A Press Democrat Blog

Arts

Dan Taylor on the fine arts scene.

New season opens in August at Wells Fargo Center

Wednesday, at 12:00 by

Wells Fargo Center will kick off its 2013-2014 season in August in a newly renovated auditorium, with shows by soul diva Patti LaBelle, singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile, country music superstar Randy Travis and comedian Ron White. The opening blitz includes: LaBelle, Aug. 16, with tickets priced from $79 to $119; Carlile, Aug. 18, $39-$49; Travis, Aug. 21, $45-$59, and White, Aug. 24, $62-$172. The season also features comedy by Lewis Black on Sept. 13, $47.50-$57.50; an appearance by stars from the… Read More »

‘The Guerneville Tonight Show’ set for April 27

Monday, at 8:50 by

See a local musical variety show, billed as “somewhere between ‘A Prairie Home Companion’ and the old ‘Tonight’ show,”  Sunday, April 27, in Guerneville. “The Guerneville Tonight Show,” a benefit for River To Coast Children’s Services, runs from 7 to 9 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Hall, First and Church Streets. The show includes comedy by Bill Young,  music by the Sistars of Jazz and the Pocket Canyon Ramblers, and more. Admission costs $25. Food and wine will be available. Information:… Read More »

Kathy Griffin tapes Bravo TV special at Wells Fargo Center

Wednesday, at 10:34 by

Let’s just clarify something. Bravo TV has canceled comedian Kathy Griffin’s weekly talk show, “Kathy,” according to the Huffington Post. However. her two shows Friday at Santa Rosa’s Wells Fargo Center for the Arts still will be taped for another in Griffin’s long list of comedy specials for Bravo, said Kristi Buffo of Wells Fargo Center. There are still tickets available for both shows, at 7 and 10 p.m., but only a few are left for the early show. Admission:… Read More »

HopMonk in Novato schedules gay and lesbian benefit

Monday, at 2:54 by

The HopMonk Tavern in Novato will host a “Comedy For Equality” show, starring Bay Area comedians Marga Gomez and Johnny Steele, on Friday, March 29. All of the proceeds will be donated to Spectrum Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Center in San Rafael. Singer and songwriter Michelle Shocked was originally scheduled to play the venue on that date, but her show was canceled in the wake of her anti-gay remarks from the stage of Yoshi’s in San Francisco on March… Read More »

Tickets go on sale for Kathy Griffin at Wells Fargo Center

Thursday, at 12:42 by

Tickets go sale at noon Friday, Feb. 22, for comedian Kathy Griffin’s two April 12 shows at Santa Rosa’s Wells Fargo Center for the Arts. Griffin’s performances at 7 and 10 p.m. April 12 will be taped before live audiences for for her next Bravo TV special to be broadcast later this year. It will be Griffin’s second Bravo TV special taped at the center. The first was her Emmy-nominated “Kathy Griffin: Straight to Hell,” in 2007. Griffin’s latest project… Read More »

Comic Wyatt Cenac performs at SSU

Monday, at 7:00 by

Wyatt Cenac — former writer for the FOX-TV animated series “King of the Hill” and correspondent for Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” — will perform Friday, Feb. 15, at  Sonoma State University. His own one-hour stand-up comedy special, “Wyatt Cenac: Comedy Person,” aired last year on Comedy Central. Cenac’s live show at SSU will start at 8 p.m. in Weill Hall at Green Music Center on campus, 1801 E. Cotati Ave., Rohnert Park. Admission costs $10 for students and $20… Read More »

Tickets go on sale for ‘Spank,’ parody of ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’

Wednesday, at 1:01 by

Tickets go on sale at noon Friday, Feb. 1, for “Spank!” — the stage parody of author E. L. James’ risque best-seller, “Fifty Shades of Grey” — playing April 10 at Santa Rosa’ Wells Fargo Center for the Arts. Written and directed by Jim Millan, the musical revue pokes fun at James’ book, which recently surpassed “Harry Potter” to become the fastest-selling paperback of all time. Millan’s previous work includes “Kids in the Hall,” “Larry King Standing Up” and “Mythbusters… Read More »

Former ‘Mommies’ star heads for Wells Fargo Center

Monday, at 9:03 by

Back in 1990, Marilyn Kentz, Caryl Kristensen and Diane Conway formed a standup act called Comedy Camp for Mommies, which drew crowds all over Sonoma County. Kentz and Kristensen went on to bigger shows as a duo called The Mommies, which also became the title of their NBC-TV prime-time comedy series from 1993 to 1995. The pair also teamed on a television talk show and a book, before Kristensen stepped out of the picture, eventually becoming a high school counselor… Read More »

Comedy nights start in Rohnert Park

Thursday, at 7:00 by

After a trial show in November, local comedians Brian Thomas and Nick Hoffman return Tuesday, Jan. 8, to launch a monthly open mic comedy night at the Double Decker Lanes in Rohnert Park. The shows will run from 8:30 to 10 p.m. the second Tuesday of every month in the bowling alley’s lounge at 300 Golf Course Drive. Sign-ups for those who want to stand up and be funny will start at 7:30 p.m. before each show. There’s no cover… Read More »

Advance screening of ‘Parental Guidance’ comedy film in Sonoma

Monday, at 9:09 by

This may be the first film named after a rating. “Parental Guidance,” scheduled to open Dec. 25, stars Marisa Tomei and Tom Everett Scott star as parents who need to go out of town for work and leave their kids with the grandparents. Sounds safe enough. But when the grandparents are Billy Crystal and Bette Midler, all bets are off. You can see the film early, at a Sonoma International Film Society screening at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 20, at… Read More »