This year's participants include Academy Award-winning actor F. Murray Abraham, the talk show host Joe Franklin, the performance artists Reno and Penny Arcade, the writers Eduardo Machado and Mario Fratti and theatre companies such as The Living Theater, La MaMa ETC, New York Theatre Workshop and Joe's Pub. A full schedule has yet to be announced. The festival was founded in 1996 to demonstrate the thriving arts scene of Manhattan's Lower East Side. Last year's festival attracted more than 3,000 people.

On May 26 the festival offers a day-long block party featuring performances and a community arts fair with food and crafts vendors. Additional attractions throughout the three-day event include film, and multimedia, dance, poetry, puppeteers, musicians, readings and theatre 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.

Theater for the New City is located at 155 1st Avenue, between E. 9th and 10th Streets in Manhattan. The complete lineup and schedule will be posted online at www.theaterforthenewcity.net in mid-May. Call (212) 254-1109 for more information. Events are free and open to the public.