Are you feeling lucky?
St. Patrick’s Day has a way of getting us thinking about the rituals and superstitions we think will bring us good fortune,
Argus Courier, Wednesday, Mar 14, 2007
By YOVANNA BIEBERICH
...Sheri Lee Miller of Cinnabar Theater is well versed in the good luck rituals and superstitions of the theater. “I don’t really believe in luck, but I am charmed by the rituals associated with warding off bad luck and welcoming good.”
One such superstition is to never say “Macbeth” in a theater or the production you are working on will be cursed. Actors also avoid even quoting the lines from “Macbeth” inside a theater, particularly the witches incantations. Why? It’s believed that Shakespeare’s famous play is cursed.
Another theater practice, with a practical origin, is to never whistle in the dressing room. “Back in the day, the stage riggers were sailors who used various whistles as commands,” said Miller. “If someone whistled just for fun, they may end up with a sandbag on their head.”
A more mysterious theater ritual is that of the ghost light. “The ghost light is a single bulb on a floor lamp placed in the middle of the stage at the end of the night after a performance,” Miller said. “It remains lit all night so that any deceased thespians who wish to return to the stage during the night will have light. Dead or alive, actors need to find their light.”
The history of this practice is rooted in practicality; the ghost light prevented theater staff who were working late from having to cross a cluttered stage in the dark, possibly falling into the orchestra pit and dying in the fall....
Terrence McNally’s Master Classfrom May 26 through June 17, 2006
From The Press Democrat, June 9 , 2006, by Dan Taylor
'Master Class' brings Callas to life Elly Lichenstein's performance energizes cast and audience
"An actress needn't be a retired opera singer to play one in Terrence McNally's semi-historical "Master Class," but as Elly Lichenstein proves in Cinnabar Theater's production, it adds an extra dimension to the show."
"The script, which has Callas coaching her entranced pupils as if they were her puppets, really doesn't require any singing from her. Yet, just when it seems she never will sing again, Lichenstein does, almost inadvertently joining her students' arias briefly, out of sheer passion for the music."
"It's an electric moment. For those who love opera as much as Callas did, and as much as Lichenstein obviously still does, it's liable to induce chills."
"This is Lichenstein's show. It's her moment. She earned it, she can handle it and her longtime local followers should enjoy sharing it with her."
"EDITOR: Elly Lichenstein's performance as the diva Maria Callas in Terrence McNally's play "Master Class," at the Cinnabar Theater is worthy of a four-star rating. As the play opens Maria tells the audience, "No applause. We are here to work." The singers, sopranos Rebecca Brown and Kathleen Sisco and tenor Codrut Birsan with the piano accompanist, Adrian Boyer, are put under the microscope by the demanding diva who at times will reminisce about her turbulent career on and off the stage."
"The audience cheered "Bravo" as the play ended, and you will do the same. Drive, run or walk to the Cinnabar Theater before "Master Class" ends on June 17. The play closes the season on a very high note."
EMILY and WALTER ROEDER
Petaluma
From The Press Democrat, May 26, 2006, by Janet Palmer
Opera legend offers inspiration
Cinnabar's 'Master Class' follows later years of Maria Callas' career
Life is fraught with unanticipated challenges, and in Cinnabar Theater's latest production, Elly Lichenstein empathizes with the renowned opera singer Maria Callas' emotional roller coaster. Full article here
From Kashimba Reviews, Reviewed by David Kashimba
Elly Lichenstein brings out the many sides of opera diva Maria Callas in Cinnabar Theater’s production of Master Class in Petaluma. Lichenstein, Cinnabar’s Artistic Director, subtly explores the many nuances of Callas’ complex character.... [The] comic emphasis makes this play accessible to non-opera lovers....But for the opera lover, Cinnabar has provided a fantastic supporting cast of young singers with excellent voices and Lichenstein provides a well-rounded look into the life and soul of one of the world’s greatest divas. Full article here
Acting Class in Spanish Offered. Press Democrat, March 17, 2006. As the region's Latino population grows, the Cinnabar Theater is responding to shifting demographics by offering an acting class in Spanish. More...
