WORLD PREMIERE
QUEER THEORY by John O’Keefe

CINNABAR AND QUEER THEORY ON KQED "SPARK"

On the Wednesday, June 2, 2004 episode of "World Premieres," Spark talked to John O'Keefe*, a San Francisco playwright who's been on the scene for decades. From the first draft to final rehearsals, from his home at artist community Project Artaud to the stage at Cinnabar Theater, watch the development of his new play, "Queer Theory," as it makes its world premiere in Petaluma. You can view the video on KQED.org (click "Watch video" under the picture.)

Cinnabar Theater presents Queer Theory

May 28, 29, June 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19
Sunday matinees at 2:00PM, the rest at 8:00PM
$18 General Admission / $16 Seniors & Students

Not appropriate for ages under 16.

*Times Like These, O'Keefe's 2002 Cinnabar World Premiere,  swept all the major L.A. critics' awards for 2003. Hear a discussion of the play on NPR Morning Edition (click on "Morning Edition Audio")

Cinnabar Opera Theater
LA TRAVIATA by Giuseppe Verdi; English Version by Donald Pippin
April 2, 3sold out, 9sold out, 10sold out, 16sold out, 17sold out, 23, 24* sold out, 2004 (8:00 PM), April 18, 2004 (2:00 PM),
April 21, 2004 (7:30 PM)
$28 General Admission / $26 Seniors & Students / $14 Youth Age 18 & Under

On April 24^th there will be a benefit performance of La Traviata!
Enjoy a fabulous array of gourmet desserts and premium wines while feasting on the sounds of Verdi’s La Traviata!
Tickets are $38-$40 and benefit the Young Rep Scholarship Fund.

*Wine and dessert at 7:00PM, show at 8:00PM
Sonoma Valley Portworks is providing once again the wine for La Traviata event on the 24th.

Nina Shuman, Music Director • Elly Lichenstein, Stage Director

Featuring John Bonnoitt, Miguel Evangelista, Scott Green, Elizabeth Henry,
Jillian Khuner, Ana Lucas , Michael Mendelsohn, James Pfeiffer & Ted Weis

With the Cinnabar Opera Chorus & Orchestra

The most beloved and performed of Verdi's works, La Traviata tells the timeless tale of forbidden love and noble sacrifice:  when a young man falls for a courtesan with a heart of gold his father intervenes to preserve the family's reputation, with tragic results.  With gorgeous melodies, at once soaring, opulent, and intimately heartbreaking, the opera is a romantic whirlwind - fast-paced, turbulent and powerful.

AMERICAN OP STAR

March 19 & 20
Friday & Saturday: Doors open at 7:00
$75 Includes dinner & one beverage
Reserved seating

Your sophistication, erudition, and charm have earned you an invitation to the most prestigious opera event of the season! Yes, it's the AMERICAN OP STAR contest! You, the discerning audience, get to choose the regional finalist for this year's DIVA or DIVO. CONTESTANTS INCLUDE *Basil Basso, Sophie Prano, Colleen Ratura, Barry Tone, Connie Tralto, plus Surprise Special Guests.

*(Shh! Don’t tell, but they’re really Karine Darrah, Sonia Gariaeff, Eileen Morris, Gary Rushman & Jason Sarten!)Join us on the red carpet (and behind the scenes) as voices soar, tempers flare, and death scenes may be all too realistic! Will you choose an opera star or...a murderer?This fun, original, musical, interactive murder-mystery evening is a fundraiser for Cinnabar Opera Theater. Plus Silent Auction! Your VIP ticket includes dinner, reserved seating and a beverage of your choice.

 Attention Sherlocks: Unscramble the following phrase to enter a special raffle "Can baritone hear pater?" Bring your answer with you to enter a raffle for a special prize!

*Feb. 14 Valentine’s Day Sweetheart Deal: Call early to reserve seats for you and your loved one(s), and pick up your special St. Valentine’s treat bag with your tickets at will-call.

The Illusion, Reviewed by David Kashimba

"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."

"The Illusion is a lively blend of comic surprises that melds the 1630s with 2004. Tony Kushner, who gave us the Broadway hit (recently made for HBO) Angels in America, freely adapted French playwright Pierre Corneille’s play L Illusion Comique into this current production. Writing in the 1600s, Corneille was best known for Le Cid, but his earlier comedies are a wonderful blend of wit and fantasy and Kushner’s adaptation is marvelous in the capable hands of Cinnabar’s thespians."

"Imagine the cave of the magician Alcandre (Nancy Prebilich) many centuries ago near a small town in the South of France. Pridamont (Arte L. Whyte), an aging father, suddenly regrets that he banished his freethinking son years ago from the family home. As a last resort for reconciliation he seeks out the magician’s powers to hopefully locate his son for him."

"When Alcandre shows Pridamont excerpts from his son Calisto’s (Nicholas Pelczar) life, the father is at first disturbed by certain inconsistencies like changes in his son’s name and circumstances, but eventually he gets caught up in the unfolding drama that his flesh and blood is a part of. The audience too is caught up in the comic illusion of a drama within a drama. But how deeply woven this illusion is will only reveal itself in the end with a cathartic laugh from everyone but the father."

"Yet something in the drama itself moves Pridamont to a long lost emotion that breaths hope into characters and audience alike."

"This production is full of surprises and a rich satisfying humor.

We understand the following was sent to the Editor of the Press Democrat by Betty Nudelman of Healdsburg:

Having just had a wonderful theater experience, I pinch myself to realize that we who live in Sonoma County are so lucky to have such talented artists living and performing here.
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. The talented cast lead by Ellie Lichtenstein, with actors Laura Jorgensen, Liz Jahren and Nancy Preblich  and soprano Eileen Morris worked cooperatively, in the best theater style. They wove songs of Irving Berlin, Kurt Weill and Cole Porter, with a very witty story, and Laughin' at the Ritz was born!
Reminiscent of the old Judy Garland and Andy Rooney movies-"Let's make a show." these talented people did just that. Joined by a great Cinnabar Palm Court Orchestra, a trio of accordion, violin and cello, the cabaret lived.  In true cabaret style there even was a Dance Break with audience participation between Act I and II.
This was a charming evening. Thank you Cinnabar for making lemonade when the world threw you lemons.