Luminato Festival Presents The Premiere Series with Lemi Ponifasio, Daniel Lanois and Isabella Rossellini

Luminato Festival announces The Premiere Series, three Festival premieres of unforgettable dance, theatre and music. The Premiere Series ticket packages will be available beginning Friday, February 14 at noon.

"The premiere series really embodies what Luminato Festival is about-a celebration of amazing talent from Canada and around the world," said Jorn Weisbrodt, Artistic Director, Luminato Festival. "There will be a new and surprising look at one of the greatest musical talents and minds of today, Daniel Lanois; the introduction to Toronto of one of the greatest contemporary dance and theatre visionaries of the day, Lemi Ponifasio; and the most beautiful, charming, living legend, Isabella Rossellini, who light-heartedly opens up our eyes and senses to the sexual lives of the animal kingdom which is so much stranger and richer than our own."

Luminato continues its tradition of fêting iconic Canadian musicians with an evening of music dedicated to renowned singer-songwriter and revered producer DANIEL LANOIS. Lanois has shaped landmark works for Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Peter Gabriel, Emmylou Harris and U2 among others. Hal Willner, whose highly acclaimed multi-artist concerts and recordings have covered a wide range of music and musicians, including Leonard Cohen, Neil Young and Thelonius Monk, will celebrate five decades of the artistic brilliance of Daniel Lanois, the breadth or depth of which is rarely seen. Luminato Festival will convene an exciting ensemble of artists to interpret the work of Daniel Lanois, alongside the man himself who will also make an appearance at the concert.

Conceived and performed by Isabella Rossellini, GREEN PORNO, LIVE ON STAGE is a delightfully insightful Day-Glo examination of the quirks and curiosities of zoological boudoirs. Based on her short Green Porno films for the Sundance Channel and co-written by Oscar-winning screenwriter Jean-Claude Carrière, Rossellini literally dons skins, scales and wings for an org*smic and occasionally acrobatic examination of the love life of animals. GREEN PORNO, LIVE ON STAGE has previously been presented in Los Angeles, New York, Paris, Perth, London, and Sydney among other international locales.

New Zealand's Lemi Ponifasio is a choreographer whose vision transcends genres to redefine the universal power of art. MAU, the name of his company of artists, is a Samoan word that means the declaration of truth. Ponifasio's courageous STONES IN HER MOUTH, called "a brilliant, deep work" by the Los Angeles Times, drawing on the Maori tradition of women as the writers of poetry and chant, brings together ten Maori women. Through song and dance the ensemble gives voice to intense personal emotions and holds a mirror to contemporary life. STONES IN HER MOUTH has previously been presented in Bruges, New Zealand, Brussels and more.

"These three shows are the perfect beginning of an exploration of the 2014 Festival," added Weisbrodt.

Luminato Festival presentsTHE PREMIERE SERIES SLEEPING IN THE DEVIL'S BED: THE MUSIC OF DANIEL LANOIS, June 10 @ 7:30pmWorld Premiere, presented at Massey Hall, produced by Hal Willner GREEN PORNO, LIVE ON STAGE, June 6-7 @ 8pm, June 8 @ 2pmCanadian Premiere, presented at the Winter Garden Theatre Written by Isabella Rossellini and Jean-Claude Carrière, and staged by Muriel MayetteSTONES IN HER MOUTH, June 12-14 @ 8pm North American Premiere, presented at the MacMillan TheatreSpecial Package prices range from $140-$325.25 and are available until May 19 only General on-sale - Friday, February 14 @12 noonPackages can be purchased online at luminatofestival.com or by calling 416-368-4TIX (4849)

For more info: luminatofestival.com Twitter: @Luminato Facebook: Luminato FestivalInstagram: @LuminatoFestival.

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