Stage Door News
Stage Door News
For decades, arts festival-goers the world over have thrilled at the experience of gathering inside an otherworldly Spiegeltent an intimate environment of lustrous velvet, sparkling mirrors, and darkened secret corners. From June 14 to 25, Luminato brings the most beautiful and storied of the remaining tents, The Famous Spiegeltent, to David Pecaut Square, filling it with a robust program of music, theatre, clown, and more.
To kick things off, all shows presented Friday, June 16 are free of charge (limited capacity, spots must be reserved in advance at luminato.com). A five show Tent Pass ($75 through May 24 and $100 thereafter, taxes included) is on offer for intrepid audiences keen to explore all the tent has to offer at savings of more than 35%. Booking tickets in advance (at luminato.com) is strongly recommended. An on-site box office opens 1 hour before the first show of the day. All seating in The Famous Spiegeltent is general admission.
“Over all my years working with and attending festivals around the world, some of my happiest moments have been spent in The Famous Spiegeltent whether in Edinburgh, Dublin, Sydney or Melbourne Festivals,” said Josephine Ridge, artistic director, Luminato. “I am thrilled that it is now Toronto’s turn to experience the jewel-like space and welcoming environment of the most beautiful of all the authentic Belgian mirror-tents. We have put together a program of amazing local and international artists all of whom will be experienced at their best in the intimacy of this unique venue.”
Luminato’s Spiegeltent program, curated by Ridge, features a range of exciting local and international performers. Politically-sharp, comically-charged, laugh-out-loud or chill, the Tent has it all. Discover inspiring local Indigenous artists, beat-driven late night shows, beloved artists from abroad, modern day clowns, and more.
The Drake fuels The Famous Spiegeltent bar and outdoor patio in David Pecaut Square. Drake Catering and the brand new Drake Commissary – The Drake’s creative culinary hub in the Junction Triangle – serve expertly crafted cocktails and snacks all week, including Mill Street beer and a specially created festival beverage. OLG “All For Here” is on-site with fun activities from June 16 to 18 and a rotating pick of Toronto’s food trucks rolls into the square every night, making it the perfect place to relax and unwind after a show.
The Famous Spiegeltent: Background
Spiegeltents are hand-hewn pavilions that have been used as traveling dance halls, bars and entertainment salons since they were created in the early 20th century when they were originally constructed on the outskirts of town to evade the suspicious eyes of the censors. Each has its own personality and style, and enriches the experience of any performance seen within.
Built in 1920 by master craftsmen Oscar Mols Dom and Loius Goor, The Famous Spiegeltent has played host to the world’s greatest cabaret artists, musicians and circus burlesque performers. Marlene Dietrich famously sang ‘Falling in Love Again’ on The Famous Spiegeltent stage in the 1930’s. A hugely popular fixture at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, it has travelled from Melbourne to Montreal to Brighton and now to Toronto.
The structure consists of approximately 3,000 pieces of wood, mirrors, canvas, leaded glass, and detailed in velvet and brocade. Inside audiences will find intimate booths, an ornate bar, bevelled mirror columns, an Art Nouveau chandelier and a trapeze rig. The mirrors are cunningly designed so audiences can see others in the venue without being seen.
Complete Line-up:
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•Notes of a Native Song, an irreverent homage to the original black-punk-novelist James Baldwin from Stew and The Negro Problem, is a spirited rock n roll meets spoken word song-cycle by Stew and longtime collaborator Heidi Rodewald (creators of the Tony Award-winning musical Passing Strange), inspired by novelist, essayist, poet and civil rights activist James Baldwin. June 15 to 18 at 8pm. Tickets from $29.
◦The June 18 performance will feature American Sign Language (ASL), with skilled theatrical interpreters translating the performance. The audience will be able to see the interpreters and the stage action simultaneously.
•Montreal pianist Jean-Michel Blais whose debut album of original compositions, Il (Arts and Crafts 2016) condenses two years of daily improvisations into a blindingly bright exploration of piano textures that bridge ethos and musical styles. June 15 at 6pm. Tickets from $29.
•Toronto-based composer and operatic tenor Jeremy Dutcher incorporates his Wolastoq First Nation roots into the music he creates for an entirely new blend of classical, contemporary and jazz. June 16 at 6pm. FREE.
•Composer for King Arthur’s Night, singer-songwriter Veda Hille (and friends) hit The Famous Spiegeltent for a rare performance of personal songs, drawing from her latest album Love Waves, and in honour of the historic tent surroundings, her covers of Brecht’s 1930s protest songs. June 16 at 10pm. FREE.
•Recognized for their support of social justice movements including Black Lives Matter and issues that face Queer/Trans, BIPOC, and allied communities, Toronto-based music duo LAL blend soulful electronics with West Indian and African rhythms, live digital imaging and lyrical content, for a Fela Kuti meets Massive Attack politically-charged dance party. June 17 at 10pm. Tickets from $20.
