As the Spreckels Performing Arts Center in Rohnert Park moves into its fall season, fans will notice that the programming has changed dramatically.
The bad news is there will be no big, mainstage theatrical productions. The resident Pacific Alliance Stage Co. has gone on hiatus for a year, due to city budget cuts. The professional Actors Equity troupe was founded in 1990, and has been led since 2004 by Hector Correa.
The good news is that Spreckels has a masterful backup plan. The center will present the very best of the region’s one-person and two-person shows of the past few years, in its smaller Condiotti studio theater.
David Yen (below) returns Nov. 27-Dec. 13 in “The Santaland Diaries,” David Sedaris’ memoir about working as a Santa’s elf at Macy’s. The show, directed by Argo Thompson, enjoyed a hit run last December in Santa Rosa.
And next spring, Steven Abbot (shown at top) returns in Doug Wright’s Pulitzer Prize-winning “I Am My Own Wife,” the true story of a German transvestite who survived both the Nazi and Communist regimes. This production, directed by Jennifer King, stunned and delighted audiences at Sebastopol’s Sonoma County Rep in 2006.
The drama season also includes Celtic harpist and storyteller Patrick Ball’s “O’Carolan’s Farewell to Music” and the return of a popular Novato production of “The Gin Game,” directed by longtime Sonoma County theater leader Linda Reid.
“We’re actually very excited. People don’t need to worry about the quality of theater dropping here at Spreckels,” said the city’s arts specialist, Gene Abravaya. “All of these productions have received critical acclaim for their excellence.”
(He’s right about that. I acclaimed of couple of these myself.)
As in years past, Spreckels also will present full seasons of music and dance. For starters, look for Joni Morris’ “Legendary Ladies in Country Music” on Oct. 10, with the 20th anniversary Festival of Harps in November and the Edlos a cappella quartet in December.
And there’s something new: a series of classic films shown on a new 22-by-16-foot screen with a high-definition projector, starting with “Casablanca” Oct. 4.
“How many classic film buffs out there have actually seen their favorites on the big screen? Most of us have grown up watching them on television,” Abravaya said.
For the full schedule, call 588-3400, or visit spreckelsonline.com
