Luminato

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Luminato Logbook, Day Six

If imagination is the core of the soul, then Toronto’s spirit is strong indeed, and on full display during Luminato. This annual celebration of arts and creativity brings to the city an international array of theatrical and dance performances, world-music concerts, visual art displays, literary events and much more—all of which you can read about here daily. Expand your horizons and imagine new heights; for 10 days in Toronto, anything is possible.

TODAY’S TOP TICKETS

Bruce Cockburn plays his hits with friends at Massey Hall

NATION’S PRIDE Massey Hall once again hosts Luminato’s Canadian Songbook, a multi-artist showcase of this country’s most storied popular music. This year, Bruce Cockburn gets the tribute treatment: the legendary songwriter takes the stage to survey his hits with such friends as Hawksley Workman, Colin Linden and others. Massey Hall, 178 Victoria St., 7:30 p.m., $55 to $85.

NOVEL STANDPOINT Just as global affairs can be dictated by geographic concerns, so are the interactions of Canadians influenced by sense of place. As such, the meaning of East/West in Canadian Fiction is always a hot topic amongst local literati. A coast-to-coast quartet of writers—including Edmonton’s Lynn Coady and Newfoundland-born Michael Winter—refreshes the debate. Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge St., 7 p.m., free.

MORE MUST-SEE SHOWS

>> Pay tribute to Luminato co-founder David Pecaut, who succumbed to cancer last December, by viewing the Atom Egoyan–curated film installation Solar Breath (Northern Caryatids)/Light Air. Brookfield Place, 181 Bay St., 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., free.

>> Experience a candy-coloured wonderland in the heart of Toronto: Miami-based art collective FriendsWithYou transforms the city centre into a “Rainbow City” with bouncing castles, giant totems and all-around warm feelings for its Wish Come True Festival. Queen’s Park, Queen’s Park Crescent and Wellesley Street, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., free.

>> He was only 12 when he hatched his dream of becoming a fashion designer; now Canadian Mark Fast’s knitwear is known the world over. A Luminato-exclusive showcase of his couture is now on display. Brookfield Place, 181 Bay St., all day, free.

>> Step on to a 30-foot Chinese junk and reflect upon life aboard the uncaptained Ship O’ Fools. Trinity Bellwoods Park, Queen Street West and Strachan Avenue, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., free.

>>The delicate subject of Rights in the Arts—artists’ rights and intellectual property—is explored by Erika Batdorf (One Pure Longing), Anthony Black (Homage) and magician David Ben. Roots (2nd floor), 100 Bloor St. W., 12:30 p.m., free.

>> Three points of view merge in The Africa Trilogy, an East-meets-West exploration that unites playwrights, directors and performers who ask: How do we see each other? Fleck Dance Theatre, 207 Queens Quay W., 7 p.m., $30 to $45.

>> Celebrated singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright achieves something stunning with his opera, Prima Donna, the spellbinding story of an aging soprano who ponders a return to the stage. Elgin Theatre, 189 Yonge St., 7:30 p.m., $50 to $200.

>> Audience members—along with real-life gamers and game designers—help bring the theatrical production Best Before to life with the help of representative avatars. Berkeley Street Theatre, 26 Berkeley St., 8 p.m., $35.

Purchase Luminato tickets daily at the T.O. Tix booth, located at Yonge-Dundas Square.

Luminato Logbook, Day Five

TODAY’S TOP TICKETS

The Africa Trilogy

THE POWER OF THREE An international assemblage of playwrights, directors and performers attempt to bridge the East-West divide in The Africa Trilogy—three experimental plays that deconstruct cross-continental relationships by asking how we see each other and, just as crucially, how we see ourselves. Fleck Dance Theatre, 207 Queens Quay W., 7 p.m., $30 to $45.

