Paul Bass Photo
Aleskie and Dankosky scope out the hall before the crowd showed up Wednesday night.
New Haven’s premier summer arts festival is looking back, and ahead, as it closes its second decade.
That was the theme Wednesday evening as the International Festival of Arts & Ideas unveiled highlights of its schedule for this year’s edition, which runs June 12 – 27.
Toni Harp salutes the festival.
Festival Executive Director Mary Lou Aleskie noted to a crowd assembled at Wiseman Theater on Chapel Street how American culture and society have changed since the festival debuted in 1996. This year’s line-up reflects that mix of old and new. Headline acts range from Lucinda Williams, Darelene Love, Angélique Kidjo, and Ibeyi, to Kurt Elling appearing with the New Haven Symphony Orchestra. New Yorker cartoonist Roz Chast and journalist Jelani Cobb are among the featured speakers at free ideas events; the new Quebec circus troupe Machine de Cirque will perform, and the festival has co-commissioned a new performance work from Imani Winds, Passion for Bach and Coltrane. A film retrospective will focus on the work of John Sayles and Maggie Renzie; director Mike Leigh will speak as well, along with a screening of his Mr. Turner. (Click here for the full details.)
Ushers and interns receive last-minute instructions.
Before Aleskie announced the season details, she turned the stage over to WNPR “Where We Live” host John Dankosky, who led a panel discussion (to air on his program) on the implications of the past two decades’ technological change for privacy and American culture and democracy.