Late July Theatre Opportunities on the California Central Coast

As we move into the latter portion of July, I trust you will want to include one or more of the several productions that are currently running at one of the many live performance and theatre venues here on the beautiful California Central Coast on your list of things to do and see!

Santa Maria Civic Theatre's (www.smct.org) current production, The Frog Prince of Spamalot, will be presented through July 24.

An enchanted world of knights, princesses and magical spells comes to life with Santa Maria Civic Theatre's (SMCT) zany and warmly-rendered production of The Frog Prince of Spamalot.  A seasoned cast of local thespians, led by Weston Scott as an amphibious hero with a heart of gold, spins a tale of wonder for theater-goers of all ages during the production's eight-show run.  The performances are free, and doors open 30 minutes before show time.

The Frog Prince of Spamalot, written by Edith Weiss and directed by local theater veteran Richard Dresp, invites the audience to hop into a mystical bog, home of a once-handsome prince who has been turned into a frog by the spell of an evil witch.  The play's web-footed protagonist, Hyronomous (Scott), must bravely venture into the kingdom of Spamalot in order to secure a kiss from his one true love.

Mistaken identities, sword fights and dinner table dances ensue as Hyronomous crosses paths with a wacky cast of characters, including pompous, poetry-spouting Sir Lancelot (Taylor Landry), SPAM- loving Spamalot matriarch Queen Bea (Clare Terrill), and Angela Hutt-Chamberlin as the scheming, swooning and tantrum-throwing Princess Gladiola.  Hyronomous' story teaches a heart-felt lesson about love, loyalty, and the importance of looking past appearances to a person's true character.

"I'm thrilled to be a part of the ongoing tradition of the SMCT's free summer fairy tale production of The Frog Prince of Spamalot," said Dresp.  "Come and enjoy live theater at its best - it's a must see for young and old.  Oh yes, and did I mention it's free?"

The SMCT's Fairy Tale Theater Program has been a tradition in Santa Maria since 1993.  "It's more fun and more fulfilling than any production that I had ever been involved in," said Hutt-Chamberlin, secretary of the SMCT board and a staple of fairy tale productions since 2008.  "It is so magical to see children and adult's alike lining up down the block to see these free shows."

Hutt-Chamberlin said the summer shows provide the first taste many Santa Maria youngsters - and in some cases the adults in the audience as well, will have of live theater.  "It is amazing to see how many children fall in love with the theater because of these productions," said Hutt-Chamberlin, noting that hundreds of kids and community members attend the productions each year, gaining invaluable exposure to the arts.

The production is made possible by support from community volunteers, the Santa Maria Breakfast Rotary, the Santa Maria Arts Council, and Altrusa International. Contact the SMCT box office at 922-4442 for more information.

SMCT's next production, Blithe Spirit, will run September 16 - October 8.

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, 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 is playing in Santa Maria through July 30 (August 5-21 in Solvang) [NOTE: An EXCEPTIONAL production and performance ... in a word - GO!].  And be sure to check out PCPA's Summer Acting Camp for Young Actors (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].

The Lompoc Civic Theatre (www.facebook.com/LompocCivicTheatre) will present And ... Action! and Purgatory Life July 22-24 at Stone Pine Hall on South H Street. 

The Great American Melodrama's (www.americanmelodrama.com) current productions are Butch Cassidy and the Sunburnt Kid, which will run in repertory with Lost At Sea through September 18.  And be sure to check out Camp Melodrama for young people ages 7-17 which runs through August 15.

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 Mary Meserve-Miller's LEGENDS Viva La Diva through July 31, Sorcerer's Little Shop of Horrors August 12-28 (see above), 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:" Performances: Saturdays, July 30, August 6, 13 & 20 at 2 PM.

The Last Five Years is currently playing at The Spot (http://www.facebook.com/hit.the.spot) at 116 W Branch St in Arroyo Grande through July 24.  Call (805) 474-5711 for more information. 

Murder In Mind Productions (www.murderinmind.com) will present The Beverly Hillbillies Murder Mystery through September 4 at the Spyglass Inn in Shell Beach.

Kelrik Productions' (www.kelrikproductions.com) current show, Seussical: The Musical, will be presented through July 24 at the Spanos Theatre on the Cal Poly campus [NOTE: Saw the opening matinee of this production and it is absolutely DELIGHTFUL!].

SLO Little Theatre's (www.slolittletheatre.org) current schedule includes 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.

If you're interested in honing your musical theatre audition skills (August 13 & 14 with Daniel Witzke) or attending a week at GLEE Camp (August 15-19 with Daniel Witzke, Michael Jenkinson and Sarah Brookell) contact ACT Coordinator, Kerry DiMaggio, at (805) 781-3889 X 14.

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

Espressivo! Chamber Theatre (http://espressivotheatre.com) will hold auditions at the SLO Little Theatre rehearsal room on July 30 at 10 AM for their next production: LUNATICS IN LOVE!, or Singing in the Reign (of Terror).  Performances are scheduled in different venues September 21 - October 2.  Call David Hance at (805) 550-7656 for more information.   

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. 

Upcoming performances at the Cal Poly Performing Arts Center (www.pacslo.org) include Kelrik's Seussical the Musical through July 24 (see above), and the Academy of Dance's Dancin' 2011 on August 14.

The Pewter Plough Playhouse's (www.pewterploughplayhouse.org) current production, Playhouse Creatures, will be presented through July 24 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 through August 13.

So, whatever else you may be considering for your entertainment options in the next couple of weeks, I hope you will take the time to support the rich and varied performing arts community that we are proud to offer here on the Central Coast!

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