Beginning on February 2, 2010, audiences at the historic Garde Arts Center in New London, 325 State Street, will be transported around the world, to the ends of the Earth and into depths of the oceans by the new 5-event series, "Faces of Our Planet." Created by the Garde Arts Center, the Mystic-based Sea Research Foundation and the National Geographic Society, this exciting new series features musical performances, speakers and presenters, movie screenings, interactive features and more!

The series intends to provide people with diverse and inspiring views of our planet and intends to foster an appreciation for our natural world. The collaboration among the National Geographic Society, the Sea Research Foundation and the Garde creates the opportunity for exciting international programming that is both culturally and environmentally focused. The Garde is a nationally recognized arts center, featuring a restored 1,450-seat Moroccan-themed movie palace. It has enjoyed decades of success as the regional presenter and host of diverse artistic, cultural and educational programming in southeastern Connecticut.

"We are proud to embark on this exhilarating new theatrical journey, integrating arts, technology, adventure and discovery," said Garde Executive Director Steve Sigel. "By combining each of our institutions' audiences with our unique means of engaging, informing, inspiring and entertaining them, we believe we can even more deeply impact our understanding and appreciation of our common connection with, and responsibility for, the many facets of the planet we share."

The first event in the series will be a performance by the award-winning Soweto Gospel Choir on February 2 at 7:30pm. Coming up will be interactive games and activities featuring live penguins from the Mystic Aquarium, a movie screening, and multi-media presentations given by an inventor, a National Geographic explorer, an Arctic biologist and photographer, and the discoverer of the sunken Titanic!

Don't miss these upcoming events. Visit the Garde's website at www.gardearts.org, for more information about performances and tickets.