BWW Blogs: What a BLAST - Theatre AND Fireworks on the California Central Coast!

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

As we come to the end of June and make plans for the 4^th of July weekend, our various California Central Coast theatres and live performance venues have a dazzling array of entertainment offerings that rival the best fireworks displays!

If you're looking for actual fireworks on the 4th - check out Meridian Vineyards in Paso Robles (7000 Hwy 46 E), Shamel Park (5455 Windsor Blvd) in Cambria, the pier in Cayucos, Tidelands Park (south end of Embarcadero) in Morro Bay, the pier in Pismo Beach, or the Santa Maria Fairpark (937 S Thornburg St).  For info on some "sparkling" theatre entertainment - read on!  

Murder in Mind Productions (http://murderinmind.com) will present Bewitched: De-Witched, a parody by John Logue and directed by Ron Kewish, at the Spyglass Inn, located at 2703 Spyglass Dr in Shell Beach, July 4 - September 5.  Reservations are required.

Samantha and her Witch and Warlock relatives have mysteriously lost their magical power (except Aunt Clara).   Sam has called a special Witches' Council to discuss why.  Join the rest of the Witches and Warlocks at the Council for a hilarious evening of murder and mayhem.

Cast (In order of appearance)
Samantha Stephens:	Ila Thatcher
Endora:	Judie Kewish
Darrin Stephens:	Tim McManus
Uncle Arthur:	Jeff Lee
Aunt Clara:	Joyce Anderson
The Detective:	Ron Kewish

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, presents Sylvia July 9-25 at the Solvang Festival Theater [NOTE: Saw a Saturday matinee of this production during its Marian Theatre run in Santa Maria and it is absolutely WONDERFUL!].  And then July 9-25, the 50s classic musical West Side Story will be presented at the Marian Theatre (July 30 - August 22 at the Solvang Festival Theater).

The Santa Maria Civic Theatre (www.smct.org) will be presenting this year's Summer Fairy Tale Doc, Doc ... Goose! July 9-18.

The Great American Melodrama (www.americanmelodrama.com) has kicked off its summer season with The Crock of Gold, written by Silas S. Steele and directed by Eric Hoit, that will run through September 18, along with "The Great Outdoors Vaudeville Review" following each performance (beginning July 15, this show will alternate with the Melodrama's second summer show, The Tavern).

Upcoming performances at the Clark Center (www.clarkcenter.org) in Arroyo Grande, include Jim Messina of Loggins & Messina in concert on August 10, and the 9^th Annual Paul Wolff Accessibility Advocacy Awards with a benefit performance by comedian Josh Blue on August 28.

Ryan Cordero (rccor385@gmail.com) and Sorcerer Productions (check them out on Facebook) recently closed a successful run of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels at the Clark Center Studio Theatre.  What's next on the drawing board for what some are calling the most exciting and creative theatre company on the Central Coast?  I'm hearing rumors of a production of The Drowsy Chaperone as part of a full season slate of possibly as many as 4 or 5 productions ... stay tuned!

The San Luis Obispo Little Theatre (www.slolittletheatre.org) will present Suzy Miller's summer theatre dance spectacular Shimmy Shake Shine! July 8-31.  Auditions for Leading Ladies (performances October 8-31) will be July 12 & 13.  And persons to fill the roles of Henry and Bellomy are still needed for The Fantasticks (performances August 7 - September 9).  Contact director, Mark Plater, at rennman22@hotmail.com if you're interested.   

Kelrik Productions (www.kelrikproductions.com) will present Into the Woods July 16-18 at the Spanos Theatre on the Cal Poly campus for 3 performances only.  This will be the farewell production for Kelrik here on the Central Coast as co-founder Erik Austin leaves the area.  He will definitely leave a void in the local theatre community.  THANK YOU Erik for a WONDERFUL run here in San Luis Obispo!   

Other upcoming performances at the Cal Poly Performing Arts Center (www.pacslo.org) include comedienne Lisa Lampanelli on July 10, the Festival Mozaic Grand Finale on July 25, American Dance of SLO's Just Imagine August 1 (2 performances - 2 & 6 PM), Pacific Coast Dance Convergence's JUMPBRUSH, August 12-14, and (for those who REALLY like to plan ahead!) comedienne Paula Poundstone on October 7.  

The God Is Still Speaking Players (follow them on Facebook or at www.sloucc.org) will hold auditions for their next production, You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown, July 19 & 20, with performances scheduled for the first 2 weekends in September.

The Brickyard Theatre (www.brickyardhteatre.com) is currently working on a production of Quilters, which will be presented September 2-25 in Atascadero.  Contact Bobbi Stoffel at stoffelfam@charter.net for reservations or more information.

The Theatre at the Old Grammar School (TOGS) in Cambria will present The Belle of Amherst July 9 - August 1.  Contact Emma Duncan at (805) 574-0073, or eduncan@gm.slc.edu for more information.

The Pewter Plough Playhouse (www.pewterploughplayhouse.org), also located in Cambria, closed their production of Finishing Touches on February 28.  The theatre will now be closed for a time while it installs a new fire sprinkler system - stay tuned for details on its reopening and next show! 

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 - they are looking for a new place to call home ... got any suggestions?).

Up Paso Robles way, the Pioneer Players (www.pioneerplayers.org) finished a successful run of Oliver at the Templeton Performing Arts Center in January.  Next up was supposed to be a summer musical production of Fiddler on the Roof, but performance rights were unavailable.  Then the plan was a production of The Unsinkable Molly Brown.  Now, I'm told they are working on a "special project" that has taken them in a different direction at this point, and they will hopefully be making an announcement soon ... stay tuned!

Also in Paso Robles, the Paso Robles Youth Arts Foundation (http://pryaf.org) is in rehearsal for its production of Twelfth Night for actors ages 8-18.  Performance dates are July 9-18.  For more information call (805) 238-5825.

The Central Coast Shakespeare Festival (www.centralcoastshakespeare.org) will present its summer productions of Twelfth Night and The Gamester July 9 - August 14.

So ... whatever else you may have planned for the coming week and celebration of the July 4 weekend - I hope you will consider making supporting the performing arts here on the beautiful California Central Coast a part of the festivities!

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

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