SLOLT announces its new season 

The theater has long been a place to pose life’s biggest questions, such as, why do fools fall in love?

At least, that’s the central question of the kickoff show of the SLO Little Theatre’s recently released 2013-2014 season. A ’60s bachelorette musical written by Roger Bean and directed by Kevin Harris, Why Do Fools Fall in Love? tells the story of four gal pals at a bachelorette party, who, “after a few tequila shots and Snowball sugar highs” (the synopsis reads), begin to “discover more about each other’s love lives than they had ever imagined.” It’s all set to ’60s hits like “My Boy Lollipop” and “You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me.”

But there’s heartier fare to be found on the menu, and it starts with Incorruptible, opening Sept. 6, billed as “a dark comedy about the dark ages.” Director Jill Turnbow (remember last year’s House of Blue Leaves?) helms this tale of rival churches, monks, quote-unquote “miracles,” and a plot twist involving “a larcenous one-eyed minstrel.”

The good stuff continues with Independence, a drama by Fortinbras author Lee Blessing. Directed by Suzy Newman (again, remember House of Blue Leaves? The schizophrenic housewife?), the play is set in Independence, Iowa, where three very different sisters and their mentally ill mother must find “a kind of arbitrary independence … as they come to realize that each must find her own heaven—or hell—in her own way.” Independence opens Oct. 18.

Come Christmastime, Lisa Woske directs Miracle on 34th Street, which will be followed in February by another fundraising musical (details TBA), but not before SLOLT Managing Artistic Director Kevin Harris stars in The Santaland Diaries, a one-man show based on the essay that launched David Sedaris’ career (presented Nov. 29 to Dec. 21).

Springtime promises David Auburn’s Pulitzer Prize and Tony award-winning drama Proof, directed by Teresa Thuman and opening April 4. Starting May 16, catch A Chorus Line, winner of everything.

Then there’s Ubu’s Other Shoe, artistic director Michael Siebrass’ series of staged readings (everything from Arthur Miller to Eugene O’Neil to Tracy Letts), and two ACT (Academy of Creative Theatre; it’s for kids) productions: Shakespeare Shorts in August and Pinocchio in January.

Not bad, SLO Little Theatre! Consider me officially stoked. For the full scoop on the upcoming season, visit slolittletheatre.org.