"Petaluma's Cinnabar Theater production boasts top talent; costumes, lighting deserve praise"
"Cinnabar is neither big nor rich but still insists on recruiting top professional vocal talent for its operas, which are sung in English and staged simply."
"As Canio [Pagliaccio], experienced Bay Area tenor Kevin Courtemanche sings with exceptional power and clarity. He skillfully exploits every part of the role, as a brutish husband, offstage clown and jealous lover."
"Erina Newkirk, as Canio's unhappy and ultimately unfaithful wife, Nedda, holds the audience's attention every moment. Her expressive face moves convincingly from flirtation to derision to horror, while her soaring soprano makes her listeners feel what her character feels." Read more...
"Once again Cinnabar Theater, in Petaluma, offers live opera in an intimate setting with its current productions of I Pagliacci by Ruggero Leoncavallo and the surprise curtain-raiser. No need to bring your opera glasses to these performances. Every seat in the house is a good one and even some cabaret seating is available which is close enough for you to feel like one of the performers....Both productions are excellent and performed in English. An added treat is a chorus of young singers and thespians from Cinnabar’s Young Rep program." Read more...
"Anchored by music director Nina Shuman's fine orchestral ensemble and a collection of strong voices, the production overcomes some relatively minor glitches while providing satisfying operatic entertainment at a fraction of the normal cost." Read more...
In mounting a musical
homage to Edith Piaf, Cinnabar Theater had to
summon a bit of the sultry French singer's patented
``La Vie en Rose'' attitude.
Without those rose-tinted glasses, the obstacles
might otherwise have proved too daunting.
But the Petaluma theater company, tiny but gutsy
like Piaf herself, forged ahead, creating the revue
from scratch.
That meant digging up Piaf music rarely found
in the United States, creating sheet music for
some of the songs by listening to recordings and,
for the cast, mastering enough French to understand
and then vocalize Piaf's lyrics without losing
any of her passion in the translation.
The result is a cabaret show, sans the smoky atmosphere,
with a live band and five vocalists, all performing
signature Piaf tunes in the style -- but not in
imitation -- of the legendary Parisian chanteuse.
``No Regrets: The Songs of Edith Piaf,'' will be
performed weekends through Jan. 21. More...
'Beatbox' is hip-hop, theater, all in
one. Changeable 'Raparetta' blends music, drama
at Cinnabar Theater " The band...has
been recognized as SF Weekly's best hip-hop band
in 2000 and as the Bay Guardian's best hip-hop
group in 2004.... The result is a production
dubbed "Beatbox:
A Raparetta," which has been performed all
over the Bay Area as well as in Hamburg, Germany.
The production opens a string of Cinnabar Theater
performances at 8 p.m. Oct. 28.", Shelley
Shepherd Klaner, Press
Democrat, October 21, 2005
"Thrilling... riveting...exhilarating" (Robert
Hurwitt, SF Chronicle), Beatbox speaks to young
audiences as well as seasoned theater-goers.
"Theaters across Sonoma County striving
to please sophisticated audiences with new, different
shows"
"Petaluma's Cinnabar Theater, established 35 years
ago primarily to perform classic operas, will present "Beatbox:
A Raparetta" later this month, created and performed
by the Felonius One Love Hip Hop group from Oakland
and DJ Raw of San Francisco.", Dan Taylor, Press
Democrat, October 2, 2005.
'Beatbox' a dramatic melding
of rap, opera Dan
Taylor, Press Democrat,
Friday, November 4, 2005 "Armed with nothing more
than microphones and voices, Shepherd and Aguirre
are beatbox virtuosos, using vocal percussion to
create beat, rhythm and sound effects. Supplemented
by dance, mime and rap lyrics, their work deserves
to be called both operatic and dramatic."
Electric Rap
Exciting and original 'Beatbox' is
one of year's best shows November
2-8, 2005 issue of the North Bay Bohemian,
by David Templeton "I encourage even those who think they
dislike rap to give this energetic, moving, astoundingly
creative show a chance. North Bay theater will
only thrive if companies continue to take a chance
on daring new material, and they can only afford
to take such chances if the regular theater audience
shows its support by showing up."
