California Central Coast's Theatre March Madness!

As we come to the beginning of April here on the California Central Coast, I trust your plans include availing yourself of at least a couple of the several theatrical offerings that are being presented for your viewing pleasure (or shortly will be) at any number of the live theatre and performance venues here on the Central Coast!

Kelrik Productions' (www.kelrikproductions.com) next show, Pinkalicious, will run through April 17 [NOTE: saw the opening matinee of this production - FUN show, and definitely one to take the kids to!].

Pinkalicious, the Musical began in January, 2007 as an original production created for the Family Programming series of New York City's Vital Theatre Company.  After a sold-out run, it moved through a series of ever larger performance venues where it has continued to delight audiences and critics alike.  Four year later, Pinkalicious is still playing in New York City and in critically acclaimed productions in Toronto, London, Chicago, and Los Angeles, among other venues.

Based on the 2006 New York Times best-selling children's book by Victoria and Elizabeth Kann, Pinkalicious is the tale of a girl who can't stop eating pink cupcakes despite her parents' warnings about the dangers of over-indulgence.  Her passion for pink lands her at the doctor's office with pinkititis, an affliction that turns her pink from head to toe - a dream come true for this pink-loving enthusiast.  But when her hue goes too far, only Pinkalicious can figure a way out of her predicament.

When Kelrik Artistic Director Erik Austin saw the musical last summer in Chicago, he knew he had to bring it to the Central Coast.  According to Austin, "Pinkalicious is not just a really funny musical, it teaches children valuable lessons about self control and the importance of moderation.  As someone who has been passionate about theatre since I was a kid, I am thrilled that we can offer the Central Coast premiere of this new show in a fully realized stage production.  It's a great opportunity to introduce young people to the magic of live theatre.  You can't ask for more than that."

Pinkalicious will be directed and choreographed by Kelrik Artistic Director Erik Austin and musically directed by Stephen Tosh.  The  cast  includes Ashlin Hatch and Dasha Novotny in the title role, Spencer Doyle and Jayce Garcia as Peter, Lacey McNamara and John Adams play  Mr. & Mrs. Pinkerton, with Matthew Ambrose as Dr. Wink, and Rebecca Canfield as Alison.  The cast is  completed with a fun group of upcoming young stars portraying Birds, Bees  and Butterflies.

Kelrik's auditions for Aladdin will be held on April 6 (performances May 21 - June 12).

SLO Little Theatre's (www.slolittletheatre.org) auditions for a readers' theatre production of Too Much Memory, a retelling of the classic Greek story of Antigone set firmly in the present, were held on March 21 (performance on May 6) [NOTE: still looking for another actor to fill out the cast at the time of this posting].  The next SLOLT mainstage production, The Gin Game, will run April 8 - May 1.  And be sure to check out their children's summer theatre program classes and productions at act@slolittletheatre.org.

Bellevue-Santa Fe Charter School will present Schoolhouse Rock Live! Junior at the Cuesta College Performing Arts Center April 1-3.  Call (805) 595-7169 for tickets and more information.

The God Is Still Speaking Players' (follow them on Facebook) next show will be Nunsense Jamboree in September (auditions early/mid July).  They are hosting a production of The Fourth Wall in collaboration with the RadioActive Players on April 30 & May 1 at 2 PM.  Contact director Gene Strohl (genestrohl@aol.com) for more information.

Upcoming performances at the Cal Poly Performing Arts Center (www.pacslo.org) include The Barber of Seville on April 3, An Evening with David Crosby & Graham Nash on April 4, The Met Live in HD: Rossini's Le Comte Ory on April 10, StringWreck on April 15, Mexico de Noche 2011 on April 16 (Spanos Theatre), Hooray for Polywood Open House Concert on April 16 (Cohan Center), All-State Musica Festival Concert on April 17, and Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers on April 21.

Morro Bay High School's Pirate Players (follow them on Facebook) will present Into the Woods April 7-9.  Contact Sherry Wright at swright@slcusd.org for additional information.

Atascadero High School's Greyhound Players (http://www.atas.k12.ca.us/ausd/ahs/finearts/drama/drama.html) presents The Boyfriend through April 10.  Call (805) 610-9936 for tickets and additional information.

