Three years ago, when a report was published claiming that more than 800 Santa Rosa Junior College students were essentially homeless, theater instructors Laura Downing-Lee and Leslie McCauley began envisioning a future theater project formed around exploring the issue. This weekend, Leaving Home, opens a two weekend run in the Newman Auditorium. A “devised theatre…

“Relationships matter,” the Rev. Jane Spahr once preached. “Relationships matter because relationships are what really change the world.” In the early 1980s, Spahr helped form a pair of San Rafael-based organizations dedicated to changing the world through building relationships between people in need and the wider community. Whether or not Spahr and the people she…

“As both a political ad guy, and a general ad guy,” says Sonoma’s Bob Gardner, “I always lean toward trying to do the kind of commercial that will draw people in, and make them think a little bit.” Adds Gardner: “As opposed to trying to hit them over the head with a sledgehammer.” A seasoned…

“It’s a very exciting time to be a political comedian,” remarks Will Durst, acclaimed satirist, newspaper columnist, stand-up comic and author. Durst ought to know. When it comes to politics and comedy, few have more assiduously studied the odd art and science of laughing at politicians than Will Durst. “It’s rare when a comedy scene…

It all began with a photograph. Last year, while doing research for a middle-school science project, 14-year-old Audrey Andrews – better known locally as one half of the culinary sister-act the Twin Chefs – stumbled upon a 1960s-era black-and-white photo of NASA computer programmer Margaret Hamilton. “It was so powerful,” says Andrews. “It’s a simple…

“Sometimes, you just need someone to tell you that you’re still beautiful,” says Mia Vanoni, a senior at Sonoma Valley High School. “Because sometimes you can’t believe it any other way, especially when you are fighting a disease that’s changed the way you look.” Along with her twin sister Bridget, Mia is one of the…

It’s been a while since Jesca Hoop played a concert on her home turf. She wasn’t famous then; just one of those people everyone said was destined for fame. Those people were right. When the Santa Rosa-born singer-songwriter returns next weekend for an intimate performance at Sebastopol’s Main Stage West theater, those locals who remember…

After three weekends of full houses and enthusiastic critical and audience response, Main Stage West has added to additional nights of ‘Outside Mullingar,’ the delightfully offbeat romance from John Patrick Shanley (‘Doubt’). Directed by David Lear, and featuring marvelous performances from Jeremy Anglin, Sharia Pierce, Elly Lichenstein and Clark Miller, the play has inspired strong word of mouth,…

The best parts of a film festival are often not the films, but what takes place in between them. From off-the-cuff post-film interviews and exuberant conversations between movie fans, to the parties, workshops and awards presentations that draw hundreds together under a tent or the open sky, it’s sometimes the memorable moments of spontaneous human…

For the second year in a row, the North Bay’s Rohnert Park Library will be literary ground zero as more than 30 local authors, writers, journalists, playwrights and bloggers come together to meet the public, read their works, answer questions, plug books and other merchandise, and general hang out. Amongst the participants this year will be…