Cinnabar puts on a
'Most Happy' show "Run, don't walk,
to see Cinnabar's excellent production of this
rarely-performed musical"
Katie Watts, Argus Courier, September 21, 2005. Read
the review here...
'Happy Fella' looks good,
sounds great "Cinnabar's production,
with stage direction by Barbara Heroux and music
direction by Nina Shuman, literally sounds wonderful.
As its lead character, an Italian immigrant vintner
from Napa named Tony, would say: 'It looks-a
pretty good, too.' ". Read it here...
Dan Taylor, Press Democrat, September 23, 2005
Cinnabar creates a most happy
production "Cinnabar's "The
Most Happy Fella" is a happy theatrical experience,
a sure antidote for world-weary blahs." More here...
Charles Brousse, Marin Independent Journal, September
23, 2005
Parade
honors theater director as grand marshal: Cinnabar's Elly Lichenstein to preside over
Butter & Egg Days event with entertainment
theme. More...
Director
Elly Lichenstein to be" Butter and Eggs" Parade
Grand Marshal. Petaluma
Messenger/Argus Courier, March 30, 2005. More...
Press
Democrat, March 4, 2005, by Dan Taylor "Excellent 'Figaro'
shouldn't be missed. Cinnabar's take on classic
opera blends passionate arias, low comedy for
nearly flawless performance.... Bottom line: Fine
voices, consistently impressive comic acting,
excellent live musical accompaniment, lavish
costumes and an attractive set add up to a rare
evening for local opera fans.". Click
here to read the entire review...
Reviewed by David
Kashimba "Directed by Elly
Lichenstein with musical direction by Nina
Shuman, The Marriage of Figaro will
have you kicking up your heals to a real classic." Click
to read entire review...
Argus
Courier, March 23, 2005, by Mary Southhall "Figaro" was
written in 1781 by ... Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,
whose music was composed for smaller, more
intimate chamber concert venues. That's one
reason why Lichenstein says "'Figaro'
fits wonderfully in our space. The actors can
concentrate on singing beautifully, developing
their characters, and playing the broad comedy
.... None of the intricacies of the story is
lost, which is what happens when this opera
is produced on a big stage."
Lichenstein
says the opera's main theme -- the abuse of
power -- was revolutionary for its time. Napoleon
Bonaparte was quoted as saying "Figaro" was
the basis of the French Revolution. The opera
also has strong themes of feminism" More...
Press
Democrat, March 18, 2005, by Shelley Shepherd
Klaner
Opera gets more intimate: Playing in smaller Cinnabar
venue allows performers in 'The Marriage of Figaro'
to be more connected to audience "Bringing the powerful
music of Mozart and Da Ponte to the stage in a
small setting presents additional challenges to
the actors and singers, as well as a different
experience to the audience where people can see
every expression on a performer's face and feel
the thunder of their intense voices....'The story
is truly told, the characters are developed, the
interaction immediate and fresh.'" More...
Press
Democrat, by Shelley Shepherd Klaner, Nov.11,
2004 "The
cast of 'The Tailor of Gloucester' includes
21 young people who bring the holiday spirit
to Cinnabar with the tale of a tailor
who needs to sew a coat for the mayor in time
for his wedding Christmas Day."
'The Tailor of Gloucester' is based on a children's
story by Beatrix Potter and a book by Marcy Telles.
The
production by the Cinnabar Young Repertory
Theater is directed by Sheri Lee Miller and includes
actors ages 8 to 16.
Dan
Taylor, Press Democrat, Dec 1, 2004 -
Good enough for children - Two companies
open three plays in December, aspiring to
excellence
At the Cinnabar Theater in Petaluma, which founded
its Young Repertory Theater in 1983, there are two
youth shows in the works: an operetta based on Beatrix
Potter's story "The Tailor of Gloucester" and "An
O. Henry Christmas," a play that combines several
stories.
"I personally think
both shows will appeal to kids of all ages,
and adults. It's definitely family entertainment," said
Cinnabar education director Sheri Lee Miller,
who also directed "The Tailor of Gloucester." ...
