Annual LES Festival Event Schedule Announced, Runs 5/28-30

THE 15th ANNUAL LOWER EAST SIDE (LES) FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS will bring together under one roof in just three days a multitude of performing artists - actors, dancers, singers, painters, sculptors, playwrights, performance artists, poets, etc. -- all of whom reside, work or have their roots in the culturally diverse, willfully anarchistic Lower East Side -- for New York City's most diverse FREE 3-day festival, from Friday, May 28 through Sunday, May 30, at Theater for the New City (155 1st Avenue, between E. 9th and 10th Sts.) in Manhattan.

The 3-day, indoor and outdoor festival of the arts is organized by Theater for the New City and a coalition of civic, cultural and business leaders, and is FREE to all New Yorkers and visitors. THE LOWER EAST SIDE FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS was founded in 1996 to demonstrate the creative explosion of Manhattan's Lower East Side and the area's importance to the culture and tourism of New York City. Last year's festival attracted more than 4,000 people.

THE 15th ANNUAL LOWER EAST SIDE FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS runs in and around Theater for the New City (155 1st Avenue, between E. 9th and 10th Streets) throughout Memorial Day weekend: Friday, May 28 from 6pm-midnight; Saturday, May 29 from 11am-midnight; and Sunday, May 30 from 4 pm-midnight.

All events are FREE and open to the public. For additional information and a full performance schedule, please call Theater for the New City at 212-254-1109 or visit www.theaterforthenewcity.net.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE LES FESTIVAL INCLUDE

FRIDAY, MAY 28
6pm to 1am

• Performance by MAQUINA MONO "Monkey Machine" - a bilingual Latin Rock Band
• COBU -- combines elements of the Japanese traditional Taiko drumming with rhythmic Tap dancing -- was created as a Live Rhythm Performing Arts Group in 2000 by Yako Miyamoto,
a current member of the off broadway-hit STOMP.
• THUNDERBIRD AMERCAN INDIAN DANCERS
• CHINESE THEATRE WORKS
• Scenes from POPPA'S GIRLS, A Dark Comedy, by Judith Estrine, Three sisters reunite at their family estate for the reading of the will.
• Scenes from CO-OP written &directed by Barbara Kahn. Martha faces life on the street after gentrification.

SATURDAY, MAY 29
11am to 1am

• magic acts from Magician Devin Block
• performance from the Kaleidoscope Dancers.
• The New York Lyric Circus
• ALPHA OMEGA THEATRICAL DANCE COMPANY
• BLEECKER STREET OPERA
• JUDY GORMAN
• THE LOVE SHOW - A Cabaret set, choreographed by Angela Harriell,
• "DENIAL! Time to Face the Musical"

SUNDAY, MAY 30
4pm to 1am

• ALLISON TARTALIA
• Shakespeare's Divas presents: "Life and Death in 12 minutes"
• "Tiger, Tiger" - a pitch-black comedy about the world's most dysfunctional family.
• K.T. Sullivan
• Tammy Grimes
• Muriel Miguel
• SILVERCLOUD SINGERS &DRUMMERS
• BINA SHARIF
• Penny Arcade
• TOKYO PENGUIN
• RICHARD WEBER