Summer Theatre on the California Central Coast!

The calendar reminds us that we will soon bid farewell to July, which only leaves August and the first few days in September leading up to the Labor Day weekend to enjoy the summer fun in the sun that the beautiful California Central Coast offers vacation goers (not to mention those of us lucky enough to call this area our home!).  We've got beaches, shops, restaurants, wineries, and a wide variety of live theatre entertainment for every taste and budget - so why not come and experience this little corner of God's Creation some time during the next month?  If it's your first visit - I practically guarantee you it won't be your last!

Here in San Luis Obispo, the San Luis Obispo Little Theatre (www.slolittletheatre.org) will soon be closing its hit summer music & dancing revue production of Vegas, Baby!, written and choreographed by Emmy Award winner Suzy Miller, with a cast of some of the finest young pro-caliber singers and dancers that you're gonna' find here on the Central Coast!  According to one review, the show "has roof-raising vocalists, brilliant dancing of all genres, terrific comedy sketches, dazzling costumes, and a whole lot of heart!"  The show runs through August 2 - so get your tickets reserved NOW before it's too late (photo above of Cadence Mitchell as the ringmaster in Vegas, Baby!). 

Did you know that the SLO Little Theatre is one of the oldest continuously running community theatres in the nation, beginning operation in 1947, and having staged nearly 400 productions in more than 20 locations around the county over the past 60+ years?  The theatre has enjoyed almost 15 years in its current location, the former SLO County Public Library, in the heart of "SLO Town," at 888 Morro St (human totem pole sculpture pictured above is on the lawn in front of the theatre).  In addition to Vegas, Baby!, the theatre will be presenting a readers' theatre production of The Year of Magical Thinking, written by Joan Didion and starring Susan Merson, on August 14.  And then on August 24, auditions for the second show of the 2009/10 Season, Rumors, will be held.  The Season's first show, The Clean House, opens August 28 and runs through September 20.

To our north, in the quaint little seaside community of Cambria (population: 6500 or so), two different theatre organizations offer quality productions on a regular basis.  The Houselights Theatre (www.houselightstheatre.org) is gearing up for a remount of their recent popular production of Always ... Patsy Cline, which will be presented at the Cal Poly Performing Arts Center Spanos Theatre (www.pacslo.org) on August 29 and 30.  The Pewter Plough Playhouse (www.pewterploughplayhouse.org) is currently producing Bernard Slade's famous romantic comedy Same Time Next Year through August 15, and then will present Agatha Christie's classic whodunnit murder mystery The Mousetrap September 11 (preview) - October 25, with a Gala Champagne Opening on September 12.

A bit farther north and inland in Paso Robles - the heart of the California Central Coast wine country (with an estimated 200+ wineries to visit!), you'll find the Pioneer Players (www.pioneerplayers.org), who have recently completed a successful run of The Secret Garden, and are busily preparing for their CIRQUE DU PIONEER Summer Theatre Camp, directed by Tabatha Skanes, which runs August 3-15 for kids 8-15 years of age.

The Central Coast Shakespeare Festival (www.centralcoastshakespeare.org) also makes its summer home in Paso Robles, at the Outdoor Amphitheatre at the River Oaks Hot Springs.  They are currently performing Treasure Island (closes August 7) and A Midsummer Night's Dream (closes August 15th) in repertory through August 15.

A short distance south of San Luis Obispo, the Clark Center (www.clarkcenter.org) in the Village of Arroyo Grande is presenting the hysterically funny Mel Brooks' musical The Producers August 21 - September 6.  This show, produced by Sorcerer Productions (check them out on Facebook), is directed by Ryan Cordero, and stars Dana Shaheen as the sarcastic, fiery, willing-to-do-anything-to-make-money Max Bialystock, and Jeff Salsbury as the mousy accountant would-be-producer Leo Bloom.

On down the coast a bit farther in Oceano, The Great American Melodrama & Vaudeville (www.americanmelodrama.com) is currently running Gold Fever at the Rough and Ready in repertory with Rip Van Winkle through September 20.  Plus, every show includes a wonderful "Act 2" vaudeville revue of song, dance, and comedy that showcases the individual and combined talents of the company.

And then, just south of the SLO County border into Santa Barbara County, the Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts (www.pcpa.org) continues its 45th Anniversary Season with The 25th Annual Putnam Counting Spelling Bee (through August 2 at the Festival Theater in Solvang), The Music Man (through August 1 at the Marian Theatre in Santa Maria; August 7-23 in Solvang), The Spitfire Grill (August 7-23 in Santa Maria; August 28 - September 13 in Solvang), and Distracted (August 28 - September 20 at the Severson Theatre in Santa Maria).

The Santa Maria Civic Theatre (www.smct.org) will open its 2009/10 50th Anniversary Season with a production of Love, Sex, and the I.R.S., which will run September 11 - October 3.

ALSO - this just in: Gale McNeeley (gmcneeley@yahoo.com) will be doing his one man show Over the Rainbow, which is a musical tribute to lyricist Yip Harburg, on August 2 at the home of Nancy Johnson (149 Palm Court Dr) at 3 PM in Santa Maria, and on August 8 at 2 PM at Dave's Art Farm (1451 Branch Mill Rd) in Arroyo Grande.  Call 805-925-1882 for information and directions.

Whether you're comin' to the area for a day trip, an overnight, a weekend, an extended vacation, or if you live here, the opportunities for live theatre entertainment are endless ... well, maybe not endless - but there sure are a bunch of them!  ENJOY your time at the theatre - and THANK YOU for supporting live theatre here on the Central Coast!

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

PERSONAL NOTE: My wife Linda and I had the pleasure of attending a matinee performance of the National Tour of "Fiddler on the Roof" at the Pantages Theatre (www.broadwayla.org) in LA on July 25, with Chaim Topol in the role of Tevye in what he's calling his "Farewell Tour" (he will be 74 in September after all!).  Although there were moments musically where he was not the Topol of old as seen in the movie (37 years ago mind you!), his presence and energy on stage were remarkable ... but I suppose that's to be expected after playing a role for 40 years!  If you're in LA between now and August 6, and can get a ticket, I just have one word for you - GO!    

 

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