NEW MOVES The interactive dance lesson cum flash mob Light On Your Feet offers its final night of fleet-footed fun. Over the past few days, dancing queens took centre stage for flamboyantly themed evenings that honoured divas of several stripes—from luscious Latinas to Bollywood superstars. Tonight’s music and dancing session culminates in an “Ultimate ’80s Dance Party.” Yonge-Dundas Square, southeast corner of Yonge and Dundas streets, 7 to 11 p.m., free.

MORE MUST-SEE SHOWS

>> Pay tribute to Luminato co-founder David Pecaut, by viewing the Atom Egoyan–curated film installation Solar Breath (Northern Caryatids)/Light Air. Brookfield Place, 181 Bay St., 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., free.

>> He was only 12 when he hatched his dream to become a fashion designer; now Canadian Mark Fast’s knitwear is known the world over. A Luminato-exclusive showcase of his couture is currently on display. Brookfield Place, 181 Bay St., all day, free.

>> Reflect on your life’s journey aboard a 30-foot Chinese junk, salvaged by Janet Cardiff and George Bures Miller with the intent of examining artists’ and writers’ fascination with the image of an uncaptained Ship O’ Fools. Trinity Bellwoods Park, Queen Street West and Strachan Avenue, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., free

>> Delve further into Luminato’s East/West theme with Canadian poet and playwright George Elliott Clarke in a lunchtime conversations on “Africadian” Literature. Roots (2nd floor), 100 Bloor St. W., 12:30 p.m., free.

>> Celebrated author Azar Nafisi—known for her book Reading Lolita in Tehran—offers insightful discussion on the contrasts and similarities between East and West in Reading and Writing Iran. Al Green Theatre (Miles Nadal JCC), 750 Spadina Ave., 7:30 p.m., $15.

Purchase Luminato tickets daily at the T.O. Tix booth, located at Yonge-Dundas Square.

Luminato Logbook, Day Four

TODAY’S TOP TICKETS

Janis Kelly stars in Rufus Wainwright's Prima Donna (photo by C. Antony Crook)

MERCURIAL MUSE It’s hard not to think that Rufus Wainwright’s career has been but a dress rehearsal for Prima Donna, such is the hype surrounding its North American debut. Known for his operatic take on pop music, the composer now offers a true French opera, in which a retired soprano, inflamed by new romance, ponders a return to the stage. Elgin Theatre, 189 Yonge St., 7:30 p.m., $50 to $200.

AUTHOR, AUTHOR! You can judge this event by its title: Monday Night Fiction offers two separate discussions with leading writers Ben Okri and Roddy Doyle. A British-educated Nigerian, Okri weaves the oft-contrasting perspectives of these nations into a vivid literary tapestry. Doyle, the Irish iconoclast, debuts his latest novel, The Dead Republic. Al Green Theatre, 750 Spadina Ave. (Okri); Jane Mallett Theatre, 27 Front St. E. (Doyle), both at 7:30 p.m., $25.

MORE MUST-SEE SHOWS

>> Art, fashion and beauty are woven into the world-renowned stitch works of Canadian Mark Fast’s Luminato-exclusive display. Brookfield Place, 181 Bay St., all day, free.

>> Board a 30-foot Chinese junk as Janet Cardiff and George Bures Miller explore artists’ and writers’ fascination with the image of an uncaptained Ship O’ Fools. Trinity Bellwoods Park, Queen Street West and Strachan Avenue., 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., free.

>> One Pure Longing performer and director Erika Batdorf explains the inspiration for her work in a Lunchtime Conversation at Roots (2nd floor), 100 Bloor St. W., 12:30 p.m., free.

>> Swing your hips like Bollywood divas at this evening’s Light on Your Feet dance party. Yonge-Dundas Square, 7 to 11 p.m., free.

>> A powerful act is commemorated in One Pure Longing: Táhirih’s Search, which recounts through dance, poetry and music the execution of a 19th-century Persian woman who refused to wear a veil. Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, 12 Alexander St., 8 p.m., $35.

Purchase Luminato tickets daily at the T.O. Tix booth, located at Yonge-Dundas Square.

