Andy Warhol screen tests set to live music; a Toronto choreographer who taps into an ancient Cambodian form; and a ukulele-playing drag performer: these are just some of the on-stage adventures announced for the fifth annual PuSh International Performing Arts Festival.

At a recent press conference at the Vancity Theatre, it was announced that the genre-busting festival’s programming for January 20 to February 8, 2009, will come from as far away as Japan, England, and New Zealand. With works encompassing theatre, dance, and music-often at the same time-the event will take place in venues around town, and there will be a new licensed “festival within a festival” at Performance Works called Club PuSh.

Club PuSh is the convivial hub, serving up drinks and cutting-edge performances throughout the event. “To me it’s like a jazz club in the ’50s, in that it’s really focused and there’s an intimacy, as well as people experimenting,” said artistic director Norman Armour.

Politicized New York drag performance artist Taylor Mac hits the club stage January 27 and 28. Elsewhere, look for Dean & Britta—a duo comprising Dean Wareham (formerly of Galaxie 500 and Luna) and his partner Britta Phillips—creating a haunting live soundscape set to Warhol’s work in 13 Most Beautiful… Songs for Andy Warhol’s Screentests (January 30 at the Vogue Theatre); Theatre Replacement’s production of U.K. playwright Tim Etchell’s That Night Follows Day, which finds 17 children between the ages of eight and 14 cataloguing the advice their parents have given them (February 4 to 8 at the Roundhouse Community Arts and Recreation Centre); and Transmission of the Invisible, Toronto choreographer Peter Chin’s collaboration with Phnom Penh’s Amrita Performing Arts (January 29 to 31 at the Scotiabank Dance Centre).

In all, there’ll be more than 100 performances. Many tickets are on sale now, with the rest available Monday (December 1) via Ticketstonight.ca. A PuSh Pass is $90 for any four shows or $135 for a six-pack. Club PuSh Cards are $120 for all shows at the club. Look for brochures at libraries and community centres.