“Dahl’s Darlings” Is a True Original
In its most recent adventure into theatre, By the Sea Productions in Morro Bay took on a formidable task: producing a new work by a local playwright based on the…
“Cyclone” Is Smart, Witty, Dark, Funny, and Fresh
A decidedly weird little Canadian musical by Jacob Richmond and Brooke Maxwell has developed quite the online following since it debuted in 2008 in Victoria, British Columbia. By 2016, Ride…
A Simple, Joyful Holiday Treat
Amid all the present-buying and house-decorating and party-going at this time of year, it helps to have a little break, less than a couple of hours, where you can sit…
Don’t Be a Grinch About the Arts
The holidays are approaching quickly and there are so many news items I want to share with you, but so little time as we hurtle towards 2025. So here are…
A Holiday Tradition Shines at SLO Rep
Photos by Ryan C. Loyd, Rylo Media Design The date is December 1, 1940. The town is Hohman, Indiana, currently being buffeted by blisteringly frigid winds carving through towering…
Happy “Melodrama” Holidays!
The Great American Melodrama’s 2024 Holiday Extravaganza begins as all Melodrama shows do: with an upbeat sing-a-along to get everyone in the mood. This year’s cheery selection, “Jingle Bell Rock,”…
PCPA’s “Beauty and the Beast” Enchants
Photos by Mark Velasquez When resident artist Kitty Balay opens PCPA’s production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast with the time-honored phrase “Once upon a time,” you can plan on…
A Family in Turmoil . . . in 1183
What's a little civil war among family? That’s one question as Cal Poly’s Theatre and Dance Department presents James Goldman's 1966 play, The Lion in Winter. Another question, while we’re…
Drop in on “Golden Pond” at CCAT
Ernest Thompson’s earnest reflection on aging, renewal, and family reconciliation—otherwise known as the 1979 play (and 1981 movie) On Golden Pond—carries heartfelt messages of everyday life that still resonate with,…
“Misery” Isn’t for the Faint of Heart
Photo by Ryan C. Loyd, Rylo Media Design Sinister and cinematic music . . . an uncomfortable cottage in the middle of a snowy Colorado wood . . . lights…