By the Sea Productions is celebrating their 10th Anniversary.
Time flies when you’re staging live community theater once a month all year long! And suddenly Morro Bay’s By the Seas Productions is celebrating its 10th anniversary. Notably former Mayor Janice Peters has been the “captain” that launched the company and mastered the helm over the years. She is also the first to admit she’s ready to retire behind the scenes, but she is still having fun.
She proudly stated, “As By the Sea Productions has developed over the past ten years, our audience loyalty has grown. We’ve produced 72 shows and currently our shows regularly sell out the house. We perform for both residents and more and more Morro Bay visitors. I know several visitors who even plan their vacations based on what production is on our annual playlist. Gratefully, our sponsorship has grown, but, of course, we always welcome more.”
With only two shows left in 2026, you might want to secure your tickets before they sell out! From through November 1, the company will celebrate a spooky Halloween with “Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors.” Janice said, “Director Nicolette Tempesta has chosen to produce it David Bowie-style.”
The celebration continues December 4-6 with another “magical” variety show created by Director Rick Bruce of Cambria titled “Magic of Theater.” Janice recommends, “definitely a family show.”
Recently the nonprofit company booked its 10th Anniversary celebration at the Bay Theater in Morro Bay. The board selected the 1937 movie “Stage Door” starring Kathrine Hepburn, Ginger Rogers and Lucille Ball — all very early in their own yet-to-be wildly successful careers. Their characters were trying to make it on Broadway, and our Morro Bay audience witnessed their drama and joys seeking success living together in a typical New York City boarding house for aspiring actresses.
It reminded me of something Janice said about the people she has worked with over the years, “Live theater becomes a real family. We do it because we love it and must learn to trust our fellow players and crew members. We attract all ages, genders and personalities and with each new show it seems we are all preparing for where life (on and off stage) will take us. We have a plan but never really know what might happen next.”
Janice would ultimately find her fame and coveted performance career in Morro Bay rather than Hollywood, where she lived for years. “I was a ham and come from a family of hams! My Dad was in shows, my Mom sang in church and my brother builds sets.” She chose UCLA for college so she could be nearby the epicenter of her dream career. She planned to become a Hollywood starlet. She worked in film production for years and got a few camera walk-ons, but just as she’d get a break something would happen. For example, she was to star in a show at the Pasadena Dinner Theater. The pictures were already hanging on the wall when the club burned down before opening night. Another time she had scored the part in another production and mid-campaign it was canceled.
When she grew tired of LA, luckily her back-up career that paid the bills was work as a legal assistant. She was on her way to San Jose to spend Thanksgiving with family. A friend had mentioned Morro Bay, so as it was pouring rain, she decided to pull off at the San Jacinto exit, park and enjoy the ocean view. Suddenly the sun came out and magically sparkled around Morro Rock. She looked at her dog companion. “Mimi, we’re home,” she said. “I had already applied for jobs in San Luis Obispo and was hired by Andre Morris & Buttery.”
After eight years serving first on the Morro Bay City Council and then as Mayor, she retired in 2010 and began to follow her acting dream again. “I auditioned for a part at Pewter Plow in Cambria and ended up working at the theater and served on the board of directors.” She scored acting parts at Pewter Plow and several other theaters around the county. But when Pewter Plow lost its lease in Cambria, Janice knew her mission was to establish continual live theater in Morro Bay.
“I knew there was an audience,” she said. As Mayor, she tested the concept by developing the “Fund Raiser Folies.” The goal was to develop stronger staff relations with the community while the vehicle was a variety show, including local talent and willing department heads performing a hidden talent. The goal was to establish a City of Morro Bay grant program for nonprofits to produce community and visitor-serving events like the former Morro Bay Harbor Festival.
Janice said, “I convinced all our directors to perform some chosen style of performance. Nancy Castle directed. Some said it wouldn’t work, but all had a good time performing a song or dance routine and the community enjoyed it for five years.”
When faced with finding a home for live theater in Morro Bay, Janice shared, “Over the years it seems we continue to be blessed by ‘theater gods’ watching over us. Suddenly impossible challenges just seem to work out fine.”
Pastor Sid Symington, now retired from St. Peter’s By-the-Sea Episcopal Church, happened to love live theater. Both leadership groups got together and developed what is still a 10-year cooperative partnership, including renaming the theater group, By the Sea Productions. Janice explained, “We have had access to their church hall as our current permanent playhouse,” Janice smiled. “It has been a mutually beneficial arrangement.” Current Pastor Olver Linn continues to honor the agreement.
As with any business there are challenges. The group is looking for a few more board members and stage crew members to help determine the 2027 season and then produce and promote what will be on stage throughout the year.
What was Janice’s all-time favorite production? “In 2019, we produced ‘Suite Surrender.’ It takes place in a Florida hotel. Two divas duel when booked into the hotel’s same room without another room to separate them. So much fun! And best of all the set included all kinds of pink flamingos.” And if you know Janice Peters at all you know pink flamingos are part of her DNA or at least her decorating go-to!
Ever want to act on stage or become a producing member of a theater company? Janice has direct contact with the ‘theater gods’ and will share them if you become a member of their family. Call her at or check out www.bytheseaproductions.org.
