SEPTEMBER, 2013 - Fifty years ago an adventure in theatre began. Ed Mirvish purchased the beautiful Royal Alexandra Theatre on King Street West. Nestled in the middle of a disused industrial area, the theatre, like the neighbourhood, had been neglected for years. Ed Mirvish restored and renovated the theatre, and revitalized the area. Today the neighbourhood is unrecognizable. Similarly, Ed Mirvish launched a new era in Toronto theatre, ushering in a local commercial segment, which helped to grow the talent pool and the industry to one of the largest and best in the world.
Ed Mirvish makes headlines in 1963 when he purchases, and saves from demolition, Toronto’s historic Royal Alexandra Theatre, one of the oldest and most famous legitimate theatres in North America
Never Too Late Royal Alexandra Theatre
Second City: When the Owl Screams Royal Alexandra Theatre
Les Grands Ballets Canadiens Royal Alexandra Theatre
Spring Thaw Royal Alexandra Theatre
The Canadian Players Royal Alexandra Theatre
An Evening at the Royal Royal Alexandra Theatre
Toronto Chamber Orchestra Royal Alexandra Theatre
A Thousand Clowns Royal Alexandra Theatre
Black Nativity Royal Alexandra Theatre
The Chinese Prime Minister Royal Alexandra Theatre
Obraztsov's Moscow State Central Puppet Theatre Royal Alexandra Theatre
Kidzapoppin with Randy Dandy Royal Alexandra Theatre
Scottish Memories: Hogmanay Party Royal Alexandra Theatre
The Toronto production of Godspell launches the careers of several notable performers including: Victor Garber, Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin, Gilda Radner, Dave Thomas, Paul Shaffer and Martin Short.
La Compagnie André Tahon Royal Alexandra Theatre
Purlie Royal Alexandra Theatre
Promises, Promises Royal Alexandra Theatre
The Gingerbread Lady Royal Alexandra Theatre
Promenade All Royal Alexandra Theatre
Captain Brassbound’s Conversion Royal Alexandra Theatre
To Live Another Summer Royal Alexandra Theatre
Pinocchio Royal Alexandra Theatre
Carousel Royal Alexandra Theatre
The Marquise Royal Alexandra Theatre
Godspell Royal Alexandra Theatre
The Rothschilds Royal Alexandra Theatre
How the Other Half Loves Royal Alexandra Theatre
A Voyage Round My Father Royal Alexandra Theatre
Irene Royal Alexandra Theatre
Goldilocks and the Three Bears Royal Alexandra Theatre
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Royal Alexandra Theatre
1987-89
Among the notable early Mirvish-produced and co-produced shows seen at the Royal Alexandra were Brian Macdonald’s acclaimed staging of Gilbert and Sullivan’s H.M.S. Pinafore and the wildly popular Toronto production and national tours of Les Misérables.
The Princess of Wales Theatre opens with the record-breaking production of Miss Saigon.
