Late Month Matinees and More on the California Central Coast!

As we move toward the end of September, I hope you are planning to attend a couple of the live performance and theatre productions currently (or soon to be) running at one of the several live entertainment venues here on the beautiful California Central Coast!

The Santa Maria Civic Theatre proudly celebrates its 53rd season with the classic comedy, Blithe Spirit, the first play of the 2011-2012 season.  It is written by Noel Coward and directed by Alan H. Foster.  Show dates are September 30, October 1, 7 & 8.  All performances are at 8 p.m.  

In this Noel Coward comedy classic, novelist Charles Condomine thinks he can get some useful material for his next book by inviting Madame Arcati, the local medium, to conduct a séance.  Charles gets more than he bargained for, however, when the eccentric Madame Arcati unwittingly conjures up his late wife Elvira, much to his present wife's dismay.  Elvira begins plotting to get her husband to join her on the "other side," but her cunning plan goes horribly (and hilariously) awry.

The Santa Maria Civic Theatre is in its 53rd season of presenting live stage productions to theatergoers on the Central Coast, offering affordable and professional quality theatre to its audiences.  This intimate and comfortable theatre is located at 1660 N. McClelland Street in Santa Maria.  All tickets are $15.00, except for students who are $10.00.  Doors open at 7:30pm.  If you need information and/or reservations, call the anytime reservation number at (805) 922-4442, or check the SMCT website at http://www.facebook.com/l/ZAQAQ3qJ9AQDr6g7lZN3AKr9Zz_nUzhfVxWx8BYmwuOEQvw/www.smct.org/.

Cast: Ruth: Katie Cornell
Charles: Tim McManus
Mrs. Bradman: Linda Scott
Dr. Bradman: Craig Scott
Madame Arcati: Dixie Arthur
Edith: Meagan Kuchan
Elvira: Angela Hutt-Chamberlin

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 My Fairytale, a new musical about Hans Christian Andersen with music & lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (Godspell, Pippin, Wicked) through September 25 at the Solvang Festival Theater  [NOTE: Saw a matinee of this show at the Marian Theatre in Santa Maria before it departed for its Solvang run - and it is absolutely MAGICAL ... you will be hearing MUCH more about this show as more people see and hear about it, of this I have NO doubt!].  Next on the hit parade is A Christmas Carol - the musical, November 10 - December 23.

The Lompoc Civic Theatre's (www.lompoccivictheatre.com) next endeavor will be a reading of a new play called Saints of My Own Design as a fundraiser for the Susan G. Komen Fund.  The play is the story of a family each touched by breast cancer.  It will be done October 8 at the Grossman Gallery in the Lompoc Public Library located at 501 E. North Avenue, Lompoc CA 93436.  There will be a silent auction as well.

The Great American Melodrama (www.americanmelodrama.com) is proud to present The Werewolf of Dr. Oz through November 13.  This production is, of course, followed by an all new high energy Vaudeville Revue - which many theatre patrons insist is worth the price of admission! 

Sorcerer Productions' Little Shop of Horrors (https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=137142626372228#!/event.php?eid=219102174797618) recently closed their run on the Clark Center main stage in Arroyo Grande.  Next up?  Arsenic and Old Lace October 7-23 in the Studio Theatre.

Other upcoming performances at the Clark Center (www.clarkcenter.org) include America the Beautiful presented by Central Coast Follies October 1-9, and the Kingston Trio on October 9.

Murder In Mind Productions (www.murderinmind.com) will present The Addams Family Reunion October 2 - November 6 at The Spyglass Inn in Shell Beach.

SLO Little Theatre (www.slolittletheatre.org) is pleased to announce auditions for a readers' theatre production of T.S. Eliot's The Cocktail Party September 26 & 27 (performances November 18 & 19).  Next on the main stage is Oklahoma October 7 - November 6.

Espressivo! Chamber Theatre's (http://espressivotheatre.com) next production: LUNATICS IN LOVE!, or Singing in the Reign (of Terror) have performances scheduled in various venues through October 2.  Call David Hance at (805) 550-7656 for more information.

The God Is Still Speaking Players (https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/92718528887) was proud to present Sister Amnesia's Country Western Nunsense Jamboree, September 2-5 & 9-11.  Next up?  "Celebration In Song" - a musical variety show, November 19 & 20 at 2 PM, to benefit the good works of GALA and PFLAG here on the Central Coast.

Kelrik Productions' (www.kelrikproductions.com) was proud to present From Main Street to 42^nd Street on August 13, featuring Jacque Carnahan.  Stay tuned for what's next (I'm hearing rumblings about a production of Avenue Q)!   

Upcoming performances at the Cal Poly Performing Arts Center (www.pacslo.org) include Chanticleer: Love Story on September 25, Jeffery Broussard & The Creole Cowboys on September 30, and Come Together: The Beatles Concert Experience on October 1.

The Theatre at the Old Grammar School in Cambria (TOGS) (http://artistsofcambria.com/cambriapac/id4.html) and Allied Arts Theatre will present Dearly Departed October 21 - November 20.

The Pewter Plough Playhouse (www.pewterploughplayhouse.org) will present A.R. Gurney's The Fourth Wall October 7 - 30.

So, regardless of what else you may have on your calendar during the next week or two, I trust you will be wanting to plan on going to see at least a couple of the theatre and live performance offerings that are currently available here on the Central Coast of California!

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

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