This is a festival that takes its shirt off. This is a festival that features dance, theater, visual art, film, video and things that we cannot easily categorize. This is a festival about joy. This is an international festival. This is an international festival with a local flavor. This is a festival that could only happen in the city it happens in. This festival wakes up early. This festival goes to bed late. This festival is about hope. This festival is about beauty. This festival is awkward. This is a bawdy nasty festival that your mom told you to stay away from. This is a festival that owns its mistakes. This is a festival that likes a good laugh. This is a festival that could really be something if you gave it a chance. This is a festival that wants your vote. This is a festival that has a gorgeous voice. This is a festival that likes football: figure out which kind. This is a festival that is happening at a very critical time in our life as a nation and though it does not have a specific political agenda its existence is part of the answer. This is a festival that likes to rock out. This is a festival that investigates the nature of performance. This is a festival that starts with a parade and ends with one as well. This festival has a lot of work from France. This is a festival with work from France but you don’t need to know French to get it, you don’t even have to wear a beret. This is a festival that can lip sync. This is a festival with a really cool late night club for everyone called the works. This is a festival that won’t sit still. This is a festival that won’t shut up. This is a festival that really knows how to dance. This is a festival based on meetings between people, between cultures, one to one. This is a festival that embraces the cheap and tawdry. This festival sleeps with the beautiful. This festival is sublime. This is the third and final festival by a guest artistic director who really lives in New York City but feels he has gained a new home town. This festival is bittersweet. This is a festival you can take your kids to (well some of it, depends on the kid). This is a festival with maps on top of maps. This festival will lead you astray. This festival is funny. This festival could change your life. This festival could teach you a lesson. This festival has stories to tell. This festival will have moments of quiet contemplation. This festival is knocking on heaven's door. This is a festival put together with love and thought. This festival is a gift. This festival has always relied on the kindness of strangers. This is a festival that asks a lot of questions. This festival asks a lot of its audience, but it gives it back. This festival takes artistic risks. This festival knows what it is doing. This is a festival programmed by a guy who hates writing introductory letters to festivals. This festival was put together by a lot of dedicated people and supported by foundations, and individual contributions and a lot of sweat equity. This festival thanks everyone who got through to the end of this “letter.” This festival makes a statement.

-Mark Russell
Artistic Director, TBA:08