The Tabard Theatre Company announces

Former Mayor Tom McEnery’s Moving Historic Drama

Swift Justice

November 5 – 21, 2021

The Tabard Theatre Company announces Swift Justice by Tom McEnery, based on the historical true-crime book by Harry Farrell.  This historic drama directed by Vickie Rozell, will open to live in-person audiences and simultaneous livestream on November 5 and run through November 21, 2021. The show will also be available for on-demand viewing November 22 through December 9, 2021.  Single tickets for the play are $16-$45. Tabard Theatre is an all-vaccinated venue and will be checking proof of vaccination at the door for in-person patrons. Facial coverings are also required, in alignment with current county requirements.

In November 1933, a nightmare shook the quiet town of San Jose, California, when a young man named Brooke Hart was abducted while leaving his father’s department store. He was well known and liked in the community, as the son and heir-apparent to the Hart’s Department Store legacy. He had graduated from Santa Clara University just months before, after having graduated from Bellarmine College Preparatory in 1929. In the days that followed the kidnapping, the Harts, local and state police, and J. Edgar Hoover’s FBI scrambled to trace the kidnappers, whose ransom demands kept changing. Two men were apprehended and confessed that they had killed Brooke before the first ransom call was even placed, and the killers’ subsequent lynching in St. James Park set off a national debate about mob rule and vigilante justice. This tale of murder, vengeance, and, surprisingly, hope in San Jose’s not-so-distant past returns to Tabard in a new re-working by former Mayor Tom McEnery at a time when the dangers of mob rule are perhaps even more in the forefront of our minds than ever. Tabard previously produced the play in 2016, and it played to an all sold-out run, with an additional wait list with hundreds of people hoping to get in.

McEnery’s Swift Justice also tells the story of  Joseph Karesh, the Hart family’s rabbi and spiritual advisor. Witnessing the hateful mob’s actions and injustice of that night in St. James Park, Karesh learns about love, courage, and – ultimately – hope. This transformation leads Rabbi Karesh to leave  the service of God in favor of a career in the law as Judge Joseph Karesh. 

Swift Justice will feature D.J. Fernandes, Stefan Fisher, Kate Lincoln, Jerry Lloyd, Tiffany Nwogu, Matt Regan, Abdul Samad, Tyler Savin, Bob Siegmann, Brandon Silberstein and Jamie Wolf.

TOM MCENERY (playwright) is an author, businessman, and teacher from San Jose, California, who served as the 61st mayor of that city from 1983 to 1991. McEnery attended Santa Clara University, graduating with a B.A. in 1967 and an M.A. in 1970. After his term in office, he served on the Board of Directors of the San Jose Sharks hockey team and continued to pursue his business and writing career. He co-founded San Jose Inside, a website devoted to the culture and politics of San Jose. McEnery was part of the ownership group for San Jose Sports & Entertainment Enterprises, which owns the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League. He is an owner of the Irish Innovation Center and Silicon Valley Global in Downtown San Jose which houses and funds start-up technology ventures. San Jose's McEnery Convention Center is named in his honor. McEnery's short play Swift Justice, based on the award-winning book of the same name, by Harry Farrell, was performed at the Tabard Theatre in San Jose in 2015, and was produced as a full-length play in January 2016. In 2017, his original comedy A Statue for Ballybunion made its original premiere in Dublin, Ireland at the O'Reilly Theatre. It was directed by Paul Meade and starred John Olohan. (source)

VICKIE ROZELL (Director) directs throughout the Bay Area including the world premiere of All the Shah’s Men at Arabian Shakespeare Festival, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change at Santa Clara University, Veils (Theatre Bay Area Recommended Production, Bay Area Critics Circle nominee for Best Production) and CTRL + ALT + DELETE for The Pear Theatre, Smash for Dragon Productions, Wit at Bus Barn Stage Company, Proof for City Lights Theatre Company, Crossing Delancy for Hillbarn Theatre, and The Little Foxes, Picasso at the Lapin Agile, and The Ladies of the Camillias at Palo Alto Players. She was the resident Research Dramaturg at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley for eleven years where she co-directed Doubt, associate directed over thirty productions, and dramaturged over ninety. She has degrees in English and Psychology from Stanford University and an MFA in Dramatic Art (Directing) from the University of California, and has taught at Ohlone and Foothill Colleges.

