BWW Blogs: Mid-May Matinees and More on the California Central Coast!

As we come to the middle of May, I hope you are making plans to attend a couple of the many theatre and live performance productions that are currently or will soon be playing here on the beautiful California Central Coast!

The Cuesta College Performing Arts Department (http://academic.cuesta.edu/performingarts) presents RENT.

"No day but today!"
Don't miss this risky, flirtatious, raucous production by Cuesta College's Theatre Department.  Jonathan Larson's bohemian rock opera masterpiece, RENT rocks the Cultural and Performing Arts Centre at Cuesta College May 13, 14 and 15 at 7:30.  Winner of four Tony Awards, the New York Drama Critics Circle Award, and the Pulitzer Prize, RENT tells the story of one year in the life of a group of impoverished young Bohemian artists dealing with life, love, and AIDS in New York's East Village.
AIDS and both its physical and emotional complications pervade the lives of Roger, Mimi, Tom and Angel while Maureen deals with her chronic infidelity through performance art; her partner, Joanne, wonders if their relationship is worth the trouble; Benjamin has sold out his Bohemian ideals in exchange for a hefty income and is on the outs with his former friends; and Mark, an aspiring filmmaker, feels like an outsider to life in general, always behind the camera recording the events but never playing a part.
Spirited and inspiring performances by an eager ensemble cast make this production of RENT a winner.
RENT is being presented through a special arrangement with Music Theater International (MTI).

Book, Music and Lyrics by Jonathan Larson; Choreographer: Jude Clarke-Warnisher; Musical/Vocal Direction: Bob Sando; Directed by bree valle

FOR RESERVATIONS call (805) 546-3198 [NOTE: saw the May 13 performance of this production and it is WELL worth seeing, and a BARGAIN at $15 for general admission seating in a WONDERFUL venue!).

Exit Pursued by a Bear (follow them on Facebook) is proud to present their current production of As You Like It (performances May 19-21) at The SLO Space (3195 McMillan Ave, Unit C).  I understand that the "twist" for this production is that it will be entirely gender reversed with men playing the women's roles and, well ... I think you get the idea.  Contact Tyler Lopez at tylermlopez@gmail.com for more information.

SLO Little Theatre's (www.slolittletheatre.org) next mainstage production, Spinning Into Butter, opens May 20.  And be sure to check out their children's summer theatre program classes and productions at act@slolittletheatre.org.  Auditions for ACT's summer youth production of Ann of Green Gables will be May 27 & 28 (by appointment), with callbacks on May 29; rehearsals June 19- July 22; performances July 29 - August 7.

Kelrik Productions' (www.kelrikproductions.com) next show, Aladdin, will run May 21 - June 12.  Auditions dates for Seussical the Musical will be announced soon (performances July 16-24 at the Spanos Theatre on the Cal Poly campus).  Also - be sure to check out their acting classes for kids & youth starting in May!

Congregation Beth David (10180 Los Osos Valley Rd, SLO) will present The Ponemon Series #4: Stories, Tales and Plays From A Jewish Village on Sunday, May 22, at 3 PM.  For tickets or more information, call (805) 544-0760, or email office@cbdslo.org.  Adults: $20, Kids (5-18): $10.

Linnaea's Cafe at 1110 Garden St in SLO will present Gale McNeeley as "Archy, the poetic cockroach" and "Mehitabel, the toujours gai alley cat" on Sunday, May 22, at 7 PM.  Suggested donation is $10. 

The God Is Still Speaking Players (follow them on Facebook) next show will be Nunsense Jamboree in September (auditions early/mid July). 

Upcoming performances at the Cal Poly Performing Arts Center (www.pacslo.org) include SLO Youth Symphony: Season Finale & String Celebration on May 15, and The Moody Blues on May 18..

Murder In Mind Productions (www.murderinmind.com) will present their interactive murder mystery, The Altos - Blood Is Thicker Than Wine, on Sundays at The Spyglass Inn in Shell Beach through June 5.

Sorcerer Productions (check them out on Facebook) recently closed a VERY successful run of the Tony Award winning The Drowsy Chaperone in the Clark Center Studio Theatre.  Next Up?  Little Shop of Horrors is what I'm hearing ... stay tuned for details!

Other upcoming performances at the Clark Center (www.clarkcenter.org) include Central Coast Children's Choir Spring Concert on May 14, and Nipomo High School Drama's Best of Song & Dance from American Television May 19-21.

The Great American Melodrama's (www.americanmelodrama.com) current production, Soup du Jour, will run through June 12, followed by yet another Vaudeville Revue to tickle your musical senses.  And be sure to check out Camp Melodrama for young people ages 7-17 which runs July 18 - August 15.

Santa Maria Civic Theatre's (www.smct.org) presentation of An Evening with David Ives - 6 of Ives' unique one-act plays, will run every Friday and Saturday night at 8pm, through May 21st. 

The Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts (www.pcpa.org), the Central Coast's Resident Professional Theatre Company, located on the Allan Hancock College Campus in Santa Maria, is proud to present the 2011 PCPA graduating class Senior Showcase Conservatory Repertory productions of Twelfth Night (1:30 PM), and Hair (7:00 PM - SOLD OUT rumor has it) on May 14.  Their first summer production, Hairspray, will run June 16 - July 2 at the Marian Theatre in Santa Maria, and July 8-31 at the Solvang Festival Theater.  A reprise of this past season's The 39 Steps will perform at the Solvang Festival Theater June 16 - July 3.  And be sure to check out their Summer Acting Camp for Young Actors (July 10-16 for ages 7-12, July 23-30 for ages 13-18).  [NOTE: Housing needed for summer theatre interns.   Contact PCPA's Company Manager, Amy Barrick at (805) 928-7731 ext. 3153 for more information].

The Pewter Plough Playhouse's (www.pewterploughplayhouse.org) next production, Playhouse Creatures, will be presented June 3 - July 17.

The Theatre at the Old Grammar School (TOGS) (http://artistsofcambria.com/cambriapac/id4.html) is pleased to announce that Allied Arts Theatre has been revived and will be presenting The Octette Bridge Club July 29 - August 21, and Dearly Departed October 21 - November 20.

So, whatever else you may have planned for your entertainment calendar this month - I trust you will want to include attending a couple of the above mentioned events to support our Central Coast performing arts community!

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

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