THE GOAT takes the stage for 3 shows only, get ready for ORLANDO auditions and SEASON TICKETS are available NOW!

Where did the year go? I know, it's hard to believe, but this weekend we'll present the FINAL SHOW of our 2014/2015 Season, an Ubu's Other Shoe Staged Reading of Edward Albee’s THE GOAT (or Who is Sylvia?) What an amazing show to end a fabulous season!

Winner of the 2002 Tony Award for Best Play, THE GOAT is a tragically comical play with a simple, albeit deeply disturbing premise: a married man falls in love with a goat. Once his wife finds out this sordid truth, all hell (and a lot of vases) breaks loose.

I can't wait to see this play this weekend and not just because it marks the final show of an amazing season here at the Little Theatre, but because it is going to be awesome. You know why? Because THE GOAT is directed by the amazing and very funny Jill Turnbow and features the awesome talents of David Norum, Polly Firestone-Walker, Daniel Freeman and Anthony Hernandez - that's why! You've got three chances to see this stellar cast in action: Friday at 7 pm and Saturday at 2 pm and 7 pm.  Click HERE to choose your performance and purchase your tickets online. Seriously, don't miss our final UBU show of the season, you're going to love it!

"Meet Virginia Woolf's Orlando, your typical Elizabethan Man: a favorite of the Queen, madly in love with a Russian Princess, fleeing an Archduchess, and waking up one fine day in Constantinople to find he has become, of all things, a woman..."

AUDITIONS for our first Ubu's Other Show Staged Reading of the 2015-2016 Season will take place this Sunday, June 21 from 5:30-7:30 PM.  ORLANDO was written by Virginia Woolf and adapted by gifted playwright Sarah Ruhl. The staged reading will be directed Anet Carlin. Actors are asked to come to auditions prepared with two 30 second monologues. You can find out more on our website HERE. Orlando will run for three shows only, August 7-8.

And just in case you didn't get the memo....SEASON TICKETS ARE NOW ON SALE!  And trust me, they are flying out the door. We have an incredible season lined up for you beginning in August with the delightful comedy SYLVIA and running through early next July with BYE, BYE BIRDIE!  If you don't want to be left standing in line at a sold-out show, with your name on a waiting list -- as many of you did for THE MUSIC MAN, SINGIN' IN THE RAIN, PICASSO AT THE LAPIN AGILE and so many of our shows during the 2014/15 Season -- then buy your tickets now!  Season Ticket holders are guaranteed the Best Seats at the Best Price. Guaranteed.

Click HERE to find out more about our 6 SEASON SHOWS, 7 UBU'S OTHER SHOE STAGED READINGS, 4 AFTER HOURS COMEDIES, 2 ACADEMY OF CREATIVE THEATRE educational shows, 1 SPECIAL HOLIDAY SHOW, 1 BEST OF NO SHAME and of course...CABARET. Then click HERE to download an order form and place your order today via phone, fax or walk-up.  Online sales for season subscriptions, along with all of our "a la carte" shows, will begin on Monday, June 22.

AND finally, watch for a special announcement early next week when we launch our brand new, beautiful, easy-to-navigate website at slolittletheatre.org, courtesy of our friends at SUBPLOT STUDIO.  Don't worry, I'll definitely let you know when it's ready to go - I can hardly wait!

Have a great weekend everyone - see you at THE GOAT!

~Patty

THE MUSIC MAN's a HIT, our mid-week UBU show rocked, NO SHAME this Friday and BETWEEN IRAQ AND A HARD PLACE is up next!

The cast and crew of THE MUSIC MAN will go in to their second weekend of performances with two great reviews in their pockets! You can read the entire NEW TIMES review, by Andrea Catanzarite, HERE and Debby Nicklas's TRIBUNE review is not posted as of 10 am this morning, but you can either pick up a print copy, or keep checking the website HERE. Take my word for it, they're both wonderful!

Photos by Danielle Dutro McNamara Photography

The show is breaking records for ticket sales, but I promise, we can still get you in to see this show! Click HERE to purchase your seats online, and if it's sold-out, just come on down to the theatre anyway. We'll have a waiting list at the door beginning one hour before show time, and we're always able to squeeze in  more than a  handful of those patient enough to wait. Whatever you do, don't miss our fabulous season finale musical!

