California Central Coast Mid-Month Theatre Offerings

As we move toward the end of May, I trust you have made your plans to include a sampling of the several live performance and theatre productions that are presently available for your viewing pleasure here on the paradisiacal California Central Coast!

"All the world's a stage."  If you find yourself on the Central Coast and looking for some wholesome theatre, music, and cross-dressing, you should come enjoy Exit Pursued by a Bear's (follow them on Facebook) production of Shakespeare's As You Like It.   

The Bard's classic, comedic masterpiece presents the story of Rosalind, a young noblewoman banished by her usurping uncle, forced to disguise herself as a man and live in the forest.  Accompanying Rosalind are her cousin, Celia and her clown Touchstone who together spark an outrageous chain of events when encountering other banished courtiers, old romantic interests, and shepherds.  The ensuing love triangles, confusion, philosophy, and clash of country and court ultimately ask you to decide who the true fools really are.

In this special gender-reversed production of Shakespeare's classic, you will have the uncommon and enriching opportunity to experience the renowned character of Rosalind portrayed by a man and see a swash-buckling and charming female Orlando take the stage.

The show runs through May 22 at 7 PM at the SLO Space, an art gallery located on 3195 McMillan Avenue in San Luis Obispo.  Admission is pay-what-you-can, so bring your friends and enjoy a night of rustic revelry!  Contact Tyler Lopez at tylermlopez@gmail.com for more information [NOTE: Saw the Saturday night performance of this show and it was WONDERFUL - just one chance left to see it on Sunday at 7 PM ... so GO!  I guarantee you'll "like it" ... sorry - couldn't resist!]

San Luis Obispo High School Drama Department will present Gypsy through May 27.  Show times are at 7 PM.  Genral admission is $8; student admission is $5.  The school is located at 1499 San Luis Dr.  Call the school at (805) 596-4040 for more information

SLO Little Theatre's (www.slolittletheatre.org) current mainstage production, Spinning Into Butter, runs through June 12.  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) current show, Aladdin, runs through June 12.  Auditions for Seussical the Musical will be held on June 1 (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!

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 September 2-5 & 9-11 (auditions July 10-12). 

Upcoming performances at the Cal Poly Performing Arts Center (www.pacslo.org) include The Groundlings on May 22 (Spanos Theatre), Two-Piano Recital: Thies and Spiller on May 24, Cal Poly Spring Symphony Concert on May 28, RSVP XVI: Duende on May 31 & June 2, and Cal Poly Arab Music Ensemble Spring Concert on June 3.

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 Dana Elementary Schools annual school play, Aladdin, on May 24, Nipomo High School Dance Company's We Will Rock You May 27 & 28, and Mother Goose, presented by Everybody Can Dance & the Santa Maria Civic Ballet, on June 11 & 12.

To help celebrate Arroyo Grande's Centennial, South County Historical Society (SCHS) is producing "100 Years of People - Stories from our Past,"  a series of Readers' Theatre  programs, each an hour long, adapted from historic writings to run every Saturday at 2PM throughout the summer.

"Young Clara"  
Born 1855 to missionary parents in Indian Territory, Clara's childhood years turn her into an educated and adventurous woman, who arrives in Arroyo Grande in 1883.   

DATES:

Rehearsals May 21-June 2, specifics to be determined.

Dress Rehearsal with audience on Friday, June 3, 6:30PM

Performances Saturdays at 2PM, June 4, 11, 18, 25

AVAILABLE ROLES:

BABY CLARA - onstage pantomime, one scene with some dialogue, from infancy to 6 yrs.  Our actress needn't be that young, as long as she looks younger than...

CHILD CLARA - 6-12 years old, mostly pantomime.

YOUNG CLARA - ages 12-28, attends school, becomes a teacher and has adventures in various areas of California and Hawaii.

MOTHER - ages 30-55, Clara's mother, married to a missionary in Indian Territory (Oklahoma), a small but strong pioneer woman.

"Life in the New City"
Clara's continuing adventures in Arroyo Grande as a pioneer teacher and wife of the city's first permanent doctor, Edwin Paulding.

DATES:

Rehearsals June 17-June30, specifics to be determined.

Dress Rehearsal with audience Friday, July 1, 6:30PM

Performances Saturdays at 2PM, July 2, 9, 16, 23
    
AVAILABLE ROLES:

CLARA - 28-through old age, a teacher and exceptionally forceful woman who helped create Arroyo Grande's first school board, assisted her husband, AG's first permanent physician. She is a woman of determination and intellect.

EDWIN - 30-through old age, a medical doctor, craftsman, woodworker, dreamer.  Shy and gentle, he lacks the drive and strength of his wife.

All rehearsals and performances will take place at the IOOF Hall on Bridge St in Arroyo Grande (across from McLintocks).  

Talent should e-mail Jan Scott with CONTACT INFORMATION and ROLE(s) of interest: jans194@aol.com  Subject: Casting

If desired, scripts can be read at the Patricia Loomis Library, 134 S. Mason St, Arroyo Grande, between the hours of 1-5 on weekdays.

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) next production, The Frog Prince of Spamalot, will have auditions May 23 & 24, and performances July 15-24.   

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, will present its first summer production, Hairspray, 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].

Paradise Productions (www.paradisetheatrecompany.com) will present Yours, Anne - the musical version of the story of Anne Frank, May 26-28 & June 2-4 at Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Atascadero.

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, regardless of what else you have going on, I hope you will consider attending and supporting a couple of the various performing arts organizations' presentations here on the Central Coast in the weeks ahead!

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

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