Check out THIS awesome program the Little Theatre is participating in. Thanks to our friends at the SYMPHONY for making it happen!

PERFORMING ARTS ORGANIZATIONS PARTNER TO OFFER
FREE TICKETS TO SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY YOUTH

New Passport to the Arts Program Offers Interdisciplinary Arts Experiences to Eligible Students

SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA— Six San Luis Obispo performing arts organizations have come together in a bold collaboration to expose young performing arts students to diverse art forms. Festival Mozaic, the San Luis Obispo Symphony, Cal Poly Arts, Arts Obispo, Opera San Luis Obispo and the San Luis Obispo Little Theatre are offering free tickets to seven performances during the 2012-2013 season. More than 300 tickets will be donated by all participating organizations through this program.

The Passport to the Arts program began during the 2011-2012 season and has been refined in its second year. The program is designed to educate young artists about the diverse performing arts, all being produced at a high level. “If a young person plays an instrument in the Symphony’s Strings in the Schools program, it’s highly beneficial for her to experience the best in chamber music, choir, theater, dance and opera. We believe that holistic arts education is the best way to promote interdisciplinary arts learning, and research shows that young people who participate in a diverse range of arts activities do better in school, score better on tests, and face fewer challenges,” said Festival Mozaic Executive Director Bettina Swigger. “It’s also a wonderful way for us to build our audiences, both in the present day – because students are required to bring an adult family member with them – and for the future.”

Tickets will be distributed for performances from Festival Mozaic’s WinterMezzo November and March chamber music series, the Little Theatre’s production of It’s A Wonderful Life, The African Children’s Choir presented by Cal Poly Arts, the San Luis Obispo Symphony’s Apex for Kids Family Concert, Opera SLO’s production of The Magic Flute and Circa! presented by Cal Poly Arts.

San Luis Obispo Symphony Music Education Director Andrea Castillo said: "We are thrilled to partner with local arts organizations to bring this program to our students.  We hope the Passport to the Arts encourages families across the county to experience many of the great performances taking place their own backyard."

To be eligible for free tickets, students must have participated in at least one of the following programs:

·         SLO Symphony Strings in the Schools

·         SLO Little Theatre Academy of Creative Theatre

·         Opera SLO Children’s Summer Opera Camp

·         Cal Poly Arts Outreach Programs

·         Festival Mozaic Master Classes

The Passport to the Arts program is underwritten by the Performing Arts organizations mentioned previously, as well as with generous funding from the MOCA Foundation.

For more information, please contact San Luis Obispo Symphony Music Education Director Andrea Castillo at (805) 543-3533, ext.#13 or email andrea@slosymphony.com.

Are you looking for the perfect gift? Do you like to save money? Of COURSE you do! Check out this offer.

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!

Thanks, everyone!

-Kevin

It's HALLOWEEN time, THE BEST MAN is wrapping things up, and IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE takes over the stage. This week at the LITTLE THEATRE!

Good afternoon friends of the Little Theatre,

The Best Man enjoyed another wonderful weekend of performances. Audiences have been great for this great production of this classic play. Only four more chances to check it out before it's gone forever! Check out the great New Times review HERE. Check out the Ticket review HERE. Get your ticket HERE.

It's a Wonderful Life is going into its 3rd week of rehearsals and is looking forward to begin working on the set next week after The Best Man closes. Director Lisa Woske has assembled a great local cast for our holiday production. Get your ticket now- some performances are already sold out! You won't want to miss it. Click HERE and get the best possible seat.

Ubu's Other Shoe, the staged reading series at the Little Theatre, continues its great season with Photograph 51, the highly entertaining docudrama about scientist Rosalind Franklin. Do you know who Rosalind Franklin is? You should. Click HERE for a short crash course on this beautiful mind. Get your tickets to Photograph 51, directed by Michael Siebrass, by clicking HERE. The show plays for two night only- November 9 and 10 at 7:00 PM.

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!

Chris & Seth Blackburn                               $250.00

Michelle Gaudette & Jim McConaghy        $250.00

Thank you for everything that you do to support the Little Theatre. Have a happy, safe Halloween week. To honor the scariest holiday of the year, click HERE to see a clip from Punky Brewster that haunted me for years. Years. Apparently, I wasn't ALONE.

Have a great Monday, everyone,

Kevin

Only eight more chances to see THE BEST MAN. Check out this great review!

Thanks you to New Times Arts Editor Anna Weltner for her great review of The Best Man. Check it out HERE.

Want to see the show this weekend? Want to save up to $10/ticket? Click HERE for details.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

-Kevin

This is intriguing...