Luminato Logbook, Day Three

TODAY’S TOP TICKETS

Two Faced Bastard splits the stage (photo by Chris Budgeon)

DOUBLE STANDARD Approach your viewing of Two Faced Bastard with an open mind—or better yet, a mind split in two. Addressing dualities of existence, this hard-to-classify stage show is actually two simultaneously occurring performances, each viewed by one half of the audience, that eventually combine in a humorous and provocative dance-theatre mash up. Joey & Toby Tanenbaum Opera Centre, 227 Front St. E., 4 p.m., $50.

FREEDOM OF CHOICE A historic act of courage is revived by Toronto’s Erika Batdorf and her company in One Pure Longing: Táhirih’s Search. The multi-disciplinary work employs dance, poetry and traditional music to tell the story of a Persian woman who, in 1848, was executed for appearing publicly without a veil. Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, 12 Alexander St., 8 p.m., $35.

MORE MUST-SEE SHOWS

>> Art, fashion and beauty are woven into the world-renowned stitch works of Canadian Mark Fast’s Luminato-exclusive display. Brookfield Place, 181 Bay St., all day, free.

>> Reflect on your life’s journey aboard a 30-foot Chinese junk, meant to explore artists’ and writers’ fascination with the image of an uncaptained Ship O’ Fools. Trinity Bellwoods Park, Queen Street West and Strachan Avenue., 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., free.

>> Members of Chunky Move, the company that presents Two Faced Bastard, provide insight into the show at a Lunchtime Conversation. Roots (2nd floor), 100 Bloor St. W., 12:30 p.m., free.

>> Three points of view merge in this afternoon’s preview of The Africa Trilogy, an exploration of East meets West uniting playwrights, directors and performers who ask: How do we see each other? Fleck Dance Theatre, 207 Queen’s Quay W., 1 p.m., $30 to $45.

>> Catch the last Luminato performance of the National Ballet’s West Side Story Suite, presented as part of a triple bill that also includes Jerome Robbins’ Opus 19/Dreamer and the world-premiere of Pur ti Miro by Jorma Elo. Four Seasons for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen St. W., 2 p.m., $20 to 210.

>> Bust a move at Light on Your Feet. Tonight’s focus is drag divas. Yonge-Dundas Square, 7 to 11 p.m., free.

Purchase Luminato tickets daily at the T.O. Tix booth, located at Yonge-Dundas Square.

Luminato Logbook, Day Two

TODAY’S TOP TICKETS

Baseekou Kouyate and his band crash An African Prom

GLOBAL GROOVES The modern history of African music is partly based on its symbiotic give-and-take with Western genres. Luminato’s opening weekend highlights the fruits of this interaction in Rock the Casbah and An African Prom, a day-long concert featuring the likes of Algerian rocker Rachid Taha, Afrobeat pioneer Tony Allen and a collaboration between Mali’s Bassekou Kouyate (pictured) and American bluegrass icon Béla Fleck. Queen’s Park, Queen’s Park Crescent and Wellesley Street, 1 to 11 p.m., free.

THINK LOCAL It has long been acknowledged that the arts play a major role in the building and strengthening of communities. Contemporary dance troupe Coleman Lemieux & Companie does its part with a site-specific performance that marks another step in the revitalization of Toronto’s Regent Park neighbourhood. Nelson Mandela Park Public School, 440 Shuter St., 1 p.m., free.

MORE MUST-SEE SHOWS

>> He was only 12 when he hatched his dream of becoming a fashion designer; now Canadian Mark Fast’s knitwear is known the world over. A Luminato-exclusive showcase of his couture is on display today. Brookfield Place, 181 Bay St., all day, free.

>> Board a 30-foot Chinese boat as Janet Cardiff and George Bures Miller explore artists’ and writers’ fascination with the image of an uncaptained Ship O’ Fools. Trinity Bellwoods Park, Queen Street West and Strachan Avenue., 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., free.

