California Central Coast Late July Theatre Offerings

As we come to the final week of July, I hope you will be wanting to attend one (or more?) of the numerous theatrical offerings currently running at the several theatre and live performance venues that make their home here on the California Central Coast!

The Central Coast Shakespeare Festival's (http://centralcoastshakespeare.org) 2011 summer schedule of shows is under way in Paso Robles through August 13.  This season, they bring us two comedies, in repertory, that are sure to provide fantastic fun under the summer night sky.  First, one of Shakespeare's earliest and most hilarious plays: The Comedy of Errors.  Next, the delightful romantic comedy As You Like It.  Both will no doubt charm and delight.  So pack your picnic baskets, and get ready to have a great time this summer with classic theatre under the stars at the River Oaks Amphitheater! [photo of Gregory Gorrindo]

The Theatre at the Old Grammar School in Cambria (TOGS) (http://artistsofcambria.com/cambriapac/id4.html) is pleased to announce that Allied Arts Theatre has been revived and will be presenting The Octette Bridge Club through August 21, and Dearly Departed October 21 - November 20 (auditions August 16-18).

The Pewter Plough Playhouse's (www.pewterploughplayhouse.org) next production, The Woman In Black, will be presented August 5-27 in Cambria, followed by a special 3 performance engagement of Sylvia, featuring Tanna Frederick in the title role, September 2-4.

The Brickyard Theatre (www.brickyardhteatre.com) in Atacadero will present The Clean House August 31 - September 18.  

SLO Little Theatre's (www.slolittletheatre.org) current schedule includes children's summer theatre classes and productions (get more information at act@slolittletheatre.org), with ACT's summer youth production of Ann of Green Gables presented through August 7.

Auditions for Oklahoma! will be held August 8-10 (performances October 7 - Novemner 6).  Contact director, Zach Johnson, for more information (z_l_johnson@yahoo.com).

If you're interested in honing your musical theatre audition skills (August 13 & 14 with Daniel Witzke) or attending a week at GLEE Camp (August 15-19 with Daniel Witzke, Michael Jenkinson and Sarah Brookell) contact ACT Coordinator, Kerry DiMaggio, at (805) 781-3889 X 14.

PLUS - on September 5 & 6 (and possibly 12), Reach the Sky, an evening of songs by what may well be some of Broadway's future songwriters, will be presented.

Espressivo! Chamber Theatre's (http://espressivotheatre.com) next production: LUNATICS IN LOVE!, or Singing in the Reign (of Terror) have performances scheduled in different venues September 21 - October 2.  Call David Hance at (805) 550-7656 for more information.

Kelrik Productions' (www.kelrikproductions.com) next show is From Main Street to 42^nd Street on August 13, featuring Jacque Carnahan.   

The God Is Still Speaking Players (https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/92718528887) is currently in rehearsals for Sister Amnesia's Country Western Nunsense Jamboree, which will be presented September 2-5 & 9-11, at the SLO United Church of Christ. 

Upcoming performances at the Cal Poly Performing Arts Center (www.pacslo.org) include the Academy of Dance's Dancin' 2011 on August 14, and In God We Rust with Lewis Black on August 25.

Murder In Mind Productions (www.murderinmind.com) will present The Beverly Hillbillies Murder Mystery through September 4 at the Spyglass Inn in Shell Beach.

To help celebrate Arroyo Grande's Centennial, South County Historical Society (SCHS) is producing "100 Years of People - Stories from our Past," a series of Readers' Theatre programs, each an hour long, adapted from historic writings about the life of Clara Edwards, born in 1855 to missionary parents in Indian Territory. Clara's childhood years turn her into an educated and adventurous woman, who arrives in Arroyo Grande in 1883. 

"The Old Days:" Performances: Saturdays, July 30, August 6, 13 & 20 at 2 PM.

CORE Dance Company (www.coredanceslo.com) will present Confessions of A Love Junkie at The Spot (116 W Branch St in Arroyo Grande) August 4 - 14. 

Sorcerer Productions (check them out on Facebook) recently closed a VERY successful run of the Tony Award winning The Drowsy Chaperone in the Clark Center Studio Theatre.  Next Up?  Little Shop of Horrors - performances August 12-28 on the Clark Center main stage.

Other upcoming performances at the Clark Center (www.clarkcenter.org) include Mary Meserve-Miller's LEGENDS Viva La Diva through July 31, Sorcerer's Little Shop of Horrors August 12-28 (see above), Joe Chavira's Unity Shoppe Concert on September 3, Rudolf Budginas in Concert Featuring Kenny Lee Lewis on September 17, and the Kingston Trio on October 9.

The Great American Melodrama (www.americanmelodrama.com) is proud to present Butch Cassidy and the Sunburnt Kid, which will run in repertory with Lost At Sea through September 18.  And be sure to check out Camp Melodrama for young people ages 7-17 which runs through August 15.

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, is proud to present its first summer production, Hairspray, through July 31 at the Solvang Festival Theater [NOTE: Saw the official opening night of this show on Saturday, June 18, and it was AMAZING ... I don't remember the last time the ENTIRE audience erupted into an IMMEDIATE standing ovation as curtain call began - but that's exactly what happened at this production, and it was WELL deserved!].   

In addition, Shakespeare's The Two Gentleman of Verona is playing in Santa Maria through July 30 (August 5-21 in Solvang) [NOTE: An EXCEPTIONAL production and performance ... in a word - GO!].  Also, housing is needed for summer theatre interns.   Contact PCPA's Company Manager, Amy Barrick at (805) 928-7731 ext. 3153 for more information.

Santa Maria Civic Theatre's (www.smct.org) next production, Blithe Spirit, will run September 16 - October 8.

The Lompoc Civic Theatre (www.lompoccivictheatre.com) has just closed their run of And ... Action! and Purgatory Life.   Their next endeavor will be a reading of a new play called Saints of My Own Design as a fundraiser for the Susan G. Komen Fund.  The play is the story of a family each touched by breast cancer.  It will be done October 8 at the Grossman Gallery in the Lompoc Public Library located at 501 E. North Avenue, Lompoc CA 93436.  There will be a silent auction as well.

So, no matter what else you may have scheduled over the course of the next couple of weeks, I trust you will want to avail yourself of the wonderful and varied performing arts offerings we enjoy here on the Central Coast of California!

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