200,1058,420],"class_list":{"0":"post-282831","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-san-jose","8":"tag-around-town","9":"tag-bay-area","10":"tag-california","11":"tag-downtown-san-jose","12":"tag-keywee","13":"tag-latest-headlines","14":"tag-local-news","15":"tag-movies","16":"tag-news-columnists","17":"tag-pm-report","18":"tag-san-jose","19":"tag-san-jose-headlines","20":"tag-san-jose-news","21":"tag-santa-clara-county","22":"tag-south-bay","23":"tag-theater","24":"tag-things-to-do"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/282831","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=282831"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/282831\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/282832"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=282831"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=282831"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=282831"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}