Early December Theatre Happenings on the Central Coast of California

As we come to the end of November, move on into December (still got turkey leftovers?), and kick our holiday shopping up a notch, why not consider including admission to a production at one of our live performance or theatre establishments currently (or soon to be) playing at any one of our various live entertainment venues here on the Central Coast of California on your gift list – either for you or someone else?

The Santa Maria Civic Theatre (www.smct.org) presents It's a Wonderful Life: Radio Play through December 10

Frank Capra's 1946 film "It's A Wonderful Life" is a classic.  The story of George Bailey is a timeless tale that speaks to many people in many different ways.  The movie was adapted in the 1990s by Joe Landry as a radio play.

It's a Wonderful Life: Radio Play is a mock 1940s radio show on station WBFR in New York, with a small cast of radio stars playing all the characters in the story.

The three-act play, directed by Dixie Arthur, is preceded by a unique welcome for the patrons.  As people enter the theater, they are serenaded by the cast singing Christmas songs and welcomed by a stage manager (Taylor Landry).

As the play begins, the radio host, Freddie Fillmore (Keith Cox), introduces the cast and the radio play begins.  Cox handles several voices throughout the play, including the evil Mr. Potter, Uncle Billy, and Ernie the cab driver.

All of the characters in the play have stage names, then play several different characters.  Westley Kossuth plays Jake Larents, who in turn is George Bailey during the play.

Lana Sherwood (Nancy Kunishige) plays George's mother as well as many others; Carmen Maxwell (Angela Herrick) performs Mary Bailey, Violet Bick and more; Little Marcey Kelly (Laura Miller) plays Zuzu; and Harry "Jazzbo" Heywood (Jack C. Wells) plays the angel Clarence, Harry Bailey, Bert the Cop, MR. Martini and more.

[PHOTO: L-R – Keith Cox, Angela Harrick, Westley Kossuth, Laura Miller, Jack C. Wells]. 

SMCT's next production, Rabbit Hole, will run February 2-25.   

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 A Christmas Carol - the musical, which will run through December 23 [NOTE: saw the official opening night performance on November 12 - and it was MAGICAL!].

The Lompoc Civic Theatre (www.lompoccivictheatre.com) will present 2 holiday one act plays: The Cowhand's Christmas Carol and Not on This Night, through December 10. 

The Great American Melodrama (www.americanmelodrama.com) is pleased to present The Holiday Extravaganza running through December 31.  

Sorcerer Productions (https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Sorcerer-Productions/105954829426281) will present Plaid Tidings through December 18 in the Clark Center Studio Theatre in Arroyo Grande [NOTE: Caught a Sunday metinee of this show and it is absolutely delightful!].

Other upcoming performances at the Clark Center (www.clarkcenter.org) include internationally acclaimed Nipomo High School Drama Department's production of 42^nd Street December 8-10.

The Spot (https://www.facebook.com/#!/hit.the.spot) in Arroyo Grande will present The Studio of Performing Arts' production of The Grinch December 2-4 and 9-11, and Gale McNelley's (http://galemcneeley.com/) tribute to Yip Harburb, "Over the Rainbow" on December 5.

Murder In Mind Productions (www.murderinmind.com) will present A Dickens of a Mystery, through January 29, at The Spyglass Inn in ShellBeach (reservations required).

SLO Little Theatre's (www.slolittletheatre.org) next main stage production will be A Christmas Story, through December 23.  ACT's (Academy of Creative Theatre) The Little Prince will be presented January 13-29.

Kelrik Productions' (www.kelrikproductions.com) is pleased to announce the first 2 productions of their 2012 BEYOND Season - a remount of the children's favorite Pinkalicious (auditions November 30, matinee performances January 21 - February 5) and Avenue Q (evening performances January 13 - February 4).  The remainder of the 2012 Season will soon be announced - stay tuned!

The God Is Still Speaking Players' (https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/92718528887) have just completed their "Celebration In Song" musical variety show to benefit GALA and PFLAG.  After the Holiday Season, they will be holding auditions for either a readers' theatre production or another musical review in early March - stay tuned!

Upcoming performances at the Cal Poly Performing Arts Center (www.pacslo.org) include the Calder Quartet on December 4 (Spanos Theatre), the Vocal Arts Ensemble's Celebrate the Season With Joy and Peace on December 4 (Cohan Center), and SLO Civic Ballet's The Nutcracker on December 10 & 11   

The Pewter Plough Playhouse (www.pewterploughplayhouse.org) in Cambria is proud to present Fascinating Gershwin! -a musical memoir showcasing the extraordinary songs ofAmerica's favorite composing team, George and Ira Gershwin, running through December 31

The Theatre at the Old Grammar School in Cambria (TOGS) (http://artistsofcambria.com/cambriapac/id4.html) and Allied Arts Theatre's next production will be the romantic comedy Almost, Maine (performances January 27 - February 19).

The North County Dance and Performing Arts Foundation (www.northcountyperformingarts.org) will present The Nutcracker at the Templeton Performing Arts Center through December 11.

So, whatever else you may have planned in the coming weeks, I trust you will want to include taking in a show at one of our theatre and live performance venues here on the amazingCaliforniaCentralCoast!

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