Leader of Petaluma’s Cinnabar Theater has roots in music, theater

There’s no business like show business and Diane Dragone, who was recently hired as Cinnabar Theater’s executive director, grew up with show business in her blood.

Her uncle was the late Carmen Dragon, renowned for his years conducting the Hollywood Bowl Symphony Orchestra and Darryl Dragon of ’70s-era music duo “Captain and Tennille” is a distant cousin. While growing up in New York City, she frequently went to see Broadway shows, which helped inform her love for both musical and theater during her formative years.

“There was music all around when I was growing up,” she said.

When it came time for Dragone to carve out her own career, she went into retail music and sold records and tapes. Back when record stores sold vinyl records in both 45- and 33-r.p.m. formats, the 12-inch 33’s usually included extensive liner notes, as well as photos of the artists. Like many of her contemporaries, Dragone studied the liner notes to learn more about the musicians.

Moving to the Bay Area, Dragone continued her record store career by managing four stores, one of which had a performance space where she hosted weekly concerts.

“We’d get up to 100 people in there and I loved managing the intimate space,” she said.

The age of the Internet arrived, bringing with it access to online downloads and record stores struggled to stay in business.

“I wanted to stay in music, so I closed my stores,” Dragone said. “It was very traumatic.”

Dragone, who holds a master’s degree in nonprofit administration, began consulting with nonprofit groups such as the Peninsula Women’s Chorus, Living Jazz, Oakland Jazz Choir, and Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir. Her duties included managing development efforts and shaping their advertising, public relations and social media campaigns while forming alliances.

“I had about six different clients and I was driving all over the place,” she said. “I just wanted to immerse myself in one place.”

When Petaluma’s Cinnabar Theater advertised for a new executive director, Dragone applied and was hired in October 2015. She said the venue, which has been in operation for more than 40 years, was a good match for her.

“I knew how to manage a small space and I was delighted with the intimacy of the theater space,” she said.

Never a performer herself, Dragone says she prefers working behind the scenes.

“There is a lot of creativity in doing planning, marketing and selling tickets,” she said. “It’s always different with every production.”

She hopes to make a difference in her first year by getting grounded, learning the ropes and exploring areas for growth, including Cinnabar’s Young Repertory Theater Program, which attempts to attract younger audiences, she said. She added that the organization is looking to “come off the mountain” to encourage interactions and relationships with the community.

“We want to foster more collaborations and would love to partner with other artists, such as music and dance in our community,” she said. “It’s a winning situation for all of us, performers and audience.”

(Contact Lynn Schnitzer at argus@arguscourier.com)