Clyde Wagner Named New Executive Producer of Luminato Festival

The Luminato Festival announced today that Clyde Wagner has been named Executive Producer for the Festival. Mr. Wagner will commence in the role at the beginning of August.

An internationally accomplished Producer, Clyde Wagner returns to Toronto after an 18 month contract in New York as Senior Producer at the Park Avenue Armory. During his time at the Armory he worked on productions and partnerships with the Donmar Warehouse and Manchester International Festival, including the sold-out and critically acclaimed versions of Robert Wilson's restaged The Life and Death of Marina Abramovic, Massive Attack versus Adam Curtis (MIF, The Park Avenue Armory, The Ruhrtriennale), and Macbeth starring Kenneth Branagh and Alex Kingston in their New York stage debut.

Prior to joining the Armory Mr. Wagner served as General Manager at the Luminato Festival since 2006. During that tenure he was part of the management team that created the current Festival Strategic Plan, which specified the need to diversify revenue sources and increase earned income. In this newly created role of Executive Producer, Wagner will oversee all aspects of production while also taking on responsibility for customer service, ticketing functions and the volunteer program. A key objective of the role will be to increase the percentage of Festival revenue from ticket sales, and to work closely with Artistic Director Jorn Weisbrodt to extend the Festivals global co-commissioning and touring opportunities.

Luminato Festival CEO Janice Price said "It's a delight for Luminato to welcome Clyde Wagner back to the senior management team to serve in such a vitally important role. Clyde was instrumental in the launch and early success of the Festival mounting such monumental projects as Cirque du Soleil's three-day free performances in 2009, the Canadian premiere of Rufus Wainwright's debut opera Prima Donna, Phillip Glass and Robert Wilson's epic Einstein on the Beach and numerous large scale public visual arts installations throughout the city. His experience working with artists, arts partners and international touring partners will be invaluable to the Festival's continuing success."

Wagner remarks, "After an incredible time working alongside and learning from the team at the Park Avenue Armory, it gives me great joy to return to the Luminato family at this important juncture. I look forward to taking the truly creative artistic vision of Jorn Weisbrodt and working with him to maximize the value to the Festival through national and international partnerships. This will not only extend the Festival's reach locally, nationally and internationally but will also strengthen the impact of every investment while reinforcing Luminato's role as a key player in the export of Canadian culture."

Mr. Wagner studied as an undergraduate at Queen's University and holds an MBA from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto.

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