THEATRE ARTS AND WINE FESTIVAL ON THE ASBURY PARK ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR AUGUST 5 AND 6

Music and Drama Highlights Include Uptown Express Pops Ensemble and Shakespeare

Theatre of New Jersey ASBURY PARK, N.J., July 25, 2006 – Pop music, classic Shakespeare, artisans and plenty of wine to sample are on the Asbury Park entertainment agenda on Saturday, August 5 and Sunday, August 6 at the Paramount Theatre on the boardwalk.

The event, the “Convention Hall Arts and Wine Festival,” will be hosted by the historic Convention Hall/Paramount Theatre and Asbury Partners, master developer of the 56-acre Oceanfront Asbury waterfront redevelopment. The festival will be held from noon to 5 p.m. each day.

The entertainment will include performances by Uptown Express, a Vocal Ensemble derived from the New York Gay Men’s Chorus, which under the direction of James Followell has been delighting concert and cabaret audiences for 16 years, and the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, performing “The Tempest,” Shakespeare’s final masterpiece and an enchanting story for the whole family to enjoy. Shows will take place on the stage of the Paramount Theatre at 1 and 4 p.m. both days.

Wine sampling and wine making tips will be available with Grape Beginnings Wine School of Freehold, N.J. on the second floor of the Paramount Theatre, both days from 12 to 5 p.m. During the wine sampling, live jazz music will fill the air between stage performances on Saturday with guitar/sax duo Jim Pellegrino and John Carlini and on Sunday with guitarist Eric Warren. The wine sampling will require a $5 donation to benefit the Beacon Light Fund.

Outdoors, local artisans will line the boardwalk to display and/or sell various mediums. In addition, a professional kite flyer display by Sky Festival Productions will decorate the beach.

“This is a great opportunity to relax and take in all of the beauty of a summer afternoon on the Asbury Park beach and boardwalk,” said Joni Forte, events director for the Asbury Park Convention Hall/Paramount Theatre. “If there is any question why people predict that Asbury Park will soon regain the title of Jewel of the Jersey Shore, it is answered with this experience.”

Asbury Park will also feature mixed-genre boardwalk concerts on most weekends, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., through Labor Day.

All events are free, excluding the wine sampling, with beach badges required for admission to the Asbury Park Beach.