October 15, 2007
www.yorkregion.com - By: David Fleischer

Countdown to arts centre starts

The countdown is on.

In fewer than 525,600 minutes, Richmond Hill’s $30-million Centre for the Arts will be open.

“Time is what we’re all about today,” theatre manager Michael Grit said on Monday.

“I’m here to say those 525,600 minutes will be well spent.”

Town officials and dignitaries gathered at the McConaghy Centre to announce plans for the next 365 days, leading up to the centre’s opening.

The launch kicked off with seven local singers performing “Seasons of Love,” from the Broadway musical, Rent.

The song asks how one can measure the 525,600 minutes that make up a year.

While the theatre’s opening season will not be officially unveiled until April 2008, Mr. Grit dropped hints of the programming to come.

Partnerships have been formed with the Modern Times Stage Company and fu-GEN Theatre, a company that specializes in developing Asian-Canadian artists.

Over the next few months, a pre-season sponsored by Toyota of Richmond Hill will host performances at various venues across the city.

They will include shows by the likes of guitarist Daniel Bolshoy, comedian Andy Jones and the Elora Festival Singers.

Admission for the shows is between $10 and $28 and Mr. Grit noted that every long-run show at the centre will include Pay What You Can nights, so no one