Stage View Company brings Clueless to Fresno, expands youth access

Stage View Company turned Clueless into a low-barrier entry point for Fresno theatergoers, pairing a familiar 1995 movie title with $20 advance tickets at Fresno Memorial Auditorium downtown. The June 20 and June 21 performances gave the company a chance to sell live theater to families, teens and budget-conscious adults while tying the show to its broader push for youth access.

The venue itself strengthened that pitch. Fresno Memorial Auditorium, also known as Veterans Memorial Auditorium, sits at 2425 Fresno Street on a full city block bounded by Fresno, N, O and Merced streets. Built in 1935-36 and dedicated on Dec. 31, 1936, the Art Deco and Monumental Moderne landmark is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and on Fresno’s local historic register. It has long hosted dances, sporting events, concerts and political conventions, which makes it one of downtown Fresno’s most recognizable civic stages.

Stage View Performing Arts Foundation says its mission is to empower and uplift underserved communities in California through accessible performing arts programs, workshops and events. The group also says scholarships have been awarded, supported in part by Measure P and donors, and its company page lists Monica Petrucci as the 2025-2026 creative director. The scholarship work is aimed at Fresno dancers and youth who may not otherwise get formal arts training, giving the company a community-development role as well as an entertainment one.

The production itself linked that access message to a title with built-in name recognition. Clueless began as Amy Heckerling’s 1995 comedy, and the stage musical premiered Off-Broadway in 2018. Stage View’s listing said Cen Cal Dance Academy dancers performed with Stage View Dance Company, adding local student participation to the show’s appeal. That mix of a recognizable pop-culture property, a downtown landmark and youth performers gave Fresno a theater event designed to feel less like a niche outing and more like an open door for younger audiences discovering live performance.