Mission & History

Dinner Theatre Arts Organization

Purpose

Here at Luminary We’re a nonprofit Dinner Theatre Arts org and Theatre Ministry that brings awareness to youth issues in the community through theatre, food, arts, design, and advocacy within multipurpose spaces. Developing young artists of tomorrow through sustainability. We are queer (LGBTQIA+) & minority founded, operated, and LGBTQIA organization. Luminary serves as a art outlet, and as an activism organization.

ABOUT

Luminary was born from the intersection of two lifelong dreams. For more than 30 years, our founder's father envisioned opening a restaurant that would bring people together through food and fellowship. Inspired by that vision, and driven by a passion for using the arts to strengthen communities, our founder sought to create something that honored both dreams.

After years of working with nonprofit organizations and witnessing the profound challenges brought on by the events of 2020—including the closure of countless businesses and community organizations—it became clear that the community needed innovative spaces for healing, creativity, and connection. Drawing on relationships built through years of community engagement, our founder assembled a diverse group of artists, advocates, and community leaders to establish Luminary in 2021.

Today, Luminary is a multidisciplinary arts and culture organization that combines theatre, arts, design, food, and community programming to inspire creativity while addressing issues affecting young people and underserved communities. Our work creates opportunities for dialogue around poverty, racism, homophobia, transphobia, ageism, and access to sexual health education and community resources.

We believe that art and service are powerful tools for creating meaningful social change. Through interdisciplinary storytelling, community partnerships, and inclusive programming, Luminary fosters a welcoming space where creativity, education, and advocacy come together to build a more equitable, connected, and compassionate community.

MISSION

Luminary works to have open human potential, build community and enrich quality of life by engaging people in theatre, food, arts, design, and advocacy to reflect the wonder and difficulty of our time. The agency’s focus is to enhance the palette with a wide spectrum of experience of every flavour of art and build a connection with the historic latches upon them; as well as the open mindedness for innovation and necessary change.

VISION

Luminary seeks to entertain and educate while also helping the community. This includes providing activities, support, and resources for youth and young adults who want to express their artistic talents, which also, brings awareness to youth issues in the community such as poverty, homophobia, transphobia, ageism, racism, sexual health services and resources.

To fulfill our vision, we will, with the curiosity to:

• Entertain, engage and inspire our audience, our community and the greater human community by presenting bold, cutting edge and unique theatrical pieces that speak to the LGBTQIA+, People of Color,  and the rest of the community as a productive whole.

• Examine our individual and collective accountability for our society and community, exposing the beauty and dignity of all people.

• Ignite and celebrate the unfailing hope and triumph of the human spirit.

• Challenge the traditional hierarchies of how theatre is made, and how other forms of art collaborate with each other to improve each other.

What our audiences can expect:

• Amazing productions of contemporary plays, locally written, local entertainment and fun

• Original projects/events/experiences

• A spirit of experimentation

• Affordable ticket prices

• Good food and good time

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The unceded land of many Indigenous communities including the Shawnee, Cherokee, Chickasaw and Osage people. Indigenous peoples have always lived on the land that is now called Kentucky and continue to live here today.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Policy

Luminary Comity is committed to fostering, cultivating and preserving a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion.

Our human capital is the most valuable asset we have. The collective sum of the individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, inventiveness, innovation, self-expression, unique capabilities and talent that our employees invest in their work represents a significant part of not only our culture, but our reputation and company’s achievement as well.

We embrace and encourage our employees’ differences in age, color, disability, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity or expression, language, national origin, physical and mental ability, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, veteran status, and other characteristics that make our employees unique.

Luminary Comity diversity initiatives are applicable—but not limited—to our practices and policies on recruitment and selection; compensation and benefits; professional development and training; promotions; transfers; social and recreational programs; layoffs; terminations; and the ongoing development of a work environment built on the premise of gender and diversity equity that encourages and enforces:

• Respectful communication and cooperation between all employees.

• Teamwork and employee participation, permitting the representation of all groups and employee perspectives.

• Work/life balance through flexible work schedules to accommodate employees’ varying needs.

• Employer and employee contributions to the communities we serve to promote a greater understanding and respect for diversity.

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All employees of Luminary Comity have a responsibility to treat others with dignity and respect at all times. All employees are expected to exhibit conduct that reflects inclusion during work, at work functions on or off the work site, and at all other company-sponsored and participative events. All employees are also required to attend and complete annual diversity awareness training to enhance their knowledge to fulfil this responsibility.

Any employee found to have exhibited any inappropriate conduct or behaviour against others may be subject to disciplinary action.

Employees who believe they have been subjected to any kind of discrimination that conflicts with the company’s diversity policy and initiatives should seek assistance from a supervisor or an HR representative.

Achievements/Accomplishments 

• • Jun. 24, 2021 - Filing for Articles

  • Jul. 2021 - Board of directors was formed

  • Jul. 15, 2021 - Official Pilot of SYHRC

  • Aug. 2021 - Home Base Permit

  • Aug. 3, 2021 - Social media Lunch

  • Aug. 7, 2021 - First event Marketing 

  • Oct. 2021 - Become Federal Tax exempt 

  • Dec. 2021 - Full Service Health department Permit 

  • Feb. 27, 2022 - Louisville Act-SO Program Launched

  • September 2022 - First Top Louisville Article 

  • July 2022 - Louisville Act-SO Placed Silver in Playwright at Nationals  

  • Dec. 2, 2022 - First Gala (HopeBoyz Gala 2022)

  • Jan. 2023 - MarketWagon Article

  • Jan. 31, 2023 - WAVE 3 New Interview 

  • April 2023 - Official Launch Hungry Artist Program 

  • Jan 2024 - Sponsor for the Shively farmers and artisans market 2024 season

  • July 2024 - Louisville Act-SO Placed Silver in Instrumental Classical Music at Nationals  

  • Jan 2025 - Sponsor for the Shively farmers and artisans market 2025 season

  • Jan 2026 - Sponsor for the Shively farmers and artisans market 2026 season

  • Apr 2026 - Started revoating new theatre space.