Ed Mirvish Theatre
The Ed Mirvish Theatre is a historic live-performance venue in Toronto operated by Mirvish Productions.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
The Ed Mirvish Theatre is a major performing-arts venue at 263 Yonge Street and 244 Victoria Street in Toronto's Garden District, near Sankofa Square. It is owned and operated by Mirvish Productions and has approximately 2,300 seats on two levels. The theatre is presented under the CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre name following a 2021 naming-rights agreement with the regional chapter of the Canadian Automobile Association. The building opened on August 28, 1920, as the Pantages Theatre. Designed by theatre architect Thomas W. Lamb, it was commissioned by Famous Players founder Nathan L. Nathanson and managed and booked by Alexander Pantages. At opening it was a combined vaudeville and motion-picture venue and, with about 3,373 seats, was reported as Canada's largest cinema. Its original programming included a mixture of stage acts and films, reflecting the transitional entertainment market of the early twentieth century. Famous Players assumed complete control in 1930 and renamed the venue the Imperial Theatre. It subsequently operated primarily as a cinema. In 1972, the building was closed and converted into a six-screen multiplex known as the Imperial Six after reopening in 1973. The conversion retained portions of the historic interior but introduced partitions, new circulation routes and a substantially modernized exterior. The venue remained commercially successful during the 1970s and early 1980s, screening prominent mainstream releases. A complicated division of property ownership led to a major change in 1986. Famous Players allowed a lease covering part of the building to expire, and Cineplex Odeon secured the replacement lease. The resulting dispute divided operational control of the complex. Cineplex Odeon opened an 800-seat Pantages Cinema in 1987, while Famous Players continued operating the portions of the multiplex it could access. The conflict included court proceedings and a temporary fire-safety shutdown during the cinema's opening preparations. In 1988, Cineplex Odeon acquired the remaining Famous Players interests on the condition that it would not continue showing films at the venue. The building was then restored for legitimate live theatre under the direction of Livent, the company associated with Garth Drabinsky and Myron Gottlieb. The 1988–1989 work removed the multiplex divisions, excavated beneath the former auditorium floor for modern stage facilities and restored plasterwork, the grand staircase, the Yonge Street ticket box, the marquee and the canopy. The original Pantages name returned in 1989, with approximately 2,200 seats. The restored theatre reopened on September 20, 1989, with the Canadian premiere of Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera. The production became the venue's defining long-running engagement, closing in 1999 after more than a decade and 4,226 performances. Livent later entered bankruptcy protection after accounting irregularities were identified, and the theatre's assets were sold to Clear Channel Entertainment in 1999 and subsequently assigned to Live Nation. Mirvish Productions began leasing and presenting productions at the theatre in 2001. The venue adopted the Canon Theatre name under a naming-rights agreement and later became the Ed Mirvish Theatre in December 2011, following the expiry of Canon's sponsorship. Mirvish Productions purchased the theatre in 2008 after Live Nation's theatrical assets were sold to Key Brand Entertainment. The renaming honoured Ed Mirvish, the company's co-founder, who died in 2007. The venue continues to function primarily as a large-scale theatre for musicals, touring productions and other live entertainment.
History
The theatre was developed during the expansion of vaudeville and cinema in Canada. Alexander Pantages, whose circuit extended across the western United States and western Canada, sought an eastern Canadian venue in Toronto. Nathan L. Nathanson commissioned Thomas W. Lamb to design the building, while Pantages managed and booked it. The Pantages Theatre opened on August 28, 1920, as a combined vaudeville and film house and was initially the largest cinema in Canada, with approximately 3,373 seats. Famous Players took full control in 1930 and changed the name to the Imperial Theatre. The venue then concentrated on motion pictures, including major commercial releases. It closed in 1972 for a conversion designed by Toronto architect Mandel Sprachman. The auditorium was divided into six cinemas, with new screens placed in the former balcony, stage house and orchestra areas. Although parts of the original interior survived, the theatre received bold new colours, carpeting and a modernized Yonge Street frontage. It reopened in 1973 as the Imperial Six. The building's ownership was divided across several lots. Famous Players owned the Yonge Street entrance and part of the main building, while another section remained subject to a family-held lease. When Famous Players failed to renew that lease in 1986, Cineplex Odeon obtained it. The companies became embroiled in litigation and a struggle over access to projection booths, offices and auditoriums. Cineplex Odeon created an 800-seat venue with a Victoria Street entrance and opened the Pantages Cinema in December 1987. A dispute over construction and fire safety delayed the planned opening by a day, although the required exits were subsequently installed. In 1988, Cineplex Odeon bought Famous Players' remaining interests under an agreement that ended film exhibition at the site. Garth Drabinsky and Myron Gottlieb, after leaving Cineplex Odeon, controlled the property through Livent and pursued an ambitious live-theatre restoration. The project removed the multiplex partitions and associated circulation structures, excavated below the original floor for stage infrastructure and restored historic plaster and architectural features. The original Pantages name was restored in 1989, and the theatre reopened on September 20 with the Canadian premiere of The Phantom of the Opera. The production ran until 1999 and became one of the longest and most important engagements in the venue's history. Livent later experienced serious accounting problems, leading to the suspension of its senior principals and bankruptcy protection. The theatre was sold in 1999 to Clear Channel Entertainment and placed with Live Nation. Mirvish Productions became the tenant and presenting organization in 2001, when the venue was renamed the Canon Theatre through a sponsorship agreement. After Key Brand Entertainment acquired Live Nation's North American theatrical assets in 2008, Mirvish exercised its contractual opportunity to purchase the theatre. The acquisition was completed in September 2008. The Canon name ended in 2011, and the theatre was renamed for Ed Mirvish, the late co-founder of Mirvish Productions. A later proposal to install salvaged Honest Ed's signage at the Victoria Street entrance was delayed indefinitely after the sign was found to be in poor condition and too heavy for the proposed installation. In 2021, a naming-rights agreement produced the CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre branding. The venue remains a prominent Toronto home for commercial live theatre and large touring productions.