...Houdini musicals have been in the works for over 4 decades. This one is actually getting out of the strait-jacket. Will Hugh Jackman, Aaron Sorkin, and Stephen Schwartz be able to sidestep the magician's curse? Click HERE to read about Houdini. Visit the official website HERE.

Congratulations to the cast of HONK JR!

Congratulations to the cast of our upcoming production of

Thank you to everyone who auditioned for the Academy of Creative Theatre winter show. The cast is as follows:

Keana Alden: Grace, Goose Squadron, Mother Swan, Blizzard Dancer
Conner Allen: Turkey, Greylag
Brooke Andris: Downy
Jed Authier: Jay Bird, Barnacles, Farmer, Father Swan
Carissa Carlberg: Fluff, Blizzard Dancer
Ingrid Chen: Froglet
Spencer Doyle: Drake, Bullfrog
Emma Jane Haas: Maureen, Goose Squadron, Blizzard Soloist
Sophie Kardel: Henrietta, Goose Squadron
Lunabella Levin: Froglet
Mya Paredes: Ida
Zoe Peach-Riley: Farmyard Bird, Penny
Mia Ritter: Billy
Ernesto Roide: Farmyard Bird, Camera Crew, Pinkfoot
Lauren Rudd: Farmyard Bird, Snowy, Blizzard Dancer
Cali Singleton: The Cat
Elizabeth Tharp: Beaky
Allison Warren: Farmyard Bird, Dot, Blizzard Soloist
Trevyn Wong: Ugly

Honk Jr! opens in January and you can get your ticket by clicking HERE.

To find out more about our Academy of Creative Theatre at the Little Theatre click HERE.

Find ACT on Facebook by clicking HERE.

Have a great Wednesday, everyone!

-Kevin

BEST MAN is entering its third week, WONDERFUL LIFE gets a soundtrack, and HONK! is coming to 888 Morro Street- this week at the Little Theatre!

Good afternoon friends of the Little Theatre,

The Best Man finished up an extremely successful second weekend of performances. be sure to check out the review of the production in the New Times this Thursday. You can get your ticket to one of the final 8 performances by clicking HERE. If you missed Joan Crowder's review of the show in last week's TICKET, check it out HERE.

It's a Wonderful Life is fully blocked and cast member/musical director Larry Kaml is busy teaching the cast the music that will be used in our holiday production. Don't miss Larry (who you might recognize from The Fantasticks) and all of the other wonderful actors who are working so hard to bring this American classic to life on our stage. Get your tickets HERE.

Honk Jr! had a huge turnout of auditions and callbacks over the last two weeks. We are thrilled to be able to bring this show to the Little Theatre. Joining director Shelagh Garren will be Kelly Fidopiastis (choreographer) and Sarah Broomell (music director.) This is going to be a great show. Learn more about it 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!

Richard L. Roberts            $100.00

Thank you, again, for your support of this organization. As always, please let me know if there's anything the Board/staff can do to make you experience with the Little Theatre as positive as possible.

Have a  great week, everyone!

-Kevin

Board Meeting October 24 at 6:00 PM

The Board of Directors will hold its monthly Board meeting this Wednesday, October 24 at 6:00 PM at the Little Theatre. All members of the organization are eligible to attend. To view the agenda for the meeting, please click HERE.

Congratulations to the cast of PHOTOGRAPH 51!

Thank you to everyone who auditioned. The cast of our upcoming staged reading of Photograph 51 directed by Michael Siebrass is as follows:

Rosalind--Rosh Wright

Wilkins--John Geever

Watson--Tyler Lopez

Crick--Wade Tillotson

Don Caspar--Arash Shahabi

Ray Gosling--Jonathan Shadrach

Photograph 51 plays for two nights only: November 9 and 10 at 7:00 PM. Fins out more about the play HERE. Get your tickets HERE.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

-Kevin

The reviews are in and THE BEST MAN is a hit! And another milestone for BEHIND THE CURTAIN. This week at the Little Theatre.

The first review for The Best Man hits newsstands today- thank you to Joan Crowder for her thoughtful examination of our production. Check out what she has to say HERE.

Get your tickets to The Best Man, directed by Brent Keast, by clicking HERE.

Thank you, everyone, for your support of the Little Theatre and this blog. It is wonderful to have this outlet to communicate with the supporters of of organization. Today, we're proud to pass 14,000 pageviews- thank you for everything you do to make this theatre work!

Have a great Thursday, everyone!

-Kevin

Photo Shoot for BEST MAN yesterday...more to come!

