Early May Theatre Options on the California Central Coast

As we arrive at the first of May, I trust that you will be wanting to avail yourself of the wide array of live performance and theatre options that are currently available here on the California Central Coast!

Monkeys at typewriters!  Mayflies mating!  A new language!  Philly cheese steaks!  It's Santa Maria Civic Theatre's (www.smct.org) presentation of An Evening with David Ives - 6 of Ives' unique one-act plays, produced by Bob Larsen, running every Friday and Saturday night at 8pm, through May 21st.  Ives' intriguing concepts and distinctive wordplay make for a memorable evening of comedy.  The presentation includes: "Time Flies," directed by Mr. Larsen, "The Philadelphia," directed by Stuart Wenger, "The Universal Language" and "Sure Thing," both directed by Johannes Beals, and "Arabian Nights" and "Words, Words, Words," both directed by Dynia Valdovinos.  Tickets are $14; please call the box office at (805) 922-4442 for reservations.  The theatre is located at 1660 N. McClelland St. in Santa Maria, just north of Donovan Rd. and just "off-Broadway" ... east of it, actually (photo by Richard Giachetto of Sydney Ascencio and Josh Cornell in Time Flies).

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 2011 PCPA graduating class Senior Showcase Conservatory Repertory productions of Hair May 12 & 14 and Twelfth Night May 13 & 14.  Their first summer production, Hairspray, will run June 16 - July 2 at the Marian Theatre in Santa Maria, and July 8-31 at the Solvang Festival Theater.  And be sure to check out their Summer Acting Camp for Young Actors (July 10-16 for ages 7-12, July 23-30 for ages 13-18). 

The Great American Melodrama's (www.americanmelodrama.com) current production, Soup du Jour, will run through June 12, followed by yet another Vaudeville Revue to tickle your musical senses.  And be sure to check out Camp Melodrama for young people ages 7-17 which runs July 18 - August 15.

Ryan Cordero (sorcererproductions@gmail.com) and Sorcerer Productions (check them out on Facebook) have just 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 is what I'm hearing ... stay tuned for details!

Other upcoming performances at the Clark Center (www.clarkcenter.org) include California Theatre Center's The Ugly Duckling on May 9, and Piano for Six Hands on May 13.

Murder In Mind Productions (www.murderinmind.com) will present their interactive murder mystery, The Altos - Blood Is Thicker Than Wine, on Sundays at The Spyglass Inn in Shell Beach through June 5.

The God Is Still Speaking Players (follow them on Facebook) next show will be Nunsense Jamboree in September (auditions early/mid July). 

SLO Little Theatre's (www.slolittletheatre.org) next mainstage production, Spinning Into Butter, opens May 20.  And be sure to check out their children's summer theatre program classes and productions at act@slolittletheatre.org.

Kelrik Productions' (www.kelrikproductions.com) next show, Aladdin, will run May 21 - June 12.  Auditions dates for Seussical The Musical will be announced soon (performances July 16-24 at the Spanos Theatre on the Cal Poly campus).  Also - be sure to check out their acting classes for kids & youth starting the first week of May!

The Cuesta College Performing Arts Department (http://academic.cuesta.edu/performingarts) presents RENT May 6 & 7, and 12-15.

Exit Pursued by a Bear (follow them on Facebook) is proud to announce their upcoming production of As You Like It (performances May 13-15, 19-21) at The SLO Space (3195 McMillan Ave, Unit C).  I understand that the "twist" for this production is that it will be entirely gender reversed with men playing the women's roles and, well ... I think you get the idea.  Contact Tyler Lopez at tylermlopez@gmail.com for more information.

Upcoming performances at the Cal Poly Performing Arts Center (www.pacslo.org) include Jim Brickman: Beautiful World on May 10, and the Chinese Acrobats of Hebei on May 12.

The Pewter Plough Playhouse's (www.pewterploughplayhouse.org) next production, Playhouse Creatures, will be presented June 3 - July 17.

The Theatre at the Old Grammar School (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.

So, whatever else you may have planned for the weeks ahead - I hope that you will be wanting to add attending a couple of the events mentioned above to your calendar of things to see and do!

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