Harbourfront Centre’s inaugural New World Stage International Performance
[feat. our Trudeau opera]:
Toronto, December 5, 2006—Harbourfront Centre is pleased to announce our inspired lineup for the inaugural New World Stage International Performance series, running January 24 through June 10, 2007. This dynamic, world-class, signature programme presents a new, contemporary format featuring 17 productions, encompassing multiple performance disciplines including theatre, dance, music, cabaret and more.

Harbourfront Centre’s Director of Performing Arts and New World Stage Artistic Director, Tina Rasmussen, delivers a thoughtful programme intended to animate Toronto and Harbourfront Centre this winter and spring, by presenting daring productions, innovative artists and companies, representing Australia, Belgium, Brazil, China, England, France, Halifax, Norway, Poland, Toronto, the U.S. and Vancouver. Performances take place at Harbourfront Centre’s intimate facilities: the Premiere Dance Theatre, the Studio Theatre, the Brigantine Room and the newly named Enwave Theatre, providing up close and personal exchanges with exciting international artists. In addition, two performances take place in site-specific, downtown Toronto found spaces, one in which a bus delivers ticket-holders to the designated performance site.

Ms Rasmussen says, “As we build on the heralded foundations of two Harbourfront Centre signature programmes, the popular biennial World Stage theatre festival and the lauded International Dance season, New World Stage brings together the best in international contemporary performance from all disciplines. The series offers a culturally curious public performances running over a six-month period rather than in a festival model to encourage a commitment to multiple works over a manageable period of time. Offering audiences diverse works of scale, culturally relevant, significant, unique, innovative and imaginative, have been the underlying principles in programming this now annual series.” Ms Rasmussen adds, “This programme allows you to sample the classics transformed, new trends in performing arts, emerging genres and artistic vocabularies, not to mention locally engaged and informed work, as Harbourfront Centre continues to bring the world right to your doorstep with this accessible and affordable line up.”...

New World Stage performances begin January 24 with Mabou Mines DollHouse, a not-to-be-missed transformation of Ibsen’s classic, A Doll’s House in which gender inequities are underlined by a cast of little men performing opposite intentionally tall women.

Other highlights include unveilings of three Harbourfront Centre Fresh Ground commissions, and world renowned director Peter Brook’s triumphant return to Toronto.


This series offers flexible ticket package opportunities, with a number of imaginative Harbourfront Centre suggested combinations to guide patrons in making tailor made experiences including Backyard Adventures, Foreign Perspectives, Made in Canada, Living on the Edge and, Intimate Encounters.

Harbourfront Centre patrons can now redeem New World Stage Passports, a unique gift certificate/credit offer, in order to facilitate their tailor-your-own-experiences. Packages go on sale December 19, single tickets on sale January 2, 2007. Package offers include 10, 15 and 30 percent discounts with assigned, value-added benefits per package. For tickets and information call 416-973-4000 or online www.harbourfrontcentre.com/nws ..

Westin Harbour Castle is the official host hotel of New World Stage.
New World Stage is supported by Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund, Luminato Festival of Arts and Creativity 2007, Canadian Heritage, and Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada.
Harbourfront Centre (Toronto)
archives
7/16/2009 - Milford Graves Quartet at VisionFest
2/15/2009 - Jazz-opera 'Québécité' grew from an interracial love story
12/19/2007 - www.jazzweek.com review of "Serenity Song"
11/28/2007 - Young Stars of Jazz at Yoshi's
11/7/2007 - D.D. Jackson interview for Edmonton Journal
9/25/2007 - Chinese fest at Pier 21 a cultural cornucopia
8/1/2007 - NEWS RELEASE: D.D. Jackson at MEC/Jazzy Jazz Festival in Rare Organ Appearance
7/23/2007 - NEWS RELEASE: A Family Focus for Upcoming D.D. Jackson Trio MOMA Performance
6/14/2007 - "Making Trudeau Sing!"
5/30/2007 - RADIO: interview I did with CBC about my new Trudeau opera
12/4/2006 - Harbourfront Centre’s inaugural New World Stage International Performance
11/28/2006 - Jazz Fan Ends Up on Star's Website
11/28/2006 - Jazzreview.com review of "Serenity Song"
11/4/2006 - The Voice 88.7 fm review of "Serenity Song"
10/19/2006 - Coda magazine review of "Serenity Song"
10/9/2006 - Downbeat magazine [four star] review of Serenity Song
9/18/2006 - All Music Guide review of Serenity Song
9/18/2006 - Pittsburg Tribune-Review review of Serenity Song
9/7/2006 - Finding Serenity In Queens: The D.D. Jackson Interview
8/3/2006 - Buffalo News review of Serenity Song
7/18/2006 - Opera about Pierre Elliott Trudeau to have comedy, drama, sorrow
7/11/2006 - Trudeau perfect subject for new opera, Clarke says
3/1/2006 - Montreal Gazette review of Suite for New York
3/1/2004 - Jazz Journalists International review of Suite for New York
11/17/2003 - Coda Magazine review of Suite for New York
10/15/2003 - "Québécité Is Opera for the Modern Masses"
10/15/2003 - "Quebecite"
10/2/2003 - Jazz Times review of Suite for New York
10/2/2003 - DownBeat review of Suite for New York
9/30/2003 - "Love and Cross-Cultural Struggles in Quebecite"
9/30/2003 - "One World Vibe: Can a Canadian pianist, European bassist, and Cuban drummer play America's music?"
8/31/2003 - "Definitely Not Your Parent's Opera"
8/29/2003 - "Québécité celebrates festival's 10th year", Kitchener Waterloo Record
6/12/2003 - Buffalo News review of Suite for New York
6/11/2003 - Toronto Globe and Mail review of Suite for New York
5/31/2003 - All About Jazz review (#2) of Suite for New York
5/31/2003 - Toronto Star review of Suite for New York
4/2/2003 - All About Jazz review (#1) of Suite for New York
3/4/2003 - Barnes & Noble online review of Suite for New York
3/3/2003 - Jazzreviews.com review of Suite for New York
2/2/2003 - "Jackson Breaks Free to Follow Jazz Whim"
12/10/2002 - "Restless Talent Alights Here"
10/31/2002 - "Improvisational Pianist Among World's Best"
10/31/2002 - Jazz Journal International review of Sigame
6/23/2002 - "Jackson in Action: New York based pianist protects his sound by going with a small label"
3/31/2002 - "Crossing Borders: Reflections on the 30th Annual IAJE Conference"
2/28/2002 - "Traditions: A Settling Storm"
9/1/2001 - CDNOW review of Sigame
Quotes
"D.D. Jackson is, at his best, the most inventive pianist under 50, dashing across the keyboard with preternatural speed yet never losing his classical grace and precision or his left-hand bluesy roots...."

-- - Fred Kaplan, The Absolute Sound
Suite for New York:
An impressive montage of controlled chaos, exciting solo work and promise of things to come: a febrile fusion of futuristic jazz, contemporary classical, streetwise funk and Afro-Cuban sensuality.

-- - Jazz Times Magazine
Quebecite:
"The score is a powerful, identifiably Jacksonesque effort full of energy, rhythm, and flourish..."

-- - Mark Miller, the Globe and Mail
Sigame:
"Swinging, immediate and risk-taking, Sigame is everything a great jazz album should be."

-- - Pulse magazine
"They should have called it "Stand Back, Here Comes D.D. Jackson." This passionate young Canadian pianist sounds like a state-of-the-art player piano exceeding the limits of human performance. "......So Far" is clearly a contender for jazz record of the year. Don't miss it."

-- Steve Guttenberg, Audio magazine