>> Three of Africa’s top writers read from their novels in a showcase of African Literature moderated by Dionne Brand, Toronto’s Poet Laureate. Isabel Bader Theatre, 93 Charles St. W., 2 p.m., $15

>> The acclaimed Vienna Academy Orchestra makes a rare North American appearance—not only does the period-instrument ensemble provide the thrilling accompaniment for The Infernal Comedy, today it also offers a separate performance of music by Haydn, Mozart and Shubert. Trinity St. Paul’s Centre, 427 Bloor St. W., 2 p.m., $40.

>> Bust a move at the hybrid concert/dance party Light on Your Feet. Tonight’s theme is “Latin divas.” Yonge-Dundas Square, 7 to 11 p.m., free.

>> Three points of view merge in tonight’s preview of The Africa Trilogy, an East-meets-West exploration that unites playwrights, directors and performers who ask: How do we see each other? Fleck Dance Theatre, 207 Queen’s Quay W., 7 p.m., $30 to $45.

>> Experience acclaimed Canadian literature with a trio of readings. Isabel Bader Theatre, 93 Charles St. W., 7 p.m., $15.

>> West Side Story Suite sweeps across the stage, followed by Jerome Robbins’ Opus 19/Dreamer and the world-premiere of Pur ti Miro by Finnish choreographer Jorma Elo. Four Seasons for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen St. W., 7:30 p.m., tickets $20 to $210.

>> Laugh until you cry in (and be profoundly moved in the process) thanks to Two Faced Bastard’s comedic exploration of the duality of human life. The Joey & Toby Tanenbaum Opera Centre, 227 Front St. E., 4 p.m. and 8 p.m., $50.

>> Dark Star Requiem relates the history of HIV/AIDS through poetry and music (performed by the Gryphon Trio and Elmer Iseler Singers), transcending all barriers. Koerner Hall, 273 Bloor St. W., 8 p.m., $30 to $50.

>> A powerful act is remembered in One Pure Longing: Táhirih’s Search, which recalls through dance, poetry and music the execution of a 19th-century Persian woman who refused to wear a veil. Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, 12 Alexander St., 8 p.m., $35.

Purchase Luminato tickets daily at the T.O. Tix booth, located at Yonge-Dundas Square.

Luminato Logbook, Day One

If imagination is the core of the soul, then Toronto’s spirit is strong indeed, and on full display during Luminato. This annual celebration of arts and creativity brings to the city an international array of theatrical and dance performances, world-music concerts, visual art displays, literary events, interactive festivities and much more—all of which you can read about here daily. Expand your horizons and imagine new heights; for the next 10 days in Toronto, anything is possible.

TODAY’S TOP TICKETS

John Malkovich takes a chilling turn in The Infernal Comedy

ACTING OUT An innovative pairing of music and storytelling sees actor John Malkovich (yes, that John Malkovich) portray charismatic Austrian criminal Jack Unterweger in The Infernal Comedy: Confessions of a Serial Killer. His manipulative monologues are contrasted by the beautiful music of the Vienna Academy Orchestra and two sopranos giving voice to the killer’s absent mother and his many victims. Massey Hall, 178 Victoria St., 8 p.m., $55 to $125.

SHINE A LIGHT In Dark Star Requiem, music and poetry illuminate the history of HIV/AIDS, a disease that disregards race, class, age and culture. Created by Tapestry, a Toronto-based developer of new operatic works, this redemptive oratorio soars with the strains of the Gryphon Trio and vocal harmonies by the Elmer Iseler Singers. Koerner Hall, 273 Bloor St. W., 8 p.m., $30 to $50.

MORE MUST-SEE SHOWS

>> Pay tribute to Luminato co-founder David Pecaut, who succumbed to cancer last December, by viewing the Atom Egoyan–curated film installation Solar Breath (Northern Caryatids)/Light Air. Brookfield Place, 181 Bay St., 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., free.

