February California Central Coast Theatre Offerings

As we come to the beginning of February, I hope your plans include attending some of the wonderful live performances that are happening in any number of our California Central Coast live performance venues!

Doubt by John Patrick Shanley, will be performed at the Santa Maria Civic Theatre (www.smct.org) on Friday and Saturday nights throughout February - it opens on Feb. 4th; the other 7 shows are Feb. 5th, 11th, 12th, 18th, 19th, 25th, and 26th.  Show time is 8pm; doors open at 7:30pm.  Winner of the 2005 Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winner for Best Drama, Doubt tells the story of Sister Aloysius, a Bronx Catholic school principal, who takes matters into her own hands when she suspects Father Flynn of improper relations with one of the male students.  A compelling parable about gossip, faith, and yes, doubt, director Stuart Wenger says that this play "is not about what people believe in, but HOW people defend those beliefs."  The cast features Dixie Arthur as Sister Aloysius, Alan Benson as Father Flynn, Angela Hutt-Chamberlin as Sister James, and Nicki Barnes as Mrs. Muller.  The Santa Maria Civic Theatre is located in the north end of Santa Maria at 1660 N. McClelland St., just north of Donovan Rd. and one block east of Broadway.  General admission is $14.  Please call 922-4442 for reservations; you can also look for them at www.smct.org.  [Advisory: Doubt contains mature themes]

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 the next show of their season, The 39 Steps, February 10 through March 6 (later to be reprised June 16 - July 3 at the Solvang Festival Theater).

The Great American Melodrama's (www.americanmelodrama.com) current production at their newly renovated theatre in Oceano, Under the Boardwalk, runs through March 6.

Upcoming performances at the Clark Center (www.clarkcenter.org) include the Peter Rowan Bluegrass band on February 5, California Theatre Center's Most Valuable Player on February 11, The Four Bitchin' Babes in Diva Nation on February 12, Artbeat Inc's In the Mood on February 16, The Damon Castillo Band: Music for the Next Generation on February 18, and Take Me Home: The Music of John Denver on February 19.

Ryan Cordero (rccor385@gmail.com) and Sorcerer Productions (check them out on Facebook) recently closed their very successful production of Forever Plaid, at the Clark Center (www.clarkcenter.org) in Arroyo Grande as part of their inaugural season of shows.  Next up is Drowsy Chaperone, with performances scheduled for April 1-24.

Kelrik Productions' (www.kelrikproductions.com) current show, Alice's Wondrous Adventure, runs through February 6 [NOTE: Saw the opening matinee performance and this is a WONDERFUL show!].  Their next production, Annie, will run February 18 - March 6 [NOTE: looking for one additional male ensemble member as this posting goes to press on 2/1].  Auditions will be held on February 23 for Pinkalicious, which will run April 2-17.

SLO Little Theatre (www.slolittletheatre.org) will hold auditions for a readers' theatre production of My Name is Rachel Corrie on February 9 & 10 (performance on March 25).  THIS IS ROCK n' ROLL! takes to the stage February 18 - March 20.

Auditions for The Great American Railroad Show (www.americanrailroadshow.com) were recently held at Unity (1490 Southwood Dr in SLO) moving toward performances March 18-27.

The God Is Still Speaking Players (follow them on Facebook) will present a readers' theatre production of The Diary of Anne Frank the first weekend in March (auditions on February 6, 7 & 8, 7 PM, SLO UCC, 11245 Los Osos Valley Rd), and Nunsense Jamboree in September (auditions early/mid July).

Upcoming performances at the Cal Poly Performing Arts Center (www.pacslo.org) include Orchesis Dance - Shift February 5, the Vienna Boys Choir on February 8, the Russian National Ballet Theatre's Swan Lake on February 10, Brian Regan in concert on February 11, Vagina Monologues February 18-20, Lily Tomlin on February 19, and Falsettos February 24 - March 5.

The Houselights Theatre (www.houselightstheatre.org) is looking for a new place to call home ... got any suggestions?  Details concerning their next show are TBD (and where it will be held).

The Pioneer Players (www.pioneerplayers.org) presented a "special project."  Always ... Patsy Cline, at Centennial Park in Paso Robles for 2 performances in September.  Stay tuned for what they'll be doing next! 

The Pewter Plough Playhouse (www.pewterploughplayhouse.org) in Cambria is proud to present The Glass Menagerie, directed by Nehemiah Persoff, with performances through March 5.  Their next production, Becky's New Car, will run March 25 - May 8.

The Theatre at the Old Grammar School (TOGS) (http://artistsofcambria.com/cambriapac/id4.html) also located in Cambria, closed Rosann Balbontin's Bridging the Gap in September.  Contact Theatre Director, Jeff Mar, at KRKJFRZ@aol.com to find out what their next project will be.

So, whatever else you may have planned for the weeks ahead - I hope you will be attending a couple of shows and supporting the performing arts here on the California Central Coast ... I have NO Doubt you'll be glad you did!

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

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