A Little Rain Can't Dampen the Spirits in the Theatres on the California Central Coast!

Upon returning from MN & IA where I performed a couple of weddings, preached at a friend's ordination, and caught a matinee of the National Tour of "Wicked," the Central Coast was hammered by a storm that dropped several inches of rain, leaving thousands of households without power (ergo the late posting this week).  However - the shows must go on ... and so they shall!

Kelrik Productions (www.kelrikproductions.com), located in San Luis Obispo, proudly presents RENT, which will be performed at the Spanos Theatre (www.pacslo.org) through October 18.

PERSONAL NOTE: saw RENT last night (Saturday) and it is quite a wonderful production with some amazing performances - well worth your time and money if you can make it to the closing performance this evening at 8:00!

At the San Luis Obispo Little Theatre (www.slolittletheatre.org), the second show of their 2009/10 season, Rumors, runs through November 1.  A readers' theatre production of The Visit, written by Friedrich Durrenmatt and directed by Stewart Moss, will be presented November 6 and 7.  Auditions for The Children's Theatre production of A Little Princess will be October 20 and 22, with performances scheduled for January 15-31 in 2010.  A staged reading of The Devil's Chaplain, a new play about "the real Charles Darwin," by Alan Navarre, will be presented on November 29.  How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying will run November 20 - December 20.

Providing a broad selection of live entertainment options, in addition to Kelrik's production of RENT, the Cal Poly Performing Arts Center (www.pacslo.org) is proud to present Gaelic Storm (as seen in the film Titanic) on October 21, Complexions Contemporary Ballet on October 23, Deyo Dances on October 24, Virginia's Barter Theatre's Of Mice and Men on October 25, Bela Fleck, Zakir Hussain & Edgar Meyer on October 26, and Theatreworks USA's Charlotte's Web on November 1.

The God Is Still Speaking Players (check them out on Facebook or at www.sloucc.org) will hold auditions for a readers' theatre production of Archibald MacLeish's "J.B." October 19 & 20, with performances scheduled for Novermber 13-15 at the San Luis Obispo United Church of Christ.

The Studio of Performing Arts (www.thestudioofperformingarts.com) in Arroyo Grande will present The Miracle Worker November 6-21.

The Clark Center (www.clarkcenter.org), also located in Arroyo Grande, has a number of quality entertainment opportunities in the weeks ahead, including Pacific Repertory Opera's The Pirates of Penzance through October 18, Smokey Joe's Cafe October 24, Inga Swearingen on October 25 - featuring music from her upcoming album as well as old favorites and feature performances from special guests, the Rocky Horror Picture Show on November 7 (black box theatre), An Evening With Leo Kottke - also on November 7 in the main auditorium, and The Persuasions on November 14.

In Oceano, The Great American Melodrama & Vaudeville (www.americanmelodrama.com) presents Scary Poppins through November 15.  Following Scary Poppins at each performance is the "United Swing Organization Vaudeville Revue."  Set in a USO dance hall during World War II, this song, dance and comedy revue features the same cast singing great jazzy harmonies and dancing up a storm to some of the most popular tunes from the height of the swing era.

At the Santa Maria Civic Theatre (www.smct.org), the second show of the season, Wake Up, Darling, has performances scheduled for November 20 - December 12.

At the Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts (www.pcpa.org), the Central Coast's resident professional theatre company, they are busily preparing for their 2009/10 season - which opens with C.S. Lewis' The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, November 5 - December 23 at the Marian Theatre in Santa Maria, followed by Macbeth February 18 - March 7.

The Pewter Plough Playhouse (www.pewterploughplayhouse.org) in Cambria has opened their fall season, with The Mousetrap, which runs through November 8.

The Houselights Theatre (www.houselightstheatre.org), also in Cambria, recently completed a remount run of their popular summer musical Always ... Patsy Cline at the Spanos Theatre (www.pacslo.org).  Stay tuned for details concerning their next show.

And in Paso Robles, the Pioneer Players (www.pioneerplayers.org) are planning auditions October 27-29 for their next production - Oliver, scheduled to be presented January 15-30 of 2010.

So there you have it ... all a little damp around the edges - but some mighty fine entertainment nonetheless!

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

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