PICASSO's a HIT (and we've got the reviews to prove it!) AFTER HOURS premieres Friday and UBU's FROST/NIXON takes the stage on Tuesday. It's a very busy October here at the Little Theatre!

Photo by RyLo Media Design

As if there was ever any doubt in my mind, Steve Martin's PICASSO AT THE LAPIN AGILE  is a hit! This well-acted and brilliantly directed (Suzy Newman) gem of a show has audiences not only rolling in the aisles but also thinking some very interesting thoughts about history, celebrity, art, science, men, women, sex... But don't take my word for it, you can read the awesome New Times review right HERE and the Tribune has also weighed in on the subject of Picasso, history and hilarity HERE.

PICASSO runs for just two more weekends, so don't miss your chance to see this great show, click HERE for your tickets today. And before you point it out, I'll admit it: some performances are already very close to sold-out. But there's no need to despair! Einstein and Picasso both proved that things are not always what they seem. Sometimes when we look sold-out we can still get you into the show. It doesn't make sense, but it's true. So, take a leap and come downtown and check it out this weekend. Sold-out or not, we'll do our best to find you a seat! 

"Nothing says late-night like live comedy." - New Times

Yep, it's here. The Little Theatre's AFTER HOURS @slotheatre series of shows will premiere on Friday night at 9:30 pm with WHY AM I TELLING YOU THIS? written by and featuring British-born humorist Maddy Sinclair. Maddy has been a regular performer at our late night NO SHAME THEATRE for the past couple of years and we're thrilled that she's chosen to premiere her one-woman show right here at the Little Theatre. 

Photo by  RyLo Media Design

The hour long show is directed by Jill Turnbow, and make no mistake about it...it is NAUGHTY.   Yes, folks. This is late-night, not ready for prime-time, not for kids stuff. So if that's NOT your cup of tea, I'd stay home if I were you. But if you like stand-up comedy and think you might enjoy grabbing a glass of wine or a beer at the bar before sliding into your seat to enjoy some uproarious tales of life, love, sex and more, I'll see you here this weekend. Click HERE to get your tickets in advance (Just $20!) or come on down after dinner downtown at one of our fabulous downtown restaurants!

If you're old enough to remember the days of Nixon and the Watergate scandal, or even if you're not, this riveting and insightful play by Peter Morgan will have you glued to your seats from the very first word. Directed by David Norum and featuring an awesome cast (including our young Picasso and Einstein actors, Toby Tropper and Cameron Rose!) FROST/NIXON tells the true story of an interview that sealed a president's legacy. The show runs for two nights only, Tuesday, October 21st and Wednesday, October 22nd at 7 pm. (There will be a talk-back with the cast and director after Tuesday evening's performance.) 

Our Ubu's Other Shoe Staged Readings are very popular and often fill the house, so we definitely recommend advance reservations. Click HERE to get your seats today or subscribe to all 8 remaining UBU shows and guarantee your seats all season by clicking HERE. Either way, I'll see you next week for FROST/NIXON!

And finally, what blog post would be complete without another audition notice! Ubu's Other Shoe director Kelly Fidopiastis is looking for a cast for Christopher Durang's absurdist comedy MISS WITHERSPOON and director Kevin Harris is hoping you will dust off your tap shoes and come on down to auditions for SINGIN' IN THE RAIN. You can get all the details about auditions on our website HERE. 

Hope to see you this weekend for a double dose of comedy here at the Little Theatre! 

~Patty

PICASSO packs the house, AFTERHOURS@SLOTHEATRE is coming, and UBU'S 11th season continues with FROST/NIXON! This week at the Little Theatre!

Good afternoon friends of the Little Theatre,

Picasso at the Lapin Agile, the Little Theatre's 2nd season production in our 68th anniversary season, opened to standing-room only crowds this weekend! This hilarious Steve Martin comedy, directed by Suzy Newman, is nearly sold out for the remainder of the run, so get your tickets now! Come see this incredible cast in action- click HERE to reserve your seats instantly online!

The Little Theatre is proud to offer a brand-new comedy series to our community: AFTERHOURS@SloTheatre! This edgy, laugh-out-loud-funny series of plays opens this Friday with Why Am I Telling You This?, and original one-woman show by Maddy Sinclair (directed by Jill Turnbow.) Maddy has been a regular at No Shame Central Coast for the last few years, and we couldn't be happier that she has created this all-new show for the Little Theatre. Click HERE to read more about the show and to reserve your tickets for the opening weekend. You've never seen anything quite like Why Am I Telling You This?

Take Me Out, the first staged reading of Ubu's Other Shoe's 11th anniversary season, played to near-capacity audiences late last month- don't miss your chance to see Frost/Nixon, the second staged reading of the season. This play, written by Peter Morgan, was nominated for over 20 New York awards back in 2006. Our staged reading, directed by David Norum, plays for two nights only: Tuesday and Wednesday, October 21 and 22 at 7:00 PM. Be sure to join us for our talkback with the cast and crew after Tuesday's performance. Click HERE to get your tickets.

Thank you for your support of the Little Theatre! Have a wonderful week, everyone!

-Kevin

The 20th Century Begins Now... PICASSO AT THE LAPIN AGILE!

Photo by Ryan Loyd, Rylo Media Design

It's finally here! Opening Night for PICASSO AT THE LAPIN AGILE is tomorrow night -- Friday, October 10th. I had the chance to see a rehearsal on Monday night and I can hardly wait to see this show. Written by the always wonderful Steve Martin, the story goes something like this:

Picasso and Einstein walk into a Paris bar. It's 1904. 
Much laughter follows.

There are only 14 performances over 3 weekends of this delightful show, so I'd recommend getting your tickets very, very SOON. You can do that by clicking HERE.

Now, I'm going to turn the rest of the BLOG over to photos today, because as we all know, a picture is worth a thousand words. Thanks to Ryan Loyd of Rylo Media Design for these great shots!

Einstein (Cameron Rose) gets an idea...

The lovely Suzanne (Alicia Klein)

Freddy (Bobby Kendrick) the owner and bartender of the Lapin Agile

Picasso (Toby Tropper) meets Einstein.

Sagot (Larry Kaml) an art dealer

A duel...?

Gaston (Tom Ammon)

Germaine, waitress and Freddy's girlfriend (Megan C.C. Walker)

The whole hilarious cast (including a mysterious visitor...)

Hope to see you at PICASSO AT THE LAPIN AGILE - it's going to be a blast!

~ Patty

PICASSO is opening, AFTER HOURS approaches, and UBU'S OTHER SHOE is selling out! This week at the Little Theatre!

Good morning friends of the Little Theatre,

We had a fantastic weekend of technical rehearsals for Picasso at the Lapin Agile, directed by Suzy Newman. This hilarious, award-winning comedy opens on Friday and plays for only three weekends (through Sunday, October 26.) Many shows are already close to sold out, so, don't delay: secure your tickets to this production by clicking HERE. If you want to take a short break from the stress of your Monday, click HERE to let off some steam!

We introducing a brand new series at the Little Theatre this season: AFTERHOURS @SloTheatre. This adult series, featuring five evenings of mature comedy, begins on Friday, October 17 with Maddy Sinclair's original one-woman show, Why Am I Telling You This?, directed by Jill Turnbow. Why Am I Telling You This? play Friday and Saturday night at 9:30 (after Picasso) and Sunday evenings at 7:00 PM. Get your tickets by clicking HERE.

This season of Ubu's Other Show (the staged reading series at the Little Theatre) has sold more quickly than it has in the last decade! Take Me Out, the first presentation of Ubu's 11th season, played to near-capacity audiences during its run, and Frost/Nixon is already filling up. Read about this award-winning script and get your tickets by clicking HERE.

Thank you, everyone, for your support of this organization. Have a wonderful week!

-Kevin

A rare DARK weekend at the Little Theatre but PICASSO is on its way!

So, Picasso and Einstein walk into a bar...

Do you like to laugh? Then you're going to LOVE our next show, opening next week here at the Little Theatre! Steve Martin's PICASSO AT THE LAPIN AGILE goes into tech rehearsals this weekend, adding lights and sound and more to the mix that will become another great show here at the Little Theatre.

In this long-running Off Broadway hit, Albert Einstein and Pablo Picasso meet in a Parisian café in 1904, just before the renowned scientist transformed physics with his theory of relativity and the celebrated artist set the world afire with cubism. Director Suzy Newman has assembled an amazing cast for this absurdist comedy by actor, author and comedian Steve Martin. You can read Suzy's thoughts about the play in her Director's Notes from the playbill HERE.

Scenic artist Lisa Langere has been working every day this week on her "forgery" of Picasso's Les Demoiselles d'Avignon  and it is going to blow you away when it's finished. The mural is just one element of the wonderful set design by David Linfield for the show, and the set design is just one element of this show that is absolutely going to raise the bar on everything else we do here.

Opening night is nearly sold-out but there are still great seats available for the rest of the 3-week run of the show. But you'd better hurry, they'll be gone before you know it. Click HERE to get yours today.

The timeless tale of a special place where magic, hope, and love grow.

The Academy of Creative Theatre will be holding auditions for their January production of The Secret Garden on October 14 and 16. Director Shelagh Garren is looking for 12 young actors to fill out the cast of this enchanting adaptation of the children’s literature classic by Frances Hodgson Burnett.

Auditions are by appointment only. You can get all the details about our growing educational programs and learn more about audition requirements for The Secret Garden right HERE. To make an appointment, please email Education Director Kerry DiMaggio by clicking HERE.

That's right!  October is National Arts & Humanities month and that is something to celebrate! There is so much great ART going on in San Luis Obispo County and that's one of the many reasons why we love it so much. We hope you'll find a way to pARTicipate in the arts this month, whether it's attending PICASSO AT THE LAPIN AGILE, or enjoying OPEN STUDIOS, the SAN LUIS OBISPO SYMPHONY, OPERA SLO's community production of AIDA, the CAMBRIA CENTER FOR THE ARTS' production of BOEING BOEING or any number of other fabulous performances or galleries on the Central Coast. Looking for ideas?  Check out Arts Obispo's new arts calendar right HERE.

Even though the Little Theatre is dark this weekend, there are still many opportunities to get out there and enjoy the ARTS this weekend and throughout October. The arts bring life and color, humor, drama, insight, delight and so much more to our lives. For a Top 10 list of reasons to support the arts in 2014, check out Randy Cohen's Arts Blog HERE and thank you for your support of the performing arts and the San Luis Obispo Little Theatre.

And yes, just for fun, and because it's awesome. I leave you with Steve Martin's timeless performance of KING TUT.  You're welcome.

Have a great weekend!