Toronto’s Luminato Festival is an unwieldy celebration of film and performing and visual arts. Last year’s inaugural event saw one million people flock to 100 shows in just 10 days. This year there are events at Harbourfront, the Distillery District, Yonge-Dundas Square, Nathan Phillips Square, the ROM and OCAD.
“Things are just crazy right now,” says Chris Lowry, vice president of programming for Luminato. “But it’s going to be an amazing, diverse series of events.”
Here are a few of the out programmer’s queer picks.
Fiddle and the Drum: Alberta Ballet’s program based on songs by Joni Mitchell, choreographed by Jean Grand-Maitre. “It’s revisiting her old work and exploring her new work in a dramatic dance interpretation of the state of the world today.” Fri, Jun 13 to 22 at Four Seasons Centre (145 Queen St W); tix run $20 to $200.
Queen Street Celebration: Featuring Mary Margaret O’Hara, Micah Barnes, The Parachute Club, the B-Girlz, Johnny and the G Rays and other Queen West artists.The free show starts at 1:30pm on Sat, Jun 7 at OCAD’s outdoor stage (100 McCaul St).
The Mark Morris Dance Group: “We have three programs with him… and they’re all spectacular.” All Fours/Violet Cavern is 8pm on Jun 10 and 11, Liebeslieder Waltzes/Grand Duo is 6pm on Jun 14 and 2pm Jun 15. Mozart Dances is 7:30pm on Jun 6, 8pm on Jun 7 and 2pm on Jun 8. All at MacMillan Theatre (80 Queen’s Park); tix cost $50 to $70.
Why you can trust Xtra
