New name, direction for Sonoma Theatre Alliance

She was the star in a hit Broadway musical — bright lights, amazing costumes, a massive Broadway production. Every night nearly 2,000 people awaited her entrance. It was a dream come true…but.

After years of great success, the performer had a desire to leave the hustle and bustle of Broadway behind – the crowds, the noise, the cold winters – and find a more enriching life? That’s Brooke Tansley’s backstory.

After starring as Belle in Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” on Broadway, landing a prominent role in “Hairspray” and other productions, and appearing in TV series such as “Law & Order,” Tansley broke out for the sunny West Coast.

Initially, she admits, her compass was slightly astray. After a few years in Los Angeles landing roles in Hollywood films such as “Music and Lyrics” with Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore, and acting in various troupes, including Amy Poehler’s Upright Citizens Brigade, she headed north.

Tansley arrived in Sonoma to join Transcendence Theater in its infancy and fell in love. Sonoma is now home.

While Brooke was lighting up Broadway and then heading westward, Jaime Love was creating theater in Sonoma. Love, having graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, spent some time working as a performer in New York. Ultimately, she too felt the desire to leave New York.

While logging years of entertainment work and experience ranging from Marketing and Promotion Director of WMJX in Boston, to radio host, to work in commercials, she slowly made her way to L.A. and then San Francisco. Finally making her home in Sonoma, Love became a founder of the Sonoma Theatre Alliance, a consortium of theater companies that have been performing musicals and plays for over five years.

The community has enjoyed some terrific STA performances over the years, including such recent hits as “Cabaret,” “Little Shop of Horrors,” and “The Full Monty.” Jaime is also one of the Defying Gravity Gals, a group of singer/performers who most recently sold out two performances of a show entitled “We Can Do It,” a musical tribute to the women of World War II.

Over the years, Love has had a yearning to expand the theater offerings and continue to raise the quality of productions. Tansley, with roots in community theater, felt she wanted to do more with her talents. She felt a desire to support the local theater while also producing professional shows to satisfy a need in Sonoma. As the Executive Director of STA, Love was thinking the same thing.

Their paths, like act three in a Broadway play, crossed. The two met and discovered a common vision and passion. “It was one of those rare moments where the excitement mounts to a state of giddiness as minds align around a terrific opportunity,” Love said.

And from that, Sonoma Arts Live was born.

The nonprofit organization, in effect replacing and expanding the Sonoma Theatre Alliance, will present ongoing, interconnected creative programs, offering local theatre, innovative and professional entertainment, as well as arts education to teens and adults.

The two intend to work as a team on all artistic aspects of the organization, but Love, as executive director, will primarily focus on the traditional offerings already established by STA over the past five years. Tansley has the title of artistic Director.

“I’m excited to announce that Sonoma Arts Live will be handling the marketing and promotion of all local shows, allowing our member companies to focus on creating the best production possible,” Love said. “We also plan to continue our popular showcase series, offering a platform for a variety of intimate performances by local talent, featuring staged readings, piano concerts, one-person shows, cabaret acts, and the like.”

Meanwhile, Brooke plans to bring some new professional performance offerings to Sonoma. “I am wildly thrilled to be able to call Sonoma home, to bring home quality entertainment for folks of all ages, and to give us all more opportunities for merry-making and memory-making all year round.

It really is, she believes, “the stuff of dreams in the dreamiest of places.”

Sonoma Arts Live 2015 theatre season

“Nunsense” – April 16 – May 5. Produced by J Love Productions, directed by Wayne Goodman

“Noises Off!” – May 14 – 31. Produced by Narrow Way Stage Company, directed by Nick Christenson.

“Little Murders” – June 11-28. Produced by M and G Productions, directed by Gerrett Snedaker.

“Jake’s Women” – July 9-26.
Produced by JoLee Productions, directed by Joey Hoeber.

“Proof” – August 20 – September 6. Produced by Sonoma Stage Works, directed by Todd Evans.

“Assassins” – September 17 –  October 4. Produced by Narrow Way Stage Company, directed by Trevor Hoffmann

More information at sonomaartslive.org