Several people had to be turned away at the door Tuesday night during a “theater café” fundraiser for the Novato Theater staged at Ghiringhelli Pizzeria, so more cozy get-togethers are being planned.

An idea from Ghiringhelli general manager Kristin Aduna was brought to life as San Marin High School’s advanced drama students put on a show in the restaurant/bar’s event ballroom to support the ongoing Novato Theater renovation effort, which will take up the next two years.

“It was totally generous of them, and we owe Kristin and the staff a lot of thanks,” said theater committee volunteer June Haugen, who hosted the event with David Burns and Kathy Dunn. “ … It couldn’t have been better. Everyone raved.”

The event was a 70-seat sellout at $10 per ticket plus 15 percent of proceeds. A total dollar amount was unavailable, but Haugen said there was enough of a demand for additional tickets that Aduna said she was interested in hosting more theater fundraisers.

“What a great way to raise funds and exciting for the theater,” Haugen said.

After dinners were served, Linda Kislingbury’s students from San Marin staged a handful of short scenes — from serious drama to sharp-witted comedy to the traditional favorite “Huck Finn” — with quick set changes in between.

The theater at 924 Grant Ave. has been closed for 20 years, but it was recently sold to the nonprofit led by Bernice Baeza for $50,000 by the city of Novato. The group plans to spend 2012 raising at least $1.5 million from private donations before demolition and remodeling can begin.

For more information about the project, check www.novatotheater.net.