- 2021
CAA branding introduced
[1]The venue becomes branded as the CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre under a naming-rights agreement.
- 2011
Ed Mirvish Theatre name adopted
[1]The venue is renamed in memory of Ed Mirvish.
- 2008
Mirvish Productions acquires the venue
[1]Mirvish completes its purchase of the theatre from Key Brand Entertainment.
- 2001
Mirvish tenancy and Canon branding begin
[1]Mirvish Productions begins presenting productions at the venue, which adopts the Canon Theatre name.
- 1999
The Phantom of the Opera closes
[1]The Canadian production ends after more than ten years and 4,226 performances.
- 1989
Live-theatre restoration completed
[1]The restored Pantages Theatre reopens with The Phantom of the Opera.
- 1987
Pantages Cinema opens
[1]Cineplex Odeon opens an 800-seat cinema in part of the divided property.
- 1973
Imperial Six opens
[1]The converted multiplex reopens under the Imperial Six name.
- 1972
Multiplex conversion begins
[1]The theatre closes for conversion into six separate cinemas.
- 1930
Renamed the Imperial Theatre
[1]Famous Players assumes complete control and changes the venue's name to the Imperial Theatre.
Products and positioning
A landmark Toronto theatre combining heritage architecture with large-capacity commercial musical theatre and touring entertainment.
Live entertainment · 1989
Large-scale musical theatre
The theatre's principal offering is presentation of large commercial musicals, including Canadian productions and touring engagements associated with Broadway, the West End and major theatrical producers. Its restored proscenium auditorium, substantial seating capacity and backstage infrastructure support long-running productions and technically demanding shows.
Live entertainment · 2001
Touring theatrical productions
Mirvish Productions uses the venue for touring musicals and other large-scale stage presentations. The theatre's role is primarily that of a presentation and performance venue rather than a consumer product brand, with programming changing by season and contractual engagement.
Controversies
1998
Livent accounting irregularities and bankruptcy
After Michael Ovitz became chief executive of Livent, what were described as serious accounting irregularities were identified. Garth Drabinsky and Myron Gottlieb were suspended, and Livent entered bankruptcy protection. The theatre was subsequently sold as part of the disposition of Livent's assets.
Brand decisions
2011
Rename the venue for Ed MirvishStrategyBackground
The Canon naming-rights agreement expired, creating an opportunity to establish a permanent identity connected with the theatre's owner and Toronto theatrical history.
Action taken
Mirvish Productions renamed the venue the Ed Mirvish Theatre.
Aftermath
The Ed Mirvish name became the theatre's principal identity, later supplemented by the CAA naming-rights branding.
2008
Acquire the theatre from Key Brand EntertainmentM&ABackground
Key Brand Entertainment's acquisition of Live Nation's North American theatrical assets placed the Canon Theatre on the market and activated Mirvish Productions' contractual right to negotiate a purchase.
Action taken
Mirvish Productions made an offer and completed the acquisition of the theatre in 2008.
Aftermath
Mirvish became the venue's owner as well as its principal presenting organization.
1988
Restore the venue for legitimate live theatreStrategyBackground
After the property dispute between Famous Players and Cineplex Odeon ended film exhibition at the site, Livent sought to create a Toronto venue capable of hosting major Broadway-scale productions.
Action taken
Livent removed the multiplex alterations, restored the historic interior and added modern stage facilities.
Aftermath
The restored theatre reopened in 1989 and became the Toronto home of The Phantom of the Opera.
1972
Convert the single auditorium into a multiplexGeneration changeBackground
Changing cinema economics and demand for multiple simultaneous screenings prompted a major redevelopment of the Imperial Theatre.
Action taken
The auditorium was divided into six cinemas, with new internal floors, partitions and circulation routes.
Aftermath
The venue reopened as the Imperial Six in 1973 and operated as a successful multiplex through much of the 1970s and early 1980s.
Sources2 sources
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