Luther Burbank Center Reopens With 'Pay What You Can' Shows

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — The Luther Burbank Center for the Arts on Mark West Spings Road in Santa Rosa officially reopened for show business Monday, nearly a month after the devastating Tubbs Fire tore through the region, damaging some of the beloved performing art center's facilities.

The fire destroyed approximately 30,000 square feet of the center’s 140,000-square-foot campus, including the two-story classroom building, home to Anova Center for Education; the East Auditorium, home to North Bay Stage Company; the LBC’s storage and workshop building, including storage for Roustabout Theatre; as well as with much of the landscape and the irrigation system. Additionally, the Center’s Sculpture Garden suffered significant damage, which included monumental old-growth redwood sculptures by renowned local artist Bruce Johnson.

However, the main building remains intact, which includes the Ruth Finley Person Theatre, the Lytton Rancheria Lobby, the Carston Cabaret and Fireside Room, as well as box office area and conference rooms.

Monday, LBC announced a “Pay What You Can” program for select performances and concerts during the month of November. The program offers tickets to those affected by the recent fires and to first responders, and is a way to welcome the community back as the center reopens its doors, according to a news release.

Performances included in the "Pay What You Can" program are:

• Nov. 9: Shopkins Live! Shop it Up
• Nov. 11: Air Supply
• Nov. 14: Imago Theatre’s La Belle
• Nov. 26: Dwight Yoakam
• Nov. 27: PJ Masks Live! Time to Be a Hero
• Nov. 29: Mannheim Steamroller

"During these challenging times, we believe the Center provides a place for the community to come together, connect, find solace and experience the restorative power of a live performance—and we want that opportunity to be available to everyone," said LBC President and CEO Rick Nolin.

Tickets for "Pay What You Can" performances are available in-person at the ticket office (open daily at noon) at 50 Mark West Springs Road in Santa Rosa, by calling 707-546-3600, or online at Lutherburbankcenter.org with the code sonomastrong. Subject to availability, there is a limit of four tickets per show for the "Pay What You Can" option.

Regarding shows canceled as a result of the Tubbs Fire, LBC said patrons will be issued refunds. For tickets purchased by credit card, the charges will be immediately credited back. Now that the ticket office has reopened, checks will be mailed to patrons who purchased tickets with cash or check.

Canceled events include:

• Oct. 11: Go, Dog. Go!
• Oct. 13: Yandel
• Oct. 27-29: North Bay Stage Company’s Monster Bash
• Oct. 28: An Evening with Brian Reed
• Oct. 29: Guerra De Chistes
• Nov. 2: Karen Peterson: Special Holiday Experience Connecting with the Afterlife
• Nov. 24 – Dec. 10: North Bay Stage Company’s 1940's Radio Hour

LBC is continuing to reschedule events affected by its closing and is releasing updated show schedules as information becomes available, according to the news release.

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