By Adam Hetrick
11 Jun 2009

Ivo van Hove's Toneelgroep Amsterdam, which presented a stage amalgam of John Cassavetes' film Opening Night to acclaim at BAM last season, will participate in the New Island Festival in late summer.

Presented on Governor's Island for two extended September weekends (Sept. 10-13; 17-20), the New Island Festival celebrates the work of Dutch artists. The festival is presented as part of the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson's voyage (he was commissioned by the Dutch) into New York Harbor and up the river that now bears his name. Governor's Island sits between lower Manhattan and Brooklyn.

Over 100 Dutch artists are anticipated to perform the site-specific festival that will offer the U.S. debut of a stage production from Toneelgroep Amsterdam, as well as TUIG's towering outdoor spectacle Salto Vitale and the U.S. premiere of Silent Disco, in which participants gather to dance while wearing headphones. Complete programming will be announced shortly.

Producer David Binder (33 Variations), said in a statement, "The Dutch excel at creating unusual work in non-traditional spaces that is innovative, brilliant and just plain fun. New Island Festival will do for the performing arts in The Netherlands what Fuerza Bruta and De la Guarda have done for Argentina. It's going to be a spectacular ten days of performances and parties."

New Island Festival is under the artistic leadership of Joop Mulder and Terts Brinkhoff, produced by David Binder and Eric Bijleveld, and co-presented by the New York Theatre Workshop, The Joyce Theater and The Figment Festival.

Single tickets and festival passes will be available. Visit NewIslandFestival.