Stage surprises
Luminato always has a couple of ambitious projects in its lineup, and this year’s stage blowout is surely the world premiere of Dash Arts’ One Thousand And One Nights, dramatized and directed by Tim Supple, whose multi-ethnic version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream was a 2008 Luminato hit. The two-part show runs June 7 to 19. Look for two local companies to get the spotlight: Necessary Angel stages the English-language premiere of Louise Dupré’s Tout Comme Elle (Just Like Her), a look at the mother-daughter bond described as a masterful oratorio for 50 voices (June 13 to 18, at the Bluma Appel), as well as a new version of Andromache (June 10 to 19, at the Theatre Centre). And Theatre Smith-Gilmour, known for its stage adaptations of fiction by Chekhov turns to a Chinese writer for LU XUN blossoms (July 15 to 18, at Isabel Bader).
Dance lovers will eat up the return of UK star choreographer Akram Khan, who pairs with frequent collaborator Nitin Sawhney again for Confluence (June 16 to 18). And Indian superstars Kabir Bedi and Lisa Ray collaborate for TAJ (June 10 to 12), a unique love story about the Taj Mahal that features input by choreographer Lata Pada and a script by John Murrell.
Finally, if you want a bit of magic to illuminate your Luminato, check out David Ben’s Natural Magick (June 10 to 16) and the acclaimed troupe Vodavil, who combine mime, illusion, vaudeville and comedy for an adult audience (June 17 to 18).
Literary lustre
This year’s literary component is one of Luminato’s best, thanks to curator Devyani Saltzman, who’s programmed some of the world biggest stars, including Jeanette Winterson (June 17, Reference Library), Ann Patchett (June 1, Al Green) and the great Joyce Carol Oates (June 15, Glenn Gould Studio), whose memoir, A Widow’s Story, has taken the literary scene by storm.
Modern Day Shahrazads (June 16, Al Green) features a formidable slate, including Leila Aboulela, Elizabeth Hay, Maxine Kong Kingston and Miriam Toews (June 16, Al Green). Luminato goes back to the iconic Persian original for UK-based Lebanese writer Hanan al-Shaykh’s stage adaptation of One Thousand And One Nights. NOW’s Susan G. Cole interviews al-Shaykh on June 13 (TIFF Bell Lightbox).
Visual value
In Berlin-based interdisciplinary artist David Levine’s Habit, you peer through windows in a house-like set at three actors who repeat scripted dialogue in a provocative mix of performance art, theatre and reality TV. At OCADU (June 10 to 11, 13 to 19).
Responsive architecture, interactive art or a vision of a post-human world: whatever you call it, now you don’t have to fly to Europe to see an ongoing installation, Sargasso, by Toronto’s Philip Beesley, People’s Choice winner at last fall’s Nuit Blanche. Head to Allen Lambert Galleria, June 8 to 18.
Quebec couturier Denis Gagnon’s Winter Garden lobby installation, Garden Of Roses, features sculptural clothing inspired by the National Ballet’s Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland (June 10 to 19).
Musical friends
This year’s edition of Luminato’s Canadian Songbook (Massey Hall, June 15) is a tribute to singer/songwriter Ron Sexsmith, who performs alongside Blue Rodeo’s Greg Keelor, Broken Social Scene’s Kevin Drew, the Barenaked Ladies, Andy Kim and many more.
