Tribute to longtime Sebastiani Theatre impresario Roger Rhoten

You can help keep the Sebastiani Theatre doors open with a tribute to Diana and Roger Rhoten by attending a dinner, watching Roger’s favorite movies, listening to music, watching his magic, and dance the evening away, starting with Dinner & Magic with the Rhotens on April 28 at Suite D, followed by screening of “Cinema Paradiso” and entertainment ($25).

The Sebastiani Theatre has been run successfully for 25 years by Diana and Roger Rhoten and now the Sebastiani Theatre Foundation has a new long-term lease with plans underway to improve construction without harming history.

The dinner at Suite D will highlight Roger’s favorite foods from his Kansas upbringing at least after the hors d’oeuvres of avocado-radish toast, ricotta and pork meatballs, and prawns, followed by green salad with beets.

The pot roast takes us to Kansas with braised greens and horseradish mashed potatoes and goat cheese gnocchi with English peas and mushrooms. And then comes the Brioche fig and apple bread pudding with caramel sauce. $500 all goes to the Sebastiani Theatre. 5:30 p.m.

For many years Roger kept his day job as a psych tech at the Sonoma Developmental Center to keep the theater afloat.

With details to come, April 29 brings a Roast & Toast with champagne, magic, Misty, David Aguilar, Jeff Gilbert and more ($35), a kids’ matinee and lunch April 30 ($15), a concert and dance with Sean Carscadden on April 30 ($15), and a movie with Roger and family on May 1 ($10). Passes to all events except the April 28 dinner $100. All proceeds go to the operation of the Sebastiani Theatre, the home theatre of the Sonoma International Film Festival. Tickets at sebastianitheatrefoundation.com.