Santa Rosa, CA (January 4, 2007) - On February 1, 2007 at 6:30pm, the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts Education & Outreach Program presents Cuentos del Arbol or "Tree Tales."  Part of the Center's popular Family Series, this delightful bilingual musical is drawn from Spanish and Latin American folklore and is designed to bring the Spanish language to "life" for children and their families. The stories within the piece offer pride in the cultural heritage of Spain and Latin America while also providing access to the arts without a language barrier.

The centerpiece of all the stories is a tree (un arbol) that has sheltered, shielded, and nurtured countless characters that have passed her way over the years. The tree's caretaker, Arbolita, shares four of these stories with Tomas, a storyteller, who is looking for tales for his collection.

The stories included are "The Garden of the Golden Oranges," adapted from a Spanish legend, told in the oral tradition; "Brothers Who Were Both Wise and Foolish," a grand adventure, also set in Spain; "Juan Bobo" or "Silly John" originating in both Mexico and Puerto Rico about a boy who makes silly mistakes that serve him well; and "Caperucita Roja" or "Red Riding Hood," a perennial favorite in Spanish and English households, told with a Latino beat and rhythm. A spirited finale sends audiences home with dancing feet, clapping hands, and a happy heart.

Cuentos del Arbol by the award-winning Pushcart Players presents a fiesta of Latino and Hispanic themes, indigenous to locale, but universal to the human experience. The stories are about dreaming dreams, setting goals, rising to challenges, and keeping commitments. Young audiences find themselves enchanted by the colorful lore and spirited beat that enable "Arbol" to lift her branches and find new ways to grow each day.

Tickets ($11-Child, $16-Adult) are available at the Box Office located at 50 Mark West Springs Road in Santa Rosa , by phone at 707-546-3600, and 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.