Novato Theater Company Continues to Eye San Rafael as Possible New Home

Despite , Novato Theater Company continues to consider San Rafael as a possible permanent home now that the organization left its location at the .

NTC recently vacated their location in Pacheco Plaza after their lease expired on June 30. With their season already started, they continue to look for potential locations.

Since the company chose to stage its next two performances in San Rafael, that city remains a possible future home, according to NTC Board President Sandi Rubay.

"We're having to market in the San Rafael area for the next quarter, so it makes sense for us to consider there if something opens up. ... I'm being proactive. I'm going to keep pounding the pavement," she said.

Rubay recently met with Novato City Manager Michael Frank and Councilwoman Pat Eklund to discuss the options for NTC to stay in Novato.  Although the city officials were supportive, there won't be any quick answers from the city of Novato as to where the NTC might be able to , Rubay said.

"Michael said he's consulting with his staff and trying to figure something out, and we appreciate that help," she said. "We've looked at everything out there. There's just nothing so far that would work."

The theater company has been a cultural staple in Novato since 1919 and nobody wants to see it go, Rubay said.

assembly hall was one of the possible venues NTC was looking to move in to. The assembly hall would’ve accommodated 500 seats and allowed for enough space to create dressing rooms for the actors, a backstage and a collapsible stage extension.

when they changed their minds at the last minute, according to Rubay.

Rubay was elected to the NTC board presidency in April. Other new and returning board members include: Michelle Cronin of Novato, vice president; John Clancy of San Rafael, treasurer; Tracy Bell Redig of Novato, secretary; Kim Bromley of San Rafael, play-reading chair; and member-as-large Brenda Weidner of Novato (past president).

Rubay, of San Rafael, holds degrees in theater arts from Cal State Fullerton and psychology from Cal State Northridge and as well as a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the California Graduate Institute in Los Angeles. After two decades in the field of mental health, Rubay retired and returned to her initial love of theater in 2006.

NTC gave Rubay her first break in the role of Hortense the French maid in The Boyfriend.  Presented at a local church, the theater group had been forced to perform on rented stages because the Novato Community House — in which NTC had performed for more than 80 years — was condemned in 2004.

Rubay volunteered to head the fundraising campaign for the construction of the in time for the 2006-2007 season, and that gave NTC a permanent home until this July 5, when it moved all its props, costumes and gear to a temporary storage spot at .  Management of the shopping center has different plans for the playhouse site.

NTC finds itself in the state of being a vagabond company once again and as the newly elected president she will lead the organization in finding a new home.

“We must leave all our options open,” Rubay said.

NTC is already in production of its next play, Neil Simon’s The Last of the Red Hot Lovers, to open in late August at 3210 Kerner Blvd. in San Rafael.