The Center Announces NY Times Bestselling Author Ann Patchett and Emmy Award-Winning Chef Mario Batali for Book Discussion, 9/22 and 10/27; Pops Season Also Announced!

Today, Luther Burbank Center for the Arts (The Center) announced the addition of two exciting literary events for this Fall in partnership with Copperfield's Books. On Thursday September 22, 2016 at 7 p.m., the acclaimed New York Times bestselling author behind "Bel Canto," Ann Patchett, comes to Santa Rosa for an intimate evening to discuss her latest novel, "Commonwealth." On Thursday October 27, 2016 at 7 p.m., award-winning chef and Emmy Award-winning host of ABC's "The Chew",Mario Batali, joins audiences at The Center to discuss his latest and most ambitious cookbook to date, "Big American Cookbook: 250 Favorite Recipes from Across the USA."The Center also announced today that single tickets for the previously announced 2016-2017 Symphony Pops Series and Clover Stornetta Family Fun Series will be available on Friday, August 12 at noon.

Tickets for Ann Patchett are $46 and include a copy of her new work, "Commonwealth". There is also an option to purchase two tickets including one copy of the book for $62. Tickets for Mario Batali are $66 and include a copy of his new work, "Big American Cookbook: 250 Favorite Recipes from Across the USA" with the option to purchase two tickets including one copy of the book available for $92. Both events also go on sale Friday, August 12 at noon and are available online at lutherburbankcenter.org, by calling 707-546-3600 or at the Luther Burbank Center for the Arts ticket office (50 Mark West Springs Road in Santa Rosa).

The author of "The Patron Saint of Liars,""Taft,""The Magician's Assistant,""Run,"and "State of Wonder"-as well as three books of nonfiction and essays- Ann Patchett has won the PEN/Faulkner Award, the Orange Prize, and numerous other honors for her work. Her writing has been translated into more than thirty languages, and she also edited the collection Best American Short Stories, 2006. And on top of all this, Patchett is a strong supporter of indie bookstores: she co-owns Parnassus Books in her hometown of Nashville. Patchett returns with a new book "Commonwealth", an enthralling story of how an unexpected romantic encounter irrevocably changes two families' lives. Spanning five decades, the novel explores how this chance encounter reverberates through the lives of the four parents and six children involved. Told with equal measures of humor and heartbreak, "Commonwealth" is a meditation on inspiration, interpretation, and the ownership of stories.

Named "Man of the Year" in the chef category by GQ Magazine in 1999, Mario Batali also won the James Beard Foundation's "Best Chef: New York City" award in 2002, and in 2005 the James Beard Foundation awarded Mario the designation "Outstanding Chef of the Year". Mario was also a recipient of the 2001 D'Artagnan Cervena "Who's Who of Food & Beverage in America," a prestigious food industry lifetime achievement award. An Emmy-winning host of ABC's The Chew, Batali's culinary empire includes 26 restaurants, 10 cookbooks (including the James Beard Award-winning Molto Italiano andAmerica-Farm to Table), numerous TV shows, and three "Eataly" marketplaces. Batali's most ambitious cookbook to date, "Big American Cookbook: 250 Favorite Recipes from Across the USA" brings together the most delicious dishes from every corner of the Red, White, and Blue in this definitive guide to our country's cuisine.

Luther Burbank Center for the Arts announced today that single tickets for the exciting new 2016-2017 Symphony Pops Series and the Clover Stornetta Family Fun Series go on sale Friday, August 12 at noon. The 2016-2017 season marks the twelfth year of the Symphony Pops Series with the Santa Rosa Symphony. Led by Principal Pops Conductor Michael Berkowitz, the series will be presented in the Ruth Finley Person Theater at Luther Burbank Center for the Arts. The concert offerings include hits from Maestro Berkowitz's voluminous library of popular music, a special Charlie Brown Christmas Concert, a showcase of The Great American Songbook and a tribute to the legends of country music.

The 2016-2017 Clover Stornetta Family Fun Series, featuring six shows for young audiences and families, continues The Center's commitment to including dynamic family entertainment as a key part of its programming with a new lineup of educational and interactive performances in Santa Rosa. Fall through spring, the series will delight audiences of all ages with shows sure to astound, entertain, enlighten and engage featuring critically-acclaimed educational live shows, astounding performers (and dogs!), and insightful stories that come to life on stage.

Single tickets for the Symphony Pops Series range in price from $37-$80. Single tickets for the Clover Stornatta Family Fun Series range in price from $17 - $21 for adults and $12 - $16 for children. Tickets and information are available online at lutherburbankcenter.org, by calling 707-546-3600 or at the ticket office at 50 Mark West Springs Road in Santa Rosa.

2016-2017 Symphony Pops Series

Maestro's Greatest Hits
Featuring guest vocalist Jonathan Poretz and special guest drummer Michael Berkowitz
Sunday, October 23, 2016 at 3 p.m.

A Charlie Brown Christmas Concert
With special guest pianist Jim Martinez
Sunday, December 11, 2016 at 3 p.m.

Ann Hampton Callaway Sings The Great American Songbook
Featuring guest vocalist Ann Hampton Callaway
Sunday, February 19, 2017 at 3 p.m.

Country Legends
Featuring guest vocalists Patrick Thomas and Rachel Potter
Sunday, April 23, 2017 at 3 p.m.

2016-2017 Clover Stornetta Family Fun Series

Erth's DINOSAUR ZOO LIVE
Friday, October 14, 2016 at 6:30pm

Chris Perondi's Stunt Dog Experience
Tuesday, November 15, 2016 at 6:30pm

The Peking Acrobats®
Tuesday, January 17, 2017 at 6:30pm

Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters
By Dallas Children's Theater
Wednesday, February 8, 2017 at 6:30pm

A Year with Frog and Toad
By Casa Mañana
Sunday, April 9, 2017 at 3 p.m.

Junie B.'s Essential Survival Guide to School
By Theatreworks USA
Thursday, May 4, 2017 at 6:30pm

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