The North County Dance & Performing Arts Foundation (www.northcountyperformingarts.org) will present DreamWeaver: The Journey Continues April 29 - May 1 at the Templeton Performing Arts Center.  Call (805) 286-7883 for tickets.  

The Paso Robles Youth Arts Foundation (www.pryaf.org) will present Tom Sawyer April 14-16.  Call the PRYAF office at (805) 238-5825 for additional information.

The Central Coast Shakespeare Festival (http://centralcoastshakespeare.org) will hold auditions on April 9 & 10 (appointment required) for their upcoming summer season, which will include As You Like It and The Comedy of Errors. 

The Pewter Plough Playhouse's (www.pewterploughplayhouse.org) current production of Becky's New Car runs through May 8.

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 first of a 4 play season, starting with An Evening of Comedy - Creme de la Femme, April 7-10, followed by The Octette Bridge Club July 29 - August 21 (auditions April 11), and Dearly Departed October 21 - November 20.

Coast Union High School will present Bye Bye Birdie through April 10 in Cambria.  Call (805) 927-3889 for tickets and more information.

Shandon High School will present The Revenge of Captain Hook April 2 & 3 in Shandon.  Call (805) 238-0286 for tickets and more information.

Murder In Mind Productions (www.murderinmind.com) is currently looking for actors to fill out the cast of their interactive murder mystery The Altos - Blood Is Thicker Than Wine, which will run on Sundays at The Spyglass Inn in Shell Beach May 1 - June 5.

Exit Pursued by a Bear (follow them on Facebook) is proud to announce their upcoming production of As You Like It (performances May 13-15, 19-21).  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.    

Ryan Cordero (rccor385@gmail.com) and Sorcerer Productions (check them out on Facebook) will present Drowsy Chaperone, with performances scheduled through April 23, at the Clark Center (www.clarkcenter.org) in Arroyo Grande as part of their inaugural season of shows.

Other upcoming performances at the Clark Center (www.clarkcenter.org) include Lisa Haley & the Zydekats on April 9, and Leon Redbone on April 29.

The Great American Melodrama's (www.americanmelodrama.com) current production, The Medicine Man, runs through April 24.

The Santa Maria Civic Theatre's (www.smct.org) next production, An Evening with David Ives, will run April 29 - May 21 (rumor has it they're still looking for an actor or 2 to round out the casts of this series of one act plays).

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 Pride and Prejudice, April 14 - May 8.  The 2011 PCPA graduating class will present their Senior Showcase Conservatory Repertory productions of Hair May 12 & 14 and Twelfth Night May 13 & 14. 

PCPA is also seeking 4 boys for the summer musicals Caroline, or Change and My Fairytale.

For Caroline, or Change, casting needs include two African American boys, one who looks to be 9 years old and the other who looks to be 12 years old. Both must be comfortable singing on their own in front of a large group of people. The third young performer is Caucasian who looks to be 10 years old. He must sing very well. This boy is the lead of the show and sings a lot. Caroline, or Change is set in Louisiana in 1963. The musical tells the story of the relationship between young Noah Gellman and Caroline, the African America woman who works as a maid for his family. The show was nominated for six 2004 Tony Awards.

For My Fairytale, casting needs include one boy who looks to be 12 years old for the American premiere of this musical. He must sing well. All ethnicities are encouraged to audition. My Fairytale, with music by Stephen Schwartz (Wicked) - is set in 1846 on the stage of the Royal Danish National Theater where Hans Christian Andersen is launched into the timeless landscape of his own imagination. What he discovers there not only changes his life, but the world, and proves the genesis for immortal storytelling.

Auditions are Sunday, April 17th, 10am - 12:30pm, at the Columbia Business Center

900 E. Stowell, Santa Maria, CA (Behind Costco) - Rm. 18

No Appointments

Be prepared to sing 16 to 32 bars of any song. Bring sheet music (no recordings please) - a pianist will be provided. If you have questions please call 805-928-7731 ext. 3100

So, with the recent rains pretty much nothing more than a damp memory at this point - put away those umbrellas, call to make a reservation for an afternoon or evening on the town, and get out there and support our California Central Coast performing arts!

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

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