Man of La Mancha Royal Alexandra Theatre
Five Guys Named Moe Royal Alexandra Theatre
Crazy for You Royal Alexandra Theatre
Blood Brothers Royal Alexandra Theatre
The Good Times are Killing Me Royal Alexandra Theatre
Miss Saigon Princess of Wales Theatre
Guys and Dolls Royal Alexandra Theatre
1995
The Who’s Tommy Elgin Theatre
An Evening with Peter Ustinov Royal Alexandra Theatre
Beauty and the Beast Princess of Wales Theatre
Rita Rudner Royal Alexandra Theatre
Brent Carver in Concert Royal Alexandra Theatre
Buttons On Broadway starring Red Buttons Royal Alexandra Theatre
An Evening with John Irving Royal Alexandra Theatre
John McDermott & Friends Royal Alexandra Theatre
The Snow Maiden by Kalinka Performing Arts Royal Alexandra Theatre
1996
The Master Builder Royal Alexandra Theatre
One for the Pot Royal Alexandra Theatre
Maggie and Pierre Royal Alexandra Theatre
Three Tall Women Royal Alexandra Theatre
Blood Brothers Royal Alexandra Theatre
Andre Philippe Gagnon Royal Alexandra Theatre
Darrow Royal Alexandra Theatre
Don Giovanni Royal Alexandra Theatre
Jane Eyre Royal Alexandra Theatre
1997
Death of a Salesman Royal Alexandra Theatre
The Glass Menagerie Royal Alexandra Theatre
Andre Philippe Gagnon Royal Alexandra Theatre
The Piano Man’s Daughter Royal Alexandra Theatre
Jolson Royal Alexandra Theatre
The Importance of Being Earnest Princess of Wales Theatre
Orfeo ed Eurydice Royal Alexandra Theatre
Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story Princess of Wales Theatre
Rent Royal Alexandra Theatre
1998
Slava’s Snowshow Princess of Wales Theatre
Chicago Princess of Wales Theatre
Forever Tango Princess of Wales Theatre
Cats Princess of Wales Theatre
The Needfire Princess of Wales Theatre
Two Pianos Four Hands Royal Alexandra Theatre
Les Misérables Princess of Wales Theatre
Racing Demon Royal Alexandra Theatre
Momix Princess of Wales Theatre
The Marriage of Figaro Royal Alexandra Theatre
Fame Royal Alexandra Theatre
The Vinyl Cafe Christmas Royal Alexandra Theatre
1999
The Number 14 Royal Alexandra Theatre
Chicago Princess of Wales Theatre
Proposals Royal Alexandra Theatre
The Master Class Royal Alexandra Theatre
Jolson Princess of Wales Theatre
Our Town Royal Alexandra Theatre
Notre Dame de Paris Princess of Wales Theatre
The Pajama Game Princess of Wales Theatre
Fame Princess of Wales Theatre
Cabaret Princess of Wales Theatre
Oliver! Princess of Wales Theatre
Art Royal Alexandra Theatre
The Needfire Royal Alexandra Theatre
2000s
2000
Enigma Variations Royal Alexandra Theatre
The Memory of Water Winter Garden Theatre
Blue’s Clues Canon Theatre
The Lion King Princess of Wales Theatre
Mamma Mia! Royal Alexandra Theatre
Dame Edna: The Royal Tour Canon Theatre
2001
Stones in His Pockets Winter Garden Theatre
A Flea in Her Ear Elgin Theatre
The Drawer Boy Winter Garden Theatre
The Full Monty Elgin Theatre
The Drowsy Chaperone Winter Garden Theatre
Saturday Night Fever Canon Theatre
2002
The Graduate Canon Theatre
Syncopation Winter Garden Theatre
Cats Canon Theatre
Zadie’s Shoes Winter Garden Theatre
Blast Hummingbird Centre
Brachetti Canon Theatre
Contact Canon Theatre
Wingfield on Ice Winter Garden Theatre
2003
Mambo Italiano Elgin Theatre
Aida Canon Theatre
Two Pianos Four Hands Elgin Theatre
Chicago Canon Theatre
Scaramouche Jones Winter Garden Theatre
The Adventures of a Black Girl in Search of God Harbourfront Centre
The Producers Canon Theatre
Jesus Christ Superstar Canon Theatre
2004
Copenhagen Winter Garden Theatre
The Hollow Crown Princess of Wales Theatre
Hairspray Princess of Wales Theatre
The Last Empress Hummingbird Centre
The Rat Pack Canon Theatre
A Couple of Blaguards Winter Garden Theatre
2005
Da Kink in My Hair Princess of Wales Theatre
Wicked Canon Theatre
Evita Princess of Wales Theatre
Chun Yi: The Legend of Kung Fu Princess of Wales Theatre
