TNC to Host 21st Annual Lower East Side Festival This Memorial Day Weekend

One of the first and most time-honored FREE Summer Festivals in NYC each year - the LOWER EAST SIDE FESTIVAL -- will take place this year, the FEST's 21st annual event -- Memorial Day Weekend May 27 to 29 at Theater for the New City (155 First Ave. at 10th St.), it has been announced by Crystal Field, co-founder and Artistic Director of Theater for the New City.

Dozens of artists -- from the worlds of theater, music, cabaret, dance, aerial arts, film and poetry with personal or professional roots on the culturally and historically rich Lower East Side in NYC - will be on hand for THREE DAYS OF FREE ENTERTAINMENT.

Notable performers and dates follow:

DEATH OF A BLACK MAN by William Electric Black, 5/27 at 8 pm

Cabaret star KT SULLIVAN 5/27 evening

Composer DAVID AVRAM 5/28 at 9 pm

Renowned chanteuse LUBA MASON 5/28 at 9:30 pm

Playwright EDUARDO MACHADO, UNITED CITIZENS BRIGADE, AERIAL DANCE COMPANY, RENO, the play SUGAR RAY by Laurence Holder and directed by Negro Ensemble Company's WOODIE KING JR., downtown legendary performer PHOEBE LEGERE.

Featured entries in the LES FEST's Film Program include: BEFORE NIGHT FALLS by Julien Schnabel; Jack Kerouac's trail-blazing PULL DAISY; STARRING AUSTIN PENDLETON and THE LADY IN QUESTION IS CHARLES BUSCH.

One of the Festival's annual highlights will take place this year on Saturday, May 28 from noon to 5 pm when Theater for the New City puts up an outdoor stage on the street for various acts to perform. From 2 to 5 pm that day, LES FEST's wildly popular Youth Events, hosted by circus juggler and bubble master JOHN GRIMALDI.

FREE poetry slams and film screenings are among the highlights of the FESTIVAL on Saturday, May 28, and the LOWER EAST SIDE FESTIVAL concludes on Sunday, May 29 with an Open-Mic event from 7 pm to midnight.

ADMISSION IS FREE TO ALL EVENTS DURING THE 3-DAY LOWER EAST SIDE FESTIVAL May 27-29. For a complete calendar of event dates/times, visit www.theaterforthenewcity.net. Or call 212 254 1109.

THEATER FOR THE NEW CITY is a Pulitzer Prize-winning community cultural center known for its high artistic standards and widespread community service. TNC produces 30-40 new American plays per year, at least 10 of which are by emerging young playwrights. THEATER FOR THE NEW CITY created LOWER EAST SIDE FESTIVAL in 1995 and has presented nearly 1,000 artists and their works including theater, music, dance, comedy, performance art, poetry, video and fine art.