Stage Door News
Stage Door News
Toronto, ON – Luminato Festival will turn on the Hearn from June 10 to 26, opening the doors to Toronto’s majestic, decommissioned power plant, the Hearn Generating Station (440 Unwin Ave.), situated on the waterfront in the Portlands, minutes from the downtown core.
Access to the building, reimagined as the largest cultural and community centre in the world (itself a piece of art) for Luminato’s 17-day residency, is completely free. There’s lots to see and do on site without spending a dime, from free tours of the space (The Hearn Trail, presented by Timberland®); evening concerts on the New Canadian Music Stage supported by Slaight Music in the outdoor German-style beer garden, visual art installations from Canadian artists Scott McFarland, Michel de Broin, Stan Douglas, the Art Gallery of Ontario (presenting a seldom seen Pierre Huyghe piece), OCAD University, Younger Than Beyoncé Gallery, and much more.
The Hearn Generating Station is open to the public from Tuesday to Sundays (closed Mondays) from June 10 to 26, with some exceptions to accommodate ticketed programming. Opening hours are Tuesday to Friday, 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., or close of programming, and Saturday and Sunday, 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. or close of programming.
There will be a range of food and beverage options on site including the Biergarten presented by Mill Street with custom menus from Parts & Labour, buffet-style Backstage Meals by Capers Catering and an immersive French bistro style dining experience in Le Pavillon by Fred Morin and John Bil. Beverage options include Campo Viejo and Stoneleigh wines, Absolut cocktails, spirits, Mill Street beers, glacéau smartwater and Van Houtte® coffee.
Getting there is easy. Hop on the TTC (see suggested routes here), enjoy the peace of mind of Car2Go (with 20 drop and go spots on site at the Hearn), bike along the Martin Goodman trail, reserve and pay for parking when you book tickets in advance, or use Luminato’s first-come, first-served free shuttle bus, running from Union Station with pick-ups at key points along the way.
On June 10 at 6 p.m., join Artistic Director Jorn Weisbrodt and the Luminato team to officially turn on the Hearn for the first time in more than 30 years. At 7:30 p.m. Duke Redbird, First Nations Ojibwe Elder shares a prayer and a welcome; at 8 p.m. Team FX, a Canadian base-jumping team, free fall from the top of the 770 foot Hearn Smokestack. Swing by for a drink, check out the Hearn site, and enjoy free music in the Biergarten at 8:30 p.m. Unsound Toronto kicks off at 9 p.m. and the party goes late.
FREE PROGRAMMING: NEW CANADIAN MUSIC STAGE SUPPORTED BY SLAIGHT MUSIC
Luminato Festival is delighted to announce the lineup for the New Canadian Music Stage supported by Slaight Music, showcasing Canada’s next generation of musicians. Situated in the Biergarten at the Hearn Generating Station, grab a drink and a bite to eat, and get to know up-and-coming Canadian talent.
Co-curated by Slaight Music and Luminato Festival’s music programmer Derek Andrews, the New Canadian Music Stage will feature an eclectic lineup including: country music singer / songwriter Jessica Mitchell; world music group Turkwaz; master of the Persian santur Sina Bathaie; Canadian Radio Music Award nominee Liam Titcomb; NOW Magazine’s 2013 & 2014 Best Female Vocalist Emma-Lee; Canadian Folk Music Award winner T. Nile; multi-lingual singer DIA; award winning guitarist Maneli Jamal; Mohawk singer-songwriter Logan Staats; Juno-nominated Suzie Vinnick; the Brantford-based rock band Ascot Royals; francophone folk / rock singer Mélanie Brulée; Juno winner Tomi Swick; and the 8-pc brass ensemble Zuze.
FREE PROGRAMMING: THE HEARN TRAIL PRESENTED BY TIMBERLAND®
Explore the past, present and future of the Hearn Generating Station on The Hearn Trail. At one time the largest enclosed building in Canada, the Hearn continues to excite imaginations about the city’s past as well as its future. Travel through time with expert volunteer tour guides or set-out alone on a self-guided journey by following the Timberland boot prints to unique locations throughout the festival site.
