The Pewter Plough Playhouse in Cambria will present Tom Topor’s courtroom drama, “Nuts,” weekends, Jan. 8-Feb. 7. Preview Night is Friday, Jan. 8 at 7:30 p.m. for $17 a person. A gala Champagne opening is at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 9 for $30, includes a post show reception. Regular shows are at 7:30 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays. Cost is $22 regular, $17 students with I.D. Call the Box Office for reservations at 927-3877 or see: www.pewterploughplayhouse.org. In the play, a prostitute indicted for manslaughter is determined to prove she is sane enough to stand trial. Suspenseful and startling, the play explores sexuality and abuse along with family and social dynamics. For mature audiences only. Directed by Kelli Howard, the play features Libby Parker, Janice Peters, Randall C. Lyon, Rick Bruce, Craig Brooke, Donald Dallman, Justin Wessell and Joyce Calderone. The Playhouse is at 828 Main St., corner Sheffield Street, in Cambria’s West Village
St. Benedict’s Church, 2220 Snowy Egret Ln., Los Osos will have a Hawaiian music concert set for 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 23, featuring Led Kaapana with guest Fran Guidry. Tickets are $25 and available online via Paypal at: www.santamariahula.org or call Yvette at: 878-6793. If available, there will also be tickets at the door. One of the world’s best slack key guitar players, Kaapana is one of Hawaii’s most influential musicians. His mastery of Ki Ho’alu (slack key guitar) and exceptional voice — from baritone to falsetto — has made him a musical legend for more than 40 years. His many accolades include Na Hoku Hanohano Awards and Grammy nominations.
The Pewter Plough Playhouse is presenting a very special New Year’s Eve show featuring Rick Bruce, The Village Wizard at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 31. Tickets for the night’s package are $35 a person. Call 927-3877 to make reservations. A New Year’s Eve celebration runs from 9-midnight. The Pewter Plough Playhouse is located at 828 Main St., in Cambria’s West Village.
The first Friday Downtown Brown Bag Concert for 2016 is set for noon Friday, Jan. 8 at First Presbyterian Church, corner of Marsh and Morro streets in SLO. The free show features violinist, Mario Ojeda, and pianist, Stanley Stern, performing, “Where have I heard that tune before?” Fair trade chocolate and coffee available.
The Cal Poly Music Department presents “Bach Week,” Tuesday-Sunday, Jan. 19-24, with presentations and performances on campus, in Mission San Luis Obispo, and in Santa Barbara.
The event includes a recital by musicians of Mensa Sonora California, a guest artist lecture, and a guest artist master class, in addition to lectures and grand performances. Bach in the Mission was established in 2010 and is a collaborative concert with students, faculty and local professionals sharing the stage and the music of maestro J.S. Bach.
First event is “Inside Bach Week,” at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 19 in the PAC Pavilion. Free. Bach Week founders, Thomas Davies and David Arrivée, review the repertoire in the context of Bach’s life and, in the case of the “St. John Passion,” its context in the Lutheran Church.
“The Role of the Evangelist in Bach’s ‘Passions,’” is at 11:10 a.m. Jan. 21 in Rm. 218 in the Davidson Music Center on campus. Free. Guest artist Christopher M. Cock has performed the Evangelist numerous times throughout Europe and the U.S.
At 3:15 p.m. on Jan. 21, also in Rm. 218, Chicago-based baritone, Daniel Eifert, will give a vocal master class focusing on musical interpretation and several Poly voice students will present works. Free.
On Jan. 22, Mensa Sonora California will perform “Bach and Sons” at 8 p.m. in Mission San Luis. The program will include works by Bach and his musical sons.
The week ends with performances of Bach’s “St. John Passion,” with Davies leading an ensemble of students and professionals — a 30-voice choir, a 22-piece orchestra, and vocal soloists. The show in the Mission is at 8 p.m. Jan. 23. A second performance is set for 3:30 p.m. Jan. 24 in Santa Barbara’s historic Trinity Episcopal Church in the first “Bach in the Mission” concert performed outside SLO County.
Tickets for the concerts in the mission are $20 premium public and premium student, $15 general public, and $10 for students. Tickets to both mission concerts are $35 for premium public and premium student, $25 general, and $15 students.
Tickets are available at the PAC Box Office from noon-6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. Order by phone at SLO-4849.
Los Osos dance band, Back Bay Betty, will play New Year’s Eve, Jan. 31 at the Siren (formerly Fuel Dock), 900 Main St., Morro Bay. The show starts at 9 p.m. and boogies until 1 a.m. with raffles all night, and proceeds benefiting Project Surf Camp, a summer camp at the beach for special needs children. No cover charge. Raffle tickets $5 each or five for $20. Prizes donated by local merchants. The Siren is due to close up for a time in 2016 for a major remodeling project, and the party is literally a chance to ring out the old and ring in the new.