>> He was only 12 when he hatched his dream of becoming a fashion designer; now Canadian Mark Fast‘s knitwear is known the world over. A Luminato-exclusive showcase of his couture is on display today. Brookfield Place, 181 Bay St., all day, free.

>> Reflect on your life’s journey aboard a 30-foot Chinese junk salvaged by Janet Cardiff and George Bures Miller to examine artists’ and writers’ fascination with the image of an uncaptained Ship O’ Fools. Trinity Bellwoods Park, Queen Street West and Strachan Avenue, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., free.

>> Don’t want to miss a thing? Illuminate your Luminato experience at the lunchtime Festival Overview. Roots (2nd floor), 100 Bloor St. W., 12:30 p.m., free.

>> Three points of view merge in tonight’s preview of The Africa Trilogy, an East meets West exploration that unites playwrights, directors and performers who ask: How do we see each other? Fleck Dance Theatre, 207 Queens Quay W., 7 p.m., $30 to $45.

>> The festival officially kicks off with a Luminato First Night concert featuring such Canadian pop divas as Sass Jordan and Melanie Fiona. Yonge-Dundas Square, 7 to 11 p.m., free.

>> Witness the National Ballet of Canada’s dynamic West Side Story Suite, accompanied by Jerome Robbins’ Opus 19/Dreamer and the world-premiere of Pur ti Miro by Finnish choreographer Jorma Elo. Four Seasons for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen St. W, 7:30 p.m., $20 to $210.

>> Mystery readings from the Scene of the Crime are sure to send a chill down your spine, thanks to tales written by the king of South African crime fiction, Deon Meyer, and Dublin-born John Brady. Al Green Theatre (Miles Nadal JCC), 750 Spadina Ave., 7:30 p.m., $15.

>> Laugh until you cry (and be profoundly moved in the process) as Two Faced Bastard employs dance, theatre and comedy to examine the duality of human life. The Joey & Toby Tanenbaum Opera Centre, 227 Front St. E., 8 p.m., $50.

>> A powerful historic act is remembered in One Pure Longing: Táhirih’s Search. Dance, poetry and music tell the story of a 19th-century Persian woman who was executed for refusing to wear a veil. Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, 12 Alexander St., 8 p.m., $35.

Purchase Luminato tickets daily at the T.O. Tix booth, located at Yonge-Dundas Square.

Weekend Roundup, June 11 to 13

This weekend kicks off a couple of annual Toronto traditions—the Luminato arts festival, as well as the start of a new Argonauts football season. In between, you can pull up a chair, order a pint and roar for your favourite side while watching the FIFA World Cup.

Friday: Arcade Fire! (photo by tammylo)

Friday, June 11
Gather your sports buddies and crowd into the bustling Football Factory to catch the much-anticipated opening matches of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Catch Canadian Idol’s Sass Jordan and R&B singer Melanie Fiona at Yonge-Dundas Square for Luminato First Night. This free showcase of pop-music divas is the first of many events comprising the Luminato Festival.

Get in line early for one of two last-minute chances (today and Saturday) to see Montreal-based mega-band Arcade Fire rock The Music Hall with old favourites and new tunes from their upcoming album, The Suburbs.

Saturday: Malkovich!

Saturday, June 12
You’re almost certain to shiver as John Malkovich takes to the stage as Jack Unterweger, a real-life serial killer-turned-literary celebrity, in Luminato’s The Infernal Comedy: Confessions of a Serial Killer.

Enjoy the penultimate day of performances for Fiddler on the Roof, the feel-good story of humble Tevye (portrayed by Broadway star Harvey Fierstein), who strives to protect his family’s traditions despite the allure of outside influences.

Who let the dogs out? And what about their owners? This weekend, the St. Lawrence Market neighbourhood goes canine for Woofstock, North America’s largest outdoor festival for dogs. Check out the pooch couture fashion show and many other fun events.

