Twentywonder benefit for Down Syndrome Asssociation of Los Angeles

The Down Syndrome Association of Los Angeles (DSALA) will present TWENTYWONDER, a One-Night World’s Fair benefit event to support those born with Down syndrome living in greater Los Angeles. The evening will feature a unique array of specimens from the world of Arts and Sciences from entomologist Taylor Lura to movie riffing with Cinematic Titanic.

TWENTYWONDER will be held on Saturday, March 6 from 6:00 p.m. – midnight at the Veterans’ Memorial Building (4117 Overland Avenue) in Culver City.

Conceived by DSALA Senior Director Jim Hodgson, TWENTYWONDER is based on Hodgson and his brother Joel’s (“Mystery Science Theater 3000”) annual festival SuperBall, which is known by Arts and Science industry professionals as the “carnival of the mind.”

“TWENTYWONDER is the cause-driven cousin of SuperBalls 1-8. The recipe of TWENTYWONDER is easy: take a soulful collection of sixty creators, supporters, builders, entertainers, friends and volunteers who've been gathering for years in the name of SuperBall, create a new name derived from the medical term Trisomy 21(Down syndrome), expand the fan base to new and far-reaching sectors of society, then bring it all together for a One-Night World's Fair event to raise support and awareness for those born with Down syndrome living in the Greater Los Angeles area,” said DSALA Senior Director Jim Hodgson.

He added, “The thrill for me in assembling TWENTYWONDER is in the possibility that, just maybe, in the process of bringing genuine benefits to the Down syndrome community, we'll create an evening of a great many singular moments of surprise in the midst of the one great marvel, which is the simple alchemy of human beings gathered together in creativity, curiosity, joy, and wonder."

"Nothing short of spectacular, Jim Hodgson is bringing three valuable Los Angeles communities together for better understanding,” said DSALA Executive Director Gail Williamson. “The arts and science communities and the community of people with Down syndrome march to their own drummer and see the world through honest and un-edited eyes."

DSALA Board Chair Gina Vivona added, "The DSALA is looking forward to what Jim has created in TWENTYWONDER. It should be a TWENTYWONDER-ful evening for us all!”

Supporters of TWENTYWONDER commented:

“I had always thought SuperBall couldn't be any cooler, but then Jim Hodgson turned it into TWENTYWONDER, a benefit for DSALA. It's going to be a great evening,” proclaimed Sam Simon, co-creator of “The Simpsons.”

Don Foster, Executive Producer of “Two and a Half Men” and Executive Consultant on “The Big Bang Theory" said, “I met Jim in passing almost fifteen years ago. Over the years we'd bump into one another at a concert or a comedy show or an art opening. If I saw Jim, I knew I was in exactly the right spot that night. I've never met anyone as open-minded and open-hearted with such a great eye for the unpretentiously cool. When he told me what he had up his sleeve for March 6th, I knew I had to be there."

The Down Syndrome Association of Los Angeles was begun over thirty years ago by fifteen forward-thinking parents of children born with Down syndrome. In an era when society's predominant response to individuals with Down syndrome was to place them in institutions, these pioneers stood up for what is right, took control, and opened up the dialog that all grateful new parents in the Down syndrome/Trisomy 21 community are advancing today.

Jim Hodgson concluded, “When you consider the significant improvements in the lives of people with Down syndrome in the last thirty years, it's exciting to anticipate how much more positive change is yet to come, and you can't help but want to be a part of that. Just by attending and supporting TWENTYWONDER will help make a difference.”

Tickets to TWENTYWONDER are $50.00 (minimum donation, per person) and are available at TwentyWonder.org. Each ticket is good for one entrance into the benefit event and is good for all attractions. Guests must be 21 or older to attend. The first 750 people through the door will receive the TWENTYWONDER Amulet crafted by Brad Oldham. Food from Border Grill and soft drinks/alcohol beverages are available for purchase. All proceeds from the event will benefit the Down Syndrome Association of Los Angeles.

For more information on the event visit
www.TwentyWonder.org or www.DSALA.org.

TWENTYWONDER ATTRACTIONS:

ENTRANCE AND LOBBY OF VETERANS’ MEMORIAL BUILDING
- The Batmobile
- Border Grill Truck
- An interstellar peek through Ed Quirk’s Telescope
- Musical stylings of Eban Schletter on the Theremin and Alex Burke on the vibraphone

VETERANS’ MEMORIAL ROTUNDA ROOM

6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. – midnight
- A visual mix tape of short form video content from Funny or Die, The Ernie Kovacs Library
- Vintage Warner Brothers animations assembled by cartoon historian Jerry Beck
- Come on back after the stage show for all the stuff you might have missed earlier (rumor has it the Milkman will be making his rounds).

THE VETERANS’ MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM

6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
- The aMazeMent!!! A one-of-a-kind walk-through environment sure to school you
- The Kids of Widney High with a quick set of their hits
- Entomologist Pavilion: Taylor Lura with a collection of preserved and living insects
- Sockie-Okie: Digital puppetry meets karaoke by using an image of your face and the musical hits of today
- The Young Twins with another monozygotic experiment of telepathic conveyance
- The Poubelle Twins keeping us on our toes
- The Craft Pavilion: Funky handmade items for sale with 25% (or more) of sales benefiting the DSALA.

THE VETERNS’ MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM STAGE

8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
PERFORMANCES BY:
- Grant-Lee Phillips
- Dana Gould
- Mr. Tremendous
- Sarah Silverman
- KXLU Radio DJ
- Cinematic Titanic

10:00 p.m. - midnight
-Mega RockBand (the Harmonix game)

THE VETERANS’ MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM GARDEN ROOM AND PATIO AREA

10:00 p.m. – midnight

-Observe, delight to, and participate in the great dance collective in the Garden Room
-Check out J.P. Inc. (he toured with DEVO!) in the Patio Area