Greenway Arts Alliance Celebrates 20th Anniversary with All-Day Community Festival

Greenway Arts Alliance (GAA), under the direction of Co-Founders Whitney Weston and Pierson Blaetz, kick-off their 20th Anniversary celebration with a musical tribute brunch honoring Greenway community partners and Market Mash, a pop-up festival for Melrose Trading Post shoppers and visitors. The events will be held at Melrose Trading Post, on the campus of Fairfax High School on Sunday, October 8, 2017 from 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Uniting communities through art, education and social enterprise, Non-profit GAA runs the Greenway Court Theatre (a professional 99-seat theater), the Greenway Institute for the Arts (an arts education program at Fairfax High School, Title 1 high school in Los Angeles) and the Melrose Trading Post (a weekly open-air arts based marketplace).

"Greenway has so much to celebrate and so many people to thank for our 20 years of good fortune," said Pierson Blaetz, co-founder of Greenway Arts Alliance. "And, we can't think of a better way to kick off our year-long celebration, but with our all-day community festival," added Whitney Weston, co-founder of Greenway Arts Alliance.

Theatre producer/director Rick Sparks, who is directing the 20th Anniversary all-day festival said, "Utilizing the myriad talents of exceptional GAA artist friends, Market Mash will not only raise a toast to past and future years of Greenway Arts Alliance, but also celebrate our vibrant community...where Everybody's An Original."

The festivities begin with Greenway Arts Alliance Donor and Friends Brunch and Live Musical Tribute from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and will be attended by GAA's Board and supporters, community members and students and staff of Fairfax High School. Seamus Dever of ABC's hit series "Castle" will host the anniversary Ceremony Performance that follows brunch. Seamus said, "I have such great memories of working at the Greenway Court Theatre and the Melrose Trading Post. Whitney and Pierson have always been so generous in creating opportunities for myself and for so many others. It's truly an honor to come back and celebrate their 20th anniversary with them."

As part of the celebration, Greenway Arts Alliance will recognize community members who have played a part and supported Greenway's programs. Honorees and Greenway Arts Award recipients include:

Greenway Arts Alliance Supporters Lisa Richards & Steve Mendillo

Greenway Court Theatre's Arts Leadership Award

Fashion Designer and Former Melrose Trading Post Vendor Shareen Mitchell

of Shareen Bridal and Evening Wear

Melrose Trading Post Visionary Award

Fairfax High School Principals from 1997-2017

Carol Truscott, Carmina Nacorda and Kenneth N. Adiekweh

Greenway Institutes for the Arts Special Recognition

Joining the tribute are special guests Los Angeles City Councilmember Paul Koretz; West Hollywood's Mayor John Heilman; Superintendent Cheryl Hildreth; Fairfax High School students and alumni - Amari Williams, Rena Kosnett and Jonathan Rozelle; and former Melrose Trading Post vendor and acclaimed photographer Gray Malin.

Performances include: OH WHAT A NIGHT! - A Musical Tribute to Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, a cappella group Harvard Yardbirds; Da' Poetry Lounge, Greenway Court Theatre Alumni Performers, Sirena Irwin, Fairfax High School Singers, Pep Band and Korean Drumming.

Greenway Arts Alliance Donor Brunch and Live Musical Tribute features catering by In Good Taste L.A. Musical direction and original music by Wayne Moore, set design by Fairfax High School alum Iolani Alicia Livesey-Lum and costume design by Shon LeBlanc of The Costume House and stage management by Justine Baldwin.

Several of Melrose Trading Post's popular home furnishing designer vendors will create eclectic living room viewing areas for for VIP Suite tickets and sponsorships. Living rooms were inspired and designed by Jimmy Hibbler of Upcycled Treasures, Sebastian Trifiro of Reclaim Shop, Saul Suria of Reclaim Wood Studio, Isaias Gonzalez of Isac and Atiq Warasta of Warasta Oriental Rug.

General admission tickets for the Donor Brunch and Live Musical Tribute are available at $55 each and include both the brunch and performance and a VIP Suite for 2 for $500 includes brunch, performance, a serving steward, and eclectic designer living room seating. Sponsorship seating is available at the $2,500, $5,000 and $10,000 levels includes brunch, performance, eclectic designer room seating plus additional benefits. Tickets and sponsorships are available at GreenwayArtsAlliance.org. For additional information about sponsorships, please email sponsorships@GreenwayArtsAlliance.org or call 323-655-7679.

Market Mash, an eclectic pop-up festival, will be held from 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. at Melrose Trading Post. Every Sunday, nearly 6,000 people visit this curated selection of local handcrafted and antique treasurers that also raise monies for Greenway Arts Alliances community programs. The local artists, collectors, makers and small business owners embody the entrepreneurial spirit and individual flare of the city. Performances, exhibits, attractions, meet & greets and photo opportunities will take place on the main stage, smaller stage and throughout Melrose Trading Posting. Maps and complete listing will be available at Melrose Trading Post the day of the event.

The Market Mash festival highlights include:

Meet Pop Icon Angelyne and take photos of her with her famous Corvette

Photographer Osker Jimenez shares his collection of his photography of The Lava Lady

in an exclusive pop-up exhibit. Osker's photographs of The Lava Lady was the inspiration

of Greenway Arts Alliance's 20th Anniversary - Market Mash design.

Photo opportunities with carnival cut-outs and celebrity look-alikes

including Tom Cruise, The Lava Lady and others.

Special Celebrity Guest Kitten Kay Sera - The Pink Lady of Hollywood -

will be signing her new children's book.

Kids area sponsored by Tesla featuring miniature electric Tesla cars for kids

to test drive and take photos. Kids can also enjoy arts and crafts led

by Melrose Trading Post vendors and Greenway Arts Alliance volunteers.

