Mid-Month Matinees & More on the California Central Coast!

As we come to the middle of June (how time flies when you're havin' fun!), I trust you will be wanting to make your reservations sooner rather than later so that you have good seats for the shows you'll be attending at any number of our live performance and theatre venues here on our idyllic California Central Coast!

The Pewter Plough Playhouse's (www.pewterploughplayhouse.org) next production, Playhouse Creatures, will be presented through July 17 in Cambria.  Playhouse Creatures is written by acclaimed contemporary playwright April De Angelis.  It is a juicy, vibrant and moving comedy drama which explores the backstage and off-stage lives of the first women allowed to perform on the London stage as actresses, given that women were previously forbidden on stage and women's parts were routinely played by men in drag.  A rollicking and robust story, it takes place in the 1670's, focusing on the famous Nell Gwyn and four other pioneering figures, who stepped on stage for the first time as actresses in their own right, facing challenges still common for women, surviving on their resourcefulness in a troublesome time, causing a sensation with audiences and bringing theatre into the modern age - playhouse creatures!  The 17th century has never been so much fun - taut, hilarious and at times adult dialogue.

"A pungently witty portrait of the stage ... and an actress's existence ... you'll come away moved and inspired and with a few more female role models stamped firmly on your heart" - Time Out

The cast features Jill Garcia, Janice Peters, Anita Schwaber, Kristie Siebert and Sharyn Young.  The director is Sandy Bosworth, who previously directed The Mousetrap at the Plough.

The Theatre at the Old Grammar School in Cambria (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.

The Central Coast Shakespeare Festival (http://centralcoastshakespeare.org) is proud to announce its 2011 summer schedule of The Comedy of Errors and As You Like It, to be presented at the River Oaks Amphitheatre in Paso Robles, July 14 - August 13.

SLO Little Theatre's (www.slolittletheatre.org) current schedule includes children's summer theatre classes and productions (get more information at act@slolittletheatre.org), a production of The Compleat Works of Wllm Shkpr (Abridged) June 24 - July 17, and ACT's summer youth production of Ann of Green Gables July 29 - August 7.

Kelrik Productions' (www.kelrikproductions.com) Aladdin and his Wonderful Lamp, following a successful run at Unity, will be presented for ONE performance only at the Spanos Theatre on Cal Poly campus in collaboration with the Pacific Dance Center on June 25 at 3 PM.  Their next production, Seussical the Musical, will be presented July 16-24 at the Spanos Theatre as well.  Also - be sure to check out their acting classes for kids & youth!

The God Is Still Speaking Players (follow them on Facebook) next show will be Nunsense Jamboree, September 2-5 & 9-11, at the SLO United Church of Christ (auditions July 9 & 10). 

Upcoming performances at the Cal Poly Performing Arts Center (www.pacslo.org) include the California International Choir Festival & Competition June 24-26, and Summer Drama Workshop for Children's King Arthur's Quest July 5-9.

Murder In Mind Productions (www.murderinmind.com) will present The Beverly Hillbillies Murder Mystery, July 3 - September 4 (auditions for the part of Jane Hathaway being held the week of June 13). 

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 - performances August 12-28 on the Clark Center main stage.

Other upcoming performances at the Clark Center (www.clarkcenter.org) include the Gold Coast Chorus' "Songs We All Know" on June 18, and "Live, Breathe, Dance" by Coastal Dance & Music Academy on June 26.

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.   

Performances: Saturdays at 2PM, June 25

"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.

Performances: Saturdays at 2PM, July 2, 9, 16, 23.
    
The Great American Melodrama's (www.americanmelodrama.com) next production is Butch Cassidy and the Sunburnt Kid through September 17, which will run in repertory with Lost At Sea July 14 - September 18.  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 be presented 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, through 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 through 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].

So, regardless of whatever other early summer plans you may have, I trust you will want to include lending your support to the varied and talented performing arts community here on the Central Coast!

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

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