Luminato Festival Announces June 2010 Dance & Theatre Schedule

Luminato, Toronto Festival of Arts and Creativity, is pleased toreveal the three curatorial threads being explored at the upcoming Luminato Festival, asexemplified by the 2010 theatre and dance program. From the relationship between east andwest, the way rights and freedoms are expressed artistically, to a celebration of the diva, theseover-arching concepts unify the many artistic disciplines presented at Luminato, and provideFestival-goers with a thought-provoking way to navigate the 2010 Festival program.

Luminatotakes place June 11-20, 2010. Tickets go on sale April 15.

"Each year Luminato's programming team works on creating a cohesive program that weaveselements of the Festival together," says Artistic Director Chris Lorway. "The first step is to lock ina number of significant anchor pieces. From there, we work with artists and companies to fleshout some of the ideas that these anchor works represent. Our hope is that the final result of thisprocess will enhance the festival experience as audiences discover and follow these threadsacross all artistic disciplines."

Included among these 2010 curatorial threads is the notion of east and west, and the way inwhich this familiar division informs how individuals and communities define themselves. Theanchor project within this theme is Volcano Theatre's The Africa Trilogy. Three years in themaking and featuring an international team of playwrights, directors and designers, The AfricaTrilogy explores how geography and notions of society are sometimes defined by Westerngeneralizations about this somewhat misinterpreted continent.

The way in which human rights are expressed artistically is another unifying concept beingexpressed through Luminato's 2010 Festival programming. Whether artistic, intellectual, orhuman rights, the idea of standing up for what one believes in is a constant cross-culturalstruggle. Toronto artist Erika Batdorf explores the quest to find one's voice amidst oppression inOne Pure Longing: Táhirih's Search, while Halifax's 2b theatre company's Homage exploresthe moral rights associated with an artist's ability to control the destiny of their work once it hasbeen turned over to someone else.In Luminato's previously announced operatic anchor Prima Donna, Rufus Wainwright hascreated an archetype as the nucleus of his opera: the powerful - yet fragile - woman. The 2010festival celebrates this notion with the curatorial thread of the diva.

In their first North Americanappearance Syria's Enana Dance Theater presents Julia Domna, a piece about a famous Syrianfolk hero who personifies this notion."We're thrilled to announce Luminato's curatorial threads and the way in which they unifyelements of our theatre and dance program," says Luminato CEO Janice Price. "As we beginannouncing our fourth Festival season, the 2010 theatre and dance program exemplifiesLuminato's position as Canada's premier international multi-disciplinary arts festival."Luminato will continue announcing its Festival lineup over the next couple of weeks, which willfurther elaborate on the Festival's 2010 curatorial themes.

THEATREThe Africa Trilogy - World PremiereA triple bill of new plays, The Africa Trilogy examines the complicated relationship existingbetween Africa and the West. Inspired by the 2005 Massey Lectures by Stephen Lewis, TheAfrica Trilogy explores the human reality of this complex global relationship from three distinctpoints of view. The piece features a creative ensemble of three writers and three directorsspanning three continents. Directors Ross Manson, Liesl Tommy, and Josette Bushell-Mingoalong with playwrights Roland Schimmelpfennig, Christina Anderson, and Binyavanga Wainainadraw upon their own cultural experiences in order to question the way we see and imagine eachother. Commissioned by Luminato and the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, The Africa Trilogy isa production of Toronto's Volcano Theatre and is presented in association with HarbourfrontCentre. The performance runs for a total of three hours 30 minutes, including two intermissions.In previews Thursday, June 10 - Sunday, June 13; Tuesday, June 15 (opening night) -Sunday, June 20 at the Fleck Dance Theatre$30 - 45

One Pure Longing: Táhirih's Search - World PremiereIranian poet and teacher Táhirih challenged Tehran's cultural conventions in the mid-1800s byremoving her veil, ultimately leading to her execution. Inspired by Táhirih's poetry, One PureLonging: Táhirih's Search explores faith, freedom of expression, and women's rights. Theperformance utilizes song, poetry recitation, and movement to represent the courage needed tospeak out against oppressive forces. Designed by Bretta Gerecke, One Pure Longing: Táhirih'sSearch features an international cast lead by acclaimed theatre director Erika Batdorf.Commissioned by Luminato, the production runs 75 minutes.Friday, June 11 - Monday, June 14 at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre$35