Photos by Danielle Dutro McNamara Photography

Our eighth UBU'S OTHER SHOE STAGED READING for the 2014-15 Season was an absolutely hilarious look at "feminism's foibles." Gina Gionfriddo's 2012 comedy RAPTURE, BLISTER, BURN was directed by Jenny Shaheen and featured the talented cast seen in the photos above. Congratulations to cast and crew on a wonderful show and a very successful two-night run. Mark your calendars now for our final UBU staged reading of the season, Edward Albee's THE GOAT (or Who is Sylvia?) on June 19 and 20.

Our final After Hours @slotheatre late night comedy show of the 2014/15 Season will hit the Little Theatre stage on May 29th. We are thrilled to present actress and comedienne Jill Turnbow in her one-woman show BETWEEN IRAQ AND A HARD PLACE. In hilarious and heartwarming detail, the show details Jill’s experiences as a stand-up comic entertaining the troops during the Persian Gulf War of 1991. Imagine a huge cruise ship moored in the Persian Gulf, brought there to offer “R&R” for troops in the region. Then imagine a young, female, stand-up comic, 27,000 men and an open bar. The result? In Jill's own words: "I had a pretty good time."  We promise you will too.

You can read more about the show in an article at Theatermania right HERE. There's also a review in the LA Times right HERE. And a great piece on the Backstage website HERE.  Yep. We're talking the real deal here. Jill performed a limited run of this show on the Little Theatre stage a few years ago and if you missed that one, do NOT miss this one. Even if you saw that one... see it AGAIN.
There will be six shows only running Fridays and Saturdays at 9:45 pm (note the change in time!) and Sundays at 7 pm immediately following THE MUSIC MAN. I'd recommend you get your tickets NOW to ensure your seats. And you can do that right HERE.

NO SHAME May hits the stage this Friday night after The Music Man. The lobby opens at 9:30 pm, submissions start at 10 pm and get ready for FREE, LIVE, LOCAL, ORIGINAL, late-night theatre beginning at 10:30 pm. I'll be there!

Brochure design by SUBPLOT STUDIO

Coming soon to a mailbox near you....the 2015-2016 SEASON!  To ensure that you receive our fabulous season brochure containing everything you need to know about purchasing season tickets (don't get stranded in the waiting list line next season!) along with detailed information about all the great shows, education programs and more, give us a call at (805) 786-2440 or send us an EMAIL with your mailing address TODAY!  This little gem will be hitting the streets by the end of next week and you don't want to miss out on your copy! You can take a sneak peek at next season's schedule on our website HERE and you can even download a subscription ticket order form, so you can get your order in early and ensure that you get the best seats in the house!

Best wishes for a wonderful holiday weekend to everyone. Be sure to add some live theatre to your weekend plans, along with the traditional BBQ and beach!

~Patty

New Times "BEST OF", the Wells Fargo Wagon is a-comin', RAPTURE BLISTER, BURN next Tuesday and JILL TURNBOW!

The annual New Times Best Of poll results are in and you've done it again! Thank YOU for voting us the BEST LOCAL THEATER GROUP for six years running!  In the words of New Times outgoing Arts Editor Jessica Pena:

"SLO Little Theatre isn't just a place to see plays in San Luis Obispo. It's an institution. Since 1947, it's been a consistent source of quality theatre, running more shows than any other theater group on the Central Coast. 'The staff and board of the Little Theatre feel that it's our responsibility to produce the widest variety of theatre possible,' said Kevin Harris, Managing Artistic Director. And that's no lie. This year alone, the Little Theatre has produced a beloved musical, a contemporary drama, and a daring one-woman show. It may be 'little' in name, but not in ambition."

Thank you New Times readers and Little Theatre fans! We promise we'll keep doing our best to bring the magic of live theatre to downtown San Luis Obispo this year, and for many years to come. Speaking of which...

Here it comes. The season finale musical for our 2014-2015 Season. THE MUSIC MAN! Director Zach Johnson, Music Director Lacey McNamara, an incredible production staff and crew and this talented cast of 28 local actors have been working hard for almost two months putting this fabulous show together and it's almost here. This Tony Award winning musical (five Tonys, including Best Musical!) opens this Friday night and you'll kick yourself if you miss it! But if you're going to see it, you'd better hurry, there are less than 200 seats remaining for sale in the entire five-week run! So, what are you waiting for? Click HERE to get your tickets today!  (Hint: Thursday nights are probably your best bet for the best seats and you can also try our waiting lists at the door!)

