The Alcazar Theatre New Board President and VP

Mike Lazaro is appointed the Board President of the Alcazar Theatre Carpinteria as of Oct. 28. We talked via phone Nov. 5, and he shared:

“Right now, these are exciting days for the Alcazar Theatre. We are blessed with so many opportunities to show the diversity of what the theater can provide, from live performances, rehearsal stage, movies, private events and meetings. We can go from local school events to celebrity performances. It is hard to find a single venue that is capable of doing all of that at the level we do. Soon, we will be able to live-stream all of it as well. 

“We support Carp-Strong and will do fundraising events to help a local community member or business. At this time, our board is fully focused on our intention, mission, and where we are going. Our Board of Directors is seven members, with a president, VP, secretary, and treasurer with three members at large. We have a brand-new Executive Director, Deb Nomura, and she has definitely been an asset in stabilizing and creating systems within the nonprofit structure of the theater. We are very blessed to have her.

“The future is very bright for us, and we’re putting a lot of effort into our infrastructure, so the theater is viable for years to come. I am really happy to be a part of it. We’re marching into our 100th year anniversary in 2028. Take the march with us.”

No stranger to rolling up his sleeves and getting mega-projects done smoothly, Lazaro is a significant figure in directing and leading many of Carpinteria’s major events, including the Avocado Festival, Rods & Roses, the Independence Day Parade, and the Holiday Parade, along with SB County events. His smile and can-do ethic brings performers and their audiences together on a professional level in a down-home fashion. Nomura moved to the United States from Australia five years ago, after she met her future husband, Wade Nomura, at a Rotary convention in Toronto. She is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, working with international corporations, in corporate strategy, and heading business training and mentoring programs frequently in partnership with state and federal government.

Michael Avery is appointed vice president. He was a former board president and theater technical department volunteer. Lorraine McIntire CPA is appointed as treasurer and Andy Patrick as member at large. McIntire is the former vice president of Tax for Camping World Holdings, and currently serves as president of the Rotary Club of Carpinteria Sunset, Member of Rotary’s District 5240 Finance Committee, treasurer of the Carpinteria Dog Owners Group, vice president of the Plumery, and chair of the Downtown T Business Advisory Board. Patrick, an entrepreneur, is the Founder & CEO of the new Flywheel Photo & Film Festival June 2024 Carpinteria, co-founder of the FiftyCrows Foundation and its International Fund for Documentary Photography, the National Geographic All Roads Photography & Film Awards for Indigenous storytellers, and the Roam Awards for adventure photography and filmmaking. 

Alcazar Theatre marketing person Connie Brocato-Geston said during a phone interview: 

“The Alcazar Theatre has a busy month ahead with three concerts lined up in November by Will Breman with Brent Franklin and Todd O’Keefe; a Neil Young Birthday Celebration featuring Shakey Zimmerman and Claude Hopper; and singer-songwriters Omar Velasco with Elena Shelton. Due to popular demand, ‘Stop the Wave I Want to Get Off’ will be screened again on November 25 after selling out in October. ‘Miracle On 34th Street’ is returning for its third annual holiday performance, currently in rehearsal and will run December 8-10 and December 15-17. 

“It’s great to see the Alcazar Theatre thriving again! From sold-out concerts to well-attended independent films, live theater performances, comedy, and community events. It’s exciting to see people returning to the theater to enjoy the experience.”  

411: www.thealcazar.org