Kurt Vonnegut, Edward Albee and Richard Foreman will read from their work. Marilyn Sokol, Ruth Maleczech, Estelle Parsons, Everett Quinton and Quentin Crisp will perform. And Maria Irene Fornes will contribute a new 10-minute play. It's all part of the 1998 annual Lower East Side Festival of the Arts, to be held May 29-31 in and about Theatre for the New City at First Ave. and E. 10th St.

The three-day fest of theatre and theatre-related events will also feature Shami Chaikin performing Joseph Chaikin and Sam Shepard's The War in Heaven, and Janet and Brian Gari, daughter and grandson of Eddie Cantor, performing a tribute to the legendary entertainer. Participating performing groups include the New York Shakespeare Festival, the New York Theatre Workshop, the Ontological Hysterical Theatre, P.S. 122, the Irondale Ensemble, and Nuyorican Poets Cafe.

Other scheduled performers include Penny Arcade, Lillian Lux, Rome Neal, and Malachy McCourt, brother of Angela's Ashes author Frank McCourt.

The weekend will commence on May 29 at 6 PM in the Joyce and Seward Johnson Theatre at TNC. For further information on times and places call (212) 254-1109.

-- By Robert Simonson