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David Mirvish
CM OOnt
Mirvish in 2004
Born (1944-08-29) August 29, 1944 (age 80)
Toronto, Ontario
NationalityCanadian
Occupation(s)Theatrical producer, Business owner, Art collector
Spouse
Audrey Mirvish
​
(m. 1967)​
Children3
Parent(s)Ed Mirvish, Anne Macklin
8th Chancellor of the University of Guelph
In office
February 13, 2012 – c. 2017
Preceded byPamela Wallin
Succeeded byMartha Billes

David Mirvish, CM OOnt (born August 29, 1944) is a Canadian theatre producer, impresario, and art collector. He owns and operates Toronto-based theatrical production company Mirvish Productions, which he founded with his father in 1986.[1] He has also produced and presented several productions on Broadway and in London's West End.

Mirvish is also a prominent art collector, having amassed a large collection of Canadian and international works, including from renowned artists Frank Stella and Jules Olitski.[2] Between 1963 and 1978, he owned and ran an art gallery and museum, David Mirvish Gallery.[3] He also owned an independent bookstore specializing in art and design between 1974 and 2009.[4]

Personal life

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Mirvish is the only child of Anne Lazar Macklin, an artist, and "Honest" Ed Mirvish, who was a Toronto businessman and owner of the discount department store, Honest Ed's. He is Jewish.[5]

Mirvish married his high-school sweetheart Audrey in 1967.[6] They have three children, Jacob, Hannah, and Rachael.[7][8]

He has contributed to, and partnered with, many non-profit organizations, charities and other philanthropic organizations, including the Toronto Public Library, the Toronto Arts Foundation, and Kids Up Front.[9][10] In 2023, he worked with The Thirty Birds Foundation to provide Kabul school girls who had fled Afghanistan with access to tickets to shows, including the Canadian production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.[11]

Theatre career

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Mirvish Productions

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Main article: Mirvish Productions

In 1986, Mirvish co-founded Mirvish Productions with his father, with the purpose of producing and presenting large-scale original works at the Royal Alexandra Theatre, and, in 1993, the newly built Princess of Wales Theatre. Following his father's retirement, Mirvish took over control of the Royal Alexandra Theatre, which was initially purchased as a temporary venue for touring productions.[12][13]

Mirvish experienced early success with Canadian productions, such as Les Misérables (1989-1990), Miss Saigon (1993-1995), Crazy for You (1993-1995), and Beauty and the Beast (1995-1997). After productions of Tommy (1995) and Jane Eyre (1996-1997) were less successful, Mirvish once again found continued success with other large-scale musicals. In 1999, Mirvish announced they would be launching a Canadian sit-down production of The Lion King, which premiered at the Princess of Wales Theatre in March 2000.[14] Also that same year, Mamma Mia! made its North American premiere at the Royal Alexandra Theatre. After its success, Mirvish opened a Canadian sit-down production of the musical which ran for five years.[15] After declining theatre attendance because of the SARS outbreak, The Lion King closed in January 2004 and Mamma Mia closed in May 2005.[16]

In 2005, he partnered with Kevin Wallace, Saul Zaentz, and Michael Cohl to produce The Lord of the Rings, a stage musical adaptation based on J. R. R. Tolkien's novels of the same name. The world premiere production opened in March 2005, and cost an estimated $30 million.[17] The musical closed on September 3, 2006, following poor sales and negative reviews.[18] The musical, which was advertised as the most expensive stage production in North American history, was unable to fully repay its investors.[18]

In 2008, Mirvish finalized a deal to acquire both the Canon Theatre and the Panasonic Theatre. The sale was challenged by Aubrey Dan, but Mirvish ultimately prevailed, giving him two Yonge Street theatres.[19][20] The Canon Theatre was later renamed the Ed Mirvish Theatre in honour of his father.[21]

In 2018, Mirvish mounted a sit-down production of the Canadian musical Come from Away at the Royal Alexandra Theatre. As a result of the production's success, the production was relocated to the Elgin Theatre in 2019 to accommodate the new Canadian sit-down production of Dear Evan Hansen, which was promised the Royal Alexandra Theatre.[22] Come from Away later returned to the Royal Alexandra Theatre, and, after a hiatus because of the COVID-19 pandemic, returned in December 2021. However, the musical permanently closed after only a few performances amidst tightened pandemic restrictions that were re-introduced.[23] Come from Away played 855 performances in Toronto, making it the longest-running Canadian show and musical.[24]

In May 2022, a Canadian production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child premiered at the Ed Mirvish Theatre.[25] The theatre underwent an extensive $5 million renovation and set a Canadian weekly box office record for a non-musical play, grossing an estimated $2 million in sales.[26] By the time the play closed, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child set a record for the longest running professional play in Canadian history.[25]

