The Firehouse lineup: Pleasanton’s city-run theater unveils schedule of fall shows – spring slate still under construction

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Finding something to do for a night out in their hometown this fall just got an injection of fresh optionality for Pleasanton residents. 

The Firehouse Arts Center, the city-owned theater in downtown Pleasanton, last week announced the first half of its Presenting Series for the 2025-26 season – 10 performances from October to December emblematic of the types of offerings that the black-box stage has become known for in recent years.  

“This season is really about variety and connection,” said Julian Mireles, recreation supervisor for the city of Pleasanton and the person who oversees the venue’s scheduling.

“We’re excited to open with high-energy tribute concerts like Journey Revisited and In the Spirit of Lennon, then move into youth-driven productions like ‘Beetlejuice JR.’ from the Pleasanton Youth Theater Company,” Mireles told the Pleasanton Weekly on Friday. “The December lineup is especially festive, from the Golden Follies’ holiday revue to Chorus Eclectic’s Gnome for the Holidays and the Holiday Youth Music Festival.” 

“What stands out is how the schedule balances professional touring acts with opportunities for local youth and community artists to shine; it’s a mix that will resonate with audiences across generations,” he added. 

Shows sponsored by the city inside the 221-seat theater are the centerpiece of programming at the public arts center converted from the former historic firehouse property on the west side of downtown Pleasanton. 

But they aren’t the only offerings. The Harrington Gallery draws visual arts lovers and the classroom space supports city youth arts programs and others – plus the venue rents out to others looking for a stage in the Tri-Valley. 

“The Firehouse Arts Center is more than a theater; it’s a hub for community connection and economic vitality,” Pleasanton City Manager Gerry Beaudin told the Weekly. 

That perspective is key to the mindset behind the Firehouse’s 2025-26 Presenting Series.

So too is the financial reality of the moment for the city government. 

This year’s Firehouse booking process was heavily impacted by the extensive debates at city hall over spending cuts that left key decisions unsettled until later into the spring than usual before the traditional June budget adoption – questions that continue to loom over city recreation programming for the 2026-27 fiscal year and beyond.

The timeline led city staff to lean into segmenting the season-scheduling effort. 

“The budget discussions did add complexity. Like many cities, Pleasanton is navigating a structural deficit, so there were questions early on about how resources would be allocated,” said Heidi Murphy, director of the city’s Library and Recreation Department, which manages the Firehouse. 

Another factor, she noted, was the effort and outcome over the past year to consolidate the city’s youth theater, improv and music programs all into the Firehouse after the city transferred the Amador Theater back to the school district.

“Our team took a phased, financially responsible approach: securing a strong fall slate while continuing to work behind the scenes on spring programming, ensuring we could balance quality with sustainability,” Murphy added.

Count Mayor Jack Balch among those pleased with the results so far. 

“I have had a chance to look at the fall brochure and was impressed by the variety of offerings. That’s the beauty of the arts, something for everyone,” he told the Weekly on Friday.

“The Firehouse Arts Center really is unique, it honors our city’s history as an old firehouse while now serving the community in a new way through art, culture, and the pull of visitors to our downtown,” Balch said. 

“Last year we sold more than 16,000 tickets. That is a lot of people in our downtown, where they can stroll, shop and dine,” the mayor continued. “With the newly renovated Lions Wayside Park and Bandstand nearby and soon connecting better when the new parking area is completed, these amenities will only continue to enhance our downtown.”

The fall list

“It’s a lineup that will entertain, inspire and bring people together,” Mireles said in the press release last week announcing the Presenting Series autumn schedule – plus the news that the city secured downtown restaurant Sabio on Main as the Firehouse’s new concessionaire.

The shows pretty much fall into three categories: tribute acts, youth performances and holiday productions.

The cover slate starts things off next Friday evening (Oct. 3) with Journey Revisited playing hits from the heyday of the famous rock band with strong Bay Area roots.

“Featuring lead vocalist Frank House, keyboardist/vocalist Kevin Jachetta and a powerhouse rhythm section … their dynamic musicianship and passion for the music create a concert experience that truly brings back the glory days of Journey,” Firehouse reps wrote in the venue’s newly released fall season brochure. 

Two other tribute acts are on the bill: In the Spirit of Lennon, an acoustic homage to John Lennon on Oct. 10, and Billy Nation, highlighting the music of Billy Joel on Nov. 21.

PYTC also features prominently in the lineup, including a musical adaptation for the spooky season – just don’t say the name three times in a row.

“Beetlejuice JR.” will be on the Firehouse stage on Fridays through Sundays from Nov. 7-16. PYTC will follow with its “Singers Choice” cabaret on Dec. 5 and its “Holiday Youth Music Festival” on Dec. 19. 

Another city-run youth performance troupe caught the mayor’s eye as he looked over the fall schedule.

“Personally, my family and I have always had a fondness for Creatures of Impulse (one of our neighbors participated for years), so the ‘Puppets of Impulse’ intrigues me. I enjoy light and funny right now, which is exactly what this show sounds like,” Balch said. 

