Monday, December 31, 2012

GOOD BYE TO 2012! A GREAT YEAR AT THE LITTLE THEATRE!

Happy New Year's Eve friends of the Little Theatre!


2012 has been a great year at 888 Morro Street. In January we came back (after closing our record-breaking production of A Christmas Story) and began teching our Winter Academy of Creative Theatre production of The Little Prince. The beautiful production wowed local audiences and ended up exceeding our net budget goals by nearly 50%.


The Little Prince was followed by our Winter Fundraiser, My Generation, which brought David Vienna, Drew Silvaggio, Kevin Harris, and Stephen Tosh together to lead the company of 25 singers, dancers, and actors. My Generation was called "...the best fundraising show the Little Theatre has produced..." (THE TRIBUNE) and ended up easily exceeding our net budget goals.


Next up: the Pulitzer prize-winning drama Dinner with Friends. This production broke box office records for Little Theatre dramas and ended up exceeding our net budget goals by nearly 100%.


We ended our 2011-2012 season with The House of Blue Leaves, which played to sold-out houses and exceeded our net budget goals by over 50%.


In June, the first production of the 2012-2013 season jumped onto the stage: My Way! A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra. This swingin' musical journey through Sinatra's career sold out nearly every performance started our new season off right!


Frank Sinatra was followed by Anne of Avonlea, our ACT Summer production. Once again, the production delighted our audiences, and enrollment in our ACT production classes were the strongest they had ever been.

Our 2012-2013 mainstage season opened next with The Marvelous Wonderettes, a fantastic trip down memory lane led by four quirky teenagers at their high school prom and reunion. Audiences fell for our Wonderettes and we easily exceeded our net budget goals.


Following up the Wonderettes was Gore Vidal's political thriller The Best Man! Our audiences proved that the classics are still alive and well at the Little Theatre, selling out many shows and easily exceeding our net budget goals.

And finally, we just finished up our completely sold out production of It's a Wonderful Life in late December. The retelling of America's favorite holiday story played to packed houses, closing out 2012 with a box office bang. Wonderful Life exceeded our net budget goals by over 50%.


After every mainstage production in 2012 Ubu's Other Shoe (our Readers' Theatre program at the Little Theatre) took the stage. In 2012, this important program presented some of best plays produced on the Central Coast including Arcadia, Time Stands Still, Good People, and Photograph 51.



And don't forget- the Little theatre produced 12 nights of all-original theatre in 2012 through NO SHAME CENTRAL COAST. No Shame celebrated its 2-year anniversary last Friday!


Thanks you to everyone who supported the Little Theatre as a patron, volunteer, performer, or donor during 2012! What a great year! We have so much to share with you in 2013. Don't miss a moment!

Happy new year, everybody!

Kevin



Wednesday, December 26, 2012

IT'S A WONDERFUL strike, HONK JR! is taking over the stage, a WEST COAST PREMIERE is booked, and WATERGATE is taking shape! 2012 is coming to a close at the Little Theatre!

Good afternoon friends of the Little Theatre,

I hope that everyone had a wonderful holiday. We're looking forward to great things in 2013 at the Little Theatre!



It's a Wonderful Life finished out its sold-out run on Sunday. The mutli-leveled set came down after the show to makes room for the magic of Honk Jr! too appear onstage. Did you miss Wonderful Life because it was sold out? Don't let that happen with our upcoming Winter Fundraiser, Watergate (and other Solid Gold Hits!) Tickets are now on sale but are going fast. Get yours TODAY by clicking HERE.



Honk Jr! opens in just a few weeks! Not familiar with the award-winning musical? Click HERE to check out  the opening song from the production. Or Academy of Creative Theatre produces incredible theatre- you're not going to want to miss this one. Get you tickets by clicking HERE.

Do you UBU? If not, you're missing some of the best theatre on the Central Coast! Check out our upcoming Ubu's Other Shoe staged reading of Gidion's Knot by Johnna Adams. The Little Theatre is proud to have been given permission to present this play's WEST COAST PREMIERE. Find out more about the play and get your tickets HERE.

Every week I will publish the newest members of the Little Theatre. Our organization depends on the generosity of these individuals/businesses to survive. If you know anyone on the list below, please be sure to let them know that you appreciate what they are doing for our theatre. A little thanks goes a long way!