In November 2023, Mirvish announced that The Lion King would return to Toronto for an open-ended run at the Princess of Wales Theatre. According to Mirvish, this would be the first time in North America that a city will host a second sit-down production of the musical, with the original Canadian production having run from 2000 to 2004.[27]

The Old Vic

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In 1982, Mirvish and his father purchased The Old Vic, a performing arts theatre when it was placed for sale. Mirvish's winning bid was approximately, £550,000, outbidding Andrew Lloyd Webber.[28] They immediately began renovating and refurbishing the theater. The theatre reopened on October 31, 1983 with The Queen Mother in attendance.[29]

In 1987, Mirvish installed Jonathan Miller as artistic director. They experienced a string of critical and commercial success, including winning an Olivier Award for a production of the musical Candide. However, after three consecutive years of mounting financial losses, Miller resigned in 1990.[30] Sir Peter Hall was also appointed artistic director of The Old Vic.[31] Under Hall's direction, the company experienced success with productions of The Master Builder and Waiting for Godot. Despite the successes, the financial losses continued. By 1998, Mirvish sold The Old Vic to a charitable trust, which has continued operating the theatre as a non-profit.[32][33]

Art collections

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Mirvish began his career as an art collector in 1963, when he was 19 years old. That same year, he opened his first business, David Mirvish Gallery, to display contemporary Canadian, American and British art. In 1974, he opened David Mirvish Books, an independent bookstore dedicated to books on art and design. The bookstore closed in 2009.[4]

Since the closure of the art gallery in 1978, Mirvish continues to buy and sell Canadian and international artwork as a private collector. In addition, he lends works to museums and occasionally puts them on display in his theatres.[34]

[edit]
Main article: David Mirvish Gallery

In 1963, at the age of 19, Mirvish opened an art gallery that specialized in American abstract painters of the 1960s and 1970s known as the Color Field school.[35] The David Mirvish Gallery was one of the first businesses to open in the new Markham Street community, which later became known as Mirvish Village.[3]

The gallery primarily showcased Color Field and Post-painterly Abstraction works. Over the next 15 years, through approximately 130 exhibitions, the gallery became a focal point of Toronto's cultural life and was considered a pillar in the establishment of the abstract art movement in Canada. By the mid-1970s, Mirvish found that much of the artwork that interested him and that he wanted to display had decreased in popularity.[34] Despite this, the gallery continued to provide both inventory and expertise to a number of commercial art dealers worldwide and to lend works to scholarly exhibitions even after closing public exhibitions in the summer of 1978.[34]

David Mirvish Books

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David Mirvish Books in 2009 (left), and the Frank Stella painting on display (right)

In 1974, Mirvish opened an independent bookstore, David Mirvish Books, which specialized in books on visual arts, architecture, photography, design and film.[36] The bookstore was originally located directly across the street from his art gallery, and located near Honest Ed's.[36] However, upon closure of his art gallery in 1978, the bookstore relocated into its premises.[36]

In a similar spirit to his father's company, the bookstore sought to offer quality products at good value. The store also featured a 50-foot wall painting by Frank Stella, Damascus Gate, Stretch Variation.[4] The bookstore developed a cult following, and was popular among arts students and researchers since it offered many out-of-print books on art and design.[37]

The store closed in 2009, citing the changing retail market for small independent bookstores and uncertain economic market at the time.[4]

Real estate ventures

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In 1999, Mirvish worked with Toronto real-estate developer Harry Stinson to purchase the building at 1 King Street West in downtown Toronto, and transform it into a mixed-use development featuring luxury condominiums, hotel suites, and commercial office space. The property became known as One King West. The redevelopment and renovation project began in 2000, and cost an estimated $95 million.[38] The luxury condos opened in 2006, however, later that year, Mirvish dissolved the partnership with Stinson.[39] Mirvish accused Stinson of owing him $11.8 million that was overdue.[39] In response to Mirvish's demand for payment, Stinson filed for bankruptcy protection.[40] This dispute led to Mirvish retaining some of the more valuable parts of the property, which included three penthouses and ownership of unsold units.[40] Mirvish eventually ended up selling off these assets.[41]

In August 2010, Mirvish announced that he would provide a 9,765 square foot space to Theatre Museum Canada. This provided the mostly online museum with its first permanent space for exhibition.[42]

In September 2012, Mirvish unveiled plans to demolish the Princess of Wales Theatre, where it would be replaced as part of a development project designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry.[43] The plan included the construction of three condominium towers, referred to as "sculptures", and a large public gallery called the Mirvish Collection, which would showcase Mirvish's extensive art collection.[44] Additionally, the project aimed to create a new campus for OCAD University, which would integrate cultural and educational elements into the residential complex. Although admitting he was hesitant to destroy the theatre, Mirvish still believed that this project would combine residential spaces with significant cultural amenities, and improve Toronto's reputation as a global cultural destination.[45]

