California Central Coast Mid-August Theatre Happenings - and MORE!

As we move into the second half of August, I trust you will want to plan on seeing at least a couple of the theatre and live performance productions that are being presented at any number of the entertainment venues here on the idyllic California Central Coast!

Sorcerer Productions' Little Shop of Horrors (https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=137142626372228#!/event.php?eid=219102174797618) will run through August 28 on the Clark Center main stage in Arroyo Grande.

The company that brought sold-out runs of Forever Plaid, The Producers and The Drowsy Chaperone to the Clark Center is back with this long-running and ever popular Broadway Musical. 

A down-and out skid row floral assistant becomes an overnight sensation when he discovers an exotic plant with a mysterious craving for fresh blood.  Soon "Audrey II" grows into an ill-tempered, foul-mouthed, R&B-singing carnivore who offers him fame and fortune in exchange for feeding its growing appetite, finally revealing itself to be an alien creature poised for global domination! 

Enjoy this theatre classic that satirizes science-fiction, "B" movies and the Faust legend, made famous by the 1986 film version starring Rick Moranis, Ellen Greene and Steve Martin.  One of the longest-running off-Broadway shows of all time, this affectionate spoof of 1950s sci-fi movies has become a household name, thanks to a highly successful film version and a score by the songwriting team of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken, who redefined the animated musical film with Disney's The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin.

Charming, tuneful and hilarious, with tongue firmly planted in cheek, Little Shop of Horrors never fails to entertain.
 
Featuring show direction by Don Stewart, musical direction by Mark Robertshaw and choreography by Ryan Beck (previously of American Dance), Little Shop of Horrors is sure to give audiences the thrills...and chills.

The show's talented cast includes:

Natalia Berryman, Molly Dobbs, and Julia Siebert as the Urchins; Jennifer Malman as Audrey; Mike Mesker as Mr Mushnik; Ryan Cordero as Seymour; Jeff Salsbury as the Dentist; and Josh Feldman as Audrey II.

And remember, "Don't Feed the Plants!"

Other upcoming performances at the Clark Center (www.clarkcenter.org) include 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.

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:" Performance: Saturday, August 20 at 2 PM.

Murder In Mind Productions (www.murderinmind.com) is presenting The Beverly Hillbillies Murder Mystery through September 4 at the Spyglass Inn in Shell Beach.  The Addams Family Reunion will run October 2 - November 6.

SLO Little Theatre's (www.slolittletheatre.org) current schedule includes The 1998 Tony Award Winning ART which will run August 26 - September 18.

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

Kelrik Productions' (www.kelrikproductions.com) was proud to present From Main Street to 42^nd Street on August 13, featuring Jacque Carnahan.  Stay tuned for what's next!   

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. 

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

Upcoming performances at the Cal Poly Performing Arts Center (www.pacslo.org) include In God We Rust with Lewis Black on August 25, La Guitarra California Festival September 9-11, Chanticleer: Love Story on September 25, Jeffery Broussard & The Creole Cowboys on September 30, and Come Together: The Beatles Concert Experience on October 1.

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

The Central Coast Shakespeare Festival's (http://centralcoastshakespeare.org) 2011 summer schedule of shows in Paso Robles brought us two comedies, in repertory: The Comedy of Errors and As You Like It, at the River Oaks Amphitheater.  "Good night, good night!  Parting is such sweet sorrow, that I shall say goodnight till it be morrow" (R&J, Act 2, Sc 2).

The Theatre at the Old Grammar School in Cambria (TOGS) (http://artistsofcambria.com/cambriapac/id4.html) and Allied Arts Theatre are 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) current production, The Woman In Black, will be presented through August 27 in Cambria.  On Wednesday, August 24, the L.A. cast of Tennessee In The Summer will present one performance at 7:30 PM.  And then, September 2-4, a special 3 performance engagement of Sylvia will be presented, featuring Tanna Frederick in the title role.

The Great American Melodrama (www.americanmelodrama.com) is proud to present Butch Cassidy and the Sunburnt Kid, which is running in repertory with Lost At Sea through September 18.  Both productions are, or course, followed by a high energy Vaudeville Revue - which many theatre patrons say is worth the price of admission in and of itself!

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 The Two Gentleman of Verona through August 21 at the Solvang Festival Theater [NOTE: Saw this show during the Santa Maria portion of its run - WONDERFUL production!].

In addition, My Fairytale, a new musical about Hans Christian Andersen with music & lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (Godspell, Pippin, Wicked) will run through August 20 at the Marian Theatre in Santa Maria (August 26 through September 25 at the Solvang Festival Theater) [NOTE: Housing is needed for summer theatre interns.  Contact PCPA's Company Manager, Amy Barrick at (805) 928-7731 ext. 3153 for more information].

Auditions for young performers (6-14) for PCPA's production of A Christmas Carol: A Musical Ghost Story will be held August 28 (performances November 10 - December 23).  For more information call (805) 928-7731 ext. 3100.

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 recently completed 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, whatever else you might have scheduled on your entertainment calendar over the course of the next week or two, might I suggest you add one or two theatre productions and/or live performances to your "to see" list as you experience and enjoy the life so many of us love here on the Central Coast of California!

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