BWW Blogs: Mid-May Matinees and More on the California Central Coast!

As we come to the middle of May, I hope you are making plans to attend a couple of the many theatre and live performance productions that are currently or will soon be playing here on the beautiful California Central Coast!

The Cuesta College Performing Arts Department (http://academic.cuesta.edu/performingarts) presents RENT.

"No day but today!"
Don't miss this risky, flirtatious, raucous production by Cuesta College's Theatre Department.  Jonathan Larson's bohemian rock opera masterpiece, RENT rocks the Cultural and Performing Arts Centre at Cuesta College May 13, 14 and 15 at 7:30.  Winner of four Tony Awards, the New York Drama Critics Circle Award, and the Pulitzer Prize, RENT tells the story of one year in the life of a group of impoverished young Bohemian artists dealing with life, love, and AIDS in New York's East Village.
AIDS and both its physical and emotional complications pervade the lives of Roger, Mimi, Tom and Angel while Maureen deals with her chronic infidelity through performance art; her partner, Joanne, wonders if their relationship is worth the trouble; Benjamin has sold out his Bohemian ideals in exchange for a hefty income and is on the outs with his former friends; and Mark, an aspiring filmmaker, feels like an outsider to life in general, always behind the camera recording the events but never playing a part.
Spirited and inspiring performances by an eager ensemble cast make this production of RENT a winner.
RENT is being presented through a special arrangement with Music Theater International (MTI).

Book, Music and Lyrics by Jonathan Larson; Choreographer: Jude Clarke-Warnisher; Musical/Vocal Direction: Bob Sando; Directed by bree valle

FOR RESERVATIONS call (805) 546-3198 [NOTE: saw the May 13 performance of this production and it is WELL worth seeing, and a BARGAIN at $15 for general admission seating in a WONDERFUL venue!).

Exit Pursued by a Bear (follow them on Facebook) is proud to present their current production of As You Like It (performances May 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.

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.  Auditions for ACT's summer youth production of Ann of Green Gables will be May 27 & 28 (by appointment), with callbacks on May 29; rehearsals June 19- July 22; performances July 29 - August 7.

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 in May!

Congregation Beth David (10180 Los Osos Valley Rd, SLO) will present The Ponemon Series #4: Stories, Tales and Plays From A Jewish Village on Sunday, May 22, at 3 PM.  For tickets or more information, call (805) 544-0760, or email office@cbdslo.org.  Adults: $20, Kids (5-18): $10.

Linnaea's Cafe at 1110 Garden St in SLO will present Gale McNeeley as "Archy, the poetic cockroach" and "Mehitabel, the toujours gai alley cat" on Sunday, May 22, at 7 PM.  Suggested donation is $10. 

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

Upcoming performances at the Cal Poly Performing Arts Center (www.pacslo.org) include SLO Youth Symphony: Season Finale & String Celebration on May 15, and The Moody Blues on May 18..

Curt Miner received his degree in theatre from Northern Arizona University and has been involved in theatre, educationally and professionally, for nearly 40 years now. He is currently Pastor of the United Church of Christ in San Luis Obispo, CA (www.sloucc.org), where he founded a theatre outreach ministry known as The God Is Still Speaking Players (check them out on Facebook). Their first production was the West Coast Premiere of a new play by Gordon Greene (one of Curt's former theatre professors from back at NAU) entitled "The Scopes Monkey Trial: What Really Happened" in October of 2008. Curt and his wife of 35 years, Linda, worked together as Director and Music Director on a production of "Godspell" June 2009. The group presented a readers' theatre production of Archibald MacLeish's Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize winning play "J.B." November 2009, participated in a collaborative effort with Bent Angel Productions in a staged reading of "12 Angry Men" in February 2010, presented "You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown" the first 2 weekends of September 2010, embarked upon another collaborative effort with Bent Angel Productions of a staged reading of Dylan Thomas' "Under Milk Wood" in November 2010, presented a readers' theatre production of "The Diary of Anne Frank" the first weekend this past March, mounted a production of "Sister Amnesia's Country Western Nunsense Jamboree" the first 2 weekends of September, and presented "Celebration In Song" - a musical variety show to benefit the work of GALA and PFLAG in November. A readers' theatre presentation (possibly "Our Town") or another musical revue will be presented this coming March, with "Snoopy" (sequel to YAGMCB) on the schedule for the first 2 weekends in September. When people ask him "Why a theatre outreach ministry?" Curt tells them "I have found that theatre is sometimes able to touch a person's heart and soul more deeply than the best crafted worship experience ... that's why."

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