A 168-square-meter central stage—the equivalent of two mini-apartments—and 20 dressing rooms for the artists. 7,000 square meters of open-air space and 3,000 square meters of indoor space. A covered, transparent, open-air dance hall. Two giant LED screens for dynamic, real-time information. Directional sound systems to avoid noise pollution and two permanent sound measurement stations.
Four restaurants: a grill restaurant, a sushi bar, a snack wine bar, and a pizzeria. Five bars, including a lounge bar, a bookstore, and a cinema.
These are some of the facilities set up by the Padova Pride Village 2012 at the Padua Fair to welcome artists and the public starting Friday, July 6, the eagerly awaited opening day of the Festa di Tutti (Festival of All), which this year will continue until September 2.
A bang-up start will see comedian Piero Chiambretti, as host, interview Paola Concia and her wife Ricarda Trautmann, who were married last year in Germany. His presence bodes well for the official launch at the Village of the signature drive for the "Once for All" campaign in support of the proposed law for the legal recognition of civil unions in Italy. The campaign, promoted and coordinated by the Padova Pride Village with the support of Ben & Jerry's, the international ice cream brand, this year's main sponsor.
Chiambretti's comedic talents will be followed by the chameleon-like Gabriella Germani, immensely popular for her television and radio impersonations on the program "Viva Radio 2" with Fiorello and Marco Baldini. In a one-woman show, meaningfully titled "Enough with the usual faces," the actress, in addition to featuring some familiar faces, such as the ever-present Barbara Palombelli and Serena Dandini, will also take on "unfamiliar roles," created specifically for the show: from Anna Finocchiaro to Laura Morante, who teaches acting, to Monica Bellucci. With forays into the world of Italian music, she will present a range of voices ranging from Carmen Consoli and Ornella Vanoni to Loredana Bertè. The show is enriched by the presence of pianist Massimo Poggioni. The only scenic element is provided by some video clips and the stage movement is entrusted to the protagonist's role changes. A hilarious, eclectic, contemporary, biting show, with brilliant jokes that “don’t take anyone in the face”.
This fifth edition of the Padova Pride Village couldn't be without some of the key figures who contributed to the event's success. From 8:00 pm until the opening ceremony, Loredana Forleo, the well-known and beloved Radio Company speaker, will be back to entertain the audience with RadioVillage. After the show, the Padova Pride Village dance music will resume until 3:00 am with Jack DJ and Vittorio DJ on the outdoor boulevard, and Gianluca Pacini DVJ in the Palavillage.
The evening was a surefire success, prompting the organizers to bring the Village's opening time forward to 7:00 PM (parking opens at 6:30 PM) to allow everyone to enter comfortably and enjoy the evening. (Entrance fee: €10).
The Padova Pride Village Saturday will begin at 12:30 pm from Porte Contarine, where the Queen Boat will officially set sail. This gay-friendly cruise along Padua's canals will include brunch and onboard entertainment. (For information and reservations, please call the Ividiesse Agency stand at 049/8021744, +393346671681, or [email protected].).
The first Saturday night of 2012 at the Padova Pride Village will be dedicated entirely to auteur cinema, entertainment, and dance. Fabio Canino will perform his greatest hit, "Cronache Terrestri," revisited for the occasion. This unmissable and unpredictable show will feature the special appearance of actress and comedian Lucia Ocone and numerous other guests, including Franco Grillini, Alessandro Golinelli, and Tommaso Cerno.
The arthouse cinema program also resumes at 9:30 pm. The documentary "Angels On A Death Row" (ITA, 2011, 55') by Alessandro Golinelli and Rocco Bernini addresses the issue of the death penalty for those accused of homosexuality in Iran. Starting with the shocking case of Ebrahim Hamidi, a twenty-one-year-old sentenced to death, the film analyzes the social and political context of these atrocities, including the numerous hangings of minors and the risky and humiliating clandestine existence of gay people. It's an opportunity to reflect, but also to personally meet director Alessandro Golinelli, who is present at the Padova Pride Village to present his book L'amore semplice (Frassinelli, 2012), the story of a love made of glances between a young German girl and a Mauthausen prisoner.
After the show, dance music will continue until 4:00 AM with DJ Manuela Doriani and DJ Lucas Marshall Fent in the Palavillage, and with DJ Jack on the outdoor boulevard. The evening will kick off at 8:00 PM with infotainment from Radio Village, courtesy of Loredana Forleo. Admission is free from 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM, €5 from 9:00 PM to 11:30 PM, and €15 from 11:30 PM onward (including a drink).
Great comedy and top guests confirm their presence at the Padova Pride Village on Sunday, July 8th. The evening's star will be Paolo Rossi in "Evening of Dishonor. Towards an Unauthorized Biography," with music performed live by Emanuele Dell'Aquila. The comedian says of his show: "Evenings of honor were, in the last century, shows in which artists celebrated the best of their repertoire and their lives lived in the theater. Here, in the so-called "Evening of Dishonor," it's the complete opposite: I will appear naked on stage, a feast for the audience, in a live, 4D theatrical event. From now on, satirists should make their vices public, and, please, keep their virtues very private.".
Also on Sunday, following the resounding success of the 2011 edition, auditions will begin for the Village Talent Show, the Padova Pride Village show dedicated exclusively to emerging artists in music, dance, and theater. Led by coach Enzo Forleo and featuring the infectious cheerfulness of Ape Regina, the selected candidates will compete every Saturday at the Padova Pride Village, starting July 14th and ending with the final performance on September 1st, where the winner(s) of the new edition will be announced. Auditions will take place on Sunday, July 8th, 2012, at 4:30 p.m., entrance gate B (for information, call +39 3407608981 or [email protected]).
Vittorio DJ's wild music on the outdoor boulevard until 2:00 a.m. will close out the first weekend of Festa di Tutti. Admission is €10 from 8:00 p.m.
Padova Pride Village is organized by the Circolo Tralaltro Arcigay Padova in collaboration with PadovaFiere Spa, with the patronage of the Province of Padua, the Municipality of Padua, and with the support of the Padua Tourism Promotion Consortium.
Info
www.padovapridevillage.it
