BWW Blogs: California Central Coast January Theatre Openings & Closings

BroadwayWorld.com brings you theater recommendations from San Luis Obispo's own Curt Miner.

Well, the week of New Years has come and gone - hope you and yours had a Snappy New Year, which my Mom always said is even better than a Happy New Year!  And when it comes to some pretty snappy entertainment opportunities - they are in plenteous supply here on the beautiful California Central Coast!

The San Luis Obispo Little Theatre (www.slolittletheatre.org) will present a children's theatre production of A Little Princess January 15-31.  A readers' theatre production of The Washing Place by Devin Wallace, who will also be directing, will have a single performance on February 5. 

The God Is Still Speaking Players (check them out on Facebook or at www.sloucc.org) will hold auditions for a collaborative effort with Bent Angel Productions on a readers' theatre production of 12 Angry Men on January 12 & 13 at the United Church of Christ in San Luis Obispo, with performances February 19-21.

Kelrik Productions (www.kelrikproductions.com), also located in San Luis Obispo, completed a successful presentation of the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize winning production of RENT at the Spanos Theatre on the Cal Poly campus in October.  Auditions for Seussical have been held, with performances scheduled for February 20 - March 14 at Unity in San Luis Obispo.

Performances at the Cal Poly Performing Arts Center (www.pacslo.org) include the legendary Motown group The Temptations in concert on January 11 - marking the 45th anniversary of their first #1 hit, The Best of Momix on January 13, Dallas Children's Theater's Most Valuable Player (based on the life of Jackie Robinson) on January 15, Frederick Swann on the Forbes Pipe Organ on January 17, Ted Neeley in the title role of the National Tour of Jesus Christ Superstar on January 18 (I've got MY ticket!), the Kronos Quartet on January 20, and the Moscow Circus on January 25.

In Oceano, The Great American Melodrama & Vaudeville (www.americanmelodrama.com) recently closed their Holiday Extravaganza, and after a bit of a well deserved break, will present I Hate Hamlet January 21 - March 7.

At the Clark Center (www.clarkcenter.org) in Arroyo Grande, The Peking Acrobats will be performing on January 14, followed by Sophie Milman in concert on January 15, and Yesterday - A Tribute to the Beatles on January 30. 

The Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts (www.pcpa.org), the Central Coast's Resident Professional Theatre Company, has just completed their run of C.S. Lewis' The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe at the Marian Theatre in Santa Maria.  We had an opportunity to see this show in the final weekend of its run and it was absolutely magical!  What's next?  Macbeth opens February 18.

The Santa Maria Civic Theatre's (www.smct.org) next production will be Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap, with performances scheduled for February 5-27.

The Pewter Plough Playhouse (www.pewterploughplayhouse.org), located in Cambria, will present a production of Jean Kerr's heartwarming comedy Finishing Touches that will run January 15 through February 28.

The Houselights Theatre (www.houselightstheatre.org) completed a successful remount run of their popular summer musical Always ... Patsy Cline at the Spanos Theatre on the Cal Poly campus this past August.  Stay tuned for details concerning their next show (and where it will be held).

And in Paso Robles, the Pioneer Players (www.pioneerplayers.org) are busily putting the finishing touches on their next production, Oliver, scheduled to be presented January 15-30 of 2010.

So, as you finish putting away the Holiday ornaments and cleaning up from your New Years festivities - don't forget to take the time to lend your support to one of our several Central Coast live theatre and entertainment establishments.  I'm sure you'll enjoy the performance - and they will no doubt appreciate your patronage!

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

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