New director named at 6th Street Playhouse

<p>After a nationwide search, Santa Rosa's 6th Street Playhouse has announced the hiring of Craig A. Miller of Houston, Texas, as its new artistic director and education director. </p><p>Miller spent the last seven years as artistic director of Houston's Texas Repertory Theatre Company, where he was also founder.</p><p>Before that, Miller served as founder and artistic director of the East Window Theatre Company in Chicago, Ill., and founder and artistic director of Chillicothe Summer Theatre in Chillicothe, Ill,</p><p>He has also served as producing artistic director of the Clinton Area Showboat Theatre in Clinton, Iowa, and served as artistic casting associate for The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey in Madison, N.J.</p><p>After serving as the 6th Street Playhouse's interim artistic director and education director for the past five months, Michael Fontaine of Forestville has been named managing director. Fontaine has been involved in Bay Area theater for the last 30 years.</p><p>Fontaine replaces Cheryl Itamura of Sonoma, who served as managing director for three years. Itamura has taken the new position as director of business administration at the Harmony Festival, based in Rohnert Park.</p><p>Elizabeth Craven, former artistic director at Santa Rosa's 6th Street Playhouse, was dismissed last May after four years on the job. No reason was disclosed.</p><p>The 6th Street Playhouse opened in 2005 under the directorship of Argo Thompson, who went on to become executive director of the Marin Arts Council.</p>