For Immediate Release

North Hollywood, CA—The Universal City-North Hollywood Chamber of Commerce proudly presents the NoHo International Theatre & Arts Festival 2000 on Saturday, June 24 and Sunday, June 25 from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. During this festive two-day celebration, North Hollywood's NoHo Arts District will turn into a global village bursting with music, dance, theatre, arts, culture, and cuisine from Los Angeles and around the world. The mile-long festival winds along Lankershim Boulevard from Cumpston Street to Magnolia Boulevard and adjacent side streets. There's free admission, free parking, and free transportation on the Metro Rail Red Line free rides all weekend from Union Station to North Hollywood.

Beverly Garland—actress, community leader and Honorary Mayor of North Hollywood—reigns as ambassador of the NoHo International Theatre & Arts Festival 2000. Ms. Garland, owner of Beverly Garland's Holiday Inn in North

Hollywood and UC-NH Chamber of Commerce member, currently has recurring roles on the WB's "7^th Heaven" and ABC's "Port Charles."

"Celebrating Unity through Diversity" is the theme of this year's greatly expanded NoHo International Theatre & Arts Festival that will take place in conjunction with the opening of the Metro Rail Red Line's North Hollywood station. The NoHo International Theatre & Arts Festival 2000 promises to be a exciting, fun-filled event that not only celebrates the arts and theatre district of NoHo, but also celebrates the rich artistic heritage and cultural diversity of Los Angeles.

"You'll see this diversity reflected in the entertainment planned for this year's Festival, in the live theatre programs, in the arts and crafts marketplace, in the cuisine, and in the people who are participating in our event," said Joe Hooven, NoHo Festival chairman.

A focal point of this year's Festival is sixty-four hours of live outdoor entertainment on the four "Festival of Festivals" stages featuring the sights, sounds, and rhythms of music and dance rooted in diverse cultures. "Performing artists were selected from more than 200 arts, cultural, and ethnic festivals that take place in the City each year, " said Dr. Earl Sherburn, Festival of Festivals Committee chairman. "They represent Argentina, Bali, the Caribbean, China, India, Italy, Korea, Mexico, Spain, and the United States, among others," he continued.

The Festival of Festivals lineup includes: Tierra, The Nervis Brothers, Susie Hanson Latin Jazz Bank, Hijos del Sol, Suzanne Teng & Mystic Journey, Debbie Treadway & The Midnight Marauders, Dembrebra West African Drums & Dance, Bali & Beyond Gamelan Music, Martin Dancers, The Henley Gospel, Ernie Valens Band, Rangoli Dance Company, Julian Cordoba, Circle the Cat, Jin Jin Chinese Youth Band Orchestra, The Vintage Boys, and many others.

On Saturday, June 24, festival participants will have the opportunity to see live performances in English and in Spanish of the NoHo Festival theme song From NoHo to Downtown/De NoHo al Downtown. The song was written and produced by Horacio Lanzi of the Hola Music Group, a North Hollywood based recording company.

From NoHo to Downtown ties together all the unique aspects of this year's Festival—the opening of the subway, the Festival of Festivals, the cultural diversity of Los Angeles and the host community, North Hollywood -- as well as the one-of-a-kind theatre and arts community of NoHo.

Along with the international stages, there's an additional eighteen hours of heart pumping musical and dance entertainment on the "NoHo" stage that showcases the talents of local bands and performers. The line-up on Saturday, June 24 features Kelly's Lot, asa cruz, Gene Butler, Kanary, Tommy Holmes, Chris Knight

& 100% Blues, Millennium Dance Company, and the Debbie Reynolds Studio Dance Ensemble. On Sunday, June 25, festival goers can put their hands together, stomp their feet, and groove to the beat of Captain Pants, Ripe, Dee Dee O'Malley, Presbyterian Gospel Choir, Moro Landis Dance Company, and the Art of the Dance Academy.

Live theatre is a vital part of the NoHo Arts District, with more than forty theatres in the community. Thirteen theatres in the NoHo Arts District and immediate vicinity will play host to more than 90 theatre companies and 1000 actors. Participating host theatres include the historic El Portal Center for the Arts, The Raven Playhouse, The Creative Center, NoHo Actors' Studio, Secret Rose Theatre, The Bitter Truth Playhouse, Theatre of Hope, Sanford Meisner Center, The Road Theatre Company, The Players Space, Ha Ha Café, and Interact Theatre Company.

This year's theatre program is the most comprehensive in Festival history with close to 100 performances and approximately 6000 complimentary tickets available to theatre patrons during the Festival. "The Festival’s free theatre program will be the best ever and will offer festival goers something for every palette -- a true "taste of NoHo theatres," said Lila Waters, chairwoman of the Festival’s Theatres committee.

