Luminato is quickly approaching and while it’s probably not feasible to book off work and hit up every single amazing event, you should at least check out the following:
Doggie Show (BATH SALTS & House of Filth) – June 24 @ The Hearn
Watch bitches and their breeders strut the runway for a vicious Battle Royale featuring Toronto’s filthiest drag queens! This uproarious costume contest and energetic dance party will determine once and for all who wins and who gets sent to the kennel cage to dance for their lives! The performance will be followed by live electronic and eclectic sets by BATH SALTS (described as “Electric Circus on bad street drugs”), and House of Filth – entourage drag at its most vulgar.
Iftar at the Hearn – June 22 @ The Hearn
Join us in welcoming newcomers from Syria through iftar, a meal in the Muslim tradition that’s served at sunset to break the daily fast during the month of Ramadan. This free event provides an opportunity to share a traditional Syrian and Middle Eastern meal as an act of kindness with members of the community. There will also be greetings from Indigenous Elder Duke Redbird, music from the Nai Children’s Choir, a performance by Juno nominee Cris Derksen, performances by dancer Sashar Zarif and collaborating musicians Elnur Mikhayilov and Mirelem Mirelemov.
Post Apopcalypse Dance Party (Younger Than Beyoncé (YTB) Gallery) – June 18 @ The Hearn
Head over to the now defunct Hearn Generating Station for a massive all-night post-apocalyptic, post-modern, immersive art dance party. Come dance till the world ends with up-and-coming Toronto DJs and art rebels Alexandra Beriault & DJ Marilyn Mansion. YTB is a nomadic gallery whose mission is to provide professional exhibition opportunities for Toronto artists under the age of 33. Count us in.
Situation Rooms by Rimini Protokoll – June 10-26 @ The Hearn
This bracing production fuses virtual reality with theatre to experience the lives of people affected by the arms trade. Equipped with an iPad mini and headphones, you’ll slip into the perspectives an Israeli soldier, a Swiss weapons manufacturer, a Pakistani lawyer or a Mexican drug cartel administrator. Situation Rooms entangles the audience in a film set that recreates the globalized world of pistols and rocket-propelled grenades, assault rifles and drones, and rules and refugees. The Guardian describes Situation Rooms as a “remarkable experience … utterly absorbing … innovative and exciting work that asks questions of the way theatre is both presented and consumed.”
Song of Extinction – June 22 @ The Hearn
Composer Rose Bolton and filmmaker Marc de Guerre team up with poet Don McKay for Song of Extinction, a fully immersive visual and sonic experience exploring the calamitous impact humans are inflicting on the planet and its creatures. This stunning experience weaves large-scale projections with a tightly enmeshed score for a chamber orchestra, chamber choir, live electronics and youth chorus.
Yes Yes Y’all + DudeBox – June 17 @ The Hearn
A night of urban sound and visuals that meshes good vibes with good politics: get ready for what’s sure to be one of the sweatiest dance parties of the summer! With music provided by the YYY crew, DJ Skratch Bastid and Bambii, Yes Yes Y’all and Dudebox have become Toronto institutions. Known for hosting the city’s most inclusive parties, YYY bridges the queer and hip-hop communities in Toronto with much-talked-about dance parties. Get down.