BWW Blogs: Early April Theatre Offerings on the California Central Coast

As we move beyond the tomfoolery of April 1 and into beautiful springtime weather here on the California Central Coast, I certainly hope your plans in the weeks ahead include attending a play or 2 (or 3?) at one of the several live performance and theatre establishments in our area!

Ryan Cordero (sorcererproductions@gmail.com) and Sorcerer Productions (check them out on Facebook) are proud to present the Tony Award winning The Drowsy Chaperone, with performances scheduled through April 23, at the Clark Center (www.clarkcenter.org) in Arroyo Grande as part of their inaugural season of shows.

Ever walked into a Musical and think to yourself, "Lord in heaven, I just want to be entertained!?"  Well look no further!

Mix-ups, mayhem, and a gay wedding abound in one of the funniest shows to hit Broadway in recent memory!  Follow your guide, Man in Chair, for a rollicking 1 hour and 45 minute tour-de-force of glamour, music, and of course, side splitting laughter!  It's November 1928 and Tottendale Manor is preparing for the wedding of Janet van de Graaf and Robert Martin!  But not if harried producer Feldzieg has anything to say about it!  How could Janet leave a life of glamour and luxury on the stage to become a trophy wife!?  Fueled by gangsters posing as pastry chefs we are launched into a decadent world where the champagne flowed and the caviar's chilled - or at least the Drowsy Chaperone would like to think!  Along the way we meet a bumbling Latin lothario, a flaky chorine, and an aviatrix!  What more do you need from an evening's entertainment!?  Can Feldzieg stop the wedding before it's too late?  Will everyone find love before the end of the show?  OF COURSE - it's a MUSICAL!  Join 16 of the Central Coast's finest performers for an evening of entertainment you won't soon forget! 

Directed by: Ryan C. Cordero
Musical Director: Mark Robertshaw
Choreography: Zach Johnson

For tickets call the Clark Center Box Office at 489-9444 or buy tickets online at http://clarkcenter.org/cm/events/apr_2011.html

Other upcoming performances at the Clark Center (www.clarkcenter.org) include Lisa Haley & the Zydekats on April 9, and Leon Redbone on April 29.

The Great American Melodrama's (www.americanmelodrama.com) current production, The Medicine Man, runs through April 24.

The Santa Maria Civic Theatre's (www.smct.org) next production, An Evening with David Ives, will run April 29 - May 21 (rumor has it they're still looking for an actor or 2 to round out the casts of this series of one act plays).

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 Pride and Prejudice, April 14 - May 8.  The 2011 PCPA graduating class will present their Senior Showcase Conservatory Repertory productions of Hair May 12 & 14 and Twelfth Night May 13 & 14. 

PCPA is also seeking 4 boys for the summer musicals Caroline, or Change and My Fairytale.

For Caroline, or Change, casting needs include two African American boys, one who looks to be 9 years old and the other who looks to be 12 years old. Both must be comfortable singing on their own in front of a large group of people. The third young performer is Caucasian who looks to be 10 years old. He must sing very well. This boy is the lead of the show and sings a lot. Caroline, or Change is set in Louisiana in 1963. The musical tells the story of the relationship between young Noah Gellman and Caroline, the African America woman who works as a maid for his family. The show was nominated for six 2004 Tony Awards.

For My Fairytale, casting needs include one boy who looks to be 12 years old for the American premiere of this musical. He must sing well. All ethnicities are encouraged to audition. My Fairytale, with music by Stephen Schwartz (Wicked) - is set in 1846 on the stage of the Royal Danish National Theater where Hans Christian Andersen is launched into the timeless landscape of his own imagination. What he discovers there not only changes his life, but the world, and proves the genesis for immortal storytelling.

Auditions are Sunday, April 17th, 10am - 12:30pm, at the Columbia Business Center

900 E. Stowell, Santa Maria, CA (Behind Costco) - Rm. 18

No Appointments

Be prepared to sing 16 to 32 bars of any song. Bring sheet music (no recordings please) - a pianist will be provided. If you have questions please call 805-928-7731 ext. 3100

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).  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.    

Murder In Mind Productions (www.murderinmind.com) is currently looking for actors to fill out the cast of their interactive murder mystery The Altos - Blood Is Thicker Than Wine, which will run on Sundays at The Spyglass Inn in Shell Beach May 1 - June 5.

Kelrik Productions' (www.kelrikproductions.com) current show, Pinkalicious, will run through April 17 [NOTE: saw the opening matinee of this production - FUN show, and definitely one to take the kids to!].  Auditions for their next production, Aladdin, were held on April 6 (performances May 21 - June 12).  Auditions for Beauty and the Beast are scheduled for May 25 (performances July 16-24 at the Spanos Theatre on the Cal Poly campus).

SLO Little Theatre's (www.slolittletheatre.org) current mainstage production, The Gin Game, runs through May 1.  They are also looking for a white male to play a college senior with an "All American" look in their upcoming production of Spinning Into Butter which opens May 20.  And be sure to check out their children's summer theatre program classes and productions at act@slolittletheatre.org.

The God Is Still Speaking Players' (follow them on Facebook) next show will be Nunsense Jamboree in September (auditions early/mid July).  They are hosting a production of The Fourth Wall in collaboration with the RadioActive Players on April 30 & May 1 at 2 PM at the SLO UCC at 11245 Los Osos Valley Rd.  General admission is $10.  Tickets can be purchased at the door or ahead of time online at www.brownpapertickets.com.

Upcoming performances at the Cal Poly Performing Arts Center (www.pacslo.org) include The Met Live in HD: Rossini's Le Comte Ory on April 10, StringWreck on April 15, Mexico de Noche 2011 on April 16 (Spanos Theatre), Hooray for Polywood Open House Concert on April 16 (Cohan Center), All-State Musica Festival Concert on April 17, and Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers on April 21.

Atascadero High School's Greyhound Players (http://www.atas.k12.ca.us/ausd/ahs/finearts/drama/drama.html) presents The Boyfriend through April 10.  Call (805) 610-9936 for tickets and additional information.

Morro Bay High School's Pirate Players (follow them on Facebook) will present Into the Woods April 7-9.  Contact Sherry Wright at swright@slcusd.org for additional information.

The North County Dance & Performing Arts Foundation (www.northcountyperformingarts.org) will present DreamWeaver: The Journey Continues April 29 - May 1 at the Templeton Performing Arts Center.  Call (805) 286-7883 for tickets.  

The Paso Robles Youth Arts Foundation (www.pryaf.org) will present Tom Sawyer April 14-16.  Call the PRYAF office at (805) 238-5825 for additional information.

The Paso Robles High School Drama Department (www.prhsdrama.com) will present Seussical through April 17.

The Central Coast Shakespeare Festival (http://centralcoastshakespeare.org) will hold auditions on April 9 & 10 (appointment required) for their upcoming summer season, which will include As You Like It and The Comedy of Errors. 

The Pewter Plough Playhouse's (www.pewterploughplayhouse.org) current production of Becky's New Car runs through May 8.  Auditions for Playhouse Creatures will be held on April 9 & 12 (performances 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 first of a 4 play season, starting with An Evening of Comedy - Creme de la Femme, April 7-10, followed by The Octette Bridge Club July 29 - August 21 (auditions April 11), and Dearly Departed October 21 - November 20.

Coast Union High School will present Bye Bye Birdie through April 10 in Cambria.  Call (805) 927-3889 for tickets and more information.

So, with the beautiful green hills and plenteous spring flowers all around us - make sure you take the time to enjoy them ... but then head on inside and support our thriving performing arts community here on the Central Coast by seeing a show!

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