An award-winning teen improv program that specializes in long-form improvisation, Creatures of Impulse makes its 2025-26 debut at the Firehouse with “Mafia-Esque” (“a completely improvised murder mystery”) from Oct. 23-25, and then presents “Puppets of Impulse” (“a completely improvised puppet musical”) from Dec. 11-13.

Also during the holiday season, The Golden Follies senior Las Vegas-style revue will perform “A Very Follies Holiday” on Dec. 13 and Chorus Eclectic will sing seasonal favorites at “Gnome for the Holidays” on Dec. 18. 

In the Harrington Gallery this autumn are the final two weeks of the “Fresh Works Jr.” exhibition before the Pleasanton Art League’s 18th annual Fall Members’ Show runs Oct. 25 through Dec. 20.

City-led programming isn’t all that’s on tap either. 

Dotting the calendar too are nine shows being put on by outside folks renting the theater – on the Firehouse Arts website, those listings include the familiar disclaimer: “Please note, this event is independently organized and not sponsored by the City of Pleasanton.”

Theater writer and performer Molly Bell is bringing her “Miss Hysterical” musical comedy to the Firehouse this Saturday night (Sept. 27).

Other such performances include Best of San Francisco Stand-up Comedy on Oct. 4, “Sakkhe Shejari” (“an episodic drama that celebrates the bittersweet bonds between three neighboring couples in a lively Mumbai apartment complex”) on Oct. 11, the East Bay Children’s Theatre production of “Jackie and the Beanstalk” on Oct. 12, Samson Koletkar (“aka Mahatma Moses, the world’s only Indian Jewish stand-up comedian”) on Oct. 26, Pleasanton Community Concert Band’s “Family Concert” on Oct. 19 and Coldplay tribute group Trouble on Nov. 22.

The future leers

With the excitement of publicly unveiling the Firehouse’s fall lineup still fresh and preparations for those early shows well underway, city staff and contractors are working hard behind the scenes to book what Mireles promises to be “a robust slate of performances and programs” for winter and spring 2026. 

He pointed to PYTC’s planned production of “Mary Poppins JR.” as a highlight already on the spring schedule.

The fall brochure also teases a concert from Chicago and Steely Dan tribute act Aja Vu Band on Jan. 9, the play “The Addams Family Musical: Younger@Part” (also courtesy of PYTC) from Jan. 17-25 and the East Bay’s own 19-piece CoolTones Big Band performing March 21.

Dozens of potential dates remain to be filled. 

Enacting a phased approach to scheduling the 2025-26 season means the back half of the bill will be secured and revealed while the city government’s financial results for the current fiscal year comes into clearer view – and tough conversations at the city offices about next year’s budget could be picking up as those acts appear on the theater’s stage. 

As the city grapples with how to maintain strong recreational programming in the face of a difficult overall budget reality, Beaudin pushed back at the notion this would be a tipping point year for the Firehouse.

“We’re not at a point yet where we’re making decisions about the future of the Firehouse Arts Center,” he said. “Right now, the City is focused on broad efforts to strengthen our revenue base — including economic development, exploring a potential hotel tax, and conducting an organizational assessment of city services. Those efforts are our focus at this time.” 

“The City will continue engaging the community as part of our future budget processes,” Beaudin added. “Resident participation — whether through ticket sales, gallery visits, youth theater enrollment, or donations — helps us understand how much value people place on the Firehouse’s programs. While not every program is expected to fully pay for itself, strong community support makes it easier for the City to sustain them.” 

The path to sustainability in the short term, according to Murphy, is “to balance high-quality programming with financial responsibility, expanding partnerships with downtown businesses like Sabio on Main, partners like Pleasanton Art League and the Pleasanton Cultural Arts Council, and leveraging community rentals and youth programs that keep the venue vibrant year-round”.

As for the long term, a nonprofit arm for the Firehouse could help steady the ship. “Staff would love community support in creating a foundation to support the arts,” Murphy said.

Because city leaders share what they believe to be a collective goal across Pleasanton: a thriving Firehouse Arts Center in 2025 and beyond. 

“The Firehouse is a gem of the Pleasanton community,” Balch said. “It connects people, strengthens our downtown, and pulls people into Pleasanton to support our local businesses. While we are always looking for ways to be efficient with the taxpayer dollars, the Firehouse is providing value beyond the performances.”

The city manager concurs. “By drawing audiences downtown, performances help support local restaurants, shops, and businesses,” Beaudin said. “Beyond the economic impact, the Firehouse provides a unique space where local youth can shine through programs like (PYTC), residents can enjoy touring acts close to home, and visual artists can showcase their work in the Harrington Gallery.”  

“Its intimate scale is part of its charm, artists and audiences alike appreciate the closeness and energy of the venue, though it also requires balancing creativity with financial realities to keep programming both high-quality and accessible,” Beaudin added. “Together, these elements make the Firehouse an essential piece of Pleasanton’s cultural and community landscape.”

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