Dressing for the occasion takes on a whole new meaning during the Pacific Conservatory Theatre’s (PCPA) Pride Night events.
Audience members are encouraged to don attire that may get them mistaken for cast members, Event and Development Coordinator Lolly Tolan explained.
“You can’t go wrong with a cowboy hat and bolo tie,” Tolan (whose pronouns are they/them) said about their experience going all out for Pride Night during PCPA’s run of Shane in February.
PCPA Pride
There are three Pacific Conservatory Theatre (PCPA) Pride Night pre-show experiences left this season, accompanying productions of Come From Away (June 20), Disney’s Frozen (July 11), and Beehive—The ’60s Musical (Aug. 15), all at Solvang Festival Theater.
Use code PRIDE at pcpa.org for a 15 percent ticket discount for Pride Night performances.
Tolan was among those who took advantage of a photo station during the gunslinger-themed Shane event that allowed users to pose for their very own “Wanted” poster. “Dead or alive,” of course, with a posted bounty of no less than $10,000.
PCPA essentially never hosts the same kind of Pride Night twice.
“They’re always a little different, to fit the needs and themes of the show,” Tolan said.
Pride Night started in 2024 as a one-night pre-show experience that PCPA curates to pair with the show that’s onstage at the moment.
Tolan helped develop the event with Youth and Community Arts Director Marilet Martinez. The goal was to offer members and allies of the LGBTQ-plus community a new Central Coast outlet where they can meet and mingle over complimentary food, drinks, and party favors before watching a PCPA performance together.
“We wanted to create a space where everyone could gather, have fun, and celebrate themselves and each other,” said Tolan, who took on the role of PCPA’s event coordinator in 2024.
That was the year PCPA debuted Pride Night as a pairing with its winter production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. Since then, the company has periodically offered Pride Night pre-show experiences at no extra cost to ticket holders.
There’s even a 15 percent ticket discount during Pride Night performances (with code PRIDE online at pcpa.org).
For its 2026 season, PCPA partnered with the Gala Pride and Diversity Center for the Pride Night program. As part of the pre-show experiences this year, there are raffles to enter for prizes provided by Gala.
“At past [raffles] I’ve seen company swag like branded mugs or merch; a coupon for a free haircut from a salon in SLO,” Tolan listed, “and some other discounts/free items.”
The San Luis Obispo-based nonprofit also hosts a station during each Pride Night event where community resource materials are available.
“PCPA has been a wonderful champion,” Gala Program Manager Linnea Valdivia told the Sun via email. “While most of our programming is San Luis Obispo County-focused, we are open to collaborate with other organizations working to promote equity and justice for all people on the Central Coast.”
There are three Pride Night pre-show experiences left to attend this season, accompanying PCPA’s productions of Come From Away (June 20), Disney’s Frozen (July 11), and Beehive—The ’60s Musical (Aug. 15). Each performance takes place under the stars at Solvang Festival Theater.
While each Pride Night pre-show event’s themes and motifs differ from show to show, some consistent festivities that usually carry over between events are sing-along activities, interactive installations, some form of a Mad Libs game, and talkback or Q-and-A discussions with PCPA cast and crew members.
“We also bring in community partners to set up tables,” Tolan said. “Some will bring informational materials or even their own swag.”
Tolan said that anyone looking forward to PCPA’s Pride Night for Frozen and other upcoming Festival Theater shows will have to stay tuned for details, as those events are still in the planning phase.
Tolan recounted some of their personal favorite aspects of Pride Night events for PCPA’s production of Shane in February and Measure for Measure in March. Both shows were held at the Marian Theatre in Santa Maria.
“During the Measure for Measure Pride Night, since PCPA had set our production as if it were being done by high school girls, we had a friendship bracelet station,” Tolan said. “At the Shane Pride Night there was a booth to make your own bandana bolo ties.”
Reach Senior Staff Writer Caleb Wiseblood at cwiseblood@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in June 4 – June 11, 2026.
