January 12th Taping Will Feature Two Shows Performed Before a Live Audience

Santa Rosa, CA (November 30, 2006) - Kathy Griffin, one of the hottest comedians in the U.S. today and star of two highly successful stand-up specials for national television, has announced that she will tape her next Bravo TV special at the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts in Santa Rosa. The special will be taped before a live audience at the Arts Center's 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. performances on January 12, 2007. Seating for the 7:30 p.m. performance is sold out. Tickets are still available for the 10 p.m. performance, which was added just this week to accommodate demand.  Standing room only tickets, provided at a reduced price of $20, are also available for both the early and late shows.

The taping of a national television show is a first for the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts, which is celebrating its 25th Anniversary this year. The Bravo taping marks the second major announcement by the Arts Center this week. On Sunday, the Center announced plans to host an arena-sized production by music legend Dolly Parton at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds. "It's because of our reputation in the performing arts industry and the relationships that we've been building that the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts is beginning to draw more and more national attention, said Director of Programming Rick Bartalini. "Our Santa Rosa audiences are considered especially 'warm and welcoming,' and our staff is known for 'taking that extra step' to meet the needs of the both the artists and our patrons."

Among comedians nationwide, the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts is considered a favorite place to perform. The theater has gathered considerable accolades. For instance, at his last performance in August hit comedian Lewis Black commented, "I really love this place.you bring a level of excitement to the room that we rarely see." In 2004, Black recorded his Grammy-nominated live CD at the Arts Center's Ruth Finley Person Theater and even named the entire CD after the Center (then called the Luther Burbank Center for the Arts). Ellen Degeneres, meanwhile, opened her last two tours at the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts, calling it. "my favorite place to perform." And, legendary comedian Tommy Smothers, a Sonoma County resident, has repeatedly called the Center "one of the best rooms for comedy." The Center's long and successful history of presenting comedy includes artists such as Bill Cosby, George Carlin, George Lopez, Bob Newhart, Dave Chappelle, Kevin James, Lily Tomlin, Ron White, Tim Conway & Harvey Korman, Carlos Mencia, The Smothers Brothers, and many others.

Chicago native, Kathy Griffin, is a multi-faceted performer who is probably best known for her four-year stint on the NBC sitcom Suddenly Susan as Vickie Groener, Brooke Shields' acerbic colleague. Kathy has performed two very successful stand-up specials for Bravo. The first in 2005 called Kathy Griffin...Is Not Nicole Kidman and the second in May of 2006 called Strong Black Woman. Kathy's DVD stand-up special Allegedly is in stores now. In August 2005, Kathy's reality show, Kathy Griffin: My Life On The D-List, debuted on Bravo to rave reviews. The second season of Kathy Griffin: My Life On The D-List earned an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Reality Program.

Kathy Griffin has several national television appearances scheduled over the next few weeks in which she is expected to announce plans to tape her newest Bravo special at the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts, including CNN's Larry King Live airing this Tuesday, December 5, 6-7 p.m. PST.

Kathy Griffin performs January 12, 2007 at 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. at the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts. Tickets ($20-Standing Room Only, $35, $45) are available at the Box Office, 50 Mark West Springs Road in Santa Rosa, by phone at 707-546-3600, or online at www.wellsfargocenterarts.com .

Print quality artist images available at:

http://www.wellsfargocenterarts.com/docs/contact/media.html

The non-profit Wells Fargo Center for the Arts is the North Bay's premier arts organization presenting world-class performances, contemporary sculpture, festivals, and events to 500,000 residents and visitors each year. Together with its resident companies, the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts provides more than 100 annual performances, serves to present intriguing contemporary art, and is one of California's largest providers of arts education programs for children. Located in the heart of the Wine Country, the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts campus features spacious auditoriums, an intimate cabaret, and outdoor festival grounds with a big-top tent. Unlike many similar organizations, the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts is not aligned with any federal, state, or municipal entity-such as a city or university. The Center was created by and is supported by the community it serves, making it uniquely positioned as an independent, entrepreneurial-focused, non-profit arts organization. We serve to Enrich, Educate and Entertain - Connecting Our Community through the Arts.