LES Festival Of The Arts Hosts LES KID'S DAY 2009 On 5/23 In NYC

THE 14th ANNUAL LOWER EAST SIDE (LES) FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS hosts LES KIDS' DAY 2009 -- an afternoon of performances for kids and by kids -- on Saturday, May 23, beginning at 2:00pm inside Theater for the New City (155 1st Avenue, between E. 9th and 10th Streets) in Manhattan.

Curated by Primy Rivera and Lily Burd, and hosted by John Grimaldi, LES KIDS' DAY 2009 features performances from Kaleidoscope Dancers, the cast of Vital Theater Company's PINKALICIOUS, Third Street Music School Settlement Dance Trio, Shesata Y.U., actor Indio Melendez, playwright Michael Vazquez, Earth Child Entertainment, and others.

The afternoon also includes a Theater for the New City's Arts-In-Education Program interactive workshop by artist and teacher Primy Rivera; TNC's Arts-In-Education mini musicals; and a screening of the short film "Loss of Innocence" by The Loisaida Players, directed by Veronica Caicedo.

THE 14th ANNUAL LOWER EAST SIDE (LES) FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS, running May 22-24 is a FREE 3-day, indoor and outdoor festival of the arts is organized by Theater for the New City and a coalition of civic, cultural and business leaders, and is FREE to all New Yorkers and visitors. THE LOWER EAST SIDE FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS was founded in 1996 to demonstrate the creative explosion of Manhattan's Lower East Side and the area's importance to the culture and tourism of New York City. Last year's festival attracted more than 3,000 people.

In addition to the LES KIDS' DAY 2009 participants, this year's other participants, representing the unique ethnic and cultural diversity of the Lower East Side, include an eclectic mix of talent: Jazz legend David Amram; legendary talk show host Joe Franklin; Tony Award-winner Tammy Grimes, Penny Arcade, Reno, The Living Theater's Judith Malina; Taylor Mead, Phoebe Legere, Broadway actress Vinie Burrows, folksinger Judy Gorman; downtown favorites Epstein & Hassan (The Black & The Jew), clown The Red Bastard (a.k.a. Eric Davis); theatre and dance companies such as Rod Rodgers Dance Company, Joe's Pub, La MaMa E.T.C., DADA NY, New York Theater Workshop, The Mariana Bekerman Dance Company, the Bangladesh Theatre of America, Kinding Sindaw Dance Company and many more. Plus, there will be new works by established and rapidly rising playwrights including Eduardo Machado, Barbara Kahn, Lissa Moira, Larry Myers, and others to be announced.

LES KIDS' DAY 2009 runs 2:00-5:00 pm inside Theater for the New City (155 1st Avenue, between East 9th and 10th Streets). All events are FREE and open to the public. THE 14th ANNUAL LOWER EAST SIDE (LES) FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS runs Friday, May 23 through Sunday, May 24. For additional information and a full performance schedule, please call Theater for the New City at 212-254-1109 or visit www.theaterforthenewcity.net