While most churches are quiet on Monday evenings, the sound of young voices singing with British accents penetrates the doors of Mount Carmel Lutheran Church. The cast members, ranging from 8 years old to their adult parents, fill the church halls with songs from Lionel Bart’s Oliver!, a twist on the classic Charles Dickens novel Oliver Twist.
The musical is the inaugural production of OEA Theatrical, the new theater outreach program of Oakwood Enrichment Academy (OEA), a hybrid homeschool program in Atascadero. Although the program is an offshoot of OEA, auditions are open to everyone, and participation is free.
The program is spearheaded by Kristina Prozesky, founder and director of OEA, and Erik Austin, director of OEA Theatrical. The pair met while working on theatrical productions at local Montessori schools. Prozesky later joined Austin’s theater company, Kelrik Productions, in productions of Willy Wonka and The Wizard of Oz at Cal Poly’s Spanos Theatre.
“We’ve been in the community doing shows in various ways over the years, but we’re starting something new,” Prozesky said.
When creating OEA Theatrical, Prozesky and Austin said they specifically wanted to produce Oliver! Since the musical wasn’t on any other local theater company’s show calendar for 2026, it gave them the perfect opportunity to launch the new theatrical group.
“Nobody’s doing this show, and that was it,” Prozesky said. “We were like, ‘Let’s let’s do Oliver!’ And you know, when the stars align that way, sometimes you just say yes.”
The two directors describe the journey to the stage as a whirlwind. The entire production, from casting to opening night, has been put together in five weeks.
For professional theatrical productions, a three-to-four-week rehearsal schedule is standard, but for a community cast of 50 people, many of whom are children, Prozesky and Austin said the pace has been nothing short of “crazy.”
Nearly 90 people auditioned for those 50 roles.
The cast is a mix of performers from across San Luis Obispo County, including some OEA students, local high school students, and even students and graduates from the Pacific Conservatory Theatre (PCPA).
The entire production is fueled by volunteers. Every performer, stage manager, and assistant is donating their time to create what Austin describes as “theater magic.” Even the funding is a grassroots effort; Austin and Prozsky are self-financing the show while seeking community sponsorships or donors to help cover costs until ticket sales begin.
The show’s namesake is played by 11-year-old Wren Krynen, who has never performed in a theatrical production before. Her background is in dance, but the director applauds her growth in the past few weeks.
“It’s amazing what [theater] does for the kids’ confidence,” Austin said. “They come in one way, and they leave [with] a different personality.”
The cast includes many seasoned performers from SLO County, including four siblings and veteran performers whom Austin described as “the best people.” For older students and recent graduates, the show provides a creative outlet during the summer months.
“It’s been so much clearer when everything is happening,” said Aubrey Villa, an Atascadero High School student. “I don’t even know how to describe the joy I get from just coming to rehearsals.”
As the cast finishes its final week of rehearsals, the transition from a church hall to a professional stage is what many of the children look forward to most.
“The kids keep saying, ‘In the theater!’” Austin laughed. “They’re going to freak out when they see the building. It’s going to be amazing”
The culmination of the group’s work will take place in Cal Poly’s Spanos Theatre on July 10 and 11 at 7 p.m. and July 12 at 1 p.m. Tickets cost from $35 to $65 and can be purchased at oeatheatrical.com/tickets.
Fast fact
• The Land Conservancy of SLO County is hosting a celebration for the 120th anniversary of the Historic Octagon Barn on Saturday, July 18, from 1 to 4 p.m. The Land Conservancy restored the barn from near collapse in a decades-long project completed in 2019. The barn was originally built in 1906 and used to house Guernsey cows. Today, it is on the National Register of Historic Places and serves as a representation of SLO County’s dairy industry. The celebration, coinciding with National Ice Cream Day, will feature local dairy vendors and family-friendly activities. The Octagon Barn has set a goal of 120 donations for 120 years to support the conservation of the property. Those who would like to contribute can donate at lcslo.org/donate and select the “Octagon Barn Fund.” ∆
Reach Intern Sam Fickett at intern@newtimesslo.com.
This article appears in July 9-16, 2026.
