A BIG NOHO ARTS PROMO NEIGHBORHOOD'S WEEKEND FESTIVAL TO SHOWCASE BROAD DISPLAY OF TALENTS.

Byline: Valerie Kuklenski Staff Writer

To a motorist on an ordinary day, the stretch of Lankershim Boulevard between Cumpston Street and Magnolia Boulevard is an average North Hollywood thoroughfare, aside from its eye-catching landmark, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

But this weekend, that two-block stretch of asphalt will be closed to traffic, compelling a closer look at the heart of the NoHo Arts District. The street will be host to an assortment of bands, acting companies, fine artists and others as they entertain and hawk their wares to an estimated 100,000 visitors.

The NoHo Theatre & Arts Festival, the Valley's biggest annual event, offers free admission, free entertainment and free parking. Visitors may purchase fine art, food and discounted tickets to evening performances at local theaters.

``What makes this festival really unique is the easy access to the arts,'' said Joe Hooven, president of the Universal City-North Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. ``In this festival, you're going to be able to interact with the artists and see what they do.

``Our festival also brings business people and the arts together - which through history has been a wonderful mix, starting with the de Medicis in Italy,'' Hooven added. ``A lot of good relationships are established that way.''

This year, painting enthusiasts can watch a mural take shape before their eyes in the Art Zone. Muralist Susan Krieg is coming up with the basic design for ``Futurama,'' her vision of the NoHo Arts District in the future, and it will be executed by 16 artists working nonstop during the festival's hours, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The goal is to have the finished 10-by-16-foot mural installed permanently at the historic North Hollywood Train Depot at Lankershim and Chandler boulevards.

The Toyota of North Hollywood Stage at the boulevard's south end will feature tribute acts playing the music of Neil Young, Steely Dan, Queen, the Police and John Lennon, along with psychedelic rock from Funky Gloworm, big band and jazz from the Graham Dorsey Band and performances by six dance companies.

The Main Stage on the north end of the festival will offer a wide array of sounds from up-and-coming acts, several of them fronted by women, including Kelly's Lot (eclectic pop), Debby Holiday (hard rock) and Teresa James (country blues pop). Saturday's lineup leans toward rock and pop, while Sunday's brings in Southern rock, gospel, country blues, jazz and '70s soul.

Women also are prominent in the Center Stage schedule, including alternative pop acts Wendy K. Gray and Lea Trax's, acoustic guitar performances by Kimberly and Mara, and pop rock by Lily's Siren.

The Latin Village focuses on the flavors of South and Central America and Mexico, with ethnic food stalls, mariachi by Halcones de Jalisco, the tango team of Yolanda & Michael, rock en Espanol by Misrahi and Hijos del Sol, the romantic South American group Los Grecos and even a guy who paints on tortillas.

In an apparent nod to the once-popular interactive plays ``Tamara'' and ``Tony & Tina's Wedding,'' visitors in the ``All the World's a Stage'' area are likely to find themselves mingling with actors midperformance. For those more comfortable in a traditional audience role, there are scheduled performances on the Theatre Stage of familiar works such as ``A Midsummer Night's Dream'' and Studs Terkel's ``Working'' as well as shows for kids and original scenes.

In the Kids Kourt, there will be presentations by the Wildlife Way Station, A Cast of Kids theater troupe, the Fab Girls Variety Show and several storytellers.

Sponsors include the Universal City-North Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, Adelphia Communication, the Daily News and the Community Redevelopment Agency. For more information, call the chamber of commerce at [phone] or log onto www.nohoartsdistrict.com.

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(1 -- 3) Top, dancers and musicians will fill the stages at the NoHo Theatre & Arts Festival on Lankershim Boulevard this weekend. Left, Funky Gloworm plans to give audiences a portrait of psychedelic rock on the festival's south stage. Above, at the Kids Kourt, youngsters can take part in face painting, storytelling and other activities.