Sunday: Argos! (photo by ethanf_15)

Sunday, June 13
Cheer on the Toronto Argonauts—this city’s CFL football team—as they battle provincial rivals the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in pre-season action this afternoon at the Rogers Centre.

Don’t miss your last opportunity to applaud the National Ballet of Canada’s West Side Story Suite, which features musical and dance highlights from the timeless love story. The production is complemented by Jerome Robbins’ Opus 19/Dreamer and Pur ti Miro, a world-premiere by Finnish choreographer Jorma Elo.

Help make hunger history at the Royal Ontario Museum, where a $250 ticket helps Second Harvest feed those in need—and also nets you an exquisite meal. Toronto Taste unites 60 of the city’s top chefs and 25 beverage providers for an evening of epicurean delights.

Luminato To-Do, Day Nine

Get out and enjoy fresh food, fun films and, yes, more music, courtesy of Luminato.

Celso Machado brings his guitar to Yorkville.

Saturday, June 13

Brazilian Guitar Marathon
Brazil is a long way from Toronto, but today it’ll feel a little closer. Starting at 1 p.m. some of the South American nation’s finest guitarists will be performing in the Village of Yorkville park. You’ll hear music by Grammy Award winners Sérgio and Odair Assad, who many consider to be the best classical guitar duo in the world; Celso Machado, who’s known for his guitar stylings as well as his ability to produce bird sounds using wind and percussion instruments; and Yamandú Costa the seven-string sensation makes his Toronto debut. The musical marathon ends with a grand finale medley featuring all the performers.
Village of Yorkville Park (Bellair and Cumberland streets), 1 to 6 p.m., free.

President’s Choice 1,000 Tastes of Toronto
We’d all like to get the most out of the city we’re visiting whether it’s in terms of the culture we take in, the historic sites we visit, or the local delicacies we taste, but you can only fit so much into a holiday. Well if you happen to be visiting Toronto this weekend you’re in for a treat. Head to the lakeshore for scrumptious local and international treats. All weekend, top chefs from across the city set up shop along Queens Quay West to offer their own unique takes on street food. At a similar event at last year’s Luminato, foodies were treated to fresh Oysters, braised hangar-steak sandwiches and baked perogies. We can’t wait to see what the chefs will come up with this time around!
Queen’s Quay West, between HTO Park and Harbourfront Centre, noon to 9 p.m, free entry, $5 for each food item.

Animated Films Based on Children’s Books
The National Film Board presents a selection of award-winning animated films based on acclaimed children’s books. Shorts include Blackberry Subway Jam by Robert Munsch and I Want a Dog by Dayal Kaur Khalsa—the title song of the latter is sung by indie songstress Neko Case. Each film, five in total, has a running time of 8 to 10 minutes, so it won’t be hard to keep your kids entertained and in their seats.
National Film Board Mediatheque (150 John St.), 1 to 3 p.m., free.

Luminato To-Do, Day Eight

The festival enters its final weekend with many great performances and events!

Goran Bregovich and his Orchestra (photo by Stephanie Berger).

Friday June 12

Closing Weekend Celebration featuring Cirque du Soleil
It’s been a long time since the words ‘free’ and ‘Cirque du Soleil’ have appeared in the same sentence. The success of the Montreal-based circus troupe is unrivaled, its shows play to packed houses on every continent. If you’ve been neglecting Luminato events, this one should be worth the effort. Starting Friday evening two “communities” of Cirque performers form on the waterfront: one represents nature and the other urban living. Tonight the groups emerge and move to their respective “homes” at opposite ends of the Harbourfront site. Then, over the rest of the weekend both communities will begin to interact with each other (and lucky passers by). The concept seems intentionally vague, but that just means there’s a greater chance to experience something truly, transcendently creative.
Queens Quay West, between Harbourfront Centre and the Toronto Music Garden, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. (and continuing throughout the weekend), free.

