Truce: A Christmas Wish from the Great War

[image: A World War I-esque scene in the trenches, with a pale star floating above the grim scene]
Truce: A Christmas Wish from the Great War
Runs Nov 21Dec 22, 2024
Written by:Kit Wilder & Jeffrey Bracco
Directed by:Angie Higgins
Supported by:Producer Toggle Hagan and Producers Marv & Bonnie Bamburg

Subscribe now for the 2024-25 season! 

Why you should see Truce: A Christmas Wish from the Great War

Because this powerful play was such a big hit in 2014 that we’ve brought it back for a 10th-anniversary production.
Because it’s inspired by one of the most uplifting acts of war & peace drama in history.
Because after seeing Truce on opening night in 2014, Vietnam veteran Richard Hagan wrote: “If you have a chance to see this play, please do; you won’t go wrong. You will come away feeling hopeful about the human spirit and how it shines through such carnage.”

Synopsis

In 2014, City Lights marked the 100-year anniversary of the World War I “Christmas Truce” with a world premiere that drew crowds and raves. Now Truce: A Christmas Wish from the Great War is back with a mix of returning and new artists. Set in the trenches of France, this story follows soldiers on both sides who embraced a spontaneous ceasefire to celebrate Christmas in 1914. Through dialogue, music and documents from the era, the play exemplifies the spirit of the holiday season.

Cast

Tommy Williams: Eddie Zhang
Georg Krieger: Myles Rowland
Archie Bates: Christian Vaughn-Munck
Geoffrey Court: Nishanth Swarna
Helmut Jaeger: Vaughn Mayer
Viktor Stahl: Zachary Vaughn-Munck
Kurt Vogel: Patrick Rivera
Doctor, Mr. Williams, Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien: Ray Renati
Herr Krieger, Oberst Koessler: Roberta Vinkhuyzen
Orderly, Gunnar Krieger, Wounded Solider, Oberleutnant Voss: Steve Roma
Orderly, Deserter, Wounded Solider, Aide-de-camp: Adriana H.
Anna Friedmann: Sarah Benjamin
Maggie Williams: Lauren Berling
Clara Krieger, English daughter (Princess Mary): Jaime Melendez
Frau Krieger, English Mother 2, Viktor’s Mother: Regina Kohl
Mrs. Williams, Kurt’s Mother: Karen DeHart
English Mother 1, Geoffrey’s Mother: Mary Melnick

Details and special events

Truce: A Christmas Wish from the Great War previews November 21 and 22, 2024, and runs through December 22. (No show on November 24 or Thanksgiving.) By popular demand, we’ve added Saturday matinees and moved our Thursday start times to 7:30! Showtimes are Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 2 and 8 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are $31-$70 now with no fees! Subscribe now for the 2024-25 season.

Bring a group of 10 or more and get 25% off the face value of each ticket. The discount is automatically applied with 10 or more tickets in the cart. (Contact the box office if group members are paying separately.) If you are an employee of a fellow theater company seeking industry comps, please email us at least 48 hours in advance. Subject to availability.

Covid protocols:
If you are feeling unwell, please stay home, and don’t worry about your tickets. We’ll be happy to exchange them for another performance, free of charge. Masks are recommended indoors, except for select performances, when they are required indoors. Learn more about our Covid-19 protocols.

Special events:
Thursday, Nov. 21, 7:30 p.m.: Pay What You Can Preview Night. Suggested donation is $20, but any amount is welcome. Call the box office at 408-295-4200 to name your own price.
Friday, Nov. 22, 8 p.m.: Preview Night.
Saturday, Nov. 23, 8 p.m.: Opening Night.
Sunday, December 8, 2 p.m.: Mask-required performance

Nonprofit partner:
We’re honored to support the Santa Clara Chorale during this production. Celebrating over sixty years of illustrating the broad spectrum of choral music through compelling performances for the South Bay community, the Chorale programs a wide array of music from the choral canon each season—from the masterworks of Beethoven, Mozart and Britten to brand new commissions like the world premiere of Scott Gendel’s multi-movement work Barbara Allen in 2017. More info coming soon about special events during Truce!

In addition, we’re supporting History San José. Established in 1949, History San José’s mission is to preserve and enrich the cultural heritage of San José and the Santa Clara Valley through research, collections, partnerships, educational programs and events. We are proud to be an organization that provides safe spaces and opportunities for all cultural communities to gather, remember, celebrate, and share their stories.

Parking and other info

Should you require ADA parking, email us or add a note to your order to reserve a spot in front of the glass doors. We will accommodate as many as possible. For everyone else, there’s free parking a short walk away. Most ParkSJ garages offer 90 minutes of free parking, and the parking website ParkSJ.org is a great resource providing real-time parking availability, maps and more.

The closest city lot is the First Street and I-280 Lot, under the freeway. Parking there is free on weekends and after 6 p.m. on weekdays. 

[image: Logo that reads PARKSJ: 90 minutes free]

The theater is wheelchair-accessible; book the ADA & Companion seats when buying tickets.

Due to the intimate size of our theater, we unfortunately are not able to seat late patrons. Thank you for your understanding.

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