Cuesta College Drama Department will be taking an original play on the road in February after being selected for a special Kennedy Center Festival in Hawaii.
Cuesta’s production, Refried Elvis, with some 25-member student cast, will be staged Feb. 9-16 at the 2016 Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival at the University of Hawaii in Honolulu, Oahu, Ha., and several special performances have been scheduled at home to raise money to help pay the cast’s travel expenses.
Refried Elvis will be shown at the Cuesta Performing Arts Center, Thursday-Sunday, Jan. 21-24. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Friday, Jan. 21-22; at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 23; and 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 24. Tickets are $15 a person and available online at: www.cpactickets.cuesta.edu.
Refried Elvis re-imagines the origins of rock ‘n’ roll during Elvis Presley’s rise to fame and is the only original play chosen for the Festival from the Kennedy Center’s Region VIII. According to director and drama department head, bree valle, four festival performances were selected after Region VIII representatives took in each performance. Region VIII encompasses Nevada, California, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Guam and Hawaii.
“Refried Elvis is the only original play that was selected, so I am incredibly proud of my students and this production,” said valle.
Earlier this year another original play, “pool ’63,” was selected by the Kennedy Center as the U.S. entry at the 2015 International University Theatre Festival held in Mexico City. Originally debuting in December 2013, pool ’63 focused on the racial unrest during the civil rights movement in Alabama in 1963.
Can’t make the play but want to support the kids? See: www.bit.ly/donatetocuesta to make a donation, and specify the “Theater Travel Fund” in the appropriate box on the donation form.
Local artists, Pat Cairns and Laure Carlisle, will join together in January to show their unique, abstract paintings at Art Central Gallery, 1329 Monterey St., SLO. An opening reception is set for 6-8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 8 during Art After Dark. Free and open to the public. The show runs through Feb. 1. Cairns works in aqua media, collage, and pure watercolor. Carlisle translates watercolor and acrylic into compositions of vibrant colors. See the artist’s websites at: www.laurecarlisle.com, and www.patcairnsfineart.com.
SLO Skiers, a non-profit sport and social club, is having its next free monthly meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 6 at the Elks’ Club Lodge, 222 Elks Ln., in San Luis Obispo. Membership is $40 a year and is open to all adults. Sports activities and social events are held all year long. See website at: www.sloskiers.org or call 528-3194 for more information.
Two-time Grammy nominee and guitar phenom, Tommy Emmanuel, will perform at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 21 at the Performing Arts Center at Cal Poly. Tickets range from $24 to $45 and available at the PAC Box Office, Mondays–Saturdays, noon to 6 p.m. Call (805) 756-4849 or order online at: www.calpolyarts.org. Over a five-decade career, Emmanuel, has garnered hundreds of thousands of fans worldwide, and will come to SLO on a solo tour, “It’s Never Too Late.” One of Australia’s most respected musicians, Emmanuel has been voted “Favorite Acoustic Guitarist” in reader polls in Guitar Player and Acoustic Guitar Magazines. He is also a YouTube sensation, whose videos have more than 29 million views and plays to sold-out shows throughout the U.S. He also starred in PBS special fund-raising concerts, “Center Stage” and “Tommy Emmanuel and Friends.” Emmanuel finger-picks a guitar like a pianist tickles the ivories. The Wisherkeepers of Nashville, Tenn., open the show. Sponsored by Barbara Bell, John and Marcia Lindvall, Andi, Jeff and Allison Portney, and KCBX 90.1 FM. See Emmanuel’s music video “Blood Brother,” online at: httpss://youtu.be/V4xpE8KG38s
The Gallery at the Network is featuring one-of-a-kind lamps created by the Carlton Glass Studio, now through Jan. 31. Carlton breathes new life into vintage lamp parts by combining them with newly formed art glass elements. Each lamp is individually named to reflect her personality. Artists are Chris Anderson and Will Carlton of Carlton Glass Studio. There’s a free artists’ reception from 6-9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 8 during Art After Dark. Refreshments will be served. Music performed by Terry Sanville.
Story Time at the Grover Beach Community Library, 240 N 9th St., Grover Beach, will be held every Monday at 10:30 a.m. starting Jan 11. Children of all ages are welcome for some stories, songs and surprises in English and Spanish.
Join the SWAP Weeßd Warriors from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Jan. 2 for the monthly battle against weeds and erosion in the Elfin Forest in Los Osos. Home-baked cookies and new volunteers will receive a Weed Warrior badge. Dress for wind, fog, and sun. Wear sturdy shoes, long pants and sleeves. Bring work gloves and a shovel. Meet at the north end of 15th Street off of Santa Ysabel in Los Osos. Don’t block driveways or mailboxes when you park. No pets. For more information call 528-0392.