This plan faced significant criticism and was ultimately rejected by Toronto Council due to concerns about over-densification, the towers' height, and the area's historical value as a cultural hub.[46] In response to these objections, Mirvish substantially revised his plans. In May 2014, he unveiled a new proposal that retained the Princess of Wales Theatre while still pursuing a major development project. The revised plan reduced the number of towers from three to two, with heights of 92 and 82 storeys, respectively. This modification decreased the overall density by 25-30% and reduced the number of residential units by 600.[46] The new design also incorporated a public square between the towers at street level and maintained space for art exhibitions. This compromise addressed many of the city's concerns while still allowing for significant development. This received support from the city's planning department, with Chief Planner Jennifer Keesmaat stating they were "substantively towards agreement".[46]

Other ventures

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Between 2002 and 2005, Mirvish was a member of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Ontario Museum and the National Gallery of Canada.[47]

In February 2012, Mirvish was appointed the 8th Chancellor of the University of Guelph and was installed as Chancellor at the June 2012 convocation ceremonies.[48] Mirvish's appointment as Chancellor was extended in 2014. However, in September 2016, Mirvish resigned as Chancellor citing increased personal and work responsibilities.[49]

Theatre credits

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Toronto

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Mirvish presents several shows specifically for Toronto that play for either a limited engagement or an extended run, of which Mirvish was a producer or co-producer on:

Broadway / West End

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Sources: [50][51][52]

Honours and awards

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Distinguished awards

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Tony Awards

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As a producer, Mirvish has been nominated for 19 Tony Awards, winning 5 times.

Year Nominated work Category Result
2008 Macbeth Best Revival of a Play Nominated
2009 Guys and Dolls Best Revival of a Musical Nominated
2013 Lucky Guy Best Play Nominated
2014 Violet Best Revival of a Musical Nominated
2015 Skylight Best Revival of a Play Won
2017 Dear Evan Hansen Best Musical Won
Come from Away Nominated
2018 The Band's Visit Best Musical Won
Angels in America Best Revival of a Play Won
Three Tall Women Nominated
The Iceman Cometh Nominated
2019 Ain't Too Proud Best Musical Nominated
Oklahoma! Best Revival of a Musical Won
Torch Song Best Revival of a Play Nominated
The Waverly Gallery Nominated
2020 Jagged Little Pill Best Musical Nominated
Tina: The Tina Turner Musical Nominated
2022 Girl from the North Country Best Musical Nominated
Hangmen Best Play Nominated

