Esperanza Spalding, Rick Steves & More Added to Wells Fargo Center for the Arts' 2015-16 Lineup

Today, Wells Fargo Center for the Arts announced 21 new shows for 2015-2016, featuring world-class performances in music, dance, comedy, speakers and family entertainment. Wells Fargo Center for the Arts has, for over three decades, presented a popular and diverse range of outstanding performances for fans of all ages and varied interests. Tickets will be available to members of Wells Fargo Center for the Arts beginning on Tuesday, May 19 and on sale to the general public on Friday, June 5 at noon. Tickets and memberships may be purchased online at wellsfargocenterarts.org, by phone at 707.546.3600, or in person at the box office at 50 Mark West Springs Road in Santa Rosa.

"Coming off two successive years of historic increases in attendance and ticket sales, we are delighted to announce such a diverse line-up of performances for 2015-2016," said Rick Nowlin, the Center's President & CEO. "As is the case every year, this is only a sampling of what's to come over the next year, but I believe in this eclectic mix of performances and events there is an opportunity for enjoyment and entertainment by everyone in our community."

The 2015-16 line-up begins Sunday, August 9 with GRAMMY award-winning singer-composer-bassist Esperanza (Emily) Spalding performing Emily's D+Evolution - all new material that Ezperanza says "unfolds as live musical vignettes." Next, the Center welcomes climbers Kevin Jorgeson & Tommy Caldwell: Legendary Climbers of El Capitan (August 16) for a discussion on their historic nineteen-day climb in Yosemite that gained them international notoriety. Jorgeson is a Santa Rosa native. On Sunday, August 30, Tony Award-nominee Mary Bridget Davies stars in A Night with Janis Joplin, a musical journey celebrating the legendary Janis Joplin.

In September, the Center presents its sixth annual Fiesta de Independencia (Sunday, September 13). "The Fiesta has become an important annual event for us," says Anita Wiglesworth, Director of Programming. "It is hugely popular, welcoming over 2000 people to our campus, and is a great opportunity to bring together people from all different backgrounds in our community to experience cuisine and culture from Latin and South America." Next up on Friday, September 25, the maverick guitar-slinger and his band George Thorogood & The Destroyers take the stage for an unforgettable night.

The Center is also proud to welcome back the 40th Annual San Francisco Comedy Competition Semi-Finals on Saturday, September 26. The outrageously funny evening has a well-earned reputation as an important showcase of promising young entertainers, having launched the careers of Ellen DeGeneres, Dana Carvey and Louis C.K., among many others.

The October calendar launches on Tuesday, October 6 with New York City's Parsons Dance Company, part of the Rodney Strong Vineyards Dance Series and continues that week with Frank Sinatra, Jr.'s debut of Sinatra Sings Sinatra: The Centennial Celebration, on October 8. In honor of his father's 100th birthday, Frank Sinatra Jr. delivers classic songs, and first-hand recollections of life on and off stage with his iconic father. On Saturday, October 10, audiences will experience the Canadian multi-platinum, JUNO Award-winning vocal group, The Tenors. Then, audiences can enjoy GRAMMY award-winner and songwriter Rosanne Cash and John Leventhal's exciting show celebrating her highly-acclaimed and Grammy-winning album, The River and the Thread (October 16).

In November, audiences can look forward public television host and author of over 50 guidebooks, Rick Steves: Lessons from a Lifetime of Travel (November 5). On Saturday, November 7, comedians Ryan Stiles, Greg Proops, Jeff B. Davis and special guest Joel Murray from "Mad Men" return for a third straight year in Whose Live Anyway?, a ninety-minute improvised comedy show based on audience suggestions in the style of the Emmy-nominated TV show "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" (the 2013 and 2014 engagements sold out). November concludes with the return of holiday-favorite Mannheim Steamroller Christmas by Chip Davis featuring the beloved Christmas music of Mannheim Steamroller along with dazzling multimedia effects performed in an intimate setting (November 30).

As usual, the holiday season brings a diverse mix of performances to the Center. On Thursday, December 3, the Center welcomes Big Bad Voodoo Daddy's Wild and Swingin' Holiday Party, as the Hollywood hipsters turn yuletide classics like "Blue Christmas," "Jingle Bells" and "We Three Kings" into a rollicking big band extravaganza! Next on Sunday, December 6, the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus returns for a second year with "Home for the Holidays," a seasonal celebration that is a festive, heart-warming and simply not-to-be-missed event. The Rodney Strong Vineyards Dance Series continues in December with an evening of traditional Mexican folk culture in the Posada Navideña, the Christmas production and time-honored Posada celebration, performed by the Ballet Folklórico de Sacramento, on Friday, December 11. Returning to the Center for the sixth year, Moscow Ballet presents The Great Russian Nutcracker on Saturday, December 19. And a Sonoma County holiday tradition - Dave Koz & Friends Christmas Tour - returns on Tuesday, December 22 with special guests R&B singer Jonathan Butler, Dutch saxophone star Candy Dulfer and co-founder of The Righteous Brothers, the legendary Bill Medley.

Entertainment in the New Year starts on Wednesday, January 27, with The Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra presenting a winning combination of Kiwi humor and an impressive range of ukuleles, performing high-octane solos and heavenly multi-part vocal harmonies. In February, the Center welcomes The Summit: The Manhattan Transfer Meets Take 6, two of the most acclaimed and award-winning vocal groups in history combining forces for the first time (February 18).

On Friday, May 13 the Rodney Strong Vineyards Dance Series concludes with dance company Pilobolus. Founded by group of Dartmouth College students in 1971, Pilobolus has transformed themselves from avant-garde dance company into an international entertainment brand featured on the likes of Oprah, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, and the Academy Awards.

These 21 performances are in addition to the eight previously announced shows for 2015-2016, for which tickets are already on sale: An Evening with Harry Connick, Jr. (July 12 - Sold Out); Jim Gaffigan: Contagious (two shows on July 22 - Sold Out); Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo: 35th Anniversary Tour (July 31); Fifth Harmony's Reflection: The Summer Tour with special guests Bea Miller, Debby Ryan + The Never Ending, and Natalie La Rose (August 11); Diana Krall: Wallflower World Tour (August 18); American Idol Live! (August 22); Live Nation presents Lewis Black: The Rant is Due Part Deux (September 11); and Sonoma Valley's Transcendence Theatre Company presents their first-ever holiday production in Joy to the World: A Broadway Holiday Extravaganza (December 4 & 5). Also previously announced were the 2015-16 Symphony Pops Series, a collaboration with the Santa Rosa Symphony, and the 2015-16 Clover Stornetta Family Fun Series. Season ticket packages for both Series are now available.

Tickets

Tickets are available online at wellsfargocenterarts.org, by calling 707.546.3600, and in person at 50 Mark West Springs Road in Santa Rosa.

• May 19 available to members of Wells Fargo Center for the Arts
• June 5 on sale to general public

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