Tuesday and Wednesday nights may not seem like the usual time to consider going to see a play, but when you've got an amazing staged reading like RAPTURE, BLISTER, BURN playing, it's not only a good idea, it's absolutely the best idea I've heard in a long time. Number 8 in our 2014/15 Season of Ubu's Other Shoe Staged Readings is a contemporary comedy by Gina Gionfriddo.  RAPTURE, BLISTER, BURN tackles feminism’s foibles in what The New York Times called an, "intensely smart and immensely funny," new play. Director Jenny Shaheen and her talented cast of five local actors will bring Gionfriddo's comedy to life in a staged reading Tuesday, May 19 and Wednesday, May 20 at 7 pm. The price is just $10 and there will be an audience talk-back after Tuesday night's performance. Click HERE for your tickets!

Our final After Hours @slotheatre late night comedy show of the 2014/15 Season will hit the Little Theatre stage on May 29th. We are thrilled to present actress and comedienne Jill Turnbow in her one-woman show BETWEEN IRAQ AND A HARD PLACE. In hilarious and heartwarming detail, the show details Jill’s experiences as a stand-up comic entertaining the troops during the Persian Gulf War of 1991. Imagine a huge cruise ship moored in the Persian Gulf, brought there to offer “R&R” for troops in the region. Then imagine a young, female, stand-up comic, 27,000 men and an open bar. The result? In Jill's own words: "I had a pretty good time."  We promise you will too. There will be six shows only running Fridays and Saturdays at 9:30 pm and Sundays at 7 pm. I'd recommend you get your tickets NOW to ensure your seats. And you can do that right HERE.

Photos by Danielle Dutro McNamara Photography

We're heading into an exciting opening weekend!  Hope to see you at THE MUSIC MAN!

~Patty

THE MUSIC MAN: Under Construction. RAPTURE, BLISTER, BURN: In Rehearsal. CANCELING CABLE: In Los Osos Friday. 2015-2016 SEASON: On the Way!

We are definitely UNDER CONSTRUCTION this weekend at the Little Theatre. The sounds of a tablesaw, electric drills and hammering mingle with the smell of paint and the voices of volunteer set builders. At the same time, the lobby is full of young voices chattering away as the Academy of Creative Theatre holds auditions in the rehearsal room for THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE; and then, if you hang around until about 6 pm, you can catch a Barbershop quartet warming up out front for Music Man rehearsals. I know, you've heard it before and you'll hear it again: it gets pretty busy around here during the week, even when there's no show scheduled for the weekend!

These are the happy faces of the children featured in The Music Man. Winthrop, Amaryllis, Gracie and Zaneeta posed with their young friends and neighbors during a break from rehearsals. In a little over a week, they'll be dancing across the (completed) stage set, in costume, singing The Wells Fargo Wagon!   Under the skillful hands of director Zach Johnson, the show is coming together bit by bit and will open next Friday night, May 15th. Seats are filling up fast, so I'd recommend making your reservations sooner, rather than later. Not kidding! You can do it right HERE, right NOW.

And no sooner do we open THE MUSIC MAN, but our 8th Ubu's Other Shoe Staged Reading of the season will take the stage mid-week for two shows only, May 19 & 20 at 7 pm. Director Jenny Shaheen has assembled a cast of real pros for Gina Gionfriddo's RAPTURE, BLISTER, BURN, including Marilyn Blake, David Norum, Robin Kirk Wolf, Joan Pederson and Ashley Moses. This fast-paced, witty comedy explores the continuing fallout and evolution of the feminist movement. You can read an interview with the playwright about the play HERE. 

You don't have to wait for the weekend to enjoy some live theatre, you know! Join us for a mid-week dose of UBU and enjoy a staged reading of RAPTURE, BLISTER, BURN. You can get your tickets for just $10 right HERE. 

If you missed it before, don't miss it again! On Friday, May 8 at the South Bay Community Center in Los Osos, We're Canceling Cable (And Other Empty Threats) will be resurrected as a benefit for the Monarch Grove PTA. This hilarious look at parenthood is directed by Jill Turnbow and features the talents of Gregory Gorrindo, Alicia Klein, Katie Gucik and Nathan Emmons, with piano accompaniment by Mark Pietri. Original sketches, monologues, and songs explore the hilarious, sometimes cringe-worthy moments that take place on sidelines of soccer fields, behind closed doors of parent-teacher conferences, and within our own living rooms. Get your tickets HERE! (This show features adult language and situations; not exactly appropriate for children.  But why would you bring them? This is your time.)

