Early July California Central Coast Theatre Offerings

As we move from the latter portion of June to the 4^th of July Holiday weekend and beyond, I trust you have your reservations made to avail yourself of one or more of the WONDERFUL shows that are currently running (or soon will be) at any number of the several live performance and theatre venues that we are so proud to have here on the beautiful California Central Coast!

SLO Little Theatre's (www.slolittletheatre.org) current schedule includes a production of The Compleat Works of Wllm Shkpr (Abridged) through July 17 [NOTE: Had the pleasure of attending final dress for Compleat Works - and this is one VERY funny show that you will NOT want to miss!].

This is the 10 year anniversary of the production that took the Central Coast by storm!

Three ambitious (somewhat clueless) actors, clad in classic Converse tennis shoes and armed with an outrageous assortment of outerwear and props, cram the Bard's entire canon of plays (and sonnets!) into two hours of sheer Elizabethan-esque ecstasy.  Jack Griguoli, Bob Peterson, and Kevin Harris skewer pop culture, San Luis Obispo, and one another (literally) for the first time in a decade.  Need I say more?  Buckle your seatbelts ... it's going to be a very bumpy ride.

One of the Central Coast's most Popular Productions, this endearingly irreverent and lightning-paced romp through the greatest plays of all time has been performed over 300 times by this company in such venues as Centerpoint Theatre Group, The Madonna Inn, the Eagle Theatre, UC Santa Cruz (mainstage), Cal State Long Beach (mainstage) and several others.  Compleat Wrks will have you rolling with laughter and jumping in the aisles.  Perhaps The Today Show captured its spirit best when they said, "If you like Shakespeare, you'll like this show.  If you hate Shakespeare, you'll love this show!"

COMPLEAT WRKS: Ten years later.

Older. Fatter. Funnier.

In addition, SLOLT has 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 performing July 29 - August 7.

The God Is Still Speaking Players (follow them on Facebook) next show will be Nunsense Jamboree, September 2-5 & 9-11, at the SLO United Church of Christ (auditions July 9 & 10). 

Kelrik Productions' (www.kelrikproductions.com) next show, Seussical the Musical, will be presented July 16-24 at the Spanos Theatre as well.  Also - be sure to check out their acting classes for kids & youth!

Upcoming performances at the Cal Poly Performing Arts Center (www.pacslo.org) include the Summer Drama Workshop for Children's King Arthur's Quest July 5-9, and Kelrik's Seussical the Musical July 16-24.

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. 

"Life in the New City"

Clara's continuing adventures in Arroyo Grande as a pioneer teacher and wife of the city's first permanent doctor, Edwin Paulding.

Performances: Saturdays at 2PM, July 9, 16, 23. 

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 "Pink Champagne" by the Central Coast Celebration Chorus on July 9, and Mary Meserve-Miller's LEGENDS Viva La Diva July 15-31.

The Great American Melodrama's (www.americanmelodrama.com) current production is Butch Cassidy and the Sunburnt Kid through September 17, which will run in repertory with Lost At Sea July 14 - September 18.  And be sure to check out Camp Melodrama for young people ages 7-17 which runs July 18 - 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, in Santa Maria, 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 opens in Santa Maria, running July 15-30 (August 5-21 in Solvang).  And be sure to check out PCPA's Summer Acting Camp for Young Actors (July 10-16 for ages 7-12, July 23-30 for ages 13-18).  [NOTE: Housing 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, The Frog Prince of Spamalot, will be presented July 15-24.

The Pewter Plough Playhouse's (www.pewterploughplayhouse.org) current production, Playhouse Creatures, will be presented through July 17 in Cambria. 

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 July 29 - August 21, and Dearly Departed October 21 - November 20.

The Central Coast Shakespeare Festival (http://centralcoastshakespeare.org) is proud to announce its 2011 summer schedule of The Comedy of Errors and As You Like It, to be presented at the River Oaks Amphitheatre in Paso Robles, July 14 - August 13.

So, regardless of what else you may have on your entertainment calendar of events in the next couple of weeks, I sure hope you will find the time to lend your support toward the very talented group of performing artists that we have and in which we take a great deal of pride here on the Central Coast!

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