Pismo/Pacific Light Opera Theatre, Inc. (P.L.O.T.)
December 29, 2003
Media Contact: David Baumgarten, 805-528-7508

Pismo Beach, CA - - Many people’s connection and love of the musical theatre started in childhood when their parents took them to a local playhouse production of Oklahoma, Pirates of Penzance or My Fair Lady. Even far from the bright lights of Broadway, the actors and orchestra seemed magical and larger than life. Those opportunities for discovery are still available today due to the efforts of the Pismo/Pacific Light Opera Theatre (P.L.O.T.). Musical theatre lovers can see a sample of some of P.L.O.T.’s past productions on Saturday, February 7, 2004 when they air their 6 hour “PLOT-A-THON” on Charter Channel 2, starting at 2:00 p.m. During the telethon, P.L.O.T. will officially announce their permanent return to Pismo Beach with live performances by local stars and video excerpts from a number of P.L.O.T.’s productions from the last twenty-two years.

Currently, P.L.O.T. is engaged with the Pismo Beach City Council to find performance sites in Pismo Beach, most likely at the amphitheater in Dinosaur Caves Park and the soon to be retrofitted Old Pismo City Hall Auditorium. With their permanent return to Pismo, P.L.O.T. is planning to change their name back to the Pismo Light Opera Theatre.

The “PLOT-A-THON” is part of fund raising efforts to help support fully produced musical theatre productions at the Pismo locations as well as support educational opportunities for young performers and produce a newsletter that covers all musical theatre activities on the central coast. The mission of the “PLOT-A-THON” is to allow community members to take part in the rebirth of Community Musical Theatre in Pismo Beach and the Five Cities area, and to be reacquainted with many local performers who got their start in one of the sixty past P.L.O.T. productions.

ABOUT P.L.O.T.

The organization began life as the Pismo Light Opera Theatre in 1981 with a performance space in the basement of the old Pismo Beach City. P.L.O.T. was forced to move out of their permanent home in 1991 when the County of San Luis Obispo declared the building unsafe because it did not meet earthquake standards. Since the loss of this performance space, PL.O.T. has been known as the Pacific Light Opera Theatre. Productions since that time have been held in numerous venues throughout the county, reaching a wide range of Central Coast residents.

The primary goals of P.L.O.T. are to continue its tradition of preserving musical theatre/light opera on the Central Coast, to produce theatre which is family-friendly and appealing to all age levels, to offer local opportunities to aspiring and talented youth, and train performers, musicians and backstage personnel of all ages.

P.L.O.T. has a history of strong leadership and loyal community support, and has served as the training ground for a large number of performers who are now involved with theatre across the Central Coast.

Each production receives its own underwriting from local businesses and private individuals. Fundraising efforts, such as the “PLOT-A-THON” bring additional funds to the organization.

HISTORY OF P.L.O.T.

The Pismo Light Opera Theatre was founded in 1981 by Gaynor Trammer, a local real estate agent who taught voice at Arroyo Grande High School. The company of singers and dancers was based on a company in Anchorage, Alaska where Trammer had performed. To establish the initial financial backing, several community fund-raising concerts were performed. The first full-stage production, “The Gondoliers” by Gilbert and Sullivan was opened on July 24, 1981. Since the opening, P.L.O.T. has performed 60 major productions as well as many fund-raisers, ballets, concerts and more.

For the first eleven years of its operation, P.L.O.T. occupied a performance space in the basement of the old Pismo Beach City Hall on Wadsworth Avenue and Bello Street. Originally designed as the assembly hall for the Pismo Beach Elementary School, the auditorium had been used as a basketball court, a dance hall, space for the City Planning Commission, and as a storage room for City Hall supplies. In 1991, the County of San Luis Obispo declared the building unsafe, and since the loss of its permanent home, PL.O.T. has been known as the Pacific Light Opera Theatre. Recently, with the prospect of a permanent return to Pismo Beach around the corner, the group’s name has changed to the Pismo/Pacific Light Opera Theatre. Productions have been held in numerous venues throughout the county, reaching a wide range of Central Coast residents.

Over the twenty-two years it has existed, it has presented 60 major productions of musical theatre and several co-productions. These shows include “Oklahoma,” “South Pacific,” “Guys and Dolls,” “Kismet,” “The Mikado,” “Annie,” “The King and I,” “Brigadoon,” “West Side Story,” “Showboat,” “Oliver,” “Jesus Christ Superstar,” and “Damn Yankees.”

Recent productions have included, “Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris” which was presented at the Pewter Plough Playhouse in Cambria, “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown” at the First Presbyterian Church in San Luis Obispo, and “Mame”a co-production with Unity of San Luis Obispo. P.L.O.T. has also partnered with the Women’s Shelter Program to receive a Safe Schools grant for an after school program at Paulding Middle School in Arroyo Grande. Most recently, P.L.O.T. board members have worked on the new locally produced film, “Melinda’s World.”

Additional information on the Telethon and P.L.O.T. is available by calling David Baumgarten, P.L.O.T.’s Executive Director, at 805-528-7508.