”You may be wondering why I’m sitting in an empty theater. Perhaps it’s because I like large, dark, empty spaces,” a mysterious, masked vigilante tells viewers during a YouTube promo for Santa Maria Civic Theatre’s (SMCT) next production.
“Unfortunately, due to coronavirus, the Santa Maria Civic Theatre is currently empty and dark,” the Caped Crusader continues. “Fortunately, there’s a beacon of light in the distance, and it is not the Bat-Signal. It’s the Santa Maria Civic Theatre’s Drive Up Spooktacular!”
Bam! Pow! Wham!
If Batman’s endorsement wasn’t convincing enough, potential patrons are sure to go batty over the theater’s promise of skit reenactments from Young Frankenstein, The Addams Family, and other pop culture staples—especially ones embraced during Halloween season.
“As there is still a pandemic, we are all trying to find things to do, and now that the holidays are approaching and things aren’t going back to how they used to be just yet, there is a small way for us to share some holiday spirit with Santa Maria,” said Jaime Espinoza, secretary of SMCT’s board of directors.
Like the Civic Theatre’s inaugural drive-up event held at the end of August, ticket holders of the Spooktacular (Sunday, Oct. 25, from 1 to 4 p.m.) will receive a map that highlights five different outdoor destinations to visit throughout Santa Maria where they can enjoy a variety of live performances. To accommodate social distancing, guests can view the different shows from inside their vehicles or choose to park and sit outside—BYOLC (bring your own lawn chair).
“Turnout for the first drive-up theater was fantastic, way beyond anything we’d hoped for, and the response was amazing,” said Sally Buchanan, president of SMCT’s board of directors. “People loved to have something to do again on a Sunday afternoon.”
Buchanan is especially stoked for SMCT’s tribute to Young Frankenstein, as she will perform “He Vas My Boyfriend,” from the classic film’s musical adaptation.
“This show has plenty of acting, singing, and dancing,” Buchanan said. “We tried to give every act a Halloween theme.”
Other performances in the event’s lineup include “Voices of the Villains,” a compilation of different songs sung by various stage and screen antagonists, a Halloween dance mob, and a live band covering some popular Halloween hits.
“I’m excited to get to revive my role of Igor that I played three years ago on the SMCT stage,” said actor Kyle Hawkins, who will join Buchanan and others performing in the Young Frankenstein segment of the event.
Proceeds from the Spooktacular will benefit some long-needed renovations to the SMCT building, including improved bathrooms and landscaping, as well as a new stage curtain. Admission to the event is $25 per carload, and the Civic Theatre is also accepting donations through Venmo (@thesmct).
“If anyone out there is a fan of live theater, please consider helping out not just us, but other local theaters in the area and donating anything you can to help us stay afloat,” Espinoza said. “Times are hard for so many, but it would make SMCT’s future so much brighter if we had the support of local patrons or anyone out there.”
Arts Editor Caleb Wiseblood has a Bat-Signal nightlight. Send comments to cwiseblood@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Oct 22-29, 2020.