BWW Blogs: Mid-August Masques and More on the California Central Coast!

As we pass the middle of August, the California Central Coast live performance venues and theatres keep up a HOT summertime pace - even as the temperatures remain pleasantly moderate!

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 their closing performance of the classic 50s musical West Side Story on August 22 at the Solvang Festival Theater [NOTE: Saw the final Saturday matinee of this production at the Marian Theatre before it moved to Solvang - and it was AMAZING!].  Songs for a New World will play August 27 - September 12 at the Solvang Festival Theater [NOTE: Saw the final Sunday matinee in Santa Maria before the show moved to Solvang - you REALLY don't want to miss this one!].  And then the final show of the 2010 Summer Season will be the world premiere of Invierno by José Cruz González, August 27 - September 19 at the Severson Theatre in Santa Maria (PHOTO: L-R, Jerry Lee, Karin Hendricks, Melvin Abston and Melinda Parrett, Songs for a New World).

The Santa Maria Civic Theatre (www.smct.org) will present their next production, The White Liars and Black Comedy, September 10 - October 2.

The Great American Melodrama (www.americanmelodrama.com) in Oceano is into its summer repertory season with The Crock of Gold alternating performances with their second summer show, The Tavern, through September 19, along with "The Great Outdoors Vaudeville Review" following each performance.

Ryan Cordero (rccor385@gmail.com) and Sorcerer Productions (check them out on Facebook) will present a production of Forever Plaid September 17 - October 2 as part of their inaugural season of 4 shows.  In addition to Forever Plaid, Last Five Years is tentatively scheduled for production in November, Drowsy Chaperone in Feb/March of 2011, and Crazy for You in August 2011.

Upcoming performances at the Clark Center (www.clarkcenter.org) in Arroyo Grande, include the 9^th Annual Paul Wolff Accessibility Advocacy Awards with a benefit performance by comedian Josh Blue on August 28, A Night of Worship with Wayne & Libby Huirua September 4, country artist Darryl Worley September 12, San Francisco Stand-Up Comedy Competition September 30, Carlene Carter October 1, Richie Havens October 11, and folk icon Judy Collins October 14.

Murder in Mind Productions (http://murderinmind.com) presents Bewitched: De-Witched, a parody by John Logue and directed by Ron Kewish, at the Spyglass Inn, located at 2703 Spyglass Dr in Shell Beach, through September 5.  Reservations are required.

 

The San Luis Obispo Little Theatre (www.slolittletheatre.org) presents The Fantasticks, which will launch the theatre's 2010/11 main stage season, August 27 - September 19.

Ubu's Other Shoe, SLOLT's Readers' Theatre group, will presnt Side Man, written by Warren Leight and directed by John Battalino, for one performance on September 24. 

Upcoming performances at the Cal Poly Performing Arts Center (www.pacslo.org) include Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks September 24, Bill Cosby on September 26 (2 shows - 3:00 & 7:00 PM), international guitar sensation Benise September 29, Steve Martin October 6, and comedienne Paula Poundstone on October 7.

The God Is Still Speaking Players (follow them on Facebook or at www.sloucc.org) will present You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown the first 2 weekends in September - including a special Labor Day Monday matinee to support the ongoing work of the Prado Day Center.

Kelrik Productions (www.kelrikproductions.com) recently closed their FINAL Central Coast production of Into the Woods as Kelrik's Artistic Director, Erik Austin, prepares to leave the area and head south to San Diego.  THANKS for all the wonderful theatre you created and shared with the community during your years here on the Central Coast Erik - you will be missed ... and CONGRATS to you and Matt on your nuptials!

The Brickyard Theatre (www.brickyardhteatre.com) is currently working on a production of Quilters, which will be presented September 2-25 in Atascadero.  Contact Bobbi Stoffel at stoffelfam@charter.net for reservations or more information.

The Theatre at the Old Grammar School (TOGS) in Cambria presents Rosann Balbontin's Bridging the Gap through September 5.  Contact Theatre Director, Jeff Mar, if you have any questions at KRKJFRZ@aol.com.

The Pewter Plough Playhouse (www.pewterploughplayhouse.org), also located in Cambria, closed their production of Finishing Touches on February 28.  The theatre will now be closed for a time while it installs a new fire sprinkler system - stay tuned for details on its reopening and next show!

The Pioneer Players (www.pioneerplayers.org) finished a successful run of Oliver at the Templeton Performing Arts Center in January.  Next up was to be a summer musical production of Fiddler on the Roof, but performance rights were unavailable.  Then the plan was a production of The Unsinkable Molly Brown.  Now, I'm told they are working on a "special project" that has taken them in a different direction at this point, and they will hopefully be making an announcement soon ... stay tuned!

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

The Central Coast Shakespeare Festival (www.centralcoastshakespeare.org) recently presented its final performances of Twelfth Night at the Outside Amphitheatre at the River Oaks Hot Springs in Paso Robles.  If you missed seeing it, or their other summer show, The Gamester - then you missed seeing one VERY talented company that performs in a WONDERFUL outside venue under the stars.  Make sure they are on your theatre viewing calendar for NEXT summer!

So what are ya' waitin' for ... get out there while the gettin's good, make your reservations, and support the performing arts here on the beautiful California Central Coast!

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

Test and expand your Broadway knowledge with our new game - The Broadway Match-Up! How well do you know your Broadway casting trivia?	Play the Daily Game, explore current shows, and delve into past decades like the 2000s, 80s, and the Golden Age. Challenge your friends and see where you rank!
How well do you know your Tony Awards history? Take our never-ending quiz of nominations and winner history and challenge your friends.	Can you beat your friends? Play today’s daily Broadway word game, featuring a new theatrically inspired word or phrase every day!