Julia Stiles Joins Sigourney Weaver for BATTLE OF THE BARDS, March 3

Presented as a benefit for Partial Comfort Productions, BATTLE OF THE BARDS is a one-night-only theater competition pitting seven of New York City's hottest emerging theater companies against each other in a stage-fight to the finish. Each participating company will assemble an artistic team consisting of playwright, director and actors. On February 15th, each team will be given the parameters by which to write, cast, and rehearse a world premiere one-act play. Two weeks later, on March 3rd, these plays will be performed publicly at Crobar (530 W. 28th St. between 10th and 11th Ave.) and the winner will be determined by a panel of celebrities and industry professionals. An audience favorite award will also be presented.

Theater companies competing this year are: LAByrinth, Ma-Yi, Intar, Studio 42, Youngblood, Partial Comfort and Vampire Cowboys.

Event judges will be: actors Sigourney Weaver, Julia Stiles (Save The Last Dance, The Omen, Mona Lisa Smile) and Diane Neal (Law and Order: SVU); playwright Christopher Durang (The Marriage of Bette and Boo); Oskar Eustis (Artistic Director The Public Theater); director Jo Bonney (Fat Pig, A Soldier's Story); journalist David Cote (Time Out New York); and Amy Christopher (head of casting at FOX).Note: Stiles replaces previously announced judge Josh Lucas.

All proceeds will benefit Partial Comfort Productions' premiere of Edith Freni's gritty urban drama "Baby Girl" at Center Stage Theater beginning March 10, 2006. The New York Times calls Partial Comfort, "The little company that could... they have achieved what hundreds of people come to New York every year to do: make a mark on the city's fiercely competitive theater world." For information visit www.partialcomfort.org.

Doors for BATTLE OF THE BARDS open at 7pm with complimentary Samuel Adams beer until 8pm. Battle performances run from 8pm -10pm with winners announced at 10:3pm. Guests are invited to stay afterwards for a post-party reception and dancing with music by DJ Rookie Traxx. General admission is $10; $50 VIP tickets (which include priority seating, VIP gift bag, and cocktails courtesy Hangar One Vodka & Turtle Creek Wines) are also available. The first 100 people admitted will also receive a gift bag filled with great items. For tickets call 212-352-3101 or visit www.TheaterMania.com.