Fifth Annual Redwood Coast Whale & Jazz Festival An Evening of Comedy with Stu Stuart Arena Theater Friday, April 6, 2007 Doors open at 8:00 p.m., Show time 8:30 p.m.

The Redwood Coast Whale & Jazz Festival offers a good time with music, arts, and cultural events this April. This year the festival will include laughter as well, as comedian Stu Stuart is set to perform at the Arena Theater in Point Arena, Friday, evening April 6, at 8:30 p.m.

"Stu Stuart's mass-appeal style of comedy is clever, witty and unpredictable with an unexpected edge. He presents his comedy in a comfortable and witty manner causing you to think, then laugh, all while continually pulling the rug out from you when you least suspect it," says the Seattle Times.

Originally from Michigan, Stu's credits include Comedy Central, An evening at the Improv and XM Satellite Radio. He's a regular on Mackinac Island each summer in Northern Michigan, where he has performed his show for 12 summers. This will be Stuart's first performance in Point Arena.

Showtime is 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 and will be available in advance beginning Monday March 12 at the Arena Theater's usual locations: the Four-Eyed Frog Bookstore and The Sea Trader, Gualala; The Record Market & Cafe, Point Arena; Tangents, Ft. Bragg. Tickets are also available online at www.brownpapertickets.com. Tickets will be available at the door on the night of the show. Advance tickets are encouraged to guarantee admission.

The Arena Theater is located in downtown Point Arena, California at 214 Main Street (Hwy 1).

On Saturday evening, the Main Event Jazz Concert at Gualala Arts Center features the Montclair Women's Jazz Ensemble, with vocalist Rhonda Benin selected from the Montclair Women's Big Band, and 11-year-old jazz flute sensation, Elena Pinderhughes.

Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. for beer, wine and a martini bar along with savory and sweet tapas plates available for purchase. Limited open cabaret seating at 7:00 p.m. with the show starting at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $30 if purchased in advance or $35 the day of the event. Call Gualala Arts at (707) 884-1138 weekdays 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Visa and MC accepted.

The Redwood Coast Whale and Jazz Festival runs four days and kicks off Thursday, April 5 evening at Point Arena CityArt for Poetry & Jazz, with a jazz ensemble accompanying both local and guest artist poets. The Dinner & Jazz, Brunch & Jazz and Sunset & Jazz events hosted by local restaurants are returning by popular demand, along with Chowder & Jazz and the Whale and Jazz Festival Main Event, both at the Gualala Arts Center.

And what about the whales? There will be plenty of opportunities around the jazz events to observe the gray whale migration that passes Gualala heading north at this time of year. Point Arena Lighthouse offers exceptional spots to view the whales, as does Gualala Point Regional Park, and the film, Whales: An Unforgettable Journey, will be shown on Saturday, April 7.

The Whale and Jazz Festival is produced by Redwood Coast Chamber of Commerce and Gualala Arts, Inc. More information about festival events is available in Gualala Arts' monthly newsletter, Sketches, and at whaleandjazzfestival.com.

Check out the new Whale and Jazz Tote Bag, now available at Gualala Arts.

The Gualala Arts Center, located at 46501 Old State Highway in Gualala, CA,
is open weekdays 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and weekends from noon to 4:00 p.m.
Please call (707) 884-1138 for more information, or email info@gualalaarts.org.

Serving the coastal communities of northern Sonoma & southern Mendocino Counties.