Are you ready? Are you set?... Then GO!  Plans for the exciting 2015-2016 Season are moving forward rapidly and you are going to LOVE what we have planned for our 69th Season here at the San Luis Obispo Little Theatre!  Season Subscriptions will be available for purchase beginning May 22, but YOU can take a sneak peek at the entire season schedule right HERE. If all goes well, our season brochure will hit your mailbox right around May 27th. What's that? You're not on our mailing list?!  Well, we can't have that. Click HERE to email me and I'll make sure that you get all the news that's fit to print about next season. You won't want to miss a minute!

Like I told you before, it's a DARK weekend here at the Little Theatre, except of course for major rehearsals, set construction, lighting and sound design. But starting next weekend.... you'll be in major TROUBLE if you don't get your tickets for THE MUSIC MAN soon!

Have a great weekend!

~Patty

So, what's the deal with dramas? Seriously. Can we talk about this?

I don't get it. I just don't get it. Great play, amazing cast, deft direction, beautiful set. Did I mention this cast is awesome? It's the final weekend of this amazing show and there are still seats available. Okay, so it's a DRAMA. What's wrong with dramas? Why do comedies seem so much more appealing? I mean, I love to laugh as much as the next person, probably more. But a good drama, or even a tragedy, can feed the soul, cleanse the emotions, tell you something about yourself, about humanity. Something very important.

Full disclosure here. I love dramas. Meaty, true to life character studies are my favorite thing. And I'll bet you love 'em too. But only when they're good. When they're done very, very well... like this one. So, I'm going to make you a deal. I'm so sure that you will LOVE this show as much as I do, that I'm going to offer you a killer discount to come and see it this weekend. Come on . Just do it. Take advantage of a very special "Theatre Lover's Discount" this weekend only. All tickets for TIME STANDS STILL are just $20. Why? Because we want YOU to see this play. Really. Don't believe me? Check out the Tribune review by Debby Nicklas HERE.  Then, you can get all the details about how to get your discount (the password is drama!) right HERE.  Do it. You'll be glad you did. 

Speaking of GREAT shows... have you met Marge? And Trudy...and Lyn...then there's Chrissy and Edie and... geez, there are just far too many to name. And they're all miraculously played by Suzy Newman. Don't believe me? Then you haven't seen THE SEARCH FOR SIGNS OF INTELLIGENT LIFE IN THE UNIVERSE. And there are only 3 more chances for you to rectify that situation and avoid the TRAGEDY of missing this fabulous comedy!  (See what I did there?)  Seriously, if you miss this show, you are gonna hate yourself in the morning. 

Once again, I've got back-up here. Check out Sarah Linn's REVIEW in Ticket today. And trust me, this one's NOT a drama. Far from it. But of course it IS a late-night show. And by late night, I mean 9:30 pm on Friday and Saturday and 7 pm on Sunday. That's not so late, is it?!  Of course not!  Don't be such a fuddy-duddy!  Okay, I'm gonna sweeten the deal for you. How about a discount? We're offering a special "Friends of Marge" discount just for you and your friends -- $10 for all seats, all 3 shows!  You can't beat that deal!

Listen, I really couldn't tell you why we're not sold out already. We should be. But I'm not going to sit idly by while you miss the chance to experience this amazing one woman show, so I'm making you you an offer you can't refuse. Click HERE to get your half price tickets today (the password is lily - for Lily Tomlin, of course!)

And before I forget, I gotta remind you about AUDITIONS!  The final show in our Ubu's Other Shoe 11th Anniversary Season will be directed by Jill Turnbow and auditions are this coming Monday night, April 27th at 6 pm.  We need four brave, funny and very talented actors to take on Edward Albee's THE GOAT (or Who is Sylvia?) The show will run for three performances only on June 19 and 20. Click HERE to get the details and we'll see you on Monday night!

Don't make me tell you again. You've got to see these shows! Really. 

Hope to see you here this weekend. Have a great one!

~Patty

P.S. Aren't our photos awesome?  Of course they are. Thank you, Jamie Foster Photography!

Time Stands Still, a Passport to the Arts, and are you Searching for Signs of Intelligent Life In the Universe?

I watched a dress rehearsal of TIME STANDS STILL last night and guess what?  Director Teresa Thuman has done it again. As with PROOF last season and ENCHANTED APRIL the year before, Teresa has done a beautiful job bringing the best out of a powerful show featuring a small, tight-knit cast of very talented actors. The script by Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Donald Margulies centers on the relationship of Sarah (Sabrina Pratt), a photojournalist gravely injured by a roadside bomb while working in Iraq, and James (Brent BC-Harvey), her writer/journalist boyfriend. Their friends Richard (Gregg Wolff) and Mandy (Alpha O'Neal) fill out this cast of complex and realistic characters in a script that absolutely crackles with bright wit and intelligence.

