Princess of Wales to close?

[fashionguru_23]

http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/theatre/article/1264364--david-mirvish-and-frank-gehry-to-transform-king-st-strip-into-culture-and-condo-complex

According to the article, the theatre is being torn down?! What?

[canmark]

It does sound like sad news to lose the Princess of Wales Theatre, and Twitter is lighting up with people complaining about "Princess of Wales Theatre to be demolished for more condos." But I'm sure the person most sad about losing the POW is David Mirvish himself. I mean, he's the one that built it--with his own money, and he commissioned Frank Stella to create art for the theatre.

And now he feels that it needs to be sacrificed for this huge, audacious project that will alter the skyline of Toronto and add a large Arts component to the city: two galleries, plus facilities for OCAD, plus retail and other things--plus, of course, three 80+ story condos... and all designed by starchitect Frank Gehry!

It's sad to lose a theatre, but a theatre can be rebuilt. With the new Off-Mirvish subscription series, Mirvish is showing that he is continuing to present theatre in the city--beyond the Broadway-sized shows for which he has a virtual monopoly (now that Dancap is gone). There are other seldom-used theatres like the Elgin/Winter Garden and Toronto Centre for the Arts that can take on shows that might have gone into the POW. And, who knows, a new theatre could be built some day.

I think it's an exciting plan, but obviously will have to overcome some hurdles (city approval, financing, public approval--esp. the Arts/theatre community), but I think Mirvish has been genuine of his support of the Arts over the years and we should listen to his plan with an open mind.

I believe the press conference for this project will be on Monday. It will be interesting to see how that goes, as the story has lit up the Internet this weekend--both the Arts community and the Urban Planning community are keenly concerned/interested in this project.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/mirvish-gehry-aim-to-leave-their-mark-on-toronto-with-king-street-plan/article4577688/

[canmark]

Just noticed this on BWW--you're right on top of things. Excellent work, BWW!

David Mirvish Writes Letter Addressing New Toronto Complex and Loss of the Princess of Wales Theatre
http://broadwayworld.com/article/David-Mirvish-Writes-Letter-Addressing-New-Toronto-Complex-and-Loss-of-the-Princess-of-Wales-Theatre-20120930#sthash.0GuLiPcq.dpbs

[wallybag]

Its not about culture or theatre or building a better Toronto its about money why cant David Mirvish be honest he sold out. Now he is A Condo Tycoon.

[spicegirlsaloud]

How long until David announces that Honest Eds is being removed to begin construction on North America's largest H&M store? ... for the good of the city of course.

[wallybag]

If you tear down the Royal Alexandra you could build 4 85 floor condo`s. That would be good for the future of toronto. Please dont call these condo`s they are sculptures.

[canmark]

Toronto Star theatre critic Richard Ouzounian: Do not mourn loss of Princess of Wales

http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/onstage/article/1264693--do-not-mourn-loss-of-princess-of-wales-ouzounian

-----
The Princess of Wales Theatre is being torn down and I will shed no tears over its passing.

Don’t get me wrong, it was a gorgeous facility from every point of view, but the city of Toronto never really needed it and so I have no trouble supporting David Mirvish’s bold new plan for the Entertainment District that calls for its elimination.

It’s interesting that when the announcement of Mirvish’s intention to demolish the theatre became public knowledge on Saturday, there was a rush to judgment by a lot of people, pronouncing it a body blow to the cultural life of this city.

It’s no such thing. Here’s the simple fact: there are currently too many large theatres in Toronto and this excess has actually been damaging to our cultural life over the past few years.

Look around us: the Princess of Wales, the Royal Alex, the Sony Centre, the Elgin, the Winter Garden, the Ed Mirvish, the Panasonic, the Toronto Centre for the Arts.

Can you think of one time in recent years when they’ve all been filled with shows that people were clamouring to get into?
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[PastorErnst]

"OCAD University announced today that it will name its new 25,000-square-foot facility, a centrepiece of the Mirvish+Gehry Toronto project, The Princess of Wales Visual Arts Centre at OCAD University. The new facility is one of two major cultural additions at the centre of a multi-year, multi-phase project announced in October that will transform Toronto’s downtown arts and entertainment district. Mirvish+Gehry Toronto, which will also feature a new Mirvish Collection museum, is the largest and most significant urban commission to date for Toronto-born architect Frank Gehry and is the vision of David Mirvish."

artdaily.org: Cultural Centrepiece to be named The Princess of Wales Visual Arts Centre at OCAD University