Randolph Celebrates Its 20th Anniversary & Launches the Randolph Theatre

The Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts is simultaneously celebrating its 20th year, and has renovated the large theatre that is part of the Randolph Centre for the Performing Arts building. The Bathurst Street Theatre, located at 736 Bathurst St., will now be known as the Randolph Theatre, named after the President and Founder of the Academy, George C. Randolph Jr.

The Randolph Theatre boasts seating for over 500 audience members, new flooring and carpet, refinished surfaces, and new entrance curtains. When completed the lobby area will also let in natural light and create a more open feeling. "We wanted to create a space that not only fits in with the feeling of the building, but one that audiences will continue to enjoy for many years," said Randolph.

The Bathurst Street Theatre has been a fixture in the arts community since the mid-1980s, showcasing talent like Rita McNeal, Jim Carrey, Karen Kain, Brent Carver, Margaret Atwood, Thompson Highway, Ted Dykstra, Richard Monette, and Andrea Martin to name a few.

Under the Bathurst Theatre banner, many productions saw their first staging in the historic theatre, including Godspell, Thomson Highway's Aria, Margaret Atwood's Masque (a libretto), Evil Dead: The Musical, and many others. The Randolph Academy wants to see this tradition of supporting Canadian artists continue.

Since the Randolph Academy has moved into the space, the theatre has become a central venue for annual Toronto events such as the Toronto Fringe Festival.

"The Randolph Theatre is perfectly situated in the heart of the Fringe Festival's central hub," says spokesperson Laura Quigley, "and the Academy has been a generous host to some of the Fringe Festival's biggest hits in the past three years. We're delighted to be partnered with such an outstanding organization, whose philosophy of cultivating creativity is well-matched with our own."

The 20th Anniversary Dinner and Gala, to be held in The Concert Hall at the Royal York Hotel on October 15th, will celebrate the theatre revitalization. The Gala will be chaired by David Mirvish, founder of the internationally renowned Mirvish Productions. Mr. Mirvish's relationship with the Academy has been a long-standing one. "Many of our performers have studied with the Academy in the past and I look forward to us finding more members of our future casts among your students," said Mirvish in a congratulatory letter.

The theatre's official name change will be announced at the Anniversary Gala, which will also feature 20 performances by Triple Threat™ artists, the Randolph Academy Kids program, the Randolph College program, featured alumni, a special performance by the LMT Connection and other guest artists.

Funds raised at the gala will go toward updating the infrastructure of the historic building at 736 Bathurst Street, so that it can continue to serve both the community and the students of the school.

To purchase tickets to the gala event, or for more information please click here.

About the Randolph Academy

George C. Randolph Jr., the Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts is a Private Career College, children's recreational program and youth show choir program, providing world-class performing arts training to young artists. Distinguished faculty and entertainment industry professionals shape Triple Threat™ skills of dancing, acting, and singing. No other curriculum presents such a focused perspective on building the Triple Threat™ skills, essentials for future success in the highly competitive performing arts industry.

College alumni and faculty have contributed to projects such as Rent, Disney's Beauty and the Beast, Mamma Mia, Fosse, The Little Mermaid, Hairspray, The Sound of Music, 42nd Street, Dirty Dancing, Chicago, West Side Story, We Will Rock You!, Bombay Dreams, Jersey Boys, The Producers, Rock of Ages, and Jesus Christ Superstar.

More Articles by This Author...