Photos by Jamie Foster Photography

The one-unit Brooklyn loft set, designed by Dave Linfield, serves as the perfect setting as we watch their lives unfold and relationships evolve. The characters are multi-faceted and true, the choices aren't easy and, as a review by the Associated Press puts it: 

"Can you be a dispassionate, uninvolved observer of horrific events, recording them for posterity and still keep a sense of right and wrong, not to mention your sanity? It's one of several questions getting a workout in TIME STANDS STILL…Insightful writing, the work is smart, stylish, timely and layered with an intriguing seriousness that inspires discussion after the curtain comes down—a rarity these days." —Associated Press.

You can read Teresa Thuman's Director's Notes about the show HERE and you can purchase your tickets right now, right HERE. I'll see you this weekend for TIMES STANDS STILL. 

For the second year in a row, the Little Theatre will be participating in Children's Day in the Plaza with Passport to the Arts in Mission Plaza.  Many different arts groups will be on hand with activities for kids, including the SLO Symphony's Musical Petting Zoo, Chalk pavement drawing with Cal Poly Arts and performances by a variety of local dance and music groups. Education Director Kerry DiMaggio and some of our Academy of Creative Theatre students will be performing an "Improv" demonstration on the amphitheater stage at 12:45 pm and the Little Theatre will offer a DIY Costume Photo Booth throughout the event. We'll provide the costumes and props for kids to pretend with, and parents will provide the cameras! If you've got kids or grandkids, come on down to Mission Plaza and enjoy the fun this Saturday, April 11th from 10 am-3 pm. See you there!

"A human comedy that strikes home so sharply it brings gasps of recognition as well as outbursts of laughter." - Newsweek

Get ready for the third installment in our series of late night comedies! THE SEARCH FOR SIGNS OF INTELLIGENT LIFE IN THE UNIVERSE opens next Friday, April 17th at 9:30 pm, immediately following a 7 pm performance of Time Stands Still. Actress Suzy Newman will take on this amazing one-woman-show by Jane Wagner, made famous by Lily Tomlin on Broadway.

In the words of Jane Wagner:
"Reality is the leading cause of stress amongst those in touch with it."

So, don't stress out! Grab a glass of wine at the bar and settle in for a healthy dose of comedy at After Hours @slotheatre.  SEARCH FOR SIGNS runs for two weekends only, April 17-26, so don't wait too long to get your tickets. They'll be gone before you know it. You can find out more about the show HERE and get your tickets today right HERE.


Happy Hump Day, everyone, and I'll see you at the Little Theatre very soon.

~Patty

Romance, war, duels, poetry, sacrifice...and an enormous SCHNOZ

The Academy of Creative Theatre will take on a staged reading of the classic tale of CYRANO de BERGERAC this Friday and Saturday at 7 pm, right here on the Little Theatre stage. From Parisian balconies to bloody battlefields, tongue-tied Christian borrows Cyrano's words to woo beautiful Roxane-- but is she falling for Christian's looks or Cyrano's soul?  A cast of three student actors triangulates this classic into a lightning-paced romance of duels, panache, sacrifice-- and an enormous schnoz.

The ACT Staged Reading offers our more advanced student actors a place to "flex their acting muscles" in a more intimate, challenging environment. This production of CYRANO features three experienced ACT actors on stage and one behind the scenes as Assistant Director. All four are under the experienced direction of Kerry DiMaggio, Education Director.

Jed Authier (Cyrano):   This is Jed's 11th show at the San Luis Obispo Little Theatre. Previous roles include: Romeo and Juliet (Romeo) and The Little Prince (Fox).  He has also been in all 3 of ACT's staged readings so far!

Penny Della Pelle (Roxanne): This is Penny's fifth show with ACT.  Previous shows include: Cinderella, The Secret Garden, Pinocchio, Shakespeare Shorts

Trevyn Wong (De Guiche, Christian, and several other characters): Trevyn has been involved in countless ACT productions along with two mainstage shows at the Little Theatre (A Christmas Story, The Sound of Music.) This is his second ACT staged reading and you can also see Trevyn in this spring's production of The Music Man as well!

