Los Angeles Times to Hold Second Annual KidCity
Five stages to offer children’s fashion shows, celebrity readings, musical and dance performances, wildlife and science demonstrations
LOS ANGELES, July 1, 2004 – The second annual Los Angeles Times KidCity, a free two-day outdoor educational adventure designed for children ages 7-13, will be held from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Saturday, July 17, and Sunday, July 18, at the Rose Bowl, 1001 Rose Bowl Drive in Pasadena.
KidCity will feature five stages showcasing a variety of children’s and family entertainment, including children’s storytelling; celebrity readings; wildlife, science and martial arts demonstrations; and traditional ethnic dance and musical performances.
The weekend event also will include more than 50 interactive literacy, arts, science and nature demonstrations, as well as sports contests, games and recreational activities, and guest appearances by WB Looney Tunes characters Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Sylvester and Tweety.
The California Wellness Foundation and Reading by 9, The Times’ literacy campaign, will present free children’s vision screenings, which will be conducted by the Los Angeles Eye Institute. Scholastic Inc. will distribute free books to all children completing vision exams.
Admission to all activities is free. Parking is $7.
Detailed information about event participants, demonstrations and interactive sessions will be published in the official Los Angeles Times KidCity event program, which will appear in the July 11 edition of The Times. Event information also is available online at www.latimes.com/kidcity.
Heritage Stage
| • | Saturday: Traditional Indian dance and music by Ramya Harishankar; Melvin Eddy Blues Band; Lula Washington’s Youth Dance Ensemble; Danza Azteca Xochipilli; and Korean Classical Music & Dance Company |
| • | Sunday: Abalaye African Dance Ensemble; Kishin Daiko Japanese drumming; Reggae music by Chuck Morris & Freedom; and traditional California Indian dances by Jacque Nunez |
Live Action Stage
| • | Both days: Culture Shock Los Angeles Dance Troupe and sing-along with Strawberry Shortcake and Friends |
| • | Saturday: Dance performances by the Clippers Spirit Dance Team and A Hawaiian Experience. Hip-hop by HYPE, KidStarz and Off Limits with Johnny E. Martial arts demonstrations by Jun Chong Tae Kwon Do and Mestre Boneco Brazilian Capoeira. |
| • | Sunday: Australian pop star Samantha Jade. Performances by the Anaheim Ballet, Arte Flamenco and Mariachi Fiesta Mexicana. “My Gym” fitness session. |
Reading by 9 Storytelling Stage
| • | Saturday: Celebrity readings by actress and author Jane Seymour and director James Keach; Randy Jackson, “ American Idol” judge, author and Grammy Award-winning producer; and Emmy nominee Kimberly J. Brown. Beethoven’s Wig, an interactive sing-along adventure based on the composer’s musical masterpieces. The Imagination Machine, an introduction to creative writing through theater and music. The husband-and-wife clown act, The Jumbo Shrimp Circus, and Addi the Balloon Hat Guy. |
| • | Sunday: Two-time Emmy nominee Bryan Cranston, co-star of the Fox Television series, “Malcolm in the Middle,” will emcee Sunday’s Reading by 9 Road to Reading Adventure Awards program. Celebrity reading by Los Angeles Sparks guard Tamecka Dixon. Interactive storytelling by We Tell Stories, The Chameleons and “200 Years of American Music” by Razzle Bam Boom. |
Mervyn’s Stage
| • | Both Days: The younger set takes to the runway as they model the latest kids’ fashions and accessories. |
| • | Saturday: Brian Cranston emcees the second annual Los Angeles Times Above & Beyond Awards ceremony, which recognizes outstanding Southern California youngsters. Celebrity reading by actor Arlen Escarpeta, co-star of the Emmy Award-winning NBC television’s series, “American Dreams.” Shakespeare’s comic masterpiece, “Much Ado About Nothing,” is re-cast in early California and set to Mariachi music by the East Los Angeles Classic Theatre. |
| • | Sunday: Celebrity reading by actress Holly Robinson Peete. Performances by the Debbie Allen Dance Academy and Plaza de la Raza’s mariachi and ballet folklorico. |
Nature Stage
| • | Saturday: Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County presents “Albert the Bone Digger” and “Dino in my Dinner.” “Fun with Science” demonstration by STAR Eco Station environmental science education center. |
| • | Sunday: STAR Eco Station returns with “Snakes!” and “Fun With Science.” Wildlife Waystation presents “Reptiles – Friend or Foe?” Animal showcases by Wild Works! |
Sponsors
KidCity title sponsor is Mervyn’s. Contributing sponsor are Borders and The California Wellness Foundation. Media sponsors are Hoy, KDIS-AM (1110), KIIS-FM (102.7), Univision 34 and Viacom Outdoor.
About Reading by 9
Launched by the Los Angeles Times in 1998, Reading by 9 is a multi-year initiative aimed at helping Southern California kindergarten through third-grade students read at grade level by the age of nine. The program is conducted in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties, and is supported by almost 50 business, civic, education, media and philanthropic organizations.
About Above & Beyond Awards
The finalists, ages 7-13, were nominated by parents, teachers and community leaders who submitted 200-word essays describing their nominee’s contributions. A panel of judges – composed of parents, educators and community leaders from Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties – selects the winners from each of those counties. Judging categories are: Above & Beyond in my Community, Above & Beyond in my Classroom, and Above & Beyond in my Cultural Heritage.
Winners’ names will be published in a congratulatory advertisement to appear in The Times. Each winner will receive an Above & Beyond Awards statue, four annual passes to a local amusement park and an Above & Beyond awards t-shirt.
About the Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times, a Tribune Publishing company, is the largest metropolitan daily newspaper in the country and the winner of 35 Pulitzer Prizes, including five this year – the second-largest yearly total in the history of the awards. The Times publishes five daily regional editions including the Los Angeles metropolitan area, Orange and Ventura counties, the San Fernando Valley, and an Inland Empire edition covering Riverside and San Bernardino counties as well as a National edition. Additional information about The Times is available at www.latimes.com/mediacenter.
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