NAME AMOUNT
Lois & David Bruns 250
Rick & Karen Bull 100
Eva Cervantes 50
Sally Junge 25
Alicia Lara 30
Patty & David Thayer 50
Have a fun, safe, fantastic New Year, everyone! We're looking forward to seeing you all here in 2013!

-Kevin








Thursday, December 20, 2012

Final five performances of WONDERFUL LIFE, WATERGATE is in the building, and only a few more days to buy discounted GIFT CERTIFICATES!

Good evening friends of the Little Theatre!

We're about 30 minutes away from beginning the final weekend of It's a Wonderful Life performances. Thank you to director Lisa Woske and the incredible cast and crew who have worked so hard for the last several months to bring this American classic to life on our stage. We're you not able to get tickets? We can generally accommodate several wait listed patrons at each performance. Check out our wait list procedures HERE.


Rehearsals for our original musical fundraiser, Watergate (and Other Solid Gold Hits) began this week. What a great cast! Don't miss Arash Shahabi, Clara Fulks, Dave Linfield, Emma Fay, Karen Blaney, Kelly Fidopiastis, Kerry DiMaggio, Khara Oliver, Lauren Moore, Lester Wilson, Marcus DiMaggio, Michael Dexter, Travis Nefores, Michelle Hansen, Suzy Newman, Wade Tillotson, Wayne Gamble, Janice Peters, and Yvonne Liu as they bring you the greatest hits of the 1970's! Get your tickets now before they are all gone. Click HERE to get the best available seats today!


We at the Little Theatre wants you to share what we do with your family and friends. So, we're making it easy for you! Through December 31 we will be offering gift certificates worth $25.00 toward tickets to any production for only $20.00. You'll save $5.00 with every gift certificate you purchase!


Gift the gift of theatre this year! Click HERE to order your gift certificates instantly online!

Have a great Friday, everyone!

-Kevin

Monday, December 17, 2012

Another SOLD OUT weekend, the WATERGATE tapes are released today, and don't miss the encore performance of PHOTOGRAPH 51! This week at the Little Theatre!

Good afternoon friends of the Little Theatre!


Did you already buy your tickets to It's a Wonderful Life? If not, we've been completely SOLD OUT for over a week. However, we can generally accommodate 5-6 patrons each performance through our wait list. To check out our wait list procedures, click HERE. Don't make the same mistake with our upcoming fundraising musical:


The first readthrough is happening tonight at the theatre! We can't wait to begin to bring this original musical to life on our stage. To see the teaser trailer for the musical, click HERE. To get your ticket TODAY, click HERE.

Don't miss our encore presentations of Photograph 51- playing for two night only: December 18 and 19 at 7:00 PM. Don't miss your chance to see this intelligent, interesting, well-written play "based on a true story" as they say in movie and TV ads. Those who saw it when we presented it in November will tell you that it is an hour and a half well-spent! You will laugh, maybe even cry, and you might learn a little more about "the secret of life". To learn more about the show and to order tickets, click HERE


Every week I will publish the newest members of the Little Theatre. Our organization depends on the generosity of these individuals/businesses to survive. If you know anyone on the list below, please be sure to let them know that you appreciate what they are doing for our theatre. A little thanks goes a long way!

Susan Aalto     $50.00
Rick and Karen Bull     $100.00
Ann and Richard Greene     $125.00
John Thomas     $50.00
Vivian Walker     $25.00
Allen Williams     $100.00

Thank you for everything that you do to support our organization! Have a great week everyone!

-Kevin

        







Tuesday, December 11, 2012

IT'S A WONDERFUL hit, WATERGATE is coming together, and another BLOG MILESTONE!

Good afternoon friends of the Little Theatre!


It's a Wonderful Life is a runaway hit! As of today we have fewer than 25 tickets left for the entire run? All but two shows are sold out. Interested in getting your name on the waiting list for a specific performance? Here's how you do it:

-show up in person to the box office one hour before the performance you would like to attend.
-each person at the box office can have up to 5 in their party on the list.
-names will be added on a first-come, first-served basis.
-make sure you're back the theatre ten minutes before the performance.
-any available seats will be sold to wait-listed patrons at 7:00 PM (2:00 PM matinees.)

You cannot add your name to a wait list over the phone, by email, or for a future performance.

Any questions? Please call our box office at 786-2440 during regular business hours.


Watergate! is coming together! Rehearsals start next week. Get your tickets now- this show will sell out! Click HERE to get the best seats today!


