Impact Festival Launches Today with Eve Ensler Premiere

The Culture Project will launch its most ambitious project to date tonight with the kickoff of Impact Festival 2006, a 5-week city-wide arts festival focusing on human rights, social justice, and political action.

Opening night festivities include two world premieres. First is The Treatment, a new play by Eve Ensler starring Dylan McDermott and Portia, directed by Leigh Silverman. The show plays at the Culture Project's home base at 45 Bleecker Street in the Village. Tickets are $25 and $55.

Second is The Ground Truth: After the Killing Ends, a new film about US soldiers in Iraw by Patricia Foulkrod. The film is one of many documentary included in the festival that aims to shed light on, "Today's defining issues." The free screening will take place at Riverside Church on 490 Riverside Drive.

The festival also includes Elizabeth Swados' new work Mental Missiles – A Political Revue, and a stage adaptation of Howard Zinn and Anthony Arnove's The People Speak. There will also be a one-night-only concert featuring Suzanne Vegaa and Alejandro Escovedo.

For more information, tickets, and to view a schedule of the more than 80 events in all five boroughs, please visit www.impactfestival.org/.