First Annual Philadelphia GLBT Arts Festival Features Over 20 Performances
Features Over 20 Performances
May 28-June 1, 2009
Traverse Arts Project announces the premiere Philadelphia GLBT Arts festival, featuring over 20 performances presented by a wide range of artists – singers, actors, musicians, dancers, filmmakers and performance artists.
Featured performers and ensembles from across North America include:
- Elspeth Kincaid – an internationally-acclaimed award-winning mezzo soprano, accompanied by Laurent Phillipe, with performances by organist Desiree Hines and the Philadelphia Freedom Band.
- Brian Wilbur Grundstrom – a classically-trained musician and composer for film, orchestra, piano, and voice. Grundstrom has been honored with numerous awards and has performed his works at the Kennedy Center.
- Obscene – The U.S. premiere of an experimental theater production by Canadian playwright Ian Mozden. This riveting drama explores the issues of gender identity in honest and sometimes graphic scenes. (This performance is recommended for adults 18 and older).
- Unity in Harmony – A professional chorus with singers from across the country, conducted by Luke Frasier, a graduate student at Ohio University’s School of Music.
- Three Twelve – a Philadelphia-based openly gay Christian music group.
The Philadelphia GLBT Arts Festival is the brainchild of Desiree Hines. A classical organist and African-American male-to-female transsexual, Hines decided to create the festival after experiencing years of discrimination from religious and educational institutions, which ultimately left her homeless for nearly a year in Chicago. Now working as an organist at various churches and venues in the Philadelphia area, Hines wants this festival to engage the community in social change through the arts and offer career development opportunities for emerging GLBT artists.
“Traverse Arts Project is thrilled with the level of talent that will be presented at the first annual festival, says Hines, TAP Project Coordinator, GLBT Arts Festival. “All of the artists have extensive training from some of the finest schools training arts professionals, and each performer will address the issues affecting the GLBT community through artistic expression.”
Performances will be held at First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut Street, and Arch Street United Methodist Church, 55 North Broad Street. Tickets will be available online starting late April through the TAP box office, www.traversetheater.org. Tickets for each performance are $15 per person, $10 for students and seniors. An all festival pass, which includes admission to all festival events, will be available for purchase as well.
Traverse Arts Project (TAP) is a Philadelphia-based nonprofit arts organization supporting theatrical expression as not only a form of celebration but also as a catalyst for change. TAP seeks opportunities to spark thought, start conversations, and promote cross-cultural and cross-generational dialogue.