Honorary Empire State Building Lighting In Emerald Green To Be Hosted By Ashanti

Ashanti, who recently starred as Dorothy in the City Center Encores! production of The Wiz, will join Empire State Building officials to "flip the switch" and light the world-famous icon's tower lights green to celebrate the 70th anniversary of The Wizard of Oz, and the September 29 Blu-ray and DVD release of The Wizard of Oz 70th Anniversary Ultimate Collector's Editions.

The film will also be honored at the Emerald Gala in New York Thursday evening at Warner Bros and will feature a musical performance by Grammy Award winner Ashanti, who recently made her theatrical debut as Dorothy in the City Center Encores! Production of THE WIZ. To honor the films anniversary, the songstress will sing her new single "Somewhere over the Rainbow" which will be released through all standard online outlets beginning September 24.

The event will take place at that Empire State Building on Thursday, September 24, 2009 at 110:00am.  The lighting will be followed that night by the Emerald Gala at Tavern on the Green, from 7:00pm-11:00pm.

The Emerald Gala is Warner Bros. Entertainment's charity event at Manhattan's historic Tavern on the Green, presented by its owner and CEO Jennifer Oz LeRoy, granddaughter of The Wizard of Oz producer Mervyn LeRoy. The entire restaurant and surrounding grounds will transform for a night into the Emerald City, replete with a winding Yellow Brick Road.

Soaring 1,454 feet above Midtown Manhattan, the Empire State Building is the "World's Most Famous Office Building." With new investments in infrastructure, public areas and amenities, the Empire State Building has attracted first-rate tenants in a diverse array of industries from around the world. The skyscraper's robust broadcasting technology supports all major television and FM radio stations in the New York metropolitan market. The Empire State Building was named America's favorite building in a poll conducted by the American Institute of Architects. The Empire State Building Observatory is one of the world's most beloved attractions and is the region's #1 tourist destination. For more information on the Empire State Building, please visit www.esbnyc.com.

The Ruby Slipper Collection consists of 20 noted designers' modern interpretations of Dorothy's classic Ruby Slippers (including Betsey Johnson, Diane Von Furstenberg, Jimmy Choo, L.A.M.B. by Gwen Stefani, Lisa Pliner, Manolo Blahnik, Oscar de la Renta, Sergio Rossi, Stuart Weitzman, Tibi, and Tuleh). The Ruby Slipper Collection, original design sketches, as well as select pieces from The Inspirations of Oz Fine Art Collection will be auctioned to benefit long-term philanthropic partner, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. The auction opened September 10 at rubyslipperauction.com. Fans all over the world will have the opportunity to bid on this renowned collection, with final bids closing and tabulated on September 29.