Thanks, everyone, for your support of this blog! We've crossed over 17,000 page views (averaging about 70 views each and every day!) We really appreciate it!

Every week I will publish the newest members of the Little Theatre. Our organization depends on the generosity of these individuals/businesses to survive. If you know anyone on the list below, please be sure to let them know that you appreciate what they are doing for our theatre. A little thanks goes a long way!

Tom Ammon and Gary Lawson     $250.00
Jerry and Sharynn Chirpich            $50.00
Elaine Fournier                              $100.00
Bill and Sarah Newman                 $50.00
Robert and Nancy Taylor              $50.00
Vivian Walker                               $25.00
Richard Welch                              $50.00

Thank you, everyone, for everything you do to make this theatre work! As always, please let me know if there's anything Board or staff can do to make your time with the Little Theatre more enjoyable and/or rewarding.

Have a great week, everyone!

Kevin


Thursday, December 6, 2012

2013-2014 director submissions now being accepted!

The Artistic Advisory Committee is currently choosing the mainstage plays/musicals for the Little Theatre's 2013-2014 season. If you are interested in being considered to direct a mainstage production, please click HERE.



The reviews are IN! It's a HIT!

Thank you to the Tribune for your great review of our holiday production of It's a Wonderful Life! Click HERE to see why the show is almost completely SOLD OUT.


Don't miss out! Get your tickets NOW by clicking HERE.

Have a great Thursday, everyone!

-Kevin

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

December is a busy, busy month! And CHECK OUT the DEL RUBIO TRIPLETS. ONLY at the Little Theatre.


Happy Tuesday friends of the Little Theatre,


 HONK JR! is still rehearsing every week in the theatre. Check out this great original artwork below from Subplot Studio. Do you know anyone who needs high quality poster design on the cheap for their upcoming production. Check out Subplot for all of your design needs. They offer a do-it-yourself artwork options that can fit into any theatre’s budget. Thank you, Subplot, for your support of the Little Theatre for the last two years!

Get your tickets now for Honk Jr! by clicking HERE.

 

The new draft of Watergate! (and Other Solid Gold Hits!) is coming soon. These original musicals usually go through 3-4 drafts before rehearsals even begin. We have our first readthrough of the script and “listenthrough” of the music on December 17th. Check out the teaser trailer HERE. Get your tickets HERE.


Auditions for our spring production if Enchanted April have been scheduled for February 2 and 3, 2013. The production, directed by Teresa Thuman, plays from April 12-May 5, 2013. Get all of the audition details HERE.


Gift certificates are selling extremely well! Be sure to support the theatre by telling your friends and family about this great gift idea. Share THIS LINK- we really appreciate it!

Every week I will publish the newest members of the Little Theatre. Our organization depends on the generosity of these individuals/businesses to survive. If you know anyone on the list below, please be sure to let them know that you appreciate what they are doing for our theatre. A little thanks goes a long way!

Michelle Jenkins                                           $85.00
Sheila Lebbad                                               $80.00
Janet & Dave McLaughlin                          $25.00
Deborah Schwartz & Larry Bolef              $250.00

Feeling the Holiday spirit yet? No? Then watch 47 minutes and 56 seconds of THIS. The Del Rubio triplets don’t make an appearance until about 23 minutes in, so, please have patience. It is a virtue.

Have a great Tuesday, everyone!

-Kevin

Monday, December 3, 2012

IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE is a hit! Every show is nearly SOLD OUT!

Good morning friends of the Little Theatre,

Congratulations to the cast/crew of It's A Wonderful Life! Our holiday production opened last Friday to a sold-out audience and the response has been incredible.


Audiences of all ages loved our take on the classic holiday story. As of today, we have less than 250 tickets available for the remainder of then run- we expect these to be gone by the end of the week. Don't miss your chance to experience the magic of It's a Wonderful Life live onstage at the Little Theatre! Click HERE to get your tickets now. Click HERE to see the teaser trailer for our production.


Have a great week everyone!

-Kevin


Friday, November 30, 2012

Happy opening night to the cast and crew of IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE!

Happy Friday friends of the Little Theatre!


Happy opening night the cast and crew of America's most-cherished holiday story, It's a Wonderful Life! For the last several months these incredible volunteers, led by director Lisa Woske, have worked tirelessly to bring this tale to life on our stage. Thank you for the hundred of hours you have given to the theatre!


