MID-NOVEMBER THEATRE HAPPENINGS ON THE CALIFORNIA CENTRAL COAST

Well ... I just got back from Chicago where I had the honor of officiating at the wedding of a college buddy of our son's over the weekend.  I also had the opportunity to visit the Ernest Hemingway Museum and Birth Home in Oak Park (did you know he wrote 2 plays - one full length one and a one-act?), had probably the best cinnamon rolls I've ever eaten at Ann Sather's in the City, as well as getting to attend the Sunday matinee of Young Frankenstein at the Cadillac Palace Theatre (THANKS for the great seats Amanda - FUN show!).  But as much fun as the trip was, and as amazing as the weather was (70 in Chicago the second weekend in November?!) - it was good to get back to the Central Coast and all that's happening here!

The God Is Still Speaking Players (check them out on Facebook or at www.sloucc.org) will present a readers' theatre production of Archibald MacLeish's Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize winning J.B. - a poetic dramatization of the story of Job as found in the Hebrew Scriptures, November 13-15, at the San Luis Obispo United Church of Christ.

The God Is Still Speaking Players' first production was a readers' theatre presentation last fall of the new play by Gordon Greene entitled The Scopes Monkey Trial: What Really Happened, followed by the musical production of Godspell this past summer.  Following J.B., a collaborative effort with Bent Angel Productions is scheduled for a readers' theatre presentation of 12 Angry Men in February, followed by a summer musical production of You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown in June.

The mission of The God Is Still Speaking Players is to present quality theatre that speaks to the human condition, realizing that theatre can often times touch a person's heart, mind and soul in a way that nothing else will.

The San Luis Obispo Little Theatre (www.slolittletheatre.org) will present a staged reading of The Devil's Chaplain, a new play about "the real Charles Darwin," by Alan Navarre on November 29.  How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying will run November 20 - December 20.   And a children's theatre production of A Little Princess is scheduled for January 15-31 in 2010.

Kelrik Productions (www.kelrikproductions.com), also located in San Luis Obispo, recently completed a successful run of the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize winning production of RENT at the Spanos Theatre on the Cal Poly campus.  Stay tuned for what Erik Austin & Co will be doing next!

Providing a variety of live entertainment options, the Cal Poly Performing Arts Center (www.pacslo.org) is proud to present Zero to Infinity November 12-14 & 19-21, the Lakota Sioux Dance Theatre on November 16, The Nammys on Tour November 18, the Guitar Orchestra of Barcelona on November 23, and A Leahy Family Christmas on December 2.

The Pewter Plough Playhouse (www.pewterploughplayhouse.org) in Cambria is currently showing Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap through November 22.

The Houselights Theatre (www.houselightstheatre.org), also in Cambria, completed a remount run of their popular summer musical Always ... Patsy Cline at the Spanos Theatre (www.pacslo.org) the end of August.  Stay tuned for details concerning their next show.

And in Paso Robles, the Pioneer Players (www.pioneerplayers.org) recently held auditions for their next production - Oliver, scheduled to be presented January 15-30 of 2010.

At the Clark Center (www.clarkcenter.org), located in the Village of Arroyo Grande, a number of quality entertainment opportunities will be presented in the weeks ahead, including The Persuasions on November 14, the Coastal Chamber Ballet's Babes in Toyland on November 21, The Nutcracker November 28 & 29, and Anything Goes December 3-5.

The Studio Players at the Studio of Performing Arts (www.thestudioofperformingarts.com), also in Arroyo Grande, presents The Miracle Worker through November 21.

In Oceano, The Great American Melodrama & Vaudeville (www.americanmelodrama.com) presents Scary Poppins through November 15.  Following Scary Poppins at each performance is the "United Swing Organization Vaudeville Revue."  Set in a USO dance hall during World War II, this song, dance and comedy revue features the same cast singing great jazzy harmonies and dancing up a storm to some of the most popular tunes from the height of the swing era.  NOTE: We had the opportunity to attend this show and vaudeville review with some friends, and it was one of the funniest and best shows we've ever seen at the Melodrama - so be sure to go see it if you can before it closes!

And then down south, across the line into Santa Barbara County, the Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts (www.pcpa.org), the Central Coast's Resident Professional Theatre Company, has opened their 2009/10 season with C.S. Lewis' The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, which runs through December 23 at the Marian Theatre in Santa Maria.

The weather prognosticators may have a difficult time figuring out what Mother Nature will be sending our way next ... but one thing is certain - theatre and other varieties of live entertainment are alive, well, and in abundance here on the California Central Coast.  So put down the remote, get up out of your chair, and get out there and support a local theatre venue near you!

Curt Miner ... your BroadwayWorld.com guy on the ground with the California Central Coast theatre "news & views" 

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