Fantastic Fig, one of the best close-up mind-reading magicians, will

amaze and delight his audience with his magical skills.

Cabaret artist Irene Soderberg will sing and perform.

Los Angeles singer/songwriter, guitarist, and improviser Kurt Durlesser will perform.

Fairfax High School Students of Greenway Institute for the Arts Program

will perform their latest dances.

Scenes from Greenway Court Theatre productions and Da' Poetry Lounge.

Shoppers and visitors looking for this year's Halloween costume can visit

The Costume House pop-up boutique.

Stilt Walkers, Flash Mobs and more!

For up-to-date listings visit GreenwayArtsAlliance.org.

Entrance fees for Melrose Trading Post is $3 per person and includes the Market Mash festival highlights and can be purchased the day-of. Note: Melrose Trading Post will open at its regular time of 9:00 a.m. and Market Mash activities will begin at 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. For more information visit GreenwayArtsAlliance.org.

Greenway Arts Alliance Donor Brunch and Live Musical Tribute and Market Mash event sponsors and contributors include: Melrose Avenue Business Improvement District, AF Gilmore Company, Tesla, Floyd's Barbershop, The Costume House, Getty's Pacific Standard Time: LA/LA, Gray Malin, Osker Jimenez and Michael Childers, and JPO Aesthetics.

In addition to the 20th Anniversary kick-off events, Greenway Arts Alliance will continue the year-long celebration with Greenway Court Theatre launching the Greenway Residency Program, as part off GAA's ongoing history of collaborating with Los Angeles theatre companies. The residency program provides a unique partnership that utilizes shared resources to support the cultivation of new work by Los Angeles' established theatre companies that lack a permanent home. This one-year residency includes one full co-production slot in the Greenway Court Theatre 2017/2018 season and the opportunity to use the theatre's space to create and workshop additional new work throughout the year as schedule permit.

Los Angeles' award-winning theatre company Urban Theatre Movement is Greenway's first resident company to participate in the Greenway Residency Program. GAA will co-produce with Urban Theatre Movement the World Premiere of Yerma in the Desert by Oliver Mayer in November.

Greenway Court Theatre will also present Amy Ludwig's adaptation of Sandra Cisneros'

The House of Mango Street, directed by Alexandra Meda. The production is in conjunction with Greenway Institute for the Arts' Greenway Reads program, in honor of Greenway Arts Alliance's 20-year milestone. Greenway Reads is a professional production that is directly related to the curriculum at Fairfax High School. The production runs from September 29 - October 28 with the official press opening on Saturday, September 30 at Greenway Court Theatre (544 N. Fairfax Avenue, Los Angeles, CA). Tickets are $30 for general admission and $15 for a student/senior discount and are available at GreenwayCourtTheatre.org.

ABOUT GREENWAY ARTS ALLIANCE AND THEIR PROGRAMS:

GREENWAY ARTS ALLIANCE (GAA) - Since its 1997 inception, the Greenway Arts Alliance has united communities through the arts, education and social enterprise. Through Greenway Court Theatre's professional theatre productions, Greenway Institute for the Arts' education programs and the Melrose Trading Post's weekly art-based open market, Greenway Arts Alliance builds a vibrant artistic community in the heart of Los Angeles. GAA has modeled an innovative partnership with the Fairfax High School campus to leverage community resources to connect the professional artistic and public education communities around a commitment to learning and creation in the arts. Greenway Arts Alliance was Co-Founded by artists-activists Whitney Weston and Pierson Blaetz, both of whom serve as Co-Artistic Directors for the organization.

GREENWAY COURT THEATRE - Greenway Court was initially built by Fairfax High School students in 1939 as a class project and used as a Social Hall by both students and faculty. It sat virtually unused for many years until it was finally renovated into a professional 99-seat theatre by Greenway Arts Alliance in 2000, to benefit both the school and the surrounding community.

Greenway Court Theatre has a rich history of presenting and producing diverse bodies of work. Greenway has opened its door to many main-stage productions, weekly open mic poetry, festivals and world premieres that have moved to larger venues and toured across the country.

GREENWAY INSTITUTE FOR THE ARTS - An arts education program in theatre, dance and film for students at the Fairfax High School, a Title 1 high school in the Los Angeles Unified School district. Greenway Institute for the Arts promotes arts education though both in-class and after-school programs in theatre, dance and film. Through the generosity of our funders, classes and workshops are provided free of charge to Fairfax High School students. Presented with opportunities to engage with professional artists, young people are able to discover their individual voices and passions that can lead to careers in the arts.

MELROSE TRADING POST - A pioneering arts-based marketplace held every Sunday on the Fairfax High School campus. Every Sunday, the Melrose Trading Post offers a constantly evolving experience, with a curated selection of handcrafted artisan goods, eclectic art and craft, vintage fashion, antique furniture and one-of-a-kind treasures.

Through admission and vendor fees, the Melrose Trading Post has grown to become the most successful ongoing social enterprise program in the history of Los Angeles Unified School District, awarding grants to Fairfax High School organizations for sports equipment, beautification projects, teacher programs, theatre productions, and more - totaling well over seven million dollars since the Melrose Trading Post's humble beginnings in 1997. Through Greenway Arts Alliance, the Melrose Trading Post provides formal job and life skills training to large numbers of paid and volunteer students from Fairfax High School - the first real-world job experience for many. The market also serves as an incubator to promote small community businesses and budding entrepreneurs, many of them professional artists, by providing affordable retail opportunities in a prime, high-traffic location.

The market's weekly music series grows each year. The programming has expanded to create more opportunities for local artists through a year-long outdoor series of music, yoga, dance, theater and spoken word events on the Greenway Arts Main Stage in the Courtyard and the MTP Corner Stage along Fairfax Avenue. "

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