Cinnabar Theater opens 30th season

September 3, 2003

Athol Fugard's "The Road to Mecca," a social drama about the transforming power of art, and a personal story of love, set in 1970s apartheid South Africa, opens Cinnabar Theater's third decade.

"Mecca" runs Sept. 18-20, 26-27, Oct. 3-4 and 10-11 at 8 p.m. and Sept. 28 and Oct. 5 at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $18 general, $16 seniors and students, with group rates available for parties or 10 or larger. Parties of six or more may reserve seats.

Opening night Thursday tickets are half off, and the first 50 people who reserve opening weekend Friday and Saturday tickets are invited to take a box dinner beforehand and eat al fresco in Marvin's Gardens. The late Cinnabar impresario Marvin Klebe created the gardens for theater-goers to enjoy. Tables, chairs and good cheer will be provided.

Next up is the Cinnabar Opera Theater world premiere of Janis Wilson's "The Wedding," with a libretto by Harry Reid.

A fictionalized history of a Pennsylvania coal mining village circa 1870, it explores the issues and conflicts among miners, management and church in the early struggle to unionize its labor force. Performance dates are Oct. 24-25 and 31, Nov. 1, 7 and 8 at 8 p.m., Nov. 2 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $28 general, $26 seniors and students.

Fred Curchack returns Nov. 21 through 29 in a Curchackean world premiere, "Gauguin's Shadow," in which he will reveal "the artistic genius and outrageous life of Paul Gauguin," in the inimitable Curchack style. Times and prices to be announced.

Cinnabar teens take the stage in December for the company's original musical, "It's a Wonderful Life," based on the beloved film classic. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Dec. 5-6, 12-13 and 19-20, and 2 p.m. Dec. 14 and 21. Tickets are $12 general, $8 youth 12 and under.

Quicksilver II Theater Company presents "More Talking Heads," two more funny, poignant monologues by Alan Bennett for the New Year. A New Year's Eve Dinner Party opens the run Dec. 31 with tickets $46 general, $44 seniors and students. Other performance dates are Jan. 2-3, 9-10. 15-16 at 8 p.m. and Jan. 11 at 2 p.m., with tickets $18 general $16 seniors and students. A 7 p.m. Wine and Chocolate Party before the show Jan. 17, with the performance at 8 p.m., has tickets at $28, $26 seniors and students.

"The Illusion" by Pierre Corneille, freely adapted by Tony Kushner, is up next: fantasy, witchcraft, comedy and more. Jan. 30-31, Feb. 6-7, 13-14, 19-21 at 8 p.m., Feb. 8 and 15 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $18 general, $16 seniors and students.

Cinnabar's Young Repertory Theater presents Shakespeare's light-hearted "Love's Labour's Lost" March 5-6 and 12-13 at 7:30 p.m. and March 7 and 14 at 2 p.m., with tickets $12 general, $8 youth 12 and under.

In March, Fred Curchack will return with a program to be announced, followed by an April run of Verdi's most beloved and performed opera, the romantic whirlwind "La Traviata," English version by Donald Pippin. April 2-3, 9-10, 16-17,23-24 at 8 p.m., April 21 at 7:30 p.m. and April 18 at 2 p.m. Tickets: $18 general, $16 seniors and students.

Gilbert and Sullivan make their yearly operetta appearance with "Iolanthe" this year, as interpreted by the Cinnabar Young Rep at 7:30 p.m. May 7-8, 14-15 and 2 p.m. May 9 and 19. Tickets are $12 general, $8 youth 12 and under.

John O'Keefe's "Shadowmocker" concludes the season. This world premiere focuses on the fascinating Brontës as seen to the eyes of two very different women who end up as roommates during their trips to Brontë country. Performances are may 28-29, June 4-5, 11-12, 17-19 at 8 p.m., June 6 and 13 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $18 general, $16 seniors and students.

For tickets and information, call the box office, 763-8920, fax 763-8929, or e-mail info@cinnabartheater.org. The theater's Web site is www.cinnabartheater.org

Cinnabar Theater is located at 3333 Petaluma Blvd. North. The box office is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays.