2012 World Science Festival Launches 5th Anniversary Gala, 5/29

The 2012 World Science Festival opens its 5th anniversary season with two star-filled nights dedicated to Science and the Arts: The 5th Anniversary Gala Celebration, "A Performing Arts Salute to Science" on Tuesday, May 29th, The Allen Room, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Columbus Circle, 7:30 pm.

The 5th Anniversary World Science Festival Gala will feature Broadway and Classical Music stars in a performing arts salute to science. Broadway celebrities and classical music stars will perform. In addition to the starry musical performances, Festival co-founder Brian Greene will conduct two mind-blowing and rarely-seen-in-public Physics experiments: the "Quantum Levitation" and "Double-Slit" experiments. Alan Alda will host the evening along with Brian Greene (Columbia University Physicist).

Performers include: Joshua Bell (Violinist), James Naughton (Actor, City of Angels, Chicago, Our Town, Devil Wears Prada), Deborah Monk (Actor, Curtains, Chicago, Company, Picnic, Nick and Nora, Pump Boys and Dinettes), Momix (Dance-illusion company), David Hibbard (Actor, Billy Elliott, Spamalot), Rose Hemingway (Actor, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying), Drew Gehling (Jersey Boys, On A Clear Day You Can See Forever), Eryn Murman (Actor, Spring Awakening), Paige Faure (Actor, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying), and Abby O'Brien (Actor, Pal Joey, Spamalot).

Icarus at The Edge of Time, presented Wednesday, May 30, 2012, United Palace Theatre, 4140 Broadway, 7:00 pm, is a stunning, full-orchestral work with animated film and live narration that brings a powerful modern twist to a classic myth, taking audiences of all ages on a whirlwind voyage through space and time, to the very edge of understanding.

LeVar Burton (Actor, Director, Roots, Reading Rainbow, Star Trek - film and TV) is the narrator for this special, family-friendly performance of Icarus at The Edge of Time

Icarus is adapted by Brian Greene and Tony-Award winning playwright David Henry Hwang from Greene's young people's book of the same title and features an original orchestral score by Philip Glass, a film directed by innovative, cutting-edge British filmmakers Al+Al and the Orchestra of St. Luke's, conducted by Brad Lubman.

The 2012 World Science Festival, May 30th to June 3rd, 2012, presents more than 50 events, performances, lectures and special exhibitions, at venues throughout New York City.

The Festival was co-founded in 2008 by Brian Greene, Columbia University professor of physics and mathematics and bestselling author of The Elegant Universe and The Hidden Reality, and Tracy Day, Emmy Award-winning journalist and television producer. The annual event brings together many of the world's leading scientific minds with renowned artists and influential thinkers for a five-day celebration that, through discourse and debate, conversation and performance, the arts and exhibitions, allows everyone to experience science in a unique and thrilling way. Since its inception, the Festival has attracted some 600,000 people to more than 200 original programs.

Tickets for World Science Festival events are on sale now online at www.worldsciencefestival.com by calling (212) 352-3101 or (866) 811-4111, or in person at the NYU Ticket Central @ NYU Skirball Center, 566 LaGuardia Place at Washington Square, New York, NY.

To learn more about the World Science Festival, visit www.worldsciencefestival.com, or follow the World Science Festival on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.