•Inspired by Chaplin, Keaton, and the stars of silent films, two modern-day clowns take to the stage in Italy’s Compagnia Baccalà’s Pss Pss, wowing audiences with enthralling physicality and exquisite expression. Suitable for all languages and ages 9 years and up. June 17 and 18 at 2pm and 5pm. Tickets from $20. Presented in association with Villa Charities.
•One of the most compelling Indigenous voices of her generation, Leanne Simpson is a renowned Michi Saagiig Nishnaabeg artist, musician, poet, and writer. Simpson’s work breaks open the boundaries between story and song, bringing audiences into a rich and layered world of sound and light. June 20 at 6pm. Tickets from $20.
•Ghost Rings tells a story of friendship and family-making, unfurled through a pop song cycle from the critically-acclaimed, Obie Award-winning theatre ensemble Half Straddle. Inspired by live band dynamics, with text and lyrics by Tina Satter and music by Chris Giarmo and Erin Markey, performed by Satter, Giarmo, Markey and Kristen Sieh. June 20–22, 8 pm. Tickets from $20.
•Emerging Indigenous Canadian artist Wolf Saga’s synth-pop brings indie rock into the electronic production sphere and has been garnering him international attention with over two million Soundcloud listens and over one million YouTube views. June 21 at 10pm. Tickets from $20.
•An ambassador for Inuit culture, Elisapie represents the wild and tough beauty of the north. She sheds new light on aboriginal musical classics singing in Inuktitut, English, and French with modern pop and folk influences. Her work has been called Polar pop and Arctic Electric. June 22 at 10pm. Tickets from $20.
•Hip hop meets electronic trio, Ireland’s Rusangano Family - two African-born MCs and an Irish DJ -explore issues of identity and belonging, laying their double-edged lyricism over skewed soul samples, 808 beats and sliced breaks. June 23 at 8pm and June 24 at 10pm. Tickets from $20.
•Story-driven stand-up scored by sensual, home-made pop, Boner Killer is an intimate musical conversation between what Erin Markey (recently named one of Brooklyn’s 50 funniest women (Brooklyn Magazine), thinks she can’t have and how she’d have it if she could. June 23 at 10pm. Tickets from $20.
•Acclaimed Toronto-based writer, poet, and hip hop artist Ian Kamau is also a Theatre Centre Residency artist. Through poetry, music, film and the story of his paternal grandmother Nora Elutha Rogers Ian confronts his own struggle with depression as a catalyst to learn more about his family’s struggle with mental illness. Joining Ian as a performer and collaborator is Montreal-based musician and activist Stefan Christoff. June 24 at 6pm. Tickets from $20.
•At 4:30pm, join us for panel discussion about the vital work being done by independent artists, followed by the announcement of the full details of The Residents Project (Luminato’s partnership with The Theatre Centre) prior to Ian Kamu’s performance.
•My Brightest Diamond marks a confident return to rock music and a new exploration into the electronic - the project of singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Shara Nova, a trained opera singer and classical composer who has brought her unique voice to projects with Sufjan Stevens, Laurie Anderson, and David Byrne. June 24 at 8pm and June 25 at 7pm. Tickets from $20.
Watch luminato.com for programming details on a series of free lunch time and outdoor events in David Pecaut Square. Additional details to be announced.
PROGRAM DETAILS
•Free performances on Friday, June 16 (Notes of a Native Song, Jeremy Dutcher and Veda Hille) are made possible by OLG and the Province of Ontario. Capacity is limited, reserve in advance at luminato.com.
•For full programming details and a complete schedule, visit The Famous Spiegeltent page >
•Booking tickets in advance (at luminato.com) is strongly recommended. An on-site box office opens 1 hour before the first show of the day. A Five Show Tent Pass ($75 through May 24 and $100 thereafter, taxes included) is subject to availability.
•All seating in The Famous Spiegeltent is general admission.
•Activities in David Pecaut Square are supported by the Province of Ontario and OLG, with support from Mill Street Brewery.
•The Famous Spiegeltent is supported by Steinway Piano Gallery Toronto.
•Mini Bar by The Drake.
HELPFUL LINKS
FESTIVAL INFORMATION
Luminato runs June 14 to 25 at venues across Toronto. The festival opens with Tributaries, a free outdoor celebration of indigenous contemporary culture at David Pecaut Square. The program features two Canadian-made world premieres, dance, music, multi-media performance and more. To purchase tickets or for more information visit: luminato.com. Download the Luminato 2017 Festival Guide >
Photo: The Famous Spiegeltent. ©2016 Thierry Franco.
2017-05-17
Toronto: The Famous Spiegeltent comes to Toronto for Luminato June 14-25