Late August Theatre Opportunities on the Central Coast of California

As we move toward the latter portion of August and the end of summer (sigh ... some schools are already back at it!), I hope you are making plans to attend a few of the wonderful shows currently (or soon to be) running at any of the numerous live performance and theatre venues so readily found here on the Central Coast of California!

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

What some consider to be Simon’s funniest play!  Four couples meet to celebrate their friends’ wedding anniversary.  But the hostess is gone, the servants have disappeared and the host has shot himself!  What follows is a rollicking romp as the guests try to fool each other and the police as to what really happened. But who knows the truth?  Rumors abound! 

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 Centennial Park, 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!

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

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 Clark Center (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.

The Great American Melodrama (www.americanmelodrama.com) in Oceano is proud to present Gunsmokin’, or All Riot’s on the Western Front, written by Ben Millet and adapted by JorDan Richardson, through September 15, followed at each performance by the TGAM Wide World of Sports Vaudeville Revue, directed by Jake McGuire, with musical direction and accompaniment by Mark Pietri.  Gunsmokin’ will run alternate performances with the Melodrama’s second summer show, From Rags to Riches, or I Will Not Pay the Price You Ask.

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, will present Daddy Long Legs through September 9 at the Solvang Festival Theater, and Chekhov’s Three Sisters at the Severson Theatre in Santa Maria September 6-30.

The Santa Maria Civic Theatre (www.smct.org) will present their first mainstage production of the 2012/13 Season, Dearly Beloved, September 14 - October 6.

The Lompoc Civic Theatre (www.lompoccivictheatre.com) will present Count Dracula by Ted Tiller October 19 – November 4.

So, whatever you might be planning to round out the last few weeks of “summer fun out of the sun,” I trust you will want to include some of the live theatre and entertainment options here on the California Central Coast!

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