We only have a handful of tickets left for the entire run! Thinking about bringing the family? Click HERE to get your ticket now. They won't be here next week!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Kevin


Thursday, November 29, 2012

AUDITIONS! AUDITIONS! AUDITIONS!


Audition Notice 

Enchanted April
Directed by Teresa Thuman

February 2 and 3, 2013 from 1-4 each day.
No appointment necessary. Actors will be seen in the order they arrive.

PLEASE PREPARE- one contemporary monologue (1-2 minutes)
You will be asked to read something in dialect (standard British) at the auditions, as well.

Rehearsals will begin in early March. Performances are April 12-May 5, 2013.

“The kind of play that reminds you of why you love theatre!”- Variety

When two frustrated London housewives decide to rent a villa in Italy for a holiday away from their bleak marriages, they recruit two very different English women to share the cost and the experience. There, among the wisteria blossoms and Mediterranean sunshine, all four bloom again—rediscovering themselves in ways that they—and we—could never have expected. 

Any questions? Please contact Kevin Harris by clicking HERE.


Charlotte Wilkins - Lotty - 30's, dowdy, childless, fed up, earnest, no social graces, wispy hair, crumpled hat, face puckered with effort and fear, instant soul-mate with Rose, shocked by her own daring at planning this adventure as well as the extravagance of it. Finds the Italian setting wildly, ridiculously, divinely beautiful.

Rose Arbuthnot - older than Lotty, 30's, prudish, proper, gives every penny to the poor to make up for her husband's evil books, she can't spend anything on her own enjoyment because of where the money comes from. Says of her husband's writing, "No one should write a book God wouldn't like to read."

Clerk - over 20, male or female

Lady Caroline Dester - 28 - 35, enchantress and society beauty. Single, from a wealthy, well-known family, wants quiet and to escape from the grabbing hands of men. Wants to recover from too much of everything an indulged young woman knows. Has an overbearing mother who "thinks nothing of value could come from the thinking of a beautiful young woman."

Thomas Briggs - 30's, handsome, portraitist who inherited the castle. Uses a hat and cane, nice guy smitten with Caroline at first sight.

Mrs. William Fisher - 65, aggressive dowager, widowed 11 years ago, still wearing black. Offers for her personal references: Archbishop of Canterbury, Pres. of the Royal Academy, Gov. of Bank of England. Lives in the past where eminent Victorians such as Tennyson and Browning were family friends. Walks with a cane and wants only to sit in the sun and remember.

Domenico - 30+, Italian speaking - caretaker of the castle

Francesca - 30+, Italian speaking- housekeeper for the castle

Mellersh Wilkins - 35-45, discreet family solicitor, forceful, top-hatted, frock-coated, respectable, with a high opinion of himself. "Needing an airing" according to Lotty, his wife. Thrifty except where his food is concerned.

Frederick Arbuthnot - (a.k.a. Ferdinand Arrundel) - 35-45, writer of successful, salacious, biographies of royalty: Cleopatra, du' Barry. He writes under a pseudonym to respect his wife's sensibilities. Spends most of his time away from her and knows Lady Caroline very well in his "other life."



Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Benefit performance for IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE!

Happy Wednesday friends of the Little Theatre!

Our holiday production of It's a Wonderful Life opens in just two days! We're all sold out for Friday night, but tickets are still available for the rest of the weekend. Click HERE to get yours before they're all gone.


Did you know that over the last ten years the Little Theatre has raised over $50,000.00 for local non-profits through benefit performances? We're pleased to host the San Luis Obispo Children's Museum this Thursday night for our preview performance of It's a Wonderful Life.


Have a great week, everyone!

-Kevin

Monday, November 26, 2012

Board to Meet

The regular meeting of the San Luis Obispo Little Theatre Board of Directors will be held at the theatre at 6 PM on November 28.

Click here to view the agenda.

Four days 'til WONDERFUL LIFE, HONK JR! is incubating in rehearsal, and GIFT CERTIFICATES are selling fast! This week at the Little Theatre!

Good afternoon friends of the Little Theatre,



We hope everyone had a wonderful holiday weekend. We jumped back into It's a Wonderful Life rehearsals on Sunday night and the show is looking great. Get your tickets for this holiday classic directed by Lisa Woske by clicking HERE.



WATERGATE begins rehearsals soon! Check out the teaser trailer for this original musical by clicking HERE. Get your tickets by clicking HERE.


