Clearwater, FL: Funded by contributions from the Tampa Bay community, Eckerd Theater Company (ETC) will provide free performances on February 3, 2006 to Biloxi area children. Two persons traveling to Mississippi as part of the outreach effort were personally impacted by the devastation in Mississippi. They are actor Aleshea Harris, a native of the Gulfport/Biloxi, Mississippi area and video producer, Brian Satchfield.

"We appreciate all Eckerd Theater Company and their donors are doing for us-I don't think I could ever articulate how thankful we are that you are thinking of us and you wish to help us. You all are truly angels. While we are reminded daily of the destruction the storm brought, we also discover how much kindness and good there is in this world," Kelly Norris, Biloxi High School.

Two performances of The Little Moon Theater will take place February 3rd at 9:15 am and 12:30 pm at Biloxi Junior High School.

Upon learning of the destruction of Aleshea's hometown, the group returned to Clearwater asking if there was anything Ruth Eckerd Hall could do to help at Harvesting for Scholarships-a fall fundraising dinner for The Marcia P. Performing Arts Institute education programs. Donors gave generously and a special tour was fully funded for victims of both Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Wilma.

As plans for a documentary of the tour began to gel, it became more personal. Video producer, Brian Satchfield of Riley Arnold Productions disclosed that he was also raised in the same area and that his family home was completely destroyed. Brian will be part of the video crew documenting the trip.

"We realize the roles here could have been reversed. The arts are about compassion and understanding the world we live in," said Robert A. Freedman, President and CEO of PACT, Inc./Ruth Eckerd Hall. "As an arts institution, we believe that using the arts to assist in the healing process is part of what we can give to help these communities ravaged by the hurricanes. It is our obligation to be good citizens and help where we can."

Eckerd Theater Company is a professional theater company for young audiences comprised of professional artists, educators and administrators under the umbrella of The Marcia P. Hoffman Performing Arts Institute, the education center for Ruth Eckerd Hall at the Richard B. Baumgardner Center for the Performing Arts. In the 2004-2005 season, ETC served a total audience of 106,968 with 251 performances. Tours now extend throughout the eastern United States including extensive coverage in Florida. In the 2003-2004 season, ETC had its first international booking in Canada.

The Little Moon Theater is a play about a traveling theater company whose members are inspired to create unique performances that tackle the issues of the inhabitants in each town they visit. Each play-within-the-play deals with a character issue such as self-esteem, tolerance, daring to be different or daring to dream. This theater production is based on the literary work entitled Little Moon Theater written by Irene Haas, copyright © 1981, adapted for the stage by arrangement with Margaret K. McElderry Books, Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division, all rights reserved. The script used in the performances was written by Julia Flood, ETC Artistic Director. The lyrics and music were written by Lee Ahlin.

Riley Arnold Productions is a full-service digital photography and film & video production studio headquartered in Clearwater, Florida. The company has been at the forefront of the digital photography and digital video camera revolutions and continually develops innovative photographic, imaging and production techniques for its corporate and commercial clients. RileyArnold Productions regularly has its work published in regional, national and international advertising, promotional and entertainment campaigns. For more information on Riley Arnold Productions, please visit the company's website at www.rileyarnold.com.

Biloxi Junior High, 1424 Father Ryan Avenue, Biloxi, MS 39530