Chuck McLane News

As we say goodbye to September and hello to October (and all the Halloween trimmings in the stores that go with it!) - we also say hello to a number of shows that have started, or soon will start, their production runs here on the California Central Coast, along with a couple whose runs will soon come to a close.

A "tale as old as time" is given a complete makeover as The Great American Melodrama presents the hilarious musical spoof, "Trudy and the Beast, or the Creature from the Black Lake Lagoon," opening September 23 and running through November 14.

A "tale as old as time" is given a complete makeover as The Great American Melodrama presents the hilarious musical spoof, "Trudy and the Beast, or the Creature from the Black Lake Lagoon," opening September 23 and running through November 14.

This week The Great American Melodrama adds George M. Cohan's delightful mystery-comedy to its summer season of fun! 'The Tavern,' directed by Roger DeLaurier, takes place on a dark and stormy night, when a wild wind blows all sorts of oddball characters into the tavern run by Freeman (Alan Benson), his son, Zach (Jim McCaffrey) and their hired girl, Sally (Megan C.C. Walker). First to arrive is a whimsical vagabond (Chuck McLane), who delights in the theatrics of the events that unfold throughout the night, including the discovery of a woman asleep in the wood shed. She is Violet (Bree Murphy), a distraught lady with a mysterious past who has lost her way en route to the capitol to seek an audience with the Governor. Situations heat up when the Governor himself (Jim Shine) arrives, along with his daughter, Virginia (Katie Worley) and her fiancé, Tom (Andrew Beck), seeking shelter from the storm and on edge from having been robbed on the road. Suspicions abound until all is resolved with the arrival of the Sheriff (Aaron Lamb) and Stevens (Suzy Newman). One of the most popular plays written by one of America's greatest showmen, 'The Tavern,' offers up mystery and madcap fun!

The Great American Melodrama kicked off its summer season of exciting melodrama on June 17 with THE CROCK OF GOLD, written by Silas S. Steele and directed by Eric Hoit.

This week The Great American Melodrama adds George M. Cohan's delightful mystery-comedy to its summer season of fun! 'The Tavern,' directed by Roger DeLaurier, takes place on a dark and stormy night, when a wild wind blows all sorts of oddball characters into the tavern run by Freeman (Alan Benson), his son, Zach (Jim McCaffrey) and their hired girl, Sally (Megan C.C. Walker). First to arrive is a whimsical vagabond (Chuck McLane), who delights in the theatrics of the events that unfold throughout the night, including the discovery of a woman asleep in the wood shed. She is Violet (Bree Murphy), a distraught lady with a mysterious past who has lost her way en route to the capitol to seek an audience with the Governor. Situations heat up when the Governor himself (Jim Shine) arrives, along with his daughter, Virginia (Katie Worley) and her fiancé, Tom (Andrew Beck), seeking shelter from the storm and on edge from having been robbed on the road. Suspicions abound until all is resolved with the arrival of the Sheriff (Aaron Lamb) and Stevens (Suzy Newman). One of the most popular plays written by one of America's greatest showmen, 'The Tavern,' offers up mystery and madcap fun!

The Great American Melodrama kicked off its summer season of exciting melodrama on June 17 with THE CROCK OF GOLD, written by Silas S. Steele and directed by Eric Hoit.

As we come to the middle of June (already?!), a number of our theatre and live entertainment venues have shows opening, or gearing up to do so, here on the beautiful California Central Coast!

Beginning April 29, The Great American Melodrama in Oceano presents the first production of a new play by Neal LaVine, 'Back After This Break.' Mr. LaVine, who was artistic director at the Melodrama in the 1990's, has crafted a terrific comedy that takes place on the set of a television sitcom in the mid 1960's.

Even with our somewhat odd mid-May weather pattern (rain ... this late in the season?!) - there's nothing odd about finding a goodly number of theatre and live performance opportunities waiting to entertain you here on the California Central Coast!

Beginning April 29, The Great American Melodrama in Oceano presents the first production of a new play by Neal LaVine, 'Back After This Break.' Mr. LaVine, who was artistic director at the Melodrama in the 1990's, has crafted a terrific comedy that takes place on the set of a television sitcom in the mid 1960's.

On April 25, The Great American Melodrama will end its run of 'Lumberjacks in Love,' a hilarious musical with book and lyrics by Fred Alley and music by James Kaplan.

Beginning April 29, The Great American Melodrama in Oceano presents the first production of a new play by Neal LaVine, 'Back After This Break.' Mr. LaVine, who was artistic director at the Melodrama in the 1990's, has crafted a terrific comedy that takes place on the set of a television sitcom in the mid 1960's.

Opening March 11 and running through April 25, The Great American Melodrama presents 'Lumberjacks in Love,' a hilarious musical with book and lyrics by Fred Alley and music by James Kaplan.

As we come to the second week of March, some of our California Central Coast theatre and live entertainment venues have just closed or will soon be closing their current performance runs, while a couple are preparing to open new shows - rarely a dull moment when it comes to theatre opportunities in these parts!

The delightful comedy /I Hate Hamlet/ is set to close on March 7 at The Great American Melodrama.

Opening March 11 and running through April 25, The Great American Melodrama presents 'Lumberjacks in Love,' a hilarious musical with book and lyrics by Fred Alley and music by James Kaplan.

The weather prognosticators tell us we may still get wet a day or two this week - but our Central Coast theatres are warm, dry, and ready to provide you with an afternoon or evening of quality entertainment at a price that'll fit most everybody's budget!

The delightful comedy /I Hate Hamlet/ is set to open the Great American Melodrama's 2010 season on January 21.

The delightful comedy /I Hate Hamlet/ is set to open the Great American Melodrama's 2010 season on January 21.