Happy Wednesday friends of the Little Theatre!

We had our photo shoot for The Best Man yesterday. Thank you to Janice Peters and Daniel Freeman for coming in! Get your tickets by clicking HERE.

He's not talking to ANYONE on that phone

-Kevin

New Entrance! New Tile!

First, new seats.  Now a new entrance and a nice upgrade to the women's restroom.  Take a look!

Our new marquee sporting new logo--great work Bryce!

Check out the new awning over the entrance.

Didn't Dave do a great job re-tiling the women's restroom?

Listen to these artsy-smartsy people explain to you why IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE is one of the best stories ever told.

Good afternoon friends of the Little Theatre,

The Board and staff of the Little Theatre are proud to be producing a great stage adaptation of It's A Wonderful Life beginning in November. After working with the director of the production, Lisa Woske, during the preproduction process, the depth, universality, and darkness of this story has revealed itself to me. It's A Wonderful Life is so powerful precisely because it dares to explore (thematically and stylistically) the dark corners of the human spirit; we are able to experience experience despair, embarrassment, panic, and ultimately, salvation, through our protagonist, George Bailey.

As a theatre company, our business, ultimately, is storytelling; a lifelong study of why certain stories resonate with audiences, and how to present those storied on our stage in the most dynamic way possible. It's A Wonderful Life is a magnificent, classic story. But don't take my word for it.

Click HERE to see New York Times film critic A.O.Scott talk about the undertones and expressionism in the story/film.

Click HERE to read Roger Ebert's review of the film.

Click HERE to read Dan Schnieder's academic analysis of the film.

Don't miss our exploration of this holiday classic. Get your tickets to It's A Wonderful Life by clicking HERE.

Have a great Tuesday, everyone!

-Kevin

THE BEST MAN is off and running, exactly HOW OLD is RICH LITTLE now, and a BRAVE CAT makes all reasonable people proud. This week at the Little Theatre!

Good morning friends of the Little Theatre,

The Best Man enjoyed a very successful opening weekend.  Congratulations to the cast, crew, and director of this classic play- thank you for your incredible work over the last several months. A well-deserved standing ovation on opening night! Get your ticket for the production by clicking HERE. To hear Gore Vidal talk about The Best Man (and politics in general), click HERE (about 30 minutes, but worth it.)

It's a Wonderful Life has finished up music rehearsals and begins blocking tonight in the theatre. The Little Theatre's version of this holiday classic is directed by Lisa Woske- it opens at the end of November and tickets are already selling fast. Get your by clicking HERE. Check out this GREAT CLIP of RICH LITTLE roasting the star of the movie, JIMMY STEWART.

Auditions for our Academy of Creative Theatre production of Honk JR! began last Sunday. The LIttle Theatre is so proud to be producing this wonderfully fun musical. Check out a great song from it HERE. You can find out more about the production/auditions by clicking 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!

Genevieve D. Peters        $1,000.00

Jeanne Potter                  $50.00

Lastly, in honor of Felix Baumgartner, the incredibly brave maniac who, yesterday afternoon,  stepped off the front step of a perfectly good Airstream capsule 24 miles above the earth, enjoy THIS.

Have a great week, everyone!

-Kevin

Five Cities RAMS Rock

Gina and I grin for the camera with our very nice certificates.

Gina did a fantastic job presenting a talk about Little Theatre to the Five Cities RAMS club last Monday, and I got to tag along to be technical support.  There were at least 60 members in the audience and the club could not have been more gracious.  We got very nice certificates of appreciation—and we even had a reserved parking spot!

If you have an organization that would like to have Little Theatre come do a program for you, just let us know!

Thank you, Rabobank!

Santa Rosa Branch manager Terri Sablan, far right, and customer services supervisor Susie Reddy (far left) present "the big check" to Michael Simkins, Little Theatre board president (left) and Kevin Harris, Little Theatre managing artistic director.

San Luis Obispo Little Theatre is proud to announce that Rabobank, N.A. increased its donation to the annual fund this year to $2,500.  The generous contribution will help underwrite the general operating budget of the theatre.

Thank you to everyone who responded to our Facilities Questionnaire! See the results here!

A few months back, Bryce Engstrom (Board Secretary and Facilities Committee Chair) created a questionnaire about our current facility and possible future space. At the Little Theatre, we are continually looking for ways to meet the needs of our volunteers, patrons, and community. Thank you to everyone who took the time to fill out our questionnaire- the results can be seen by clicking HERE.

Have a great Thursday, everyone!

