ANKARA, Turkey — Auburn resident and performing artist Leland Faulkner has been selected to represent the United States at one of the most prestigious children’s theater festivals in the world — The Little Ladies Little Gentlemen International Children’s Theatre Festival.

The festival was instituted by the Directorate General of the Turkish State Theaters, which has been arranging the National Independence and Children’s Festival in Ankara between April 25 and 30 each year since 2005. The Turkish State Theater, which aims to raise the quality and level of the festival, starts the arrangements by a detailed invitation letter.

The festival has hosted 58 foreign companies from various countries, 27 state theater troupes, 55 different plays and 97 performances since 2005.