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Mirvish buys 2 Toronto theatres

27.08.2008 18:01 Arts - Source: cbc.ca

Mirvish Productions has bought two Toronto theatres, a week after a court refused an injunction that would have blocked the sale.

Mirvish now owns the 2,300-seat Canon Theatre and the 700-seat Panasonic Theatre, both located on Yonge St. in downtown Toronto, the theatre production company announced in a release Tuesday.

Last Tuesday, a court denied an application by rival theatre impresario Aubrey Dan to block the sale.

"The Canon, which we have programmed and operated since 2001, is a historical building, meticulously restored, and a top venue for the presentation of large-scale works, both visiting productions and local ones," David Mirvish said in the release.

Spamalot opens at the Canon in September, followed by A Chorus Line, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Medea and The Colour Purple.

"The more intimate Panasonic, where the audience is no farther away than 80 feet from the stage, is a welcome addition as it allows us to consider productions that would have been lost in our much larger buildings," Mirvish added.

He promised smaller musicals, comedies and works from around the world that might not otherwise capture a large audience.

No terms of the deal with Key Brand Entertainment, which bought the theatres from Live Nation, were released.

Mirvish now owns four downtown theatres — the Canon, the Panasonic, the Royal Alex and the Princess of Wales.

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