There are dramas, comedies, musicals, standup comedy, and magic acts with shows ranging from G-rated family-friendly programs to adult-oriented R-rated shows. And for the first time, there will be a Spanish language play among the Festival offerings. Mujeres con Ganas, written by playwright Meche Martinez of Argentina, and adapted and directed by Alfie Martin, will be presented at The Bitter Truth Playhouse on June 24 and 25 at 12:30 p.m.

The significant participation of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences is a major highlight of this year's NoHo Festival. "The Magic of Television" is the title of the Academy's spectacular collection of exhibits and special events that will transform the Academy's plaza and driveways into a fairground featuring TV crafts and technology staffed by experts in their crafts. "The Academy peer groups want to give the public a behind the scenes look at TV production," said Mimi Gramatky, chairwoman of the Academy's festival committee and member of its Art Director and Set Decorator peer group.

Among the skills represented at the Academy's "fair within a fair" include art and set decoration, costume design and supervision, sound editing, special effects, cinematography, make-up, electronic production, and non-fiction programming.

Additional highlights include appearances by local TV personalities and soap opera stars; contestant auditions for the popular "Wheel of Fortune" game show and a "Name that Tune" contest featuring popular TV theme songs and sponsored by the Music peer group.

The stunt performers group will put on shows both days featuring trampoline and wire work, and classic fight scenes. The group will also perform two major stunts at 4:30 p.m. each day—a free fall from a 54-foot crane and the sky dive by a parachute stunt team that will be visible for 10 miles in all directions.

There's magic of a different kind for children and adults alike in the "Theatre of the Enchanted Forest" at Kids Court. Wizards, fairies, and fantasy characters from cave people to space people mingle with parents and children under the mystical Kids Court canopy. There's a 300-seat main stage theatre where audiences can settle in and enjoy a variety of adult and child performers including magicians, singers, dancers, jugglers, musicians, mimes, puppeteers, and storytellers. Other activities include hands-on arts and crafts, balloons, games, face painting, improvisational skits, visual and cultural art displays, and ethnic singers and dancers.

"Theatre of the Enchanted Forest" at Kids Court offers a wealth of educational, entertainment and creative activities hosted by Brandon Scott, bilingual comedian, magician, and television host. Performers include musician and composer Constance Demby and the "space bass," an instrument of her own creation, Theatre Sports Improvisation, jazz artist Ra Mitchell, Black Belt Academy, Kids on Stage for a Better World, the Patsy Metzger Dancers, Wind in the Willows, and 10-year old magician, Adrian "El Magnifico."

"International Square" is another unique aspect of the NoHo International Theatre & Arts Festival that brings together and celebrates the cultures of the world. Consulate generals from 16 countries including Argentina, China, Mexico, Romania, Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Thailand will promote the arts, culture, music, sports, and traditions of their respective countries, as well as distribute travel and tourism brochures and other promotional materials.

"The NoHo International Theatre & Arts Festival offers a wonderful opportunity for individuals, families, and friends to learn something about and experience the sights, sounds, arts, flavors, and traditions of the world's diverse cultures," said Nancy Bianconi, Executive Director of International Cultural Enterprises (ICE), the event management team.

Festival attendees with a passion for shopping will delight in the bustling arts and crafts marketplace that will take place along Lankershim Boulevard. This year's group of more than 100 booths offers a variety of unique gift items and one-of-a-kind creations from the finest local, regional, and international artisans and crafters.

Displays will feature ceramics, pottery, handcrafted furniture, handmade clothing and accessories, decorative items, gold and sterling silver jewelry, steel and bronze sculptures, blown glass, handmade soaps, children's clothing and toys, photography, and fine art. As an added bonus, adventuresome types can also discover such diverse forms of art as body art, hair art, healing arts, and the intuitive arts!

Visitors to NoHo can stroll through two open-air art galleries and take in the installations of avant-garde and fine art from established and emerging local artists. There's also an opportunity to check out what's hip and happening in a fashion extravaganza showcasing the works of local designers and produced by David Dion, the Festival's Visual Arts chairman and owner of VaVoom!, a popular NoHo boutique.

Festival goers can quench their thirst with an assortment of cool, refreshing beverages, and enjoy a variety of reasonably priced cuisine from top restaurants in the area and sample culinary delights from around the world in two international food courts.

"The variety of entertainment, shopping, and food choices at this year's Festival will make it difficult for festival goers to become familiar with all that NoHo has to offer. We welcome the opening of the Metro Rail Red Line in North Hollywood because it offers a fast, economical, and environmentally correct alternative to freeway traffic," said Loretta Dash, Universal City-North Hollywood Chamber of Commerce President. "It also makes it easy for people to come back and discover our great clothing stores, unique restaurants, outstanding theatre, and other unique things about NoHo and our community."

For more information, call the Festival Hotline at (818) 508-5327 or visit the Festival web site at www.nohoartsdistrict.com/festival2000