Toronto: Luminato announces additional programming

Wednesday, May 15, 2019

With just 23 days until Luminato 2019 takes over the city of Toronto, the festival is thrilled to announce additional details of it’s free programming, specialized performances, free community projects and moderators and panelists for the Illuminating Ideas program. Now in its thirteenth year, Luminato brings the most engaging and ambitious theatre, dance, opera, visual art and more from Canada and across the globe to Toronto each June. The 2019 festival takes place at several venues across the city from June 7 – 23. House of Mirrors – FREE Opening Weekend (June 8 and 9)  During the opening weekend of Luminato 2019 (June 8 and 9), entry into House of Mirrors will be FREE thanks to the generous support of OLG. “OLG is proud to return for its 12th year as a Festival Partner to present both free access to House of Mirrors and free music programming during the festival’s opening weekend at Harbourfront Centre.  OLG has a long history of supporting events that bring people together and strengthen communities. It is all part of OLG’s commitment to make Ontario better. We’re excited for everyone to join in on the fun at House of Mirrors at Luminato this summer.” Jennifer Barban, Director, Community Programs at OLG. A reality-bending, sensory-altering, mind-dizzying experience, House of Mirrorshas enchanted audiences in the tens of thousands across the southern hemisphere. At over 12.5ft and weighing in at over 55 tonnes, this reflective wonder makes its North American debut at Luminato in June, taking Toronto by storm while simultaneously mesmerizing, disorienting and delighting festival audiences. Luminato: Festival Central at Harbourfront Centre In partnership with Harbourfront Centre, Luminato will extend its festival footprint near Toronto’s picturesque waterfront with Luminato: Festival Central. Located on the East Campus of Harbourfront Centre, Festival Central will be a hub of festival activity with FREE music programming, partner activations and plenty of space to kick back, relax and enjoy the sights and sounds of the Luminato atmosphere.

Luminato: Festival Central FREE Weekend Music Programming Schedule

Saturday June 8, 2019 2:00PM Ghost Caravan 6:00PM Cheri Maracle Saturday June 15, 2019 2:00PM Okan 6:00PM The Special Interest Group Saturday June 22, 2019 2:00PM Hilario Durán Trio 6:00PM Absolutely Free

Sunday June 9, 2019 2:00PM Lacey Hill 6:00PM LAL Sunday June 16, 2019 2:00PM Stewart Legere

Accessibility at Luminato 2019 Luminato is committed to creating a festival that is accessible to as many people as possible. At the core of this commitment are specialized performances that are designed to accommodate a wide range of audience members. Specialized performances include: Relaxed Performances for patrons whose Luminato experience might be enriched by a more informal environment including those with sensory disorders, on the Autism spectrum, intellectual disabilities and parents with young children; Audio Described performances with accompanying touch tours for patrons with vision disabilities; and American Sign Language (ASL) interpreted performances. *New this year* Luminato 2019 Audio Guide Created by Rebecca Singh, Founder of Live Describe, the Luminato 2019 Audio Guide is a podcast that includes descriptive narration for audiences with vision disabilities and gives listeners a full overview of Luminato 2019 programming and events in and around Harbourfront Centre. The guide includes a historic tour of Toronto’s Harbourfront by JJ Hunt, an interview with The Drawing Room by Curator, Sally Frater and welcome messages from Luminato CEO Anthony Sargent and Artistic Director Naomi Campbell.

Luminato 2019 Specialized Performance Schedule

Relaxed Performances House of Mirrors Monday, June 10 from 11:00am-12:00pm Sunday, June 16 from 11:00am-12:00pm Friday, June 21 from 11:00am-12:00pm

Relaxed Performances Kiinalik: These Sharp Tools Friday, June 14 at 7:00pm

Audio Described Performances Kiinalik: These Sharp Tools Sunday, June 16 at 1:00pm

Relaxed Performances Rite of Spring Saturday, June 22 at 2:00pm

ASL Interpretation Monday Nights Sunday, June 9 at 1:00pm

Relaxed Performances True North (Parts 1 - 4) Panel Friday, June 21 at 5:00pm* *Immediately following a closed captioned screening of True North (Parts 1 - 4)

Hearing Assistance Devices* All Performances: Flowers for Kazuo Ohno (and Leonard Cohen), The Full Light of Day, BIZIINDAN!, Kiinalik: These Sharp Tools, Triptych (Eyes of One on Another) *Not all devices are compatible. Please email accessibility@luminato.com for more information. Surtitles All Performances: Masquerade

For assistance with ticketing, booking an audio described performance, booking a touch tour, or hearing assistance device, please email accessibility@luminato.com or call Stephen Barber at 416-368-4849     For more information on Luminato's Accessibility Program, please email Cathy Gordon at accessibility@luminato.com or call 416-368-3130

Illuminating Ideas Panelists and Moderators The Luminato 2019 Illuminating Ideas program will feature a series of panel discussions, films, workshops and masterclasses that take a deeper dive into some of the festival’s overarching themes including LGBTQ+ censorship, the effect of climate change on Northern communities and witch hunts throughout history. The program’s FREE talks will take place immediately after each film screening at Harbourfront Centre Studio Theatre. The 2019 Illuminating Ideas program is supported by The Globe and Mail. Changing Tides is supported by Thomson Reuters.

Luminato 2019 Illuminating Ideas Moderators and Panelists

True North (Parts 1 - 4)  Saturday, June 15 at 6:30pm Moderator Duane Watson Panelists Ryan Sidhoo, Yasin Osman, Lebert Veira, Cordell Veira   Changing Tides  Sunday, June 16 at 4:00pm Moderator Amran Abocar Panelists Amy Sharrocks, Sunshine Tenasco, Clayton Thomas-Muller     LGBTQ Censorship  Friday, June 21 at 8:00pm Moderator Andrea Houston Panelists Sook-Yin Lee, Elspeth Brown, Tawiah Ben M'Carthy       Witch Hunts  Saturday, June 22 at 4:00pm Moderator Denise Balkissoon Panelists Hyacinth Simpson, Bhavan Sodhi and Annamaria Enenajor

The Art of Resistance in Partnership with The 519 From city streets to city halls, the LGBTQ+ community continues to face erasure and censorship in expressing whom and how they love. Thirty years after the death of controversial photographer Robert Mapplethorpe and fifty years after the Stonewall riots, the ongoing debate around sexual and artistic freedom of expression is more relevant than ever. During the first week of the festival, The 519, in partnership with Luminato, is throwing open the doors of their historical venue to provide a space where the LGBTQ+ community can use their own voices as artists and activists without being censored. All are welcome to participate and give their own responses to the theme of "Grieve, Rise, and Resist". Art supplies will be provided along with additional creative tools to encourage meaningful dialogue about the LGBTQ+ censorship that still exists today. Luminato x Launchpad Luminato is excited to announce Luminato x Launchpad, an artistic development program in partnership with Artscape Launchpad featuring workshops and masterclasses, across a variety of disciplines, led by some of the artists in this year's festival. With session topics ranging from how to integrate digital media into theatre creation, how to develop a creative project over several years and how to best use self-expression in artistic practice, these educational programs will highlight the hard work and unique visions of some of the city's established artists. Tickets for each of the classes, talks and workshops can be purchased through Launchpad, with discounts available for existing Launchpad members. Those interested as encouraged to book early as capacity, especially for masterclasses, is limited. The full Luminato 2019 program is available here.