Toronto Theatres Saved from oblivion a few decades ago by the flamboyant discount retailer "Honest" Ed Mirvish, the Royal Alexandra Theatre, built in 1907, is the epitome of old world theatre opulence. From the thousands of single lightbulbs that make up the marquee, to waist-coated ushers and polished brass railings, hand-carved walnut and cherrywood, sumptuous red velvet seats and private boxes separated by heavy curtains, this Alex lives up to the royalty of its name. Throughout the years, the theatre has housed performances by theatre greats like John and Ethel Barrymore, Orson Welles, Deborah Kerr and Edith Piaf. When the Mirvishes purchased the theatre in 1962, it was closed for a year for repairs and restorations to return the theatre to its old splendor. The Mirvishes (Ed and his art-collector son David) also operated the prestigious Old Vic theatre in London, England. So it is not unusual for West End productions to cross the Atlantic to be remounted in Toronto. In 1987 on the Royal Alex's 80th birthday it was declared a historic monument. Just a block down the street from the Royal Alexandra and in the heart of Toronto's entertainment district, the Mirvish family's other theatrical landmark sits, the Princess of Wales Theatre, a beautiful theatre built in 1993. The privately funded theatre facility (the first such enterprise in the city in almost 100 years) features extensive murals by the noted contemporary artist Frank Stella. An original model of the mural hangs in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Canada. Other celebrated design touches throughout the building include the finest theatre washrooms anywhere. Roy Thomson Hall, located in the heart of the King St. theatre district, was opened in 1982. Its curvilinear exterior design and sloping glass canopy, which is reflective by day and transparent by night, have made this concert hall a Toronto landmark. Currently, it is the home of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir. Touring musicians and performers also often perform at the hall and various community events and receptions are held in the grand auditorium.Roy Thomson Hall is air-conditioned and seats 2,812, with no seat being farther than 32 metres from the stage. A commanding full-concert pipe organ, built by Gabriel Kney of London, Ont., sits prominently at front and centre of the stage. The historic, 2,200-seat Canon Theatre began as a vaudeville and movie theatre in the 1920's. The then Pantages Theatre was the largest and most elegant motion picture theatre of its time. Throughout the year the ownership of the lavish theatre changed hands until a bitter rivalry between Famous Players and Cineplex Odeon let to an injunction forbidding the use of the theatre for motion pictures. So owners Cineplex Odeon gutted out the old movie theatre and made it into a live theatre that opened in 1989. The first and longest running production was Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom of the Opera. Built on the site of the old New Yorker Theatre, this refurbished, state-of-the art theatre is home to many travelling shows coming through the city. The grande old dame of Toronto's classical music halls, Massey Hall was a gift from the Massey family to the city in the 1800s. The first performance at the hall took place in 1894 and featured Handel's Messiah . Over the years, Massey Hall has continued to be a venue of choice for orchestral ensembles and performing artists, including Stephane Grappelli, Diana Krall, Gordon Lightfoot, Sarah McLachlan and Aretha Franklin. More than 100 events are held at Massey Hall every year -- from jazz and classical music to world music and international dance troupes. The hall seats 2,757 and has a ground floor as well as two steep balconies. Magnificent acoustics make even the furthest seats in the uppermost balcony feel as if they're on stage. For a pre-concert aperitif, you can relax at Centuries, Massey Hall's Victorian-stye bar and lounge. St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts Mirroring the nearby Hummingbird Centre, The St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts is a low-slung modern concrete building that follows the slope of Lake Ontario's former shoreline down from Front Street. Owned by the city, the facility is the premiere not-for profit theatre centre in Toronto. It includes the 900-seat Bluma Appel Theatre, and The Jane Mallett Theatre, which is often used for classical concerts and recitals. The centre which focuses on Canadian performing arts houses six resident companies; CanStage, Esprit Opera, Hannaford Street Silver Band, Music Toronto, Opera in Concert and Toronto Operetta Theatre. Its other performers include local music organizations and international artists such as the Tokyo String Quartet. Chita Rivera and Brent Carver spun the world premier of Kiss of the Spider Woman at the centre in 1994 before going on to Broadway. Other notable Canadian actors who have worked its stage include the famed Fiona Reid and R. H. Thomson. The reconstruction of the Queens Quay Terminal converted a 1926 warehouse into a waterfront tourist attraction, which features shops, restaurants, studios, offices and the Premiere Dance Theatre. The Theatre was officially opened in 1983 and hosts performances by modern dance companies. It presents work by international, avante-garde theatres as well, and is the venue of choice for Harbourfront Centre programming for the arts, community events and corporate rentals. Established in 1919, this elegant theatre in the basement of the University of Toronto's (U of T) ivy-covered Gothic marvel showcases a variety of events. You'll find everything from readings to children's shows to faculty revues put on by various student groups and the renowned U of T Drama festival takes place annually at the end of January. Famous actors like Donald Sutherland, William Hutt and the late Kate Reid caught the acting bug while in student productions; the late Robertson Davies called the place "one of the few historic playhouses in Canada."Today, it has become a well-used community theatre. Open to just about everyone, you might say this Hart House has a big heart. Click here to find out what's playing in Toronto now. |