INTERVIEW REQUESTS: Please contact us if you are interested in an interview with former Mayor McEnery or director Vickie Rozell, and we will coordinate on your behalf.

Tabard Theatre (formerly Theatre on San Pedro Square) — The Destination for Arts Discovery —  is located in the heart of historic San Pedro Square in downtown San Jose amid a bustling restaurant district.  The Tabard Theatre Company was founded in 2001 by Cathy Spielberger Cassetta. Tabard’s mission is to provide live entertainment experiences that are enlightening, appropriate and affordable for audiences of all ages. They champion new works, innovative interpretations, and unique plays rarely staged. Tabard is an inclusive environment where the community can participate in every aspect of the plays, musicals, educational programs and music concerts they produce. With altruistic attention to the underserved, Tabard reaches out to communities such as the visually impaired and children in low-income areas, and donates a portion of donations received during each production's livestream performances to a partnered local charity. The Tabard Theatre Company is grateful for support provided by grants from The City of San Jose Office of Cultural Affairs, the Silicon Valley Community Foundation and Silicon Valley Creates.

For Calendar Editors

What: Swift Justice directed by Vickie Rozell.  In 1933 Brooke Hart was abducted and murdered. Two men confessed to the crime, and their subsequent lynching in St. James Park set off a national debate about mob rule and vigilante justice. This tale of murder, vengeance, and hope in San Jose’s not-so-distant past returns to Tabard in a new re-working by former Mayor Tom McEnery.                                                    

When: November 5 through November 21, 2021, in-person and livestream. November 22 through December 9, 2021, on-demand.

Where: Formerly known as Theatre on San Pedro Square, Tabard Theatre is located in the heart of historic San Pedro Square in downtown San Jose. Our intimate and unique venue brings a touch of Manhattan to the South Bay with a three-quarter round cabaret stage, original brick walls, plush leather seats, antique wood plank floors, sweeping drapes, and a 35-foot mahogany bar.  Also available online multi-camera livestream, accessed via your computer, phone, tablet  or TV.

Tickets:  $16-$45  www.tabardtheatre.org  or Call (408) 679-2330

Performances:

Friday, November 5 at 8pm  (Opening Night)

Saturday, November 6 at 2:30pm Free pre-show presentation for visually impaired.  Everyone welcome

Saturday, November 6 at 3pm

Sunday, November 7 at 2pm

Thursday, November 11 at 8pm

Friday, November 12 at 8pm

Saturday, November 13 at 8pm

Sunday, November 14 at 2pm

Thursday, November 18 at 8pm

Friday, November 19 at 8pm

Saturday, November 20 at 3pm

Sunday, November 21 at 2pm (Closing Performance)

On Demand November 22 through December 9, 2021

Tyler Savin as Brooke Hart and Matthew Regan as Jack Holmes in Tabard Theatre Company’s production of SWIFT JUSTICE. Photo: Edmond Kwong/Imagewurx

From left to right: Stefan Fisher, Kate Lincoln, Bob Siegmann, Jaime Wolf, and Brandon Silberstein in Tabard Theatre Company’s production of SWIFT JUSTICE. Photo: Edmond Kwong/Imagewurx

From left to right: Bob Siegmann, Abdul Samad, and Stefan Fisher in Tabard Theatre Company’s production of SWIFT JUSTICE. Photo: Edmond Kwong/Imagewurx

Brandon Silberstein as Rabbi Karesh and Matthew Regan as Jack Holmes  in Tabard Theatre Company’s production of SWIFT JUSTICE. Photo: Edmond Kwong/Imagewurx