St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts
| Location | 27 Front Street East Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5E 1B4 |
|---|---|
| Owner | City of Toronto |
| Capacity | 876 (Bluma Appel Theatre), 498 (Jane Mallett Theatre) |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1970 |
| Architect | Gordon S. Adamson and Associates |
| Website | |
| www |
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The St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts is a performing arts theatre complex located in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Located on Front Street one block east of Yonge Street, it was Toronto's official centennial project, commemorating the 1967 Canadian Centennial. It houses two auditoriums, the 876-seat Bluma Appel Theatre and the 498-seat Jane Mallett Theatre.
The centre is municipally owned and was operated 1983-7 by CentreStage Company (named Toronto Arts Foundation 1964-73 and Toronto Arts Productions 1973-83). General managers of the St Lawrence Centre have included Mavor Moore 1966-70, Leon Major 1970-80, Victor C. Polley 1980-1, Bruce Swerdfager 1981-5, Michael Noon circa 1985-94, David Wallett circa 1996-2007, and James Roe in 2007.
The Theatres
The $2.6-million St Lawrence Centre for the Arts was designed by Gordon S. Adamson and Associates and opened 2 February 1970 after eight years of planning and construction. The building originally housed the 483-seat Town Hall and 863-seat Theatre.
The Bluma Appel Theatre
The Theatre was initially adaptable for thrust stage, proscenium, and caliper formations, and was used for dramatic presentations until 1982, when it was redesigned by The Thom Partnership (Toronto) and the Theatre Projects Consultants. During the $5.3-million renovation, the thrust stage was removed, a balcony and boxes helped increase seating, and an optional orchestra pit was provided. It reopened 19 March 1983 as the Bluma Appel Theatre, named for a major donor. Additional restorations to the Centre's theatres and exterior were completed in 2007 by 3rd Uncle Design Inc (Toronto); the $3-million construction cost was shared by the city and the Centre's patrons. The Bluma Appel Theatre has been the Canadian Stage Company’s main stage for over 25 years.
The Jane Mallett Theatre
The Town Hall was renamed the Jane Mallett Theatre in memory of the Canadian actress in November 1984 and is used mainly for recitals, chamber concerts, public debates, stage and film presentations.
Louis Applebaum was music consultant 1968-71. Franz Kraemer was music director 1971-9, succeeded by a team: Costa Pilavachi, music administrator, and Paul Robinson, director of music programming. Robinson resigned in 1980 and Pilavachi continued in sole charge of music until Jane Forner replaced him in 1982.
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