San Luis Obispo, CA

Last night's show in Modesto was outstanding and it was fun to hear how folks from the area enjoyed the local  references in the story. We left Modesto relatively early this morning for our four hour drive to San Luis Obispo.  We went through the San Joaquin Valley again, this time heading southwest and even a little closer to Salinas, Steinbeck's home town.

The San Joaquin Valley with the Sierras in the background

The fields in the valley are the largest expanse of fertile and productive land that I've ever seen

We arrived in San Luis Obispo in time to check into the hotel and headed to Cal Poly and the Christopher Cohan Center where we would be performing in a 3 PM matinee.  San Luis Obispo is a beautiful town and the theater was incredible.

Shot of the Cohan Center auditorium from the back of the set

The Christopher Cohan Center

Looking over Technical Director Michael Catalan's shoulder during sound check

The show was great and I was told that our production was the first play performed in the center in 12 years!  Apparently for the past few years the center has only been used for dance and music recitals.  So it's kind of nice being the show that brought straight theater back to the center.

After the show the folks there provided a delicious meal then several of us rode in the bus for a short five mile trek to the coast near Pismo Beach.  We got there just in time to get a few fleeting shots of the sunset.

Sunset over the Pacific

Vince, Mike O and others shooting from a cliff overlooking the shore

The beauty of the Pacific Coast as night falls

We're up and out early tomorrow for a 10 AM student matinee before loading up the bus and heading to San Francisco for a day off and our last run through the heart of Steinbeck Country.