Les Misérables Princess of Wales Theatre
Billy Crystal: 700 Sundays Canon Theatre
Riverdance Canon Theatre
Dame Edna: Back With A Vengeance Royal Alexandra Theatre
Movin’ Out Canon Theatre
2006
The Boy Friend Royal Alexandra Theatre
The Lord of the Rings Princess of Wales Theatre
The Innocent Eye Test Royal Alexandra Theatre
Nomade: At Night the Sky is Endless Canon Theatre
Wingfield’s Inferno Royal Alexandra Theatre
Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me Canon Theatre
Spamalot Canon Theatre
Legends! Royal Alexandra Theatre
Wicked Canon Theatre
Pippin Royal Alexandra Theatre
Chicago Princess of Wales Theatre
2007
Orpheus Descending Royal Alexandra Theatre
The Phantom of the Opera Princess of Wales Theatre
We Will Rock You Canon Theatre
e-DENTITY Royal Alexandra Theatre
Vida Royal Alexandra Theatre
High School Musical Princess of Wales Theatre
Cats Princess of Wales Theatre
Dirty Dancing: The Classic Story on Stage Royal Alexandra Theatre
Sweeney Todd Princess of Wales Theatre
John McDermott: Bringing Home Christmas Princess of Wales Theatre
Christmas with the Rat Pack Princess of Wales Theatre
2008
The Mirvish theatre family doubled in size with the purchase of the 2300-seat Canon Theatre – now the Ed Mirvish Theatre, and the intimate, 700-seat Panasonic Theatre.
Whistle Down the Wind Princess of Wales Theatre
Twelve Angry Men Princess of Wales Theatre
The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, Parts I and II Princess of Wales Theatre
Hairspray Princess of Wales Theatre
Twelve Angry Men (Return) Princess of Wales Theatre
We Will Rock You Panasonic Theatre
Spamalot Canon Theatre
The Sound of Music Princess of Wales Theatre
A Chorus Line Canon Theatre
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Canon Theatre
2009
Medea Canon Theatre
The Color Purple Canon Theatre
Spring Awakening Canon Theatre
Dora the Explorer: Search for the City of Lost Toys Canon Theatre
Riverdance Canon Theatre
My Mother’s Lesbian Jewish Wiccan Wedding Panasonic Theatre
The Harder They Come Canon Theatre
The Boys in the Photograph Royal Alexandra Theatre
Stomp Canon Theatre
August: Osage County Canon Theatre
Stuff Happens Royal Alexandra Theatre
Fiddler on the Roof Canon Theatre
Cloud 9 Panasonic Theatre
2010s
In This Decade
The Off-Mirvish series is launched, Come From Away becomes an international blockbuster, and, in the decade’s final year, a pandemic shutters theatres around the world. But theatre will survive, as it has for millennia.
In 2012 the Canon Theatre was renamed the Ed Mirvish Theatre.
Come From Away Royal Alexandra Theatre (Suspended due to Covid-19)
The Phantom of the Opera Princess of Wales Theatre
She The People CAA Theatre
Hamilton Ed Mirvish Theatre (Suspended due to Covid-19)
Riverdance Princess of Wales Theatre
Us/Them CAA Theatre
Summer Princess of Wales Theatre (Suspended due to Covid-19)
2021
first indoor theatre presentation in Toronto since the pandemic shut down all theatres
Blindness was first presented on the stage of the Princess of Wales Theatre beginning August 4, 2021 and was the first indoor theatre presentation in Toronto since the pandemic shut down all theatres.
Audiences were limited to 50 people per performance and were seated in pods of one or two. Everyone in attendance, including all staff, were masked.
August 4 - 29, 2021 Returns September 24 - October 24, 2021
Eddie Izzard Dickens' Great Expectations & The Remix: 1988-2018 CAA Theatre
Eddie Izzard - Wunderbar Princess of Wales Theatre
No Change in the Weather CAA Theatre
Omicron variant closes show
Jesus Christ Superstar Princess of Wales
This reimagined 50th Anniversary tour of Jesus Christ Superstarwas schedued to play November 30, 2021 to January 2, 2022. The Omicron variant closed the curtain on the final 11 performances (December 24, 2021 to January 2, 2022).
