arts must have been in her DNA . By the time Stroeh finished elementary school , she was already writing plays and taking dance lessons . Those talents were greatly expanded under her San Marin High School arts and music instructor Emily Gates , who was later to become Stroeh ’ s master teacher , when she returned to her high school alma mater to student teach .
Majoring in music at San Marin High School was not a single-focus activity — you were required to learn a new instrument every two-to-four weeks . Stroeh ’ s main instrument was piano , but she took to and developed a strong affinity for the cello and the trumpet . She also excelled in both theory and orchestration , revealing herself as the complete package .
From San Marin , Stroeh went on to study at Dominican University , where she double-majored in music and drama , picking up her undergraduate degree in 1986 , and her M . A . in Arts and Education in 1990 .
Hired right away to teach part-time at both Terra Linda High School and her parent ’ s alma mater , San Rafael High School , Stroeh oversaw Terra Linda ’ s drama and leadership program . She also rebuilt its flagging choral program , which had diminished to 13 students ; Stroeh was able to attract 60 students . She mirrored her Terra Linda High School efforts at San Rafael High School , teaching drama and choir there as well .
As you can imagine , coming into a teaching situation being not much older than your students requires more than merely establishing your academic credentials . Stroeh confessed she headed to Ross Dress for Less to outfit herself in a buttoned-up , covered-up , zipped-up
22 MARIN ARTS & CULTURE look befitting the professional she was , and is .
Her rule in the ever-lax dress code era she witnessed , was to allow nothing that would distract either the class or the students . That included behavior or attire . Succinctly put : no boobs , no butts , and no disruptive behavior . This did not , however , prohibit selfexpression , like purple hair , unless it conflicted with an upcoming role .
Stroeh believes that raising strong individuals builds a strong team . She also believes that if you set expectations , student will live up to them . Case in point : One of her former students , who was the assistant director for a play , wanted to give a break to a student who did not want to memorize his role , saying that the kids were pretty young — from 8-12 years old . But Stroeh brought him up short . “ I didn ’ t give you that option did I ?” she asked . “ It ’ s one thing if they have a learning disability ,” Stroeh said , “ but at that age , they should be able to learn their lines .” So she stuck to her guns , and the kid was fine .
Stroeh seeks to create a safe environment that is conducive for creativity to thrive . She allows room to fall , but not to fail . “ We will fix what goes wrong together ,” she tells the students . And in 27 years of setting high expectations , she ’ s never been disappointed , which leads into her personal philosophy : Set high expectations . Work hard . Be nice . Instill a belief in the students . Her motto is , “ We ’ re going to Broadway ,” and indeed , many of her students have .
Now that we have a better picture as to who Christina Stroeh is , let ’ s focus on her work : reviving the Novato Theater .
Originally opened by Al Bowman in 1946 , the theater closed its doors in 1991 . There was a brief attempt to resuscitate it in the early 2000s , which fell short , leaving disappointed and dissatisfied investors in its wake .
Enter Stroeh with skill , enthusiasm , know-how and ability . She ’ s on track to reattract investors , reopen the
doors , and imbue the community with a can-and-will-do attitude , which can only benefit Novato and the Bay Area .
Asked two years ago to come in as a consultant on the project , while in her last year of teaching , the powers that be quickly recruited her to become executive director when they found out about her eligibility .
The plans for reopening have gone through approval with the city , and it is scheduled to open in January 2018 . A capital campaign is underway , coinciding with construction .
While the behind the scenes efforts are taking place , there are still performances , rehearsals and classes being offered at Studio46 in Novato where the theater maintains its administrative offices .
Stroeh says her job is to be an art curator of music , drama and film , and the theater will be scheduling six-to-ten screenings a week of classic , documentary , silent , classic and independent films , as well as live productions , such as Gilbert & Sullivan plays and trunk shows .
This is certainly an exciting time for Novato , Marin and the Bay Area at large . MC & A