Cinnabar Theater Announces Arts Access Programs for Local Youth

Cinnabar Theater, the beloved professional theater in Sonoma County, has announced two new programs to ensure that local youth can access the arts. With the decline in public funding for arts education in the schools, non-profit organizations like Cinnabar play a critical role in the community. Cinnabar is responding to this challenge and continuing its commitment to local students by launching two exciting new initiatives:

Friday Night Live: This season, thanks to a generous grant from the Community Foundation Sonoma County, Cinnabar is debuting Friday Night Live. This new program lets middle-school and high-school students see the first performance of a professional show for only $9 - so live theater becomes a viable alternative to movies and other entertainment options. This deeply discounted ticket also includes a pre-show dinner and social hour in Cinnabar's studio and an educational presentation with a professional artist to put the show in context. By exposing youth to a range of art - from plays to cabaret, from musicals to opera - Friday Night Live introduces a new generation to the power of live performance. This fall, Friday Night Live takes place on September 6 for "The Pavilion" and October 18 for "La Cage aux Folles." A limited number of seats are available for this pilot program. Order soon!

Discounted ticket packages for youth: To help parents and children attend at an affordable price, Cinnabar has also slashed subscription prices for anyone under 22 years of age. Young people who can't attend Friday Night Live can come on other nights instead. They can see two shows for only $25, three shows for $60, or five shows for just $75. By buying several shows at once, they save nearly 30% off the already low price for regular youth tickets. Cinnabar hopes this will encourage families to attend the theater together.

These two new programs add to the ongoing activities that Cinnabar provides for local kids:

Classes for kids: Every semester, Cinnabar offers a variety of fun and educational activities for children between the ages of 4 and 12. The fall session of classes for kids starts on September 16. With these classes, parents know their kids are engaged in positive and productive after-school activities. Children learn valuable life skills that are essential to success in society and the new economy, such as creativity, collaboration, communication, self-confidence, empathy, and leadership. (See below for a full list of classes.)

Auditions for "Annie": Cinnabar invites local children between the ages of 6 and 18 to audition for its fall production of "Annie." Auditions are on Saturday, September 7 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Call the theater to schedule a slot. There is a tuition cost for children accepted into the show, but no one is ever turned away for lack of funds.

All these events take place in the iconic red schoolhouse perched atop a grassy hill on the outskirts of Petaluma. This intimate venue is the perfect place for young people to discover the thrill of theater and to immerse themselves in the original 3-D, high-definition style of storytelling.

Celebrating its 41st birthday, Cinnabar Theater is located at 3333 Petaluma Boulevard North, just off Highway 101 and only minutes from historic downtown Petaluma. There's ample parking up on the hill... and a friendly herd of goats grazing in the neighboring field. For more information, to purchase tickets or subscriptions, or to sign up for classes, call 707-763-8920 or visit www.cinnabartheater.org.

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