Elizabeth Tharp (Assistant Director): Elizabeth has performed in ten ACT productions, including Shakespeare Shorts (Mustardseed), Cinderella (stepsister) and  last year's reading of Sarah, Plain and Tall.  

The annual ACT Staged Reading is sponsored by Rhonda O'Dell and is produced as a benefit for the ACT Scholarship Fund, which exists so that any student- regardless of their financial background- may participate in ACT's classes and programs. To find out more about what ACT has to offer, including classes, camps and full mainstage productions, contact Kerry DiMaggio or visit our website right HERE.

Hope to see you at CYRANO this weekend.  Training and encouraging young theatre artists is a big part of what we do here at the Little Theatre and besides that... it's gonna be a great show. You can get your tickets right HERE.

“A great nose may be an index of a great soul” 

~Edmond Rostand, Cyrano de Bergerac

Are you ready to ROCK 'N ROLL?! (PLUS...have you seen THE DUELING CAVALIER?!)

Tom Stoppard's explosive masterwork about love, politics and rock 'n roll takes the stage this weekend as the sixth show in our Ubu's Other Shoe Staged Reading series. ROCK 'N ROLL is directed by Leticia Velez Ericson and features 13 exceptional local actors: Robin Kirk Wolf, Creston Cooper, Micaela Morgan, Gregory Gorrindo, Michael Siebrass, Rosh Wright, Katherine Blauvelt, Gerald Manata, Jonathan Shadrach, Frank Moe, Tony Taylor, Debora Schwartz and Kate Kravets. If you love ROCK 'N ROLL, history, comedy, drama and great theatre, don't miss this one. Besides it's only $10!  Friday is currently sold-out, but tickets are still available for two shows on Saturday, March 21st at 2 pm and 7 pm. But I'd act quickly if I were you! Click HERE to get your tickets today.

Director John Battalino is looking for three, just three, very talented actors to take on the challenge of COPENHAGEN, Michael Frayn's Tony Award winning play about an event that occurred in Copenhagen in 1941, a meeting between the famous physicists Niels Bohr and Werner Heisenberg. The third character in this intimate drama is that of Bohr's wife Margrethe Norlund, who was a very important part of his life and work. Auditions will take place on Sunday, March 22nd at 6 pm. Actors will be asked to read from the script. The show will run May 1 and 2, 2015. Find out more about auditions HERE.

And don't miss this Academy of Creative Theatre student-acted staged reading of CYRANO on March 27 & 28 at 7 pm right here at the Little Theatre. The classic tale has been adapted into an engaging three-person staged reading for young actors, and our young ACT actors -- Jed Authier, Penny DellaPelle and Trevyn Wong -- are awesome!  The reading is directed by Kerry DiMaggio, ably assisted by student director Elizabeth Tharp. Tickets are just $10 and benefit the scholarship fund for the Academy of Creative Theatre. Get your tickets HERE!

And if you're having withdrawal pangs, since the closing performance of SINGIN' IN THE RAIN last weekend, have I got a treat for you! Ryan Loyd of RyLo Media Design has made the brilliant films he created for our popular production available on YouTube!  Both The Royal Rascal and The Dueling Cavalier can now be enjoyed by all, in the comfort of your own office or living room. Ain't it awesome?! 

So, I will leave you now to enjoy the silliness of these films --- one silent, one...not so much --- and I hope to see you this weekend for ROCK 'N ROLL!

Click HERE for THE ROYAL RASCAL

Click HERE for THE DUELING CAVALIER

"Yes, Yes, Yes!  No, No, No!"

Enjoy!

~Patty

Happy Closing Weekend to SINGIN' IN THE RAIN! That's 16 shows down, 9 more to go before we're done with the 2014/2015 Season!

What a glorious feelin'! It's been an amazing run for the cast and crew of SINGIN' IN THE RAIN and we are going to be so sorry to see it go. Just five more performances and this singing and dancing spectacular will be gone forever - but certainly not forgotten! All seats are currently SOLD-OUT, but if you haven't yet seen this lovely show, we encourage you to give our waiting list a shot. Arrive one hour early, give your name to box office staff and we'll do our best to seat you at show time! Our remaining shows are Thursday (tonight) at 7 pm, Friday at 7 pm, Saturday at 2 pm and 7 pm and Sunday at 2 pm.

Get ready to ROCK 'N ROLL for three shows only on Friday, March 20th at 7 pm (followed by a talk-back with the director and cast) and Saturday, March 21st at 2 pm and 7 pm. Tickets are only $10 for a fully-rehearsed staged reading of this electrifying show by Tom Stoppard. Director Leticia Velez has assembled an awesome cast for this decades-spanning tale of love, revolution and music. Looking forward to getting my monthly "Ubu-Fix" next weekend and if you've never dipped your theatrical toes into our staged reading series, this one's a great place to start. Get your tickets HERE and I'll see you at the show.

Speaking of staged readings....our Academy of Creative Theatre students will be taking the stage the weekend after Rock 'n Roll in an adaptation of CYRANO designed for young student actors. Jed Authier will portray the legendary large-nosed poet Cyrano de Bergerac, Penny Della Pelle will play Roxanne and Trevyn Wong will take on the role of lovestruck Christian (along with many other characters!) The staged reading is directed by Kerry DiMaggio, assisted by student director Elizabeth Tharp. We invite everyone to come and enjoy this timeless story performed as in intimate and engaging staged reading by the talented young members of our ACT educational program. The annual ACT Staged Reading is produced as a benefit for the ACT Scholarship Fund, which exists so that any student with a desire to learn, may participate in ACT's classes and programs.Click HERE for more information and to purchase your tickets today.

The fourth season show in our 2014/15 Season -- TIME STANDS STILL -- will take the stage on April 10th.  Award-winning director Teresa Thuman has assembled an amazing ensemble cast for this intimate and engaging contemporary drama by Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Donald Margulies.  Margulies is well known for his tightly constructed contemporary dramas, laced with humor and featuring realistic relationships and situations. Many of you may remember our production of Margulies' DINNER WITH FRIENDS, directed by Lisa Woske, which enjoyed a very successful run here at the Little Theatre in 2012.

Margulies says: "There's a lot of humour in Time Stands Still that leavens its intensity. Audiences laugh in recognition of truths large and small."  You can read more about TIME STANDS STILL, the original Broadway production and Margulies' process in writing the play, in an article from The Economist HERE.  And you can get your tickets for our production of this thought-provoking drama right HERE.

Last, but most certainly not least, mark your calendars for the fourth show in our new After Hours @slotheatre late night comedy series!  Actress Suzy Newman will be taking on the amazing one-woman show THE SEARCH FOR SIGNS OF INTELLIGENT LIFE IN THE UNIVERSE. Written by Jane Wagner, and famously performed on Broadway by Lily Tomlin, this is the show that proves "there is life, there is hope and there is certainly comedy."  Opening on Saturday, April 11th and running for eight shows only, we recommend making your reservations early to ensure your seats. SEARCH FOR SIGNS will take place at 9:30 pm on Fridays and Saturdays and 7 pm on Sundays, following performances of Time Stands Still. Get your tickets HERE!

Phew!  Never a dull moment in the land of live theatre. There's another new show around each and every corner. Happy closing weekend to the cast and crew of SINGIN' IN THE RAIN!  And to the rest of you:  come on out to a show at the Little Theatre soon. It's live, it's local and you'll LOVE it!

Cheers!
~Patty

New Show Added for SINGIN' IN THE RAIN, Tom Stoppard's ROCK 'N ROLL is up next and VOTE FOR US!

There are just two more weekends of shows left for our wildly successful gala musical SINGIN' IN THE RAIN. If you haven't seen it yet, you may be in luck! We've just added one additional performance on THURSDAY, MARCH 12TH at 7 PM. Seats are going fast, but if you hurry, you just might make it. Click HERE for reservations. Ready...set...GO! And if you can't make it next Thursday, our wait list is your best bet to get your foot in the door. Arrive one hour early, tell the box office, have a glass of wine and 9 out of 10 times...you're in!

The next Ubu's Other Shoe Staged Reading will take the stage March 20-21 for 3 Shows Only: Friday at 7 pm and Saturday at 2 pm and 7 pm. We are extremely proud to present Tom Stoppard's groundbreaking, mind-blowing drama ROCK 'N ROLL. It is 1968 and the world is ablaze with rebellion, accompanied by a sound track of the Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan. Clutching his prized collection of rock albums, Jan, a Cambridge graduate student, returns to his homeland of Czechoslovakia just as Soviet tanks roll into Prague. When security forces tighten their grip on artistic expression, Jan is inexorably drawn toward a dangerous act of dissent. Back in England, Jan's volcanic mentor, Max, faces a war of his own as his free-spirited daughter and his cancer-stricken wife attempt to break through his walls of academic and emotional obstinacy. Over the next twenty years of love, espionage, chance, and loss, the extraordinary lives of Jan and Max spin and intersect until an unexpected reunion forces them to see what is truly worth the fight.