These bespoke tours, crafted by Luminato Festival’s Nicole Hurtubise in collaboration with Six Nations playwright Falen Johnson and Spacing editor Shawn Micallef, will take visitors through this unique Toronto landmark that has been closed to the public for over 30 years. Learn the Indigenous history and significance of the waterfront to the area’s First Nations and the impact of European settlement on both the land and people. Explore the building’s short working history as a coal powered generating station, its present re-animation as the site of the 2016 Luminato Festival and its future potential as a 21st century cultural centre. Book online at luminatofestival.com to join a FREE guided tour along The Hearn Trail. Space is limited to 10 participants per tour.
FOOD AND DRINK: BIERGARTEN PRESENTED BY MILL STREET
Step just outside the Hearn into a traditional Bavarian-style Biergarten, presented by Mill Street, with a Parts & Labour twist. Enjoy a selection of sausages, sides, and Mill Street beers in a casual setting outfitted with picnic tables, bars and games. Striking a balance between comfort and elegance with a “feel-good” focus, Parts & Labour produces straightforward, accessible food. This, combined with Mill Street’s brews, makes the Biergarten the perfect spot to take a break between shows. Open daily, during Hearn opening hours.
FOOD AND DRINK: BACKSTAGE MEALS
(pre-order or purchase on site, $20 + HST)
On June 18, 19, 25 and 26, pre-order a ‘Backstage Meal’ to power your Luminato marathon. For $20 + HST, purchase a meal ticket in advance or on site at the Hearn box office. You’ll get to mix and mingle with fellow Luminato show-goers as this is your ticket to a delicious, fresh and healthy buffet provided by Capers Catering. Enjoy the Saturday menu (June 18, 25) of beet or quinoa salad, homemade soup, flank steak and steamed vegetables with a noodle bar chockablock with Asian flavours. Check out the Sunday menu (June 19, 26) to feast on a salad bar filled with a mix of seasonal vegetables and homemade dressings, steamed veggies, sweet potato fries, mango chicken and Indian-inspired classics like samosas and butter chicken. And don’t forget dessert!
ACCESSIBILITY AND HEARN DESIGN UPDATES
Best efforts are being made to ensure that as much of the Hearn as possible is accessible. During the construction period, the Luminato team determined that some programming previously scheduled to take place on the third floor should be moved to the first floor to ensure all audiences can access the space. The spacious room located just inside the main entrance of the Hearn that was to house a family-style Canteen will become the Side Room (a more intimate performance space originally planned for the third floor). Programming in the main floor Side Room has an increased capacity, and is fully accessible. Areas that are not accessible will be clearly identified.
TICKETS
Tickets for Luminato programming are available 24/7 at luminatofestival.com, or by calling the Luminato Festival Box Office at 416 368 4849 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday. Tickets will also be available at the festival box office in the Hearn Generating Station (440 Unwin Avenue) from June 10 – 26 from 5 p.m. to close Tuesday to Friday, and 11:30 a.m. to close Saturday and Sunday. Ticket savings are available for youth (18 and under)/students, arts workers and groups (6+). For full ticketing details, dates, times and prices, please visit luminatofestival.com.
TRANSPORTATION
The Hearn is located a few minutes from Toronto’s downtown core and can be reached easily by TTC, car, bike, and foot. Bike on the Martin Goodman Trail, drive and park on-site (daily parking passes are available for pre-order online), take the TTC (suggested routes include the 172B Cherry Street bus from King or St. Andrews Stations, the 72C Pape bus from Pape Station or the 83 Jones bus from Donlands Station). A free Luminato Shuttle Bus will run daily, with first-come, first-served pick-ups from Union Station to the Hearn Generating Station. This shuttle runs every 45 minutes and can accommodate 48 people per run, available first-come, first-served. Please note: this shuttle is not accessible. To book accessible transit, call Wheel-Trans at 416 393 4222. The Box Office at the Hearn is happy to offer Wheel-Trans users reimbursement for their trip.
June 10 to 26, between 7 and 9 p.m.
Luminato Festival’s Biergarten at the Hearn Generating Station, 440 Unwin Avenue
FREE
For more information visit luminatofestival.com
Twitter: @Luminato
Facebook: Luminato Festival
Instagram: @LuminatoFestival
Hashtags: #Luminato; #Luminato10; #TurnOnTheHearn
Photo: Hearn Generating Station. ©2009 Luther Vandross.
2016-06-03
Toronto: The Luminato Festival turns on the Hearn starting June 10