Raven's "Cocktails and Characters" a Hit at Hotel Healdsburg

Community and creativity were the focus of the (RPAT) presentation of “Cocktails and Characters” at the Sunday evening.

 “Originally planned as a fundraiser, we received generous underwriting from the and were able to reimburse the ticket holders and invite all of our supporters -- and people we hope to be supporters -- to come to this event for free,”   said Carol Noack, a member of the Board of Directors.

Each of three rooms around the courtyard of the hotel had a signature drink, along with costumed performers enacting scenes from Oscar-winning movies “Casablanca,” “Amadeus” and “Alice in Wonderland.” 

 “We do a lot more than put on plays and concerts,"  Noack explained. "We are a community venue.  

"Every school in Healdsburg uses us," Noack added. "We open our doors to watch election returns together as a community. 

"We host events that no one else would do," Noack said. "We want to educate people on our role in the community -- we’re hoping this will be an annual event.”

Carl Sokol (csokool@yahoo.com) played a baby grand piano, while Rick (Tim Shippey) nursed his martini and reminisced about Paris and Ilsa (Diane Dearmore).  Captain Louis Renault (Bernie Lee) made sure that the “patrons” of Rick’s Café Americaine maintained proper decorum.

Samson Hood was majestic as Emperor Joseph II of Austria and Mark Bradshaw solicitous as Antonio Salieri.  Constanze (Dana Scott) and Katerina (Mo McElroy) were flirtatious and charming ladies of the court.  Peter Warden enthralled the audience as Amadeus in much the same way as Mozart’s genius disarmed and distracted Salieri.

Alice, Julia Kennedy, came upon the Queen of Hearts, Carol Novak, the Mad Hatter, John Green and the Dormouse, Joe Gellura, RPAT’s Artistic Director, having their tea party.  Eventually, the party moved to the courtyard for a quick round of croquet.

“I love the different theme rooms and the drinks," said .  "It’s all very clever.

"This is displaying what the Raven does and why it’s so important for our community,” he added.

Elise Bulger, also a board member, coordinated the silent auction with donations from , Image Tree Service, Goffengel Albums, original art pieces, and several wineries including MacPhail Family, , Robert Mondavi and

and the the two resident performing groups, have announced their 2011-2012 seasons. 

For Philharmonia Healdsburg: Mostly Mozart! in November; Music for the Young at Heart in January; and The Heroic and the Sublime in June.  Concerts are one weekend only.

For Raven Players: Neil Simon’s Rumors (August-September),  Agatha Christie’s Ten Little Indians (October-November), John Kander and Fred Ebb’s (Bob Fosse, Co-Author) Chicago (January-February),  an adaptation of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird (April), and Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim’s Gypsy (June-July).  Plays are performed for three weekends, while musicals are presented over four weekends.

For more information, please see www.raventheater.org or you may contact RPAT at 707-433-6335 or info@raventheater.org