2002 Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRESS CONTACT:
Barbara Webb
(415) 453-9678

Sun & Moon Ensemble to Perform
in the 2002 Yerba Buena Gardens Festival

San Francisco. CA. July 23, 2002. The Sun & Moon Ensemble, a dynamic new performing arts group in the Bay Area, is about to launch a summer residency at Yerba Buena Gardens in San Francisco as part of the 2002 Yerba Buena Gardens Festival. Well known in the Yerba Buena Gardens from their productions in the San Francisco Youth Arts Festivals in 2001 and 2002, the Sun & Moon Ensemble will now appear in the Gardens most weekend afternoons throughout August and September with scenes and characters from two works: Procession of the Sun & Moon and Procession of Nature-Earth, Air, Sea.

The residency at Yerba Buena Gardens is unique in that the group has been invited to show not only its finished products, but also experimentation and works in progress. The fascinating process behind the work is made transparent, and in the early weeks of the residency, onlookers may find themselves witnessing a lively improvisation with an actor mastering a new role, live musical accompaniment in the making, or a practice run-through for a full performance.

Under the artistic direction of Maria Lexa, the group spellbinds young and old alike with an array of 10 ft. high giant puppets, colorful masked characters, theatre, dance, procession, and live music. Humor blends with poetry as the group weaves its way through the crowd, and in the twinkling of an eye the performers switch from tightly choreographed scenes to totally spontaneous interaction with the audience.

The puppets, masks and costumes are works of art in themselves. Many of them are hand crafted in Denmark where director Maria Lexa worked for 20 years as an actress, master teacher, theatre group leader, and international festival organizer.

During the summer season the Sun & Moon Ensemble can also be seen at the opening of the newly designed Union Square on Saturday, July 27 at 2 pm.

On Sept. 21,22,28,29, the Sun & Moon Ensemble will culminate their
summer residency with processions through the Yerba Buena Gardens at 1 pm and performances with audience seating at 3 pm on the Rooftop area next to Zeum. After the performances, audience members are invited to meet the giant puppets, masked characters, and musicians at close hand and chat with the director and assistants about the shows.

Schedule: Sun & Moon Ensemble at the 2002 Yerba Buena Gardens Festival:
-work in progress, Aug. 3,4, 10,11, 17,18 & Sept. 7,8, 14,15, 1pm-4pm
-processions (1pm) and performances (3pm) Sept. 21-22 & Sept. 28-29
All of the performances are free of charge to the public.

Free artistic and cultural programming in Yerba Buena Gardens is made possible through the generous support of the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency, Arts International, the San Francisco Marriott, KTB Management Group, the Four Seasons Hotel, the San Francisco Foundation, the Zellerbach Family Fund, the Fleishhacker Foundation, and other sponsors.

Yerba Buena Arts & Events is located at 760 Howard Street, San Francisco, CA 94103. Phone (415) 543-1718; Fax (415) 543-1755; e-mail: ybgf@ybgf.org
http://ybgf.org

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Yerba Buena Gardens Festival

produced by Yerba Buena Arts & Events

Mailing Address:
760 Howard Street
San Francisco CA 94103
Phone: 415 543 1718
Fax: 415 543 1755
info@ybgf.org
www.myspace.com/ybgfestival