Mid-Month Matinees & More on the Central Coast of California!

As we move on toward the middle of August, I hope your plans include taking in a number of the live performance productions that are being presented at some of our theatre venues here on the beautiful California Central Coast!

CORE Dance Company (www.coredanceslo.com) will present Confessions of A Love Junkie at The Spot (116 W Branch St in Arroyo Grande) through August 14.

Unlike any show you've seen before, Confessions of A Love Junkie has it all - dance, comedy, poignancy, and a whole lot of heart.  The story centers around a therapist who specializes in love addiction.  Four of her most eclectic clients take you through beautiful, comical, occasionally painful, and always powerful journeys.  "The Good Girl," "The Player," "The Couple," and "The Fresh Out-Of-The-Closet" Guy create captivating pop culture characters who will make you laugh, cry, and inspire you.  [NOTE: Saw the 8/6 matinee of this production and it is AMAZING!  If you can get a ticket for any of the remaining performances - GO!].

Director Zheila Pouraghabagher, and Co-Creator Suzy Miller, lead a fantastic cast of dancers and actors ranging in age from 17 to age 45+.  The Choreography ranges in style from Hip Hop and tango, to contemporary, Fosse, and jazz.  The dancers keep the pace fabulous and fierce, with multiple guest choreographers, including a finalist from "So You Think You Can Dance," an Emmy Award winner, and several local prestigious artists.

Ticket prices: $18, general seating.  Email or call for tickets: coredance.cc@gmail.com or 805-541-2669 (cash or check only).  The show is recommended for ages 16 and up with some mature themes and costumes.

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:" Performance: Saturday, August 20 at 2 PM.

Sorcerer Productions' Little Shop of Horrors (https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=137142626372228#!/event.php?eid=219102174797618) will run through August 28 on the Clark Center main stage in Arroyo Grande.  Next up in their first full season of shows will be Arsenic and Old Lace - auditions August 14 & 15, performances October 7-23.  Contact Natalia Berryman NO LATER THAN August 12 to set up an audition time at info@sorcererproductions.org or by phone at 805-328-4837.

Other upcoming performances at the Clark Center (www.clarkcenter.org) include 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.

Murder In Mind Productions (www.murderinmind.com) is presenting The Beverly Hillbillies Murder Mystery through September 4 at the Spyglass Inn in Shell Beach.  Auditions for The Addams Family Reunion will be held the week of August 8 (performances October 2 - November 6).  Please contact Judie Kewish at judie@murderinmind.com or call her at (805) 489-3875 to set up an audition appointment and for further information.

SLO Little Theatre's (www.slolittletheatre.org) current schedule includes opportunities to hone your musical theatre audition skills (August 13 & 14 with Daniel Witzke) or attend 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 for more information.

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

Kelrik Productions' (www.kelrikproductions.com) was proud to present From Main Street to 42^nd Street on August 13, featuring Jacque Carnahan.  Stay tuned for what's next!   

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. 

Espressivo! Chamber Theatre's (http://espressivotheatre.com) next production: LUNATICS IN LOVE!, or Singing in the Reign (of Terror) have performances scheduled in various venues September 21 - October 2.  Call David Hance at (805) 550-7656 for more information [NOTE: Still looking for a couple of men to round out the cast last I heard].

Upcoming performances at the Cal Poly Performing Arts Center (www.pacslo.org) include the Academy of Dance's Dancin' 2011 on August 14, and In God We Rust with Lewis Black on August 25.

The Brickyard Theatre (www.brickyardhteatre.com) in Atascadero will present The Clean House August 31 - September 18.  

The Central Coast Shakespeare Festival's (http://centralcoastshakespeare.org) 2011 summer schedule of shows in Paso Robles brought us two comedies, in repertory: The Comedy of Errors and As You Like It, at the River Oaks Amphitheater.  "Good night, good night!  Parting is such sweet sorrow, that I shall say goodnight till it be morrow" (R&J, Act 2, Sc 2).

The Theatre at the Old Grammar School in Cambria (TOGS) (http://artistsofcambria.com/cambriapac/id4.html) and Allied Arts Theatre are presenting The Octette Bridge Club through August 21, and Dearly Departed October 21 - November 20 (auditions August 16-18).

The Pewter Plough Playhouse's (www.pewterploughplayhouse.org) current production, The Woman In Black, will be presented through August 27 in Cambria, followed by a special 3 performance engagement of Sylvia, featuring Tanna Frederick in the title role, September 2-4.

The Great American Melodrama (www.americanmelodrama.com) is proud to present Butch Cassidy and the Sunburnt Kid, which is running in repertory with Lost At Sea through September 18.  Both productions are, or course, followed by a high energy Vaudeville Revue - which many theatre patrons say is worth the price of admission in and of itself!

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 Two Gentleman of Verona through August 21 at the Solvang Festival Theater [NOTE: Saw this show during the Santa Maria portion of its run - WONDERFUL production!].

In addition, My Fairytale, a new musical about Hans Christian Andersen with music & lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (Godspell, Pippin, Wicked) will run through August 20 at the Marian Theatre in Santa Maria (August 26 through September 25 at the Solvang Festival Theater) [NOTE: Housing is needed for summer theatre interns.  Contact PCPA's Company Manager, Amy Barrick at (805) 928-7731 ext. 3153 for more information].

Auditions for young performers (6-14) for PCPA's production of A Christmas Carol: A Musical Ghost Story will be held August 28 (performances November 10 - December 23).  For more information call (805) 928-7731 ext. 3100.

Santa Maria Civic Theatre's (www.smct.org) next production, Blithe Spirit, will run September 16 - October 8.

The Lompoc Civic Theatre (www.lompoccivictheatre.com) has recently completed their run of And ... Action! and Purgatory Life.  Their next endeavor will be a reading of a new play called Saints of My Own Design as a fundraiser for the Susan G. Komen Fund.  The play is the story of a family each touched by breast cancer.  It will be done October 8 at the Grossman Gallery in the Lompoc Public Library located at 501 E. North Avenue, Lompoc CA 93436.  There will be a silent auction as well.

So, regardless of what else you may have scheduled in the next couple weeks, I trust you will want to make sure you add one or 2 live performance and theatre productions to your entertainment hit parade as we continue to enjoy our unique version of summer fun in the sun here on the Central Coast of California!

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