California Central Coast Early September Theatre Performances

As we come to the end of August and make our way on into September (is this weekend REALLY Labor Day Weekend … already?!), I trust you are planning to take in one or more of the wonderful productions playing at some of the many theatre and live performance establishments that make their home and ply their artistic trade here on the California Central Coast!  And speaking of WONDERFUL …

SLO Little Theatre (www.slolittletheatre.org) will present The Marvelous Wonderettes August 31 – September 23.

Featuring your favorite songs from the 50’s and 60’s - The Marvelous Wonderettes takes you to the 1958 Springfield High School prom where we meet the Wonderettes, four girls with hopes and dreams as big as their crinoline skirts!  As we learn about their lives and loves, we are treated to the girls performing such classic ‘50s and ‘60s songs as “Lollipop,” “Dream Lover,” “Stupid Cupid,” “Lipstick On Your Collar,” “Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me,” “It’s My Party” and over 20 other classic hits!  You’ve never had this much fun at a prom and you will never forget The Marvelous Wonderettes - a must-take musical trip down memory lane!

Directed and Choreographed by Jake Liam McGuire

Cast (Photo courtesy of SLO Little Theatre, L-R):
Danielle Mendoza, Caitlin Fuller, Michelle hansen, Lizz Premer, Jessica Quandt

The Theatre at the Cambria Center for the Arts’ (http://artistsofcambria.com/cambriapac/index.html) Rumors, by Neil Simon, will run through September 2.

The Pewter Plough Playhouse (www.pewterploughplayhouse.org) in Cambria will present A.R. Gurney’s The Grand Manner August 31 – September 30.

The REC Foundation in Paso Robles is sponsoring a production of Man of La Mancha, directed by Cynthia Anthony and Jacob Shearer, at CentennialPark, performances September 21 & 22.  Call Jacob at 805-975-5023 for more information.

Kelrik Productions (www.kelrikproductions.com) has recently closed their Summer Camp/Performance Class production of Disney’s The Little Mermaid Jr – stay tuned for what their new season theme and lineup with be starting in the fall!

Upcoming performances at the Cal Poly Performing Arts Center (www.pacslo.org) include Ohana Dance Company’s Aloha: Today, Tomorrow, Always on September 15, The Foundation for the Performing Arts Center and Opera SLO’s When Stars Align on September 23, the National Circus of the People’s Republic of China on September 25, The Capitol Steps on September 26, Cal Poly Faculty Recital Featuring Jacalyn Kreitzer: “Celebrated Classics” on September 29 (Spanos Theatre), and Elvis Costello on September 29 (Cohan Center).  

Murder In Mind Productions (www.murderinmind.com) will present Pirates of Pirates Cove through September 2 at the Spyglass Inn in Shell Beach (reservations required).  

The Spot (https://www.facebook.com/#!/hit.the.spot) will present an Original Works Festival September 21-30.  Each accepted piece will receive a minimum of 3 opportunities to be performed.

Upcoming performances at the ClarkCenter (www.clarkcenter.org) include Central Coast Celebration Chorus’ Alice in Barbershop Land on September 8, Grammy Award winning Rodney Crowell on September 21, and the Central Coast Follies’ That’s Entertainment October 6-14.

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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