The cast of Honk Jr! is busy putting together this incredible, family-friendly musical. You won't want to miss our young actors bring this production to life on our stage! Find out more about the show and get your tickets HERE

There still time to wrap up you holiday shopping with the Little Theatre. For each $20.00 gift certificate you buy, you get $25.00 toward the purchase of tickets to any production. Gift certificates will be sent to your address the day after you order! Nothing could be easier! Click HERE to order your instantly online and share the magic of Little Theatre with you family and friends!

Every week I will publish the newest members of the Little Theatre. Our organization depends on the generosity of these individuals/businesses to survive. If you know anyone on the list below, please be sure to let them know that you appreciate what they are doing for our theatre. A little thanks goes a long way!

NAME AMOUNT
Marie & Kenneth Allen 150
Betty Alvarado 50
Joseph Caldwell 25
Ernest & Tawn Roide 100
Ken Swanson 40
Roger Welles 50

Thank you for your ongoing support of our organization! Have a great week, everyone!

-Kevin






Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Not in the Thanksgiving spirit? Watch THIS!

Happy Tuesday friends of the Little Theatre!

Thanksgiving is only two days away--- time to start getting into the spirit of thanks! What am I thankful for. This classic clip from The Tonight Show. Gets funnier every year. Click HERE to see Doc Severinsen tear it up in 1979.

Have a great Tuesday, everyone!

-Kevin

Monday, November 19, 2012

WONDERFUL LIFE is nearly ready, WATERGATE AUDITIONS were off the charts, and let's eat some TURKEY. This week at the Little Theatre!

Good afternoon friends of the Little Theatre,

It's a Wonderful Life finished up the first tech weekend and the show is looking great! Thank you to the cast and crew for their hard work and patience as we navigated the 100+ lighting cues on Saturday afternoon. Get your tickets now for this holiday favorite directed by Lisa Woske (show are already selling out!) Click HERE to get yours today!

Kids are THRILLED to be at tech.

Director Lisa Woske taking her 
glasses off for emphasis.

Cast members patiently wait while
a light is focused.

Auditions for Watergate! took place last Wednesday and Thursday evening. Over 50 hopeful actors, dancers, and singers came to the Little Theatre and belted out classic tunes from the 70's. The show is going to be great! Good seats are going fast, so, plan ahead and get your today. Click HERE to experience Watergate (and other solid gold hits!)

Every week I will publish the newest members of the Little Theatre. Our organization depends on the generosity of these individuals/businesses to survive. If you know anyone on the list below, please be sure to let them know that you appreciate what they are doing for our theatre. A little thanks goes a long way!

NAME AMOUNT
Betty Alvarado 50
Joseph Caldwell 25
Jane Coffelt 100
Nancy Elliott 150
Julie Foster 40
Kevin Harris 20
Carol Kiessig 250
Gina Kirk 30
Sandy McComas 25
Marian E. McGuire 140
Sharon Moores 25
Janet Potter 30
Yvonne Ramos 30
Julie Schoonhen 40
Sims and Company 125
Steve Singer 100
Denise & Dan Turner 100
William & Debra Urban 20
Laura Hopkins 1,000
Have a great week, everyone!

-Kevin












Thursday, November 15, 2012

We're getting ready for TECH!

Good afternoon friends of the Little Theatre,

As many of you know, we have a pretty intense schedule at the Little Theatre. We are proud that- because of the incredible work of our volunteer and staff- we are able to present quality theatrical entertainment to the community on 44 weekends out of the year!

So, that begs the question: what are we doing on those other eight weeks?

Director Lisa Woske pointing at something

This weekend is one of our "weeks off,", however, things are more busy than ever as we prepare for technical rehearsals for It's a Wonderful Life. For the last several weeks, director Lisa Woske and her cast/crew have been putting the play together. This weekend, it's time to add in all of the technical elements: light, sets, costumes, and sound. Designers have been working for weeks to get everything ready to get onstage. This is the weekend that cast and crew figure it all out and the show begins to reveal itself to the theatre.
Volunteer/Board Member Ron Burkhart loves to create fake rocks

The multi-layered set by Dave Linfield


Wheelchair (without Potter)

Putting a production together requires hundred of hours of work by our volunteers and staff. We can't wait to see this timeless American classic- It's a Wonderful Life!- come to life on our stage. Get your tickets HERE.

Have a great Thursday, everyone!

-Kevin