April 2012 - Early April Theatre Opportunities on the Central Coast of California

As we begin our journey into April, I hope you will want to make plans to take in a couple of shows at one of the numerous theatre and live performance establishments that ply their entertainment trade here on the California Central Coast!

Kelrik Productions' (www.kelrikproductions.com) Theatre After Dark Series will present The Rocky Horror Show LIVE through April 14 at Unity (1490 Southwood Drive in San Luis Obispo).

Let the good times roll as the mega-watt cast distastefully titillates your very soul from every corner of the theater.  Come ready to rock to this glam-stra-va-gan-stic salute to Richard O'Brien's musical masterpiece while giving yourself over to absolute pleasure as they send you up this send-up of the send-up that is The Rocky Horror Show LIVE.

The musical that became a movie and started a 35-year nonstop cultural phenomenon is back where it is meant to be seen - live on stage.   When Brad and Janet, a clean-cut young couple from the suburbs, get caught with a flat in the middle of nowhere, they seek help from the devilishly charming transvestite Dr. Frank 'N' Furter.  What they discover in his mysterious laboratory is a time warp of sexual and scientific possibilities - and, perhaps, true love.

Director Danielle Dutro recently saw a production of The Rocky Horror Show LIVE in San Diego at The Old Globe Theatre and was hooked.  "I honestly didn't know what I was in for!" says Dutro.  "I knew this production was going to be different than any other ‘Rocky’ I'd seen before because it was NOT in front of a movie screen with the actors merely lip syncing the words and musical numbers...there were amazing sets and lighting and the performers were some of the best I've ever seen! By doing this version of The Rocky Horror Show LIVE I'm hoping to give the community a new 'liking' of such a popular cult phenomenon.  Since its beginnings, Rocky Horror has been a place where people can be who they want to be.  I want our production to follow the same ideals, to be a place where people can wave their ‘freak flag’ freely, without judgment.  The show features all the classic songs you've come to love including ‘Sweet Transvestite,’ ‘Damn it Janet,’ and ‘The Time Warp,’ all performed with a live band - but this version aims to turn your insides OUT, making you (and the rest of the world) Rocky virgins all over again!"

This show includes mature subject matter and language.  Therefore, it is required that audience members under the age of 17 bring a parent or guardian with them to the performance [NOTE: Saw the Friday evening performance of the second weekend - and the cast does a GREAT job of bringing this rather ribald cult classic from the 70s to the stage!].

The cast of The Rocky Horror Show LIVE includes Erik Austin (Frank 'N' Furter), Mark Rohner (Riff Raff, Usher), Taylor Peters (Magenta, Usherette), Ali Peters (Janet), CJ Gormley (Brad), Travis Nefores (Rocky), Karyn Blaney (Columbia), Michael McKinney (Narrator, Eddie Dr. Scott) with Benjamin King, Katie Matten, Clara Fulks and Marissa Purcell as the Phantoms.  The creative team includes: Danielle Dutro (Director), Lacey McNamara (Musical Director), Buffy Doran (Scenic Painting), Keith Wetzel (Costume Design) and Ryan Manus (Stage Manager) [Photo by Danielle Dutro Photography of Taylor Peters and Mark Rohner].

Next up in Kelrik’s Family Theatre Series is Willy Wonka (performances May 12 – June 3).

SLO Little Theatre (www.slolittletheatre.org) Ubu's Other Shoe readers' theatre series will hold auditions for BOOM! April 16 & 17 (performances May 11 & 12).  Next on the mainstage will be Dinner With Friends April 13 - May 6, followed by The House of Blue Leaves May 25 - June 17.  And be sure to check out the Academy of Creative Theatre’s (http://www.slolittletheatre.org/pages/classes) children & youth theatre opportunities for this spring and summer!

The God Is Still Speaking Players (https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/92718528887), in collaboration with Bent Angel Productions, recently completed a readers’ theatre production of Our Town.  Next up is a summer musical production of Snoopy – auditions July 16 & 17, performances August 31 - September 9. 

Upcoming performances at the Cal Poly Performing Arts Center (www.pacslo.org) include The MET Live in HD: Massenet’s Manon on April 7, Imagen y Espíritu Ballet Folklórico de Cal Poly’s Mexico de Noche on April 7, Deyo Dances April 13 & 14, and Bettye Lavette on April 14.

The Central Coast Shakespeare Festival (http://centralcoastshakespeare.org) will hold auditions April 14 & 15 at the Ludwick Community Center in SLO for their summer productions of The Trials of Robin Hood and The Tempest.

The Cuesta College Performing Arts Center (http://academic.cuesta.edu/performingarts/) will present their Spring Drama Production, Three Musketeers, April 27 – May 6.

Espressivo! Chamber Theatre (http://espressivotheatre.com/) will present The Botanical Engineers May 12 – June 10 at various locations on the Central Coast – stay tuned for locations & times.

AHS Greyhound Theatre (https://www.facebook.com/events/336683296349613/) will present South Pacific April 26 - May 6 at the Atascadero Junior High School.

The Theatre at the Cambria Centerfor the Arts (http://artistsofcambria.com/cambriapac/index.html) will present a staged reading of Old Love with Judith Jesness and Paul Schecter April 14 & 15 and 21 & 22.

The Pewter Plough Playhouse (www.pewterploughplayhouse.org) in Cambria will present Outward Bound April 20 – June 3.

Paso Robles High School Drama Department's (http://prhsdrama.com/index.html) Spring Musical will be Guys and Dolls (performances May 11-20).

Murder In Mind Productions (www.murderinmind.com) will present SLO Legal through May 6 at Spyglass Inn in Shell Beach.

The Spot (https://www.facebook.com/#!/hit.the.spot) in Arroyo Grande will present Exit Pursued By a Bear’s The Changeling April 13-21.

Upcoming performances at the Clark Center (www.clarkcenter.org) include Suspended Motion Aerial Arts’ Eventyr April 12 & 13, Four Sides of 40 on April 14, California Theatre Center’s Beauty and the Beast on April 16, and the National Tour of Winter Dance Party - the official live and authentic re-creation of the final tour of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper before their untimely deaths in a plane crash in 1959.

The Great American Melodrama (www.americanmelodrama.com) in Oceano is proud to present The Three Musketeers, through April 22, along with a Blue Collar Vaudeville Revue salute to plumbers, electricians, mechanics, and many more as they work hard for the money!

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 Romeo and Juliet, April 19 - May 13.

The Santa Maria Civic Theatre's (www.smct.org) next production will be the comedy Battle of Shallowford - performances April 27 - May 19.

The Lompoc Civic Theatre (www.lompoccivictheatre.com) is currently presenting a dinner theatre production of The Outrageous Adventures of Sheldon and Mrs Levine at D'Vine Wine Bar - FINAL performance on April 15 (reservations required).

So, whatever else you might be planning over the next few weeks, I trust you will want to include attending at least a couple of performances at some of the live entertainment and theatre venues that can be found here on the Central Coast of California!

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