Queen Noor of Jordan to Speak at California Theatre

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April 11 Lecture Sponsored by Commonwealth Club/Silicon Valley
SAN JOSE, CA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 03/21/2005 -- Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan will provide her unique perspective on events in the Middle East when she visits the California Theatre in San José on Monday, April 11, an event sponsored by the Commonwealth Club/Silicon Valley.

Queen Noor, the American-born widow of King Hussein of Jordan, reigned as the Middle Eastern nation's queen from 1978 until 1999. She was born Lisa Najeeb Halaby in Washington, D.C., in 1951. She is the stepmother of His Highness King Abdullah II, the current ruler of the kingdom.

A graduate of Princeton University, her public life has been marked by a commitment to many causes, both at home in Jordan and abroad. Queen Noor has sponsored and directed activities throughout her nation to address the kingdom's needs, from education and community development to environmental conservation and the welfare of women and children. Internationally, she has assumed a role of leadership in the banishment of landmines as well as the education of the world's children.

The Queen is also a best-selling author, having penned her 1999 autobiography, "Leap of Faith: Memoirs of an Unexpected Life."

Leaders of the Commonwealth Club were pleased at the prospect of having a woman of the Queen's stature visit San José.

"We are pleased to be able to honor Queen Noor in this wonderfully restored, majestic venue," said Trish Newfarmer, director of the Commonwealth Club/Silicon Valley. "Its capacity helps us ensure that all who wish to come honor this remarkable woman will be able to do so. Until now, there really has not been the perfect venue for this type of event -- we are pleased that there now is."

The visit also drew praise from Team San José, the public benefit corporation that operates the 77-year-old, 1,119-seat theater, reopened in September 2004 after an extensive renovation. Since its reopening, the theater has played host to a number of events, including the 2004-2005 season of Opera San José, a weeklong screening of the cinematic classic "Casablanca," and the unveiling of Apple's new iPod line, co-hosted by Apple executives and new Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees U2.

"The Queen's visit will allow us to showcase the splendor and versatility of this beautifully restored venue," said Michael Ross, CEO of Team San José.

Registration for the event begins at 6:45 p.m. The Queen will speak at 7:30 p.m., and will sign copies of her book at 8:45 p.m. Tickets for the event are $20 for Commonwealth Club members and $35 for non-members. Priority seating is also available for $65. For reservations, please call 800.847.7730 or visit http://www.commonwealthclub.org/sv.html.

About The Commonwealth Club

The Commonwealth Club began hosting programs in Silicon Valley in the late 1980s to provide a convenient face-to-face forum for public discussion to the growing population of what has become one of the most influential regions of the United States and the world. In May 1997, through a merger with the existing World Forum of Silicon Valley, the Commonwealth Club/Silicon Valley was established to provide a broad public forum for the South Bay. Today the Club hosts numerous events from Palo Alto to downtown San Jose. For more information about the Commonwealth Club/Silicon Valley, visit http://www.commonwealthclub.org.

About Team San José

Team San José, a public benefit corporation, was founded in December 2003, for the exclusive purpose of ensuring that the City of San José's six convention and cultural facilities are managed more efficiently and responsive to customer needs. The Team San José Board of Directors is composed of local community stakeholders, including hoteliers, organized labor, cultural arts groups and the convention and visitors bureau. These stakeholders share in the sales and marketing of the facilities, and ultimately, the collaboration will enhance customer experience, reduce operating costs and improve the overall economic impact to San José businesses.

408 Almaden Boulevard
San José, California 95110
Phone: 408.295.9600
Fax: 408.295.3937
Web: http://www.sanjose.org

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