Abraham, Arcade, Etc. to Take Part in LES Fest of the Arts

The 12th Annual Lower East Side (LES) Festival of the Arts will bring over 100 performing arts organizations, local and international celebrities, independent artists, poets, puppeteers, film makers and others together under one roof for New York City's free Memorial Day Weekend festival. The festival,  which was founded in 1996 and brought in over 3,000 people last year, will run Friday, May 25 through Sunday, May 27, at the Theater for the New City (155 1st Avenue, between E. 9th and10th Streets) in Manhattan.

This year's participants include Academy Award-winning actor F. Murray Abraham (Amadeus), acclaimed talk show host Joe Franklin, performance artists Reno and Penny Arcade, writers Eduardo Machado and Mario Fratti, folk singer Judy Gorman, Slivercloud Singers and Drummers, theatre and dance companies such as The Living Theater, Rod Rodgers Dance Company, Cave Gallery, Wendy Osserman Dance Company, Thunderbird American Indian Dancers, La MaMa ETC, New York Theatre Workshop, Joe's Pub, and many others.

According to press notes, the festival will offer a day-long block party on Saturday, May 26, "featuring performances and a community arts fair with food and crafts vendors, with a strong emphasis on performances with and by children. Additional attractions throughout the 3-day event includes film, and multimedia, dance, poetry, puppeteers, musicians, readings, theater pieces that reflect the LES life, and an art installation representing over 30 fine artists, plus the music of Yip Harburg performed by his grandson Ben Harburg and others." The press release continues, "Participants include artists presently residing on the Lower East Side, arts groups performing in the area, prominent writers and artists whose work has dealt directly with the Lower East Side experience, and emerging playwrights who have written original works specifically for the festival."
 
The complete lineup and schedule will be posted online at www.theaterforthenewcity.net, in mid-May.