Sources:[58][59]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Morrow, Martin (1 October 2013). "Celebrating 50 years of the Mirvish vision". The Globe & Mail. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  2. ^ Warnica, Richard (17 December 2013). "How did David Mirvish end up in the decade's most shocking art forgery scandal?". Canadian Business. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  3. ^ a b Mietkiewicz, Henry (15 May 1993). "A theatre is born". The Toronto Star. Toronto ON. p. T1.
  4. ^ a b c d Adams, James (15 January 2009). "David Mirvish Books to close". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  5. ^ "In conversation with David Mirvish". Holy Blossom Temple. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  6. ^ McLaren, Leah (14 July 2014). "David Mirvish on the Edge". Toronto Life. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  7. ^ "Anne Mirvish, wife of 'Honest' Ed Mirvish, dies at 94". CBC. 20 September 2013. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  8. ^ Mirvish, David (13 July 2007). "David Mirvish eulogy". Toronto Star. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  9. ^ a b c d e "David Mirvish". The Canadian Business Hall of Fame. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  10. ^ "Donate your tickets". Mirvish Productions. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  11. ^ "Last night, David and Hannah Mirvish welcomed 10 very special guests at a performance of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, as part of Mirvish's support and combined efforts with The Thirty Birds Foundation". Facebook. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  12. ^ Mirvish, David (19 June 2022). "David Mirvish on the life and legacy of his father, Honest Ed". Toronto Star. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
  13. ^ Viagas, Robert (6 September 1997). "Toronto Theatre Gathers Tributes to Princess Diana". Playbill. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  14. ^ Jones, Kenneth (2 February 1999). "Canada Will Hear Lion King Roar in March 2000 in Toronto". Playbill. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  15. ^ Gans, Andrew (18 March 2005). "Long-Running Toronto Mamma Mia! to Close". Playbill. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  16. ^ Gans, Andrew (18 March 2005). "Long-Running Toronto Mamma Mia! to Close". Playbill. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  17. ^ Gray, Jeff (16 March 2005). "Lord of the Rings musical to premiere in Toronto". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
  18. ^ a b "Toronto's Lord of the Rings to close in September". CBC. 28 June 2006. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  19. ^ Posner, Michael; Bradshaw, James (16 May 2012). "Losses in the limelight: The education of Aubrey Dan". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  20. ^ Menon, Vinay (6 July 2012). "The rise and fall of Dancap Productions". Toronto Star. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  21. ^ "Historic Canon Theatre renamed Ed Mirvish Theatre". CityTVNews. 6 December 2011. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  22. ^ Nestruck, J. Kelly (19 July 2019). "Why was Dear Evan Hansen a commercial flop in Toronto? Audiences just didn't like it enough". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  23. ^ Rocca, Ryan (27 December 2021). "'Come From Away' permanently closes in Toronto". Global News. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  24. ^ Rocca, Ryan (27 December 2021). "'Come From Away' permanently closes in Toronto". Global News. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  25. ^ a b Yeo, Debra (16 April 2023). "'Harry Potter and the Cursed Child' will end in Toronto July 2". Toronto Star. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  26. ^ Nestruck, J. Kelly (3 January 2023). "Finally, a happy new year for Canadian theatre: box office records, extension and very few COVID-19 cancellations". The Globe & Mail. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  27. ^ Nestruck, J. Kelly (21 November 2023). "The Lion King roaring back to Toronto in 2024 for an unprecedented second open-ended run". The Globe & Mail. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  28. ^ Martin, Sandra (11 July 2007). "Mr. Toronto dies at 92". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
  29. ^ Enright, Janet (2 December 1985). "Salesman for all seasons". MacLeans. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
  30. ^ "Jonathan Miller Resigns As Director of Old Vic". New York Times. 30 July 1990. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  31. ^ Viagas, Robert (1 August 1996). "Sir Peter Hall Named Old Vic Artistic Director". Playbill. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  32. ^ "Old Vic changes hands again". CBC. CBCNews. 13 November 1998. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
  33. ^ Ellicock, Ray (18 August 1997). "Mirvishes Put London Old Vic Up for Sale". Playbll. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
  34. ^ a b c Knelman, Martin (7 October 2012). "David Mirvish offers glimpse of hidden art gems". Toronto Star. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  35. ^ David Mirvish biography"York University", accessed December 9, 2008
  36. ^ a b c "David Mirvish Books". BlogTO. 7 January 2008. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  37. ^ Cole, Susan G. (19 January 2009). "Goodbye, Mirvish Books". Now Magazine. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  38. ^ Reinhart, Anthony (25 September 2004). "Battle of the tower titans". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  39. ^ a b Perkins, Tara; Rusk, James (10 March 2007). "A partnership that simmered, boiled -- and then exploded". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  40. ^ a b Wong, Tony (9 March 2007). "Condo king files for bankruptcy protection". Toronto Star. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  41. ^ Amad, Ali (18 January 2016). "Sale of the Week: The $3.4-million penthouse that proves super-luxurious condos can be tough to sell". Toronto Life. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  42. ^ Knelman, Martin (August 30, 2010). "Mirvish Offers Home to Theatre Museum". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on 2010-09-02. Retrieved August 3, 2012.
  43. ^ "Mirvish vision for theatre district includes demolishing famed playhouse". CTV News. 30 September 2012. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  44. ^ Jones, Kenneth (1 October 2012). "Toronto: Princess of Wales Theatre to be razed to make space for residential and cultural buildings". Stage-Door News. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  45. ^ Leung, Wayne (30 September 2012). "A letter from David Mirvish re: Closing the Princess of Wales Theatre". Mooney on Theatre. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  46. ^ a b c "David Mirvish revamps King West plan, Princess of Wales Theatre stays". CBC News. 27 May 2014. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  47. ^ "David Mirvish – Mirvish Productions". University of Toronto. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  48. ^ "David Mirvish Named Eighth U of G Chancellor". University of Guelph. 14 February 2012. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  49. ^ "Mirvish Stepping Down as U of G Chancellor". University of Guelph. 16 September 2016. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  50. ^ "David Mirvish". Toronto Theatre Database.
  51. ^ "David Mirvish". Internet Broadway Database.
  52. ^ "David Mirvish". AboutTheArtists.
  53. ^ "Honorary Fellows of The Royal Conservatory". The Royal Conservatory. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  54. ^ "Mr. David Mirvish". The Governor General of Canada. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  55. ^ "Past Honorary Doctorates". Ryerson University. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  56. ^ "Olivier Winners 1998". Official London Theatre. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  57. ^ "David Mirvish Receives Honorary Degree from Sheridan". Sheridan College. 14 June 2012. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  58. ^ "Nominations (David Mirvish)". The Tony Awards. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  59. ^ "David Mirvish". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
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