-Kevin

Middle of the week actor worship--- yes, he really is as cool as he seems. Please compare yourself to ANYONE else. Really. Here's why:

It's that time of the week again: middle-of-the-week-actor worship. Today, we look at an actor who has been receiving accolades for his unique and riveting performances for over 40 years, Jack Nicholson.

Nicholson cut his teeth as a screenwriter and bit part player under no-budget directing guru, Roger Corman. Three years after completing his first LSD-induced screenplay, he was nominated for an Oscar. If you don't know much about his upbringing and Shakespearean-tragedy-like coming of age, look it up. It sheds some light on the strangeness and intensity he brings to his roles.

Choosing clips of Nicholson's performances is daunting. I made it a little easier for myself by choosing my favorites: these are the scenes which, I feel, exemplify Nicholson's own personal take on performance.  Naturally, I'm not sure who else, besides Nicholson, could pull of these choices.

If you only watch one clip, click HERE to watch Jack Torrance's complete mental breakdown at the bar in The Shining. (Language.)

HERE is Nicholson in his first major film role (later played by Bill Murray in the movie musical version.)

Can he sing? Sort of. Does it matter? You decide. HERE is Nicholson in Tommy.

Scenery begs to be chewed by Nicholson. HERE he is with a mouthful in The Witches of Eastwick.

You don't have to yell to chew scenery. Hold THIS CLIP between your knees.

Have a great Wednesday, everyone!

-Kevin

THE BEST MAN is close, WATERGATE is coming back, and ANN MARGRET will slap your face with her fiery red hair. Repeatedly. THIS WEEK at the Little Theatre.

Good afternoon friends of the Little Theatre!

The Best Man began “hell week” this past weekend and we’re looking forward to beginning our full dress rehearsals this evening. Our wonderful costumer Sharon Woodside (assisted by Karen Miles) showed off their great work at the costume parade yesterday.

The Best Man opens this Friday, October 12. Get your ticket now by clicking HERE.

Auditions for the Academy of Creative Theatre production of Honk Jr! are coming up soon. Get all of the audition details by clicking HERE.

It’s a Wonderful Life has started music rehearsals and begin blocking next week. Check out the great cast by clicking HERE. Get your tickets now by clicking HERE.

Auditions of Watergate (and other solid gold hits!) are coming next month. Keep checking the website- roles/details/songs to be released soon!

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!

100		Laurie Elliott
100		Jane Bowerman & David Gillette
100		Bethany & Don Griffiths
50		Jeanne Potter
100		Amy Toyama

HAPPY HAPPY OPENING to Enchanted April’s director, Teresa Thuman! Her production of TOMMY! Opens this Friday at Bainbridge Performing Arts. 

Although I’m sure your production will be awesome, it simply cannot be as awesome as THIS. Please click HERE to cleanse your palette.

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

Have a great week, everyone,

-Kevin

It's official! ACTORS in THE BEST MAN will be wearing costumes! See them below. The production opens this Friday. Only at the Little Theatre!

The Best Man began tech rehearsals this weekend- thank you the cast/crew and director, Brent Keast, for their great work over the last few months. Check out these great costumes by Sharon Woodside (assisted by Karen Miles) from the costume parade on Sunday.

The Best Man puts you in the front row of one of the most heated, vicious presidential campaigns ever imagined. William Russell,is a wit and scholar with high liberal principles. Joseph Cantwell is a ruthless and hard-driving young man, a dirty fighter who will let no scruples stand in the way of his ambitions. On the eve of the convention, Cantwell has got hold of papers indicating that his rival once suffered from a mental breakdown, which he cannot wait to use in order to destroy his opponent. This Tony award-winning play set the bar for all political thrillers. Don’t miss it. Get your tickets by clicking HERE.

Directed by Brent Keast

Cast: Daniel Freeman, Janice Peters, Todd Andeli, Nikki Barnes, Chad Stevens, Brooke Foster, John Carroll, Ed Galena, Elaine Fournier, Evan Camacho, Jeff Zahn, Johannes Beals, Tom Zirk, and Franklin Mognett.

Have a great Monday, everyone!

-Kevin

Great acting/life advice from a very, very smart lady.

Check out this great energy breakdown from Patsy Rodenburg. She borders on some mumjo-jumbo (and it's debatable whether or not everything she says is actually act-able), but it never hurts to consider all theories. Just don't let theories get int he way of your job.

Click HERE to learn about being present.

Have a great Thursday, everyone!

-Kevin

THE BEST MAN is coming soon!

Check out our next mainstage production The Best Man  by Gore Vidal. This classic political thriller, directed by Brent Keast, opens next Friday October 12 and plays through Sunday, November 4.

The Little Theatre is extremely proud to have been given the rights to this timeless play so soon after its record-breaking Broadway revival.

"Gore Vidal's The Best Man  makes you wish that Vidal were writing the dialogue for the presidential debates. It brings to the backstabbing world of campaigning the bright verbal fire that All About Eve and Sweet Smell of Success brought to the backstabbing worlds of show business and journalism." —NY Times.

"A sophisticated, elegant and damnably entertaining play!" —The New Yorker.

"Gore Vidal's best play! Well-crafted and witty with surprises, reversals, pungent character sketches, satire, worldly wisdom and juicy roles for all concerned." —NY Magazine.

"Gore Vidal's THE BEST MAN is a winner! Extraordinarily fresh, witty, sharp and relevant." —NY Daily News.

"Vidal's story is a corker! Suspenseful, funny, surprisingly fresh!" —Associated Press.

The Best Man  is part of the Little Theatre's 66th anniversary season. The Board, staff, and 200+ active volunteers of the Little Theatre invite you to join us for this and the remaining plays of 2012-2013. Don't miss It's a Wonderful Life, Honk, JR!, Watergate and Other Solid Gold Hits, Enchanted April, and The Sound of Music.

Thanks, everyone!

-Kevin

TIME STANDS STILL is gone, THE BEST MAN is in the home stretch, and auditions are coming up for PHOTOGRAPH 51! Only at the Little Theatre!

Good morning friends of the Little Theatre

Thank you to Jill Turnbow and the cast/crew of Time Stand Still. We had a great run last weekend!

The Best Man is in the home stretch. Dave is putting up the flag wall and finishing up the major set pieces this week. Opening night is already completely sold out! To get your tickets to this fantastic drama directed by Brent Keast, click HERE. For a behind-the-scenes look at the recent, award-winning Broadway revival, click HERE.

It’s A Wonderful Life begins music rehearsals this Wednesday. Larry Kaml has been contracted as musical director for the production. Blocking rehearsals begin in earnest after the opening of The Best Man. To get your tickets click HERE. To check out a short video review of the original film, check THIS out.

AUDITIONS for Photograph 51, a staged reading directed by Michael Siebrass will take place this THURSDAY at 6:30 at the Little Theatre. The production will run for two nights only: November 9 and 10 at 7:00 PM. To see the complete audition details, please click HERE.

The Board of Directors will hold its annual retreat this Saturday. Thank you to Ron Burkhart for hosting this meeting!

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!

AMOUNT	NAME
500	John Battalino
100	Laurie Elliott
500	Bryce & Kate Engstrom, Bryce Engstrom Architect
100	Jane Bowerman & David Gillette
100	Bethany & Don Griffiths
100	Bob Peterson
500	Ralph Slocum
100	Amy Toyama

I am attaching the master calendar for this week (and NEXT!) at the Little Theatre. We will soon have 5 different productions in various stages of rehearsal using the theatre building, so please be respectful of space, volume, and prop storage. We have started finding trash in the theatre, green room, and rehearsal room in the morning. Please dispose of any trash before you leave the space. We have ACT classes here nearly every afternoon, and it’s difficult to stay ahead of the trash curve if when people leave it in the various rooms. Thank you! Please look the calendars over carefully and let me know if anything needs to be changed by this Wednesday (tomorrow) at noon. Thank you!

PRODUCTION METINGS THIS WEEK:

THE BEST MAN: Friday, 12:00-12:45 PM

REQUESTED ATTENDEES: Kevin, David, Brent, John B. Sharon, Charlene, and any other member of the production team who would like to attend.

AGENDA: Lights finish, cuing  sound finish, tech weekend, costumes, props, backstage protocol, prop upkeep during run, comps, opening night, scenic finish.

IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE: No formal production meeting this week. LISA, I will be in touch to schedule a sit-down to look at the script, map out blocking areas, determine basic floorplan.

PHOTOGRAPH 51: No formal production meeting this week. MICHAEL, I will be in touch after auditions. Please let me know of any special audition requirements you have for Thursday and I’ll make sure they are there for you.

HONK, JR!: No formal production meeting this week. KERRY and SHELAGH, please let me know if there’s any preliminary needs you have prior to auditions.

WATERGATE!: No formal production meeting this week. VIENNA, I will send you preliminary outline notes this week. TOSH, I’ll have a preliminary song list to you by the end of the week.

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

Have a great week, everyone,

-Kevin