Another smashing summer Sunday is at hand for all of us again, what with the 55th Fiesta street festival set to bust loose all over Avenida Del Mar, a truly delightful event courtesy of the San Clemente chamber's dedicated all-out organizing skills.
We've been singing songs about the Fiesta all week, but don't let the music drown out the fact that the calendar is still spinning right along and it would be a shame to let it get away from you and forget there is more to this road.
An even bigger number, in fact, is coming up fast – the San Clemente Community Theater's 56th season officially launching with the opening of the off-Broadway all-timer "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change" on Sept. 11 at the Cabrillo Playhouse.
Sure enough, 55 seasons already under the belt, and here we go again. Early musical rehearsals under the direction of much-respected Diane King Vann, who has a scrapbook full of classic credits, were held two weeks ago, and regular rehearsals with Cabrillo producing director Austin Peay resume in nine days, Aug. 17.
Of course, time flies. It wasn't only yesterday by a long shot, but it seems like it to some that the SCCT was formed as a nonprofit on March 5, 1953, struggling through the early years with productions on the Community Center lawn, on the tennis courts, a long-gone miniature golf course, grade-school cafeterias and the Elks Lodge before buying the Adair House on the downtown corner of Ola Vista and Cabrillo, one of the red-topped white stucco village originals, and turning it into a playhouse.
First-ever presentation at the Cabrillo was "Bell, Book and Candle" on July 11, 1966, covered live in all its kleig-lights Hollywood glory by Ray Duncan's NBC-TV crew.
Both good times and bad have visited the Cabrillo over the years, but lately it's all been upward and onward for the intimate 66-seat treasure of a local slice of Broadway, with the inspired input of SCCT prez Sally Jeisy, VP Tom Dillard, producing director Peay, artistic director Rick Kerrigan and human-resources maven Nancy Keck in charge of volunteers.
Besides "I Love You" (Sept. 11-Oct. 4), the new six-production 2009-10 season includes "Lend Me A Tenor" (Oct. 23-Nov. 15), "Christmas Jubilee" (Dec. 4-20), "Of Mice and Men" (Jan. 8-31), "Night Watch" (March 12-April 3) and "Rumors" (April 23-May 16.)
The big and bright new twist to all this are the opening-night galas planned to kick off each new attraction, featuring preshow dinners on the patio catered by San Clemente's finest restaurants, followed by postshow champagne toasts with the casts.
In 56 years, folks, this is a first, and we're all invited to join the opening-night parties, so don't quibble about the few extra bucks it takes to be part of the added excitement. It's $140 per for season tickets to the six opening nights. Regular season tickets are $110, and, as always, there are all sorts of package discounts for groups and clubs. It's all up for grabs as of right now.
Phone the box office at 949-492-0465 or visit www.cabrilloplayhouse.org for reservations or more info.
After last season's successes with "Vanities," "The Spitfire Grill," "Sylvia," "Crimes of the Heart" and "Happy Birthday," we're naturally expecting another great run and continuing increase in attendance, especially on the party nights. Black tie is definitely optional.