INDEPENDENCE bring audiences to their feet, DESIRE takes the stage, MARVIN GARDENS jumps into character work, and AUDITIONS for our RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN fundraiser are right around the corner! This week at the Little Theatre!

Good morning friends of the Little Theatre!

What a great weekend of performances at the Little Theatre. Independence enjoyed four standing ovations during the third week of its run- have you seen this remarkable production yet? There are only four more chances to see these four great actresses bring Lee Blessing's groundbreaking drama to life onstage. Check out the New Times review HERE. Check out the Tribune review HERE. Don't miss this powerful production- get your tickets for the final weekend by clicking HERE.

Ubu's Other Shoe (the staged reading series at the Little Theatre) is presenting Eugene O'Neill's Desire Under the Elms for two nights only: November 6 and 7 at 7:00 PM. Director Brent Keast has assembled a wonderful cast for this classic play. Learn more about the production and get your tickets by clicking HERE. Be sure to stay for the talkback with the director and cast after Wednesday's presentation.

A Hotel on Marvin Gardens, the fourth staged reading in Ubu's 10th anniversary season, has started rehearsals. Cynthia Anthony directs this hilarious comedy by Nagle Jackson (Taking Leave). Learn more about the play HERE. A Hotel on Marvin Gardens plays for two nights only: December 17 and 18 at 7:00 PM.

We're looking for some amazing singers and dancers to star in Some Enchanted Evening, our winter fundraiser. This tribute to the music and lyric of Rodgers and Hammerstein require a tight ensemble of 3 women and 2 men to bring these songs to life on our stage. See all of the audition details by clicking HERE.

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

-Kevin

Another weekend of INDEPENDENCE and NO SHAME takes a break till November!

"Evelyn’s not crazy exactly, but she can 

certainly see it from where she’s standing." 

~Anna Weltner in New Times

That pretty much sums up the central character of Lee Blessing's insightful drama, INDEPENDENCE, now playing at the Little Theatre. Brilliantly portrayed by actress Jill Turnbow, Evelyn is the needy and demanding mother of three lovely daughters, Kess (Makayla Dubois), Jo (Alicia Klein) and Sherry (Clara Jane Fulks) who " find themselves bringing out the worst in one another, the way only families can."

Seriously folks, this one's the real deal. A skillfully written drama with heart, soul, humor and "a dash of crazy," this is an incredible show, and you  might just catch a glimpse of yourself onstage. We're all a little crazy, aren't we? Directed by Suzy Newman and beautifully acted by a great cast, you certainly won't soon forget Evelyn, her family, or this play.

We invite you to read the complete New Times review of the show HERE and catch the social buzz about the show on our facebook page HERE.  And of course, you can read more about the play and get your tickets HERE. Do it today and join us this weekend for real, live, theatre in downtown San Luis Obispo.

By the way, this production has been sponsored by some awesome people. Thanks to Tom Stollmeyer at Peak Electric and to a lovely, anonymous theatre-lover who had this to say about INDEPENDENCE: "Wow! A must see. Congrats to all, a truly great production."

THANK YOU!!

Speaking of sponsors and generous people, I'd like to take a minute to thank ALL of our amazing Little Theatre members. This place would NOT exist without your support. Ticket sales alone just won't do it. Your donations keep your Little Theatre performing LIVE, LOCAL, THEATRE on 44 out of 52 weekends every year. You can view a list of all of our very special donors HERE and, just for fun, you can also view our season lobby video HERE. Thanks to Ryan Loyd of Rylo Media Design for putting together a video that not only recognizes our supporters but also gives a great overview of our entire season.

Did you know that you too can become a member of the Little Theatre? For more information and to make your tax-deductible donation today, click HERE. Thank you for playing your part in making live theatre a thriving presence in San Luis Obispo for over 67 years.

That's right. There's no NO SHAME this month. Sorry folks! 

We're taking a break from our monthly Friday night No Shame Theatre in October, partly because of a little lobby construction going on (due to water damage) and partly so we can gear up for a big party next month! On Friday, November 22nd, we'll be back and we'll be celebrating three great years of original, late-night theatre in San Luis Obispo. Mark your calendars and we'll see you then!

And speaking of lobby construction...

The city pipes backed up and we had a bit of a flood last week, so one end of our lobby will be off limits for a while while we dry out and make it beautiful again. Our shiny, new lobby should be completely done in a few weeks. In the meantime, don't let a little dust scare you away! Come on down this weekend to see INDEPENDENCE. We'll take care of you while you're here and you'll love this show.

Best wishes for a great weekend to all. Hope to see you soon!

~Patty

INDEPENDENCE is here. This play, and these performances, are the real deal.

I saw a dress rehearsal for INDEPENDENCE by Lee Blessing last night and it really got to me. I called my Mom today. Not because she's anything like Evelyn Briggs, the Mom in Independence. Trust me. She's not. AT ALL. But she's my Mom and I love her. You'll see what I mean when you see the show. Family is family. And this family of women is at once funny, sad, loving, angry, desperate, confused...well, you'll see when you see the show.

