Tansley steps down from ?Sonoma Arts Live

Leaves artistic-?director post to ?focus on ?Laughfest, ?other projects|

On the heels of her successful Laughfest Comedy event in late October, Brooke Tansley has confirmed that she’s leaving her position as Artistic Director of Sonoma Arts Live. Tansley, who took the position at SAL last April, has since overseen a number of changes and improvements at the 6-year-old nonprofit (formerly known as the Sonoma Theatre Alliance), which is celebrating 2015 as its most successful season yet.

“We’ve drawn a really solid blueprint this year for creating quality local theater in Sonoma County, through Sonoma Arts Live,” says Tansley. “This season was a record-?shattering year, brought forth by increased quality and clarity, and I’m thrilled to see Sonoma Arts Live continue to soar.”

In announcing the change in late October, SAL Executive Director Jaime Love explained that though Tansley will be leaving as a staff employee, ?she will continue on as a volunteer consultant, primarily assisting in graphic arts projects and in helping select the productions for SAL’s upcoming 2016 season.

“An extra special thank you goes out to Brooke,” says Love, “who will continue with us in the coming season, providing pro bono input.”

Tansley says she’s leaving her position in order to focus more on a number of professional artistic projects, including an expansion of October’s Laughfest – which drew more than 600 people to the Sonoma Community Center for four days of comedic performance featuring 70 performers from such cities Chicago, New York and Los Angeles.

“That’s pretty amazing for a new thing in a small town,” she says.

Beginning in January, Tansley – working alongside co-producer Kristen Rozanski – will begin producing monthly Laughfest-style comedy events in Sonoma, and also in Petaluma, where shows will take place every other month. Tansley hints that, based on the success of October’s event, there have been tentative offers to take the Laughfest brand to other communities in the state.

In addition, Tansley is readying another Sonoma-based arts event: An “immersive” music festival she will be creating with New York actor-director Michael Berry, who was part of the Broadway cast of “Next to Normal” and “Les Miserables.”

At this point, no announcement has been made as to whether Tansely’s position at Sonoma Arts Live will be phased out or filled by another, but Love gives every indication that her experience and energy will continue to have an impact as the organization moves into its seventh year.

As for Tansley, the actress-comedian-entrepreneur makes it clear that she has no plans to be idle.

“I’m excited,” Tansley says, “that I will now have more time to bring completely new entertainment to Sonoma.”

Email David at david.templeton@sonomanews.com.

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