The More Life Festival: An Arts Intervention launches four-week event May 10 in Fort Worth

First week's events include Gallery Opening at the Fort Worth Community Arts Center, Fort Worth Opera's Opening of "Angels in America" and a Book Release Celebration at the Fort Worth Library

FORT WORTH, Texas - May 6, 2008 - The inaugural More Life Festival, a community-wide HIV/AIDS awareness and education event in Fort Worth, begins May 10 and will run through June 8, 2008.

More Life (http://e2ma.net/go/1068989536/967547/35583915/goto:http://www.morelifetexas.com/) is a collaboration of the three AIDS service organizations in Fort Worth (AIDS Outreach Center, Samaritan House and Tarrant County AIDS Interfaith Network) and the Fort Worth Opera, with more than 45 community partners and 60-plus performances, visual art exhibits, town halls and educational programs spread across several Fort Worth venues during the four-week festival.

The festival's first week includes the Fort Worth Opera's opening night of Angels in America on May 16 at the Scott Theatre, a Community Gallery Opening event on May 17 at the Fort Worth Community Arts Center (FWCAC), a Book Release Celebration for Angels at My Door on May 17 at the Fort Worth Central Library, ongoing exhibits at the FWCAC and a "Do All You Can" worship service at Unity Church of Fort Worth. Additionally, the Fort Worth City Council will make an official proclamation on May 13, naming May "More Life Festival month" in Fort Worth.

"The More Life Festival is the first event of its kind, not just in Fort Worth, but in the United States," said Jan Titsworth, More Life project manager. "Collectively, the AIDS service organizations have helped those impacted by HIV/AIDS since the disease first appeared in our area. Now, in partnership with the artistic community, they're taking a groundbreaking approach to AIDS education and awareness."

More than 20 years after the first AIDS case was reported, advances in treatment have prolonged and improved the quality of life for people living with HIV/AIDS, but there is still no cure for the disease. An estimated 10,000 people in Tarrant County are currently living with HIV, and as many as one-third are unaware of their status. The More Life Festival will provide an important opportunity to touch thousands of lives, with the hope of improving awareness, prevention and early treatment and reducing the stigma still associated with HIV/AIDS.

More Life week one events, exhibits and performances at the Fort Worth Community Arts Center include:

Voices Exhibit, May 10-31 in Back Gallery of FWCAC - Free
- An exhibition of art, writing and documentary interviews of real people in our community touched by HIV/AIDS
- Presented by Tarrant County College Northwest Campus, Humanities Division
The Faces of AIDS Exhibit, May 10-May 31 in Front Gallery of FWCAC - Free
- Dynamic touring photo exhibit that reveals a wide spectrum of life stories
- Sponsored by The Chicago Department of Health, underwritten by AIDS Outreach Center
Horizons - Hope for a Healthy World Exhibit, May 10-31 in Gallery 6 of FWCAC - Free
- Engaging, family-friendly exhibit to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS, with images from the National Geographic Society, AP, Reuters, Getty Images and PhotoSensitive
- Sponsored by AIDS Outreach Center, underwritten by BD Pharmaceuticals
Viewpoint: Kids' Expressions on AIDS exhibit, May 10-31 in Gallery 3 of FWAC - Free
- More than 100 insightful, original works by children in our community
- Presented by Boys & Girls Clubs of Fort Worth
Classical Action Concert, May 15 at 7 p.m. in Front Gallery at FWCAC - $50 per person (seating is limited)
- Measha Brueggergosman, a young Canadian soprano, presents an evening of cabaret songs
- Co-presented by Fort Worth Opera and Classical Action - Performing Arts Against AIDS
Fort Worth Opera's Angels in America, opening night May 16, 8 p.m. at the Scott Theatre, tickets $17-$52
- Opera based on Tony Kushner's Pulitzer-Prize winning play about AIDS (parental discretion advised)
- May 16 (opening night) at 8 p.m., plus Celestial Celebration after-party
- Additional performance dates - May 18, 24, 28, 31 and June 4 and 7
Special Dance/Theatrical Work co-presented by Dance Fort Worth and Stage West, opening night May 16, 8 p.m. in the Sanders Theatre at the FWCAC
- A highly-sensitive collaborative work combining two artistic approaches
- Additional performances May 16, 17, 23, 24, 30 & 31
Community Gallery Opening event, May 17, 2 p.m. - 5 p.m. at FWCAC - Free
- Join the celebration as More Life presents a myriad of visual arts throughout the Fort Worth Community Arts Center
- Musical performance on the FWCAC's veranda by the Banded Geckos
- Beverages and light hors d'oeuvres will be served
Teatro de la Rosa's Julie from Nowhere, May 17, 2 p.m. at the Scott Theatre - Free
- Play by Rob Bosquez, written especially for the More Life Festival, about a 15 year old with AIDS and her amazing endurance and hope
If it Feels Good, It Must be Wrong, May 17, 8 p.m. at the Scott Theatre, presented by Open Door Productions
- Musical comedy by Lisa Koch, Roxanne Ward and Vickie Shaw, with special guests to be announced that evening

Angels at My Door Book Release Celebration May 17, 10:30 a.m. - Free

First book of its kind in the U.S., written by Fort Worth children touched by HIV/AIDS and Deborah Jung, will be unveiled at the Fort Worth downtown library in the Tandy Lecture Hall

Event also includes readings from the book and a performance by Kids Who Care Musical Theatre, Fort Worth angel art displays and art competition awards

A Host of Angels art exhibit, May 10-June 8 - Free

A charming exhibit of nearly 100 original pieces of art by Fort Worth ISD elementary and middle school students at the Fort Worth Central Library Gallery and 14 area branch libraries

Presented by the Fort Worth ISD Art Department

Do All You Can, May 14 at 7 p.m. - Free

A worship service open to the community, celebrating acceptance and survival

Presented by Unity Church of Fort Worth, 5051 Trail Lake

About More Life: An Arts Intervention

A first-time event in Fort Worth, Texas, More Life: An Arts Intervention is a community-wide HIV/AIDS education and awareness festival running May 10, 2008 - June 8, 2008. A collaboration among AIDS Outreach Center, Fort Worth Opera, Samaritan House and Tarrant County AIDS Interfaith Network, the More Life Festival will be held in conjunction with the Fort Worth Opera's annual festival, which includes performances of Angels in America, an opera that explores the impact of AIDS on two families. For this initiative, More Life has engaged more than 45 community partners in 60-plus performances, visual art exhibits, town halls and educational programs. Additionally, Angels at My Door, a groundbreaking book with a collection of writings by children touched by HIV/AIDS, has been created. For more information, please visit http://e2ma.net/go/1068989536/967547/35583909/goto:http://www.morelifetexas.com/. More Life can also be found on My Space at http://e2ma.net/go/1068989536/967547/35583907/goto:http://www.myspace.com/morelifetexas and on Facebook by using the search term "More Life Festival."