This is my first time directing a children's
show," Miller said. "The kids are
amazing. They're so polite and attentive, and
they remember lines better than adults." The
shows serve as both training and creative outlet
for young performers, and for a willing audience,
refreshingly different entertainment...
"It's hard to imagine anyone who would not find something amusing
in 'Laughing Wild' ... It's good. Go see it." - Katie
Watts, Argus Courier, October 27, 2004
"There is freshness
in Durang’s comic lines that are at once
outrageous and true...Jorgensen and Craven are
fantastic comic actors and must have tapped into
a little of their own inner madness in order
to get the tremendous energy to play these characters." - Reviewed
by David Kashimba
`LAUGHING' AS WILD, FUNNY
AS IT GETS, Press
Democrat, October 29, 2004, Dan Taylor
The show opens with Jorgensen performing a monologue
that's legendary in theater circles and often excerpted
by auditioning actresses hoping to win a role....Jorgenson's
incredibly flexible facial expressions and constantly
changing posture -- first lounging, then lunging
-- make the stories she tells easy to picture....Following
that, John Craven seizes the stage with a performance
so soft-spoken and mellow that it's a shock by comparison.
In the end ... one thing is
clear: This is essentially what theater is all
about. Not just sets, props or costumes, although
there are some. It's about actors creating whole
worlds with their acting.
"Playwright Christopher
Durang is one of the funniest scribes in contemporary
American drama....Durang's images and insights
send you reeling into a strange existential void
then snag you at the last minute and pull you
back to a more reasonable - though, by no means
'normal'- reality." - PetalumaFocus.com
"'Cabaret'
lives up to fame", Reviewed
by Dan Taylor, Press Democrat, September 17,
2004
"Followers of Petaluma's Cinnabar
Theater, which performs opera as well as
comedy and drama, expect to hear good singing,
even when the show's not an opera. The season
opener, "Cabaret," won't disappoint
them....In the two most crucial roles, Nancy
Prebilich as irrepressible bad girl Sally
Bowles and Greg Grabow as the sinister master
of ceremonies sang and acted with power and
conviction. Read
it all...
"Rampant
Decadence at Cinnabar", Reviewed
by Thom Butler on petalumafocus.com
"Here we have a musical whose biggest hit celebrates
careless hedonism.... Yet, the play concludes with
an awareness that in that hedonism, and specifically
in its mindlessness, lies the path to destruction....the
fabulous cast in Cinnabar's production pulls it off
with magnificent aplomb.... The two lead actors, Ms.
Prebilich and Emcee Greg Grabow do a marvelous job
in their strange yin/yang pairing." Read
it all...
"Come
to the 'Cabaret,' old chum" ,Reviewed
by Katie Watts, Argus Courier, September 15,
2004 "Cabaret,' playing at the Cinnabar
through Oct. 9, is that rare breed, a musical
that makes you think....The enduring pleasure
of Cinnabar Theater is that they produce high
quality theater that challenges and stimulates. "Cabaret" is
another jewel in their crown." Read
more...
"Cinnabar
is a great place to produce 'Cabaret' because
we can create the whole cabaret atmosphere," said
Elly Lichenstein, director of the show and
artistic director of Cinnabar Theater.... Katie
Watts interviews Director Elly Lichenstein,
and discusses the show in the Argus
Courier
Cabaret,
Reviewed online by David
Kashimba
"Cabaret draws us in to a generation that’s
falling apart while pretending to be a feel-good generation
with no cares or worries in the world."
[Mikka]
Bonel is joining her mother [Elly Lichenstein]
on the playbill at Cinnabar,
where she is the choreographer of "Cabaret"...
Because Bonel is trained in both theater and
dance, she looked at "Cabaret" from an actor's
point of view as well as that of a dancer.
- read the full article by
Shelley Shepherd Klaner in the Press Democrat.
"That
Wasn't Ketchup", Chris
Smith, Press Democrat, September 28, 2004
I gather the realism was shocking when,
near the end of Saturday night's performance
of "Cabaret" at Petaluma's Cinnabar Theater,
the male lead swung a drinking glass at the
leading lady and opened a gash above her eyebrow.
It was an accident, and the cut and the blood were
real. Actress Nancy Prebelich, playing the part of
Sally Bowles, deserves at least a Tony for keeping
on as if the injury was in the script.
