Donors Enrich Grand Granada

Santa Barbara’s philanthropic dynamic duo Roger and Sarah Chrisman have joined a heavenly pantheon of donors who are featured on bronze plaques in the lobby of the venerable Granada Theatre.

The tony twosome, who have given more than $6.2 million to the State Street institution over the years, join an esteemed list of $5-million-plus gift givers, including Jon and Lillian Lovelace, Debbie and Michael Nesbit, Sara Miller McCune, Michael and Anne Towbes, and the City of Santa Barbara.

Sarah was chairman of the theater board for six years until 2015 and Roger, a former SB Yacht Club commodore, was designated an honoree at the first Legends gala four years ago, having donated the building’s digital projection system in 2013 and financing the Chrisman executive directorship, starting with Craig Springer, who just retired.

“We have tried to set an example,” Roger told guests in the theater’s lobby when he unveiled the impressive plaque, featuring both of their images, with board chairman Palmer Jackson and new executive director Caren Rager.

“It’s about the Granada, not about us. Everybody has done so much, not just us.”

Among the cultural crowd there for the occasion were Mary Dorra, Hal Conklin, Pat Gregory, Joan Rutkowski, Sharol Siemens, Dan and Meg Burnham, Gerry Rubin, Roger and Diana Phillips, Roberta Griffin, Blake Jones, Brooks Firestone, Jon DuPrau, and Tim and Louise Casey.