![\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/SJM-L-ROCKYOU-0619-02.jpg\")
Nicholas Tabora, as Killer Queen. is a standout in San Jose Stage’s “We Will Rock You” (Dave Lepori and Patrick Kusumoto\/San Jose Stage Company)\u00a0<\/p>\nWhen it comes to the Queen musical \u201cWe Will Rock You,\u201d there are two very distinct things going on.<\/p>\n
In San Jose Stage\u2019s production of the 2002 musical, the iconic tunes that launched the legend of one of rock music\u2019s greatest voices, Freddie Mercury, are presented with effective reverence. Yet Ben Elton\u2019s story and script are so universally bad you have to wonder if artificial intelligence on a bad day had a hand in crafting this dreck.<\/p>\n
Director Will Detlefsen and choreographer Jenni Hong do what they can with the material they are given, which isn\u2019t much.<\/p>\n
Long into the future, Earth has been conquered and renamed iPlanet, now ruled by Killer Queen (Nick Tabora) and Khashoggi (Heather Mae Steffen). In this bland, milquetoast world, freedom to express oneself through music is a big no-no. But wait! There may be a few folks who can salvage this soulless scourge of scarcity.<\/p>\n
In walk a couple of potential heroes \u2014 the properly sunglassed Galileo Figaro (Sean Okuniewicz) and rebel Scaramouche (Erin Rose Solorio), a duo who leads a group of Bohemians armed with knowledge of music\u2019s glorious past, including many of rock\u2019s greatest pillars, which obviously includes Britney Spears.<\/p>\n
A storyline this facile will certainly bring forth a happy ending, and while I have no desire to spoil anything, let\u2019s just say everything is fine.<\/p>\n
Nicholas Tabora, as Killer Queen. is a standout in San Jose Stage’s “We Will Rock You” (Dave Lepori and Patrick Kusumoto\/San Jose Stage Company)\u00a0<\/p>\n
There are plenty of skill levels at play throughout the cast, but Tabora\u2019s outstanding turn stands out with his level of sharp shredding and terrific vocal tone. He is consistently funny as the evil, ruthless killer, while also looking great in Pamela Rodriguez-Montero\u2019s varied and dystopian costume design.<\/p>\n
The heroes who save us from these awful, terrible music haters do so with force. Okuniewicz and his too-cool-for-school vibe plays well, as he is able to riff inside Galileo\u2019s delightful wit. His register has the ability to do justice to Mercury\u2019s legendary vocals, which were rangy yet specific. Solorio has her own strengths as a performer, with some really sweet interpretations of Queen\u2019s bigger hits (\u201cSomebody to Love\u201d is especially effective).<\/p>\n
The San Jose Stage production also has the fortune of working with a terrific five-piece band, with Benjamin Belew\u2019s music direction more effective in the rock versions than the power ballads. All of the great Queen numbers are represented here (even Mercury\u2019s 1985 Live Aid chant \u201ceeeeoooo\u201d makes an appearance), with others making fine contributions. Amanda Le Nguyen and Z Hansen lead a particularly effective version of \u201cI Want it All,\u201d featuring some of the show\u2019s best ensemble work.<\/p>\n
Other members of the cast contribute some sharp edges and moments that are legitimately funny. Joel Roster is graced with some of the best one-liners as the sage old rocker Pop, a recent Stage find who is a strong character actor. Since the technology is so old, Pop lets the young whippersnappers know about the magic of the \u201ctelevaggio\u201d while waxing poetic about some of music\u2019s great legends, including The Beatles and their fabulous drummer Bingo, in addition to Tupelo, Mississippi\u2019s, favorite son, Pelvis.<\/p>\n
The script does its worst when it tries to do too much and digs too deep; i.e., when characters toss out slop such as: \u201cRock \u2018n\u2019 roll is anything you want it to be.\u201d<\/p>\n
Whoa.<\/p>\n
Still, the show does exactly what it should \u2014 give Queen lovers a bunch of good renditions of the band\u2019s extensive catalogue, affording plenty of opportunities to sing along and dance in the seats, and just have a good time.<\/p>\n
Because, as I\u2019ve just learned, rock \u2018n\u2019 roll is anything you want it to be. Or something like that.<\/p>\n
David John Ch\u00e1vez is a former chair of the American Theatre Critics\/Journalists Association, a 2020 O\u2019Neill National Critics Institute fellow, and a two-time juror for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama (2022-\u201923). @davidjchavez.bsky.social.<\/p>\n
\u2018WE WILL ROCK YOU\u2019<\/p>\n
By Ben Elton, based on the music and lyrics of Queen, presented by San Jose Stage Company<\/p>\n
Through: June 28<\/p>\n
Where: San Jose Stage, 490 S. 1st St., San Jose<\/p>\n
Running time: 2 hours, 20 minutes with an intermission<\/p>\n