If you love Stoppard, get your tickets now- this is going to be an amazing staged reading of an absolutely brilliant play. Click HERE to reserve your seats today.

Let's do it again! The Little Theatre has been voted the BEST LOCAL THEATER GROUP in the annual New Times Readers Poll every year since 2010 and BEST PLACE TO SEE A PLAY at least three times over the past ten years.  If you've enjoyed a show here in the past year, or two, or three, and if you LOVE our intimate downtown space in downtown SLO as much as we do, then take a minute and let New Times know! Pick up a copy of this week's New Times or click HERE to fill out this year's poll online. The deadline is March 16th at 5 pm.

We just finished three full nights of auditions and call backs for our season finale musical THE MUSIC MAN!  Stay tuned to this page and we'll let you know the latest news on director Zach Johnson's fabulous cast as soon as the list is posted!  In the meantime, here's another taste of this classic show - just to whet your appetite!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!
~Patty

Farewell to January, 4000 Miles and The Secret Garden and Welcome to February, our History Exhibit and SINGIN' IN THE RAIN!

Last weekend's Ubu's Other Shoe production of 4000 MILES performed to capacity audiences in three awesome shows. Our Ubu staged readings grow more and more popular with each performance. Thank you to director Danielle McNamara and her fabulous cast and crew for creating a wonderful show. Mark your calendars now for our next Ubu's Other Shoe Staged Reading:  ROCK 'N ROLL, directed by Leticia Velez. Click HERE to find out more about this 2006 Tom Stoppard play and our talented local cast.

We also bid farewell to our Academy of Creative Theatre production of THE SECRET GARDEN in January. This heartwarming tale of the transforming power of love and nature was beautifully told by our young, student cast and we were sorry to see it go. If you know a young person who would like to learn and grow their theatrical talents, consider signing them up for ACT Spring Theatre Classes at the Little Theatre! There are still a few spots open in our musical theatre class AND in our Spring Break Camp. Click HERE for all the details and to register your child. Generous scholarships are always available thanks to a grant provided by The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County.

Interested in some Little Theatre history? Join us at Art After Dark this Friday night at the History Center of San Luis Obispo County for a look-back at 68 years of SLO Little Theatre called: "LET'S PUT ON A SHOW!" The exhibit will run through April 26th at the History Center at 696 Monterey Street in downtown SLO. In addition to showcasing some of our history, we'll also give you a glimpse of some exciting plans for the future! The exhibit project was spearheaded by board member Michael Simkins and has been generously sponsored by Joan Gellert Sargen. Click HERE for more information, then join us for Art After Dark in downtown SLO next weekend!

Photo by Jamie Foster Photography

Meet the cast of SINGIN' IN THE RAIN! One of the most beloved Hollywood movie musicals of all time will be coming to SLO, live on stage, and it's not too late for you to join us for our Gala Opening Night Celebration on February 13th! This very special evening will feature generous hors d'oeuvres, wine, martinis, a movie-themed silent auction and more! Film maker, actor and producer Todd Fisher (son of the lovely Debbie Reynolds, star of the original MGM Classic film!!) will be at the opening night show and will be bringing along a very special item to display: one of the original costumes worn by his famous Mom in the film! Also on hand will be KSBY's charming meteorologist Dave Hovde. Dave will keep us posted on the weather and serve as our host for the evening. Guests are invited to join the fun, dressing in classic 1920's style, or elegant black tie and gowns. Doors open at 5:30 pm for wine, food and auction, and the show starts at 7 pm. After the performance, you're invited to stick around for dessert and  mingling with the cast and crew.

Photo by Jamie Foster Photography

Center section seats are SOLD OUT for our gala opening  night, but there are still side seats available at the discounted price of $75. Click HERE for more information about the show and our gala opening night and click HERE to reserve one of only 14 remaining seats for this fabulous event!

And if you can't make it on Opening Night?  No worries! There are still great seats available for most performances, Fridays and Saturdays at 7 pm and Saturdays and Sundays at 2 pm, running February 14-March 15. All seats are $35. Click HERE for more info and a link to buy tickets. But you'd better hurry, tickets are flying out the door!

The Little Theatre is dark this weekend as we get ready for our Gala Opening Night Celebration next weekend. Hope you have a great weekend and we hope to see you at SINGIN' IN THE RAIN!

~Patty