Goran Bregovic
You might not be familiar with his name, but there’s a good chance you’ve heard tunes by this “musical superstar of the Balkans in such films as Borat, Time of the Gypsies and Underground. Tonight, the Sarajevo-born rocker will be joined by a 20-piece iteration of his brass-heavy Weddings and Funerals Orchestra—its gypsy-rock sound so infectious, you won’t need any Sljivovica (plum brandy) to encourage dancing like crazy. Don’t be surprised if the infectious gypsy-rock beat forces you out of your seat and onto the dance floor.
Yonge-Dundas Square, 8 p.m., free.

Addicted to Bad Ideas: Peter Lorre’s 20 th Century
“Punk musical” might sound like an oxymoron to most people, but that’s exactly what director Jay Scheib has created with the help of Brooklyn’s cabaret punk band World/Inferno Friendship Society. The show is inspired by the life of character actor Peter Lorre, best known for his roles in Fritz Lang’s M and The Raven, who obtained success while remaining something of an outsider. Onscreen and off, Lorre played sinister like no other. Part Rocky Horror, part Cabaret, Bad Ideas explores a strange life with recreations of movie scenes as well as interactive video. This unique musical paints a memorable portrait of a man who defined the role of the outsider in the 20th century.
Phoenix Concert Theatre (410 Sherbourne St.), 11 p.m., $35.

Luminato To-Do, Day Seven

Luminato moves closer to its home stretch, but shows no signs of slowing down!

Performers of Catalyst Theatre in <em>Nevermore</em> (photo by Bretta Gerecke).

Performers of Catalyst Theatre in Nevermore (photo by Bretta Gerecke).

Thursday, June 11

Nevermore
You need only to skim an Edgar Allen Poe biography to understand why he was never known for his sunny disposition. The fact is, people tended to die on him, like his mother when he was still a child, and his 15-year-old wife after only two years of marriage. Yes, death haunted Poe at every turn. It is this harrowing existence that informs Nevermore, the latest production by Edmonton’s Catalyst Theatre. The play, based on Poe’s unusual life, mixes original songs, burlesque dancing and creepy costumes, and has been heralded by critics and audiences alike. Definitely a Luminato must-see!
Winter Garden Theatre (189 Yonge St.), 7:30 p.m., $40 to $50

Continuous City
We may not have flying cars or summer homes on the moon, but we’re certainly living in the future. Why, you could be reading this on your laptop and talking to your friend who lives in China, or France, or wherever. Yes, as they say, the future is now, yet we rarely reflect on what it means to be so plugged in. Continuous City, a multimedia production by the Builders Association, tackles our “technological disconnect” and the notion that we’ve become “networked selves” through travel and modern gadgetry, and examines how this state affects our relationships with others. Combining live performance with video shot in Toronto and other cities around the world, this project is sure to have you pondering your own modern existence.
Isabel Bader Theatre (93 Charles St. W.), 7:30 p.m., $35 to $45

Nederlands Dans Theater
Words tend to fail us when describing a program of experimental dance—especially one that combines video projection, a rotating set, puppets, and some of the best dancers in the world. There is just no way to truly capture the essence of this production byrenowned Nederlands Dans Theater; however, we can tell you that the show comprises three of the company’s most acclaimed pieces, and that you’ll be witnessing its first Toronto show in fourteen years.
MacMillan Theatre (80 Queen’s Park), 8 p.m., $60 to $80

Tales of the Uncanny
It only took 90 years, but Tales of the Uncanny is finally here! The silent horror film from Germany (known in that country as Unheimliche Geschichten) finally reaches its Toronto audience tonight at Yonge-Dundas Square. As if the screening of a silent film wasn’t enough, Luminato—in association with the upcoming North by Northeast Music Festival—have brought in Berlin electronic artist Robert Lippok, local post-rock band Do Make Say Think and Owen Pallett (Final Fantasy) to provide the live soundtrack for this historic presentation.
Yonge-Dundas Square, 9:30 p.m., free.