Parade honors theater director as grand marshal

Cinnabar's Elly Lichenstein to preside over Butter & Egg Days event with entertainment theme

Friday, April 15, 2005

Elly Lichenstein, according many admirers, is an integral part of what makes the Cinnabar Theater unique in the Bay Area theater world.

As artistic and executive director of the theater housed in a rustic, red converted schoolhouse, she stages experimental operas, plays and concerts. She allocates money to playwrights, invites residents to participate in theater activities and supports theater, music and dance education for children.

In addition, she has been an outspoken supporter of city funding for the arts.

For all those reasons, Lichenstein was selected to be grand marshal for the 24th annual Butter & Egg Days Parade on April 23. The selection also fits with this year's parade's theme: "Petaluma Downtown -- That's Entertainment."

Lichenstein came to Cinnabar in 1975, and has been an actor, singer and director in dozens of performances. In 1999, when Cinnabar founder Marvin Klebe died, Lichenstein became the theater's director.

"We're very lucky she's here," said Jan Klebe, who co-founded the theater with her husband. "I think she finds fulfillment. She's kept this theater going. Without her, this wouldn't be happening."

Her sentiment was shared by Trevor Allen, director of company services for Theatre Bay Area, an organization that supports 350 theater groups in the Bay Area. He has known Lichenstein for five years and has been impressed with the creative risks Cinnabar takes.

"Cinnabar and Elly have been a beacon of supporting new work," Allen said.

He mentioned Lichenstein's grant to John O'Keefe of San Francisco, who wrote three original plays set in the years leading up to and after World War II for Cinnabar, as an example of pushing beyond the traditional scope of work selected by regional theater companies.

"Elly's strong point is a real diverse attitude for programs and making space for work that's dissimilar, such as opera people haven't seen or heard, children's and youth theater and the recent hip-hop festival," Allen said.

Nina Shuman, who directs music and composes pieces at Cinnabar, is one of Lichenstein's closest colleagues and has seen her evolution as a performer and director during their years of collaboration.

"She always tries to find the true dramatic impulse rather than relying on stock in trade gestures," Shuman said. "As a performer, routine is simply not part of her vocabulary. As a director, she tries to get her actors to make the story real for the audience."

Shuman also commented on Lichenstein's contribution to the Petaluma arts community.

"Elly has an unflagging dedication to keep the arts alive and accessible in our community. Opera, plays, concerts, theater programs for children, these are things that enrich our lives," she said. "Elly is someone who stands up and says 'I live here, and I will not live without these things. I will make them happen.' A more timid soul would give up fighting against what are often impossible odds."

Alison Marks, one of the founders of the Petaluma Arts Council, said Lichenstein has taken a leadership role in the community by appealing to the City Council to support cultural programs by allocating a portion of its transient occupancy tax to arts programs.

"Elly is very open and accessible in her leadership role and invites the community in to participate in a way that makes it accessible," Marks said. "She's very professional in what she does."

Marks is director of the Excel program for youth at Sonoma State University, has taught arts education and has a teenage daughter who has participated in Cinnabar programs for eight years. She said Cinnabar's children's programs have inspired thousands of youngsters and served as an important part of their creative development.

"Elly has been the backbone of Cinnabar for 30 years, and participated in every aspect of their program. She took over the helm when Marvin died, and kept it going as a cultural centerpiece of our community," Marks said. "I consider the Cinnabar and Elly cultural gems and we're incredibly lucky to have them in our community."

You can reach Correspondent Janet Parmer at 782-9130 or jhparmer@comcast.net.