What an amazing cast, led by a great director, Suzy Newman, most recently seen onstage in Always, Patsy Cline at PCPA and last seen at the Little Theatre in Watergate. Mikayla Dubois is the oldest daughter Kess, it's her first show at the Little Theatre, but hopefully not her last. Alicia Klein is the middle child, Jo. You'll remember her from Enchanted April and, if you squint a little, you might be able to recognize her as the movie star from House of Blue Leaves. Clara Jane Fulks is remarkable as Sherry. Just 17 and this is her third mainstage show at the Little Theatre, not to mention many other great, local roles. And of course, Jill Turnbow is Evelyn, the matriarch of this little family of women. Jill directed Incorruptible and House of Blue Leaves and has appeared onstage in several Little Theatre shows including Taking Leave, Daughters of the Lone Star State and in countless evenings of No Shame Theatre. 

If you haven't gotten your tickets yet, I recommend Opening Night on Friday, October 18th.  There's something about opening night that is like no other night in the run of the show. I mean, sometimes there are a few little glitches, a new prop goes haywire, the paint might be wet, a sound cue goes awry. But the energy and dare I say, the magic, of opening night is palpable. It's my favorite night in the run. Plus, we get to have a party in the lobby afterwards, food, wine, mingling. We thank our generous sponsors, Tom Stollmeyer of Peak Electric and an Anonymous Theatre-Lover (who may just be revealed on opening night!) along with our amazing director Suzy Newman and our stellar cast. Join us, won't you?

CLICK HERE for show information and tickets. You'll be glad you did. This one's the real deal.

INDEPENDENCE

by Lee Blessing
Directed by Suzy Newman

October 18-November 10

Fridays & Saturdays @ 7 pm
Saturdays & Sundays @ 2 pm

(And thanks to Jamie Foster for the great photos!)

A DARK weekend this week means a GREAT opening night NEXT week! Declare INDEPENDENCE!

Bit by bit, nail by nail and wall by wall, the set for INDEPENDENCE is coming together! It truly is a marvel to see how set designer Dave Linfield does it. As you can see by the floral wallpaper used on the walls, INDEPENDENCE takes us back in time a few years and you're going to love the trip. Costumer Randon Pool has been spending many hours hitting the thrift stores and Prop Mistress Charlene Premer has been polishing up the china service. Next week, we'll see how the year 1985 looks live onstage.

Suzy Newman (Director), Makayla Dubois (Kess), Clara Jane Fulks (Sherry), Alicia Klein (Jo) and Jill Turnbow (Evelyn)

"You can't begin to work on a play about family without all of the same excitement and trepidation saved for a trip home for Thanksgiving."  ~ From the Director's Notes on Independence

Set in the small town of Independence, Iowa, this award-winning drama by the author of A Walk in the Woods and Fortinbras, is a story of family ties that bind...and sometimes strangle. Featuring four very talented local actresses -- Makayla Dubois, Clara Jane Fulks, Alicia Klein and Jill Turnbow -- and led by director Suzy Newman, Independence will have you laughing one minute and crying the next. In other words, this is the real deal. You don't want to miss this wonderful production!

INDEPENDENCE
by Lee Blessing | Directed by Suzy Newman
October 18-November 10
Fridays & Saturdays @ 7pm
Saturdays & Sundays @ 2pm

Thanks to our Show Sponsors
An Anonymous Theatre-Lover
Peak Electric, Tom Stollmeyer

MORE INFO & TICKETS

BREAK OUT YOUR ACTING CHOPS!
Director Cynthia Anthony is looking for 3 women and 2 men for the Ubu's Other Shoe staged reading of A Hotel on Marvin Gardens. Auditions will take place on Monday, October 21 at 6 pm here at the Little Theatre. This hilarious comedy by Nagle Jackson will hit the stage on December 17 & 18.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

Have you marked your calendars yet for these November/ December shows? If not, do it NOW! (Click HERE for more information about our mainstage schedule.)  Every square inch of the theatre is jammed with actors rehearsing every night of the week and we're looking forward to a very jolly holiday season here at the Little Theatre. 

We all need a little break from the bad news out there, don't you think?  We hope you'll join us -- onstage or in the audience -- for live, local, life-affirming theatre in downtown San Luis Obispo. 

Finally, just a quick note of thanks to all of our Little Theatre members. Your generous donations are what keep your community theatre performing 44 out of 52 weekends every year. You can see a list of all of our generous member/donors right HERE.  And you can join them today by making your online donation right HERE.  Membership has many benefits, including free tickets, voting privileges, invitations to special events and more. Your tax-deductible gift to the San Luis Obispo Little Theatre is a gift to your community. Thanks for playing your part in making the magic happen.

Thanks again for listening and I hope to see you real soon, right here at the Little Theatre.

~Patty