SLO Little Theatre’s Academy of Creative Theatre (ACT) will kick off the second half of the theatre’s 70th Anniversary Season with a young performers’ version of Oscar Wilde’s comic masterpiece THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST. The show will run January 13-29, 2017, Fridays and Saturdays at 7 pm and Saturdays and Sundays at 2 pm at the San Luis Obispo Little Theatre, 888 Morro Street in downtown San Luis Obispo. Tickets are available at slolittletheatre.org or by calling (805) 786-2440.
The plot of this late 19th century farce by Oscar Wilde revolves around one of the most ingenious, and hilarious, cases of mistaken identity ever put into a play: Cecily Cardew and Gwendolen Fairfax are both in love with the same mythical suitor. The reliable Jack Worthing has wooed Gwendolen under the name Ernest while the adorable dandy Algernon Moncrieff has also posed as Ernest to win the heart of Cecily. When all four arrive at Jack’s country home on the same weekend accompanied by the formidable Lady Bracknell, the gallants must grapple with the riotous consequences of their deceptions.
This show is presented as a Production Class for young actors and is part of our Academy of Creative Theatre educational program. All actors in this production are students under the age of 18. THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST is directed by Shelagh Garren and features the talents of Jed Authier, Kaylee Beardsley, Phoebe Browning, Peter Buckingham, Isaac Capp, Carly Crow, Penny DellaPelle, Sophia Lea, Linnaea Marks, Alyssa Mickey, Sam Mucciacito and Drew VanderWeele. Tickets are $15 for children and students and $20 for adults, available at slolittletheatre.org or call (805) 786-2440.
THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST is sponsored by Barbara-Jo Osborne. A special grant from the Central Coast Funds for Children underwrites discounted tickets for children and students, and provides complimentary tickets to families served through the Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo County and the San Luis Obispo Children’s Museum. All ACT programs are generously sponsored through additional gifts by Patricia McNamara, In Memory of Laura McNamara, Ann Robinson and Rabobank. Scholarships for ACT students are underwritten through grants provided by the Harold J. Miossi Charitable Trust and the Janssen Youth and Youth Sports Fund held at The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County.
ABOUT THE ACADEMY OF CREATIVE THEATRE
The San Luis Obispo Little Theatre’s Academy of Creative Theatre (ACT) provides year- round theatrical training for youth ages 5-18. ACT’s after-school programs, summer camps and theatrical production classes inspire young performers and technicians to develop skills which will benefit them throughout their lives, both on and off the stage.
Students involved in ACT have the opportunity to learn from professional artists in programs that combine process and performance. By offering hands-on, personal instruction, we seek to give our students the opportunity to explore creative self-expression and individuality, build self-confidence and lifelong skills in the theatre arts. Whether our students choose to pursue theatre as a career, as volunteers or as audience members, our hope is their experience at the San Luis Obispo Little Theatre will help them to develop a greater appreciation of the theatre arts and a stronger connection to their community.