THE BUZZ: Petaluma theatermakers hit the road

A tale of two Phoenixes|

A tale of two Phoenixes: When Christopher Magee, of the Moonrisers Theater Company, dropped the Argus-Courier a line announcing that his swashbuckling new play “The Inn at Derbyshire,” would be having an April 21-May 5 run at the historic “Phoenix Theater,” we just assumed he meant Petaluma’s historic Phoenix Theater. Turns out Magee - a recent transplant from Montana - actually meant San Francisco’s historic Phoenix, a cool little space on the sixth floor of an old building off Union Square. Too bad, too, because the play - described as being full of humorous dialogue and outrageous swordfights – sounds perfect for Petaluma: literate, energetic, and just a little weird. Let’s hope Magee considers a run of the show at the original Phoenix sometime in the future. Till then, interested Petalumans can find out more at Themoonrisers.wordpress.com.

Butter & Egg Days begin: This Saturday, the uniquely Petaluman spectacle known as Butter and Egg Days officially kicks off with a noontime celebration honoring Petaluma Pete as this year’s “Good Egg,” and introducing Lagunitas Brewing Company as the Grand Marshall of the annual parade (taking place at noon on Saturday, April 29). The theme of this year’s week-long event is “Petaluma - City of Makers!” Since Petaluma Pete makes music, and Lagunitas makes beer, these two honorees exemplify the spirit of this year’s Butter and Egg Days celebration.

Theatrical Petalumans on the road: Most people try to avoid blood-and-chaos.

Some audition for it.

Petaluma actor Andrew Ravani has appeared in such outrageous cinematic endeavors as the 3D spy-adventure “3 Musketeers” (Ravani played Hotel Attendant) and the sci-fi thriller “Nazis at the Center of the Earth’ (he, um, played a Nazi). Now the local actor has been cast in the world premiere of Sonoma playwright James Jandak Wood’s “The Chaotic Art of Life,” running April 21-May 7 at Sonoma’s Andrews Hall. Presented by Sonoma Arts Live (Sonomaartslive.org), the play follows two brothers (Ravani is one of them) who share an apartment in NYC, and what happens one brings home a polarizing piece of art titled “The Fractal Dissonance of Clothing, with Ladder.”

Sounds like good artsy fun.

Petaluman launches ‘Songs for a New World’ at Spreckels: “?‘Songs for a New World’ is a labor of love,” says Petaluma pianist and musical director Lucas Sherman, who is performing in and producing a three-week run of Jason Robert Brown’s acclaimed four-performer song cycle/musical at Spreckels Performing Arts Center, from April 21-May 7. Says Sherman, “I have wanted to do this show for many years. ‘Songs’ has an incredibly challenging score, with an extremely rich and complex piano score, combined with some of the best four-part harmony you will hear in musical theatre.”

Sherman loves the songs in “Songs” so much, he’s expanded his usual accompanist/conductor role for the first time.

“In addition to directing and music directing,” he says, “I am one of the characters in the show. Singing from a grand piano, surrounded by some of the most talented singers in the Bay Area, is an amazing experience.”

The Petaluma Arts Center goes for a triple: The Arts Center is hosting the third annual Artists Mixer and Gathering. Just like the popular mixers regularly thrown at Aqus Café, the event has been conceived as a valuable networking opportunity, where local artists of all kinds can meet, share tricks of the trade, swap horror stories (and business cards), and generally work to build a more connected artistic community. Targeted conversation groups will be hosted by the Petaluma Arts Association, Creative Sonoma, a variety of Petaluma art galleries, and others. It happens Wednesday, June 26, from 6-8:30 p.m., at the Arts Center, 230 Lakeville St. The event costs $10.

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