Best BeforeBest Before combines video gaming with live theatre to create an inventive participatoryexperience. Each audience member navigates an anonymous avatar, interacting with a panel ofon-stage experts - an electronic artist, a game tester, a politician, and a traffic flagger. Asimulated city, BestLand, gradually develops as each audience member adds their personaltouch via game controllers. BestLand evolves and devolves as the audience clashes andcollaborates while making personal, social, and political decisions. Best Before is a work fromtheatre company Rimini Protokoll, known for attracting attention throughout Europe for blurringthe line between reality and fiction. Best Before is commissioned by PuSh InternationalPerforming Arts Festival and co-produced by Goethe-Institut, Brighton Festival, Hebbel - TheaterBerlin GmbH, Luminato, Toronto Festival of Arts and Creativity, PuSh International PerformingArts Festival, Rimini Apparat, The Cultch, and La Bâtie - Festival de Genève. Supported by ArtsPartners in Creative Development and the Federal Republic of Germany.Wednesday, June 16 - Saturday, June 19 at the Berkeley Street Theatre$35

HomageBased on the work of Canadian sculptor Haydn Davies, Homage documents the commission,construction, and demolition of the artist's first large-scale outdoor commission. Homageexplores the meaning of public art, proprietorship, and the creative spirit by examining issuessurrounding artistic rights. By Halifax's 2b theatre company, Homage features an award-winningcreative team and a custom-built theatre-in-the-round designed by architect Peter Blackie.Homage runs for 90 minutes with no intermission.Thursday, June 17 - Saturday, June 19 at the Imperial Oil Opera Theatre$35

Julia Domna - North American PremiereMaking their North American Premiere, Syria's celebrated Enana Dance Theatre presents JuliaDomna. The daughter of a high priest and a diva in her own right, Julia Domna was the wife ofRoman Emperor Septimius Severus, and was widely believed to be the real power behind thethrown. She is also one of Syria's most revered historical folk icons. Julia Domna uses traditionalSyrian dance to bring the story of one of ancient history's most extraordinary women to life. JuliaDomna runs 80 minutes.Friday, June 18 - Saturday, June 19 at the MacMillan Theatre$35

West Side Story Suite and Opus 19/The Dreamer with a new work by Jorma Elo - WorldPremiereA thrilling triple bill celebrates the work of renowned American choreographer Jerome Robbins,with a new work from Finland's Jorma Elo. West Side Story Suite uses seven of the popularsong and dance numbers from the famous Broadway collaboration with Leonard Bernstein andStephen Sondheim. Opus 19/The Dreamer demonstrates the enormous range of choreographictalent that Jerome Robbins possessed, and the dual European and American influences in hiswork. Finnish choreographer Jorma Elo's work is notable for its intricate fusion of the classicaland contemporary, as displayed in this world premiere, his first work for The National Ballet ofCanada. This program runs two hours.June 4 - June 6, June 9 - June 13 at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts$20 - $210.

Two Faced Bastard - Canadian PremiereTwo Faced Bastard defies traditional conventions by portraying two simultaneous shows oneither side of a slated curtain. The piece removes offstage space, with cast members exiting oneside of the stage, only to enter through the curtain to the other. A combination of modern dance,and abstract movement, Two Faced Bastard creates two completely different viewingexperiences depending on what side of the stage an audience member is seated. The pieceplays on the notion of ‘us vs. them,' as represented in the Festival's east and west theme.Arranged by award-winning choreographers Gideon Obarzanek and Lucy Guerin, Two FacedBastard is a production of Australia's Chunky Move dance and theatre company and runs for 60minutes with no intermission.Friday, June 11 - Sunday, June 13 at the Imperial Oil Opera Theatre$50

ABOUT LUMINATO

For 10 extraordinary days in June, Toronto's stages, streets, and public spaces are illuminatedwith arts and creativity. Luminato is an annual multi-disciplinary celebration of theatre, literature,music, food, dance, celebrations, visual arts, fashion, film, and magic.For more information, visit luminato.com. Tickets will be available at 10:00 AM, April 15 throughall Ticketmaster outlets (call 416-872-1111 or visit www.ticketmaster.ca)