Canadian Stage Presents Spotlight on Italy Festival 3/15-26

Canadian Stage is proud to present its InterNational Theatre festival, Spotlight on Italy, a two-week celebration of Italian arts and culture at the Berkeley Street Theatre (26 Berkeley Street) from March 15 to 26, 2011. Tickets are $22 or $32, with Spotlight 4-packs available at $80 to $116 at 416.368.3110 or www.canadianstage.com

The Berkeley Street Theatre complex will transform into an Italian salon where audiences can see four ground-breaking Italian contemporary dance and theatre productions, along with a series of free events featuring Italian fashion, music, food and art that will create a festival atmosphere. Between performances, guests can relax over Italian antipasti and a glass of wine in the Berkeley lobby while enjoying live music, contemporary light installations by Bruno Billio and fashions by Versace and Carlucci, with different events taking place each night.

"Spotlight on Italy was created to help reflect the artistic and cultural diversity of Toronto," says Matthew Jocelyn, Artistic & General Director of Canadian Stage. "We're honoured to have such ground-breaking Italian companies and artists join us at the Berkeley for this unique, two-week festival."

In the first week (March 15 to 19) two productions are featured: La Natura Delle Cose and Nunzio. The second week (March 22 to 26) features Basso Ostinato and La Festa. All performances are presented in Italian, with English surtitles.

Each week of the festival will feature its own unique schedule of performances. In the first week, esteemed choreographer Virgilio Sieni presents La Natura Delle Cose, a dance piece inspired by an ancient Roman text by Lucretius. In the same evening, Nunzio, presented by Compagnia Scimone Sframeli, follows the conversation between an ailing man and his nomadic ally who are partners in their misfortune.

In the second week, choreographer Caterina Sagna's Basso Ostinato takes a look at the attempt to cover up oncoming death and decay through the words, fragments, and gestures of three men following a meal. The final performance will be Compagnia Scimone Sframeli's La Festa, which explores the absurd yet mundane squabbles of a typical family.

Spotlight on Italy will also showcase the best Italian music, food and wine Canada has to offer, including 2010 Juno Award-winner Dominic Mancuso (world music), jazz guitarist David Occhipinti, New York's Antonio Ciacca Trio (bebop, gospel, and blues), Vesuvius Ensemble (traditional folk), award-winning bassist Roberto Occhipinti, Michael Occhipinti and The Sicilian Jazz Project, and Montreal sensation Marco Calliari (world music/jazz). Festival-goers will enjoy the tastes of Italy from local eateries Biagio, Culinary Studio, Vecchio Frak Cafe, and Romagna Mia, and iYellow Wine Club will teach the basics of Italian wine to aspiring sommeliers.

The festival will also feature a staged reading of a new creation by Toronto-based artists, Theatre RUN, called The Pasolini Project, inspired by the life, work and tragic end of Italian poet, filmmaker and political figure Pier Paolo Pasolini, led by artists Adam Paolozza and Colleen MacPherson.

Canadian Stage is excited to provide an all-encompassing cultural experience with a feast of the sights, sounds, and tastes of the classic and sensuous country of Italy in Spotlight on Italy.

Surtitles provided by Sun Life Financial Arts Accessibility Sponsor.
Presented with assistance and support from our friends at Istituto Italiano di Cultura.
Supported by the Institut Français.
Media Sponsor: Telelatino

About the performances:
For the full Spotlight on Italy schedule and festival details, visit www.canadianstage.com/italy

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