Nancy finished out the play, then spent the rest
of the night and much of Sunday morning getting stitches
in an emergency room. When the curtain opened for
Sunday's matinee, there she was.
In what may have been the most important performance
of their young careers, actors from the Young Repertory
program at the Cinnabar Theater pleaded to the
City Council Wednesday, June 9 not to close the
curtain on the city’s valued institution.
Their ardent appeals, and those of their mentors,
won kudos from the council and the promise of support.
"This has been some of the most impressive
testimony I’ve seen in support of any project
in a long time," said Councilmember
Mike Healy to the nearly 100 audience members
who turned out to support the theater. Read
the entire Article
Facing a roomful of supporters for one of Petaluma's
most popular arts programs, the City Council on
Wednesday rejected a proposal to eliminate city
funding for the Cinnabar Theater.
Summer
Music Festival Cancelled, but it will be back
next year - Cinnabar Theater cites uncertainty
over city funding - See the entire article by Katie
Watts in the Argus
Courier, March 31, 2004
Youngactor
says luck's on his side: 19-year-old Gabriel Sunday
landed role in upcoming Disney flick, lead
in independent film in production.
He earned the role of a child
magician in a Disney movie with the working title
of "The Search for the World's Greatest Magician" in
one audition.
He credits Cinnabar with teaching him the basics
of acting. "It is a wonderful place for kids
to shine," he said. " It is not too big
and not too small." by Shelley Shepherd Klaner, Press
Democrat, November 19, 2004
Haunted house to Hollywood
- Petaluma teen lands role in Disney movie. Lois
Pearlman, Argus
Courier, October 13, 2004
It is literally a dream come
true for [Gabe] Sunday, an affable young man
also known in Petaluma as an actor with Cinnabar
youth theater and a magician at Pinky's Pizza Parlor.
Sheri Lee Miller,
Cinnabar Theater's new director of public relations
and education has been involved in theater since
she was 5. 'I always knew that's what I wanted
to do.' Sheri was recently interviewed by Katie
Watts of the Argus Courier. Read
all about Sheri...
Local
treasures, Katie Watts, Argus
Courier, March 3, 2004
The
theme for this year's Butter and Egg Days is "Treasures
of Petaluma." The public was asked to
vote and 10 treasures have been selected, as
follows: Lucchesi Park, the Petaluma Historic
Museum and Library, the Petaluma River, Volpi's,
the Butter and Egg Days Parade, Cinnabar
Theater, Clover and Clo the Cow, the D
Street Bridge, historic downtown, the Petaluma
Adobe and St. Vincent de Paul Church....
"Cinnabar Theater in Petaluma takes you on
a comic journey of ironic mythical proportions,
which literally transports you to another world.
Good drama can be a lot of things, but when it
can whirl you away from your daily cares into a
fantasy that delights you at every turn, well,
that’s entertainment." Read the full
review.
“Cinnabar
Theater (3333
Petaluma Blvd. N.; 707/763-8920), in a remodeled
mission-style schoolhouse, is always worth
checking out, especially for anything
involving the performance artist Fred Curchack. Like
Petaluma, the shows
here express a whimsy and inventiveness that
will leave you charmed.”
Marsha Williamson, “Perfectly
Petaluma: A beautiful downtown, art, fine restaurants
- all this and eggs too”, Sunset
Magazine, August 3, 2003. Available as a pdf -
Contact
We understand the following
was sent to the Editor of the Press Democrat
by Betty Nudelman of Healdsburg:
"When Cinnabar Theater was denied rights to produce
a play 3 weeks before opening, they created a wonderful
cabaret- style review called Laughin' at the
Ritz." Read the full
letter.
The following articles in the Bohemian have been brought to our attention. As webmaster-time allows, I will expand and encorporate them into the listings above. We thank Gretchen Giles,
Editor, North Bay Bohemian for bringing these to our attention.
Are you feeling lucky?
St. Patrick’s Day has a way of getting us thinking about the rituals and superstitions we think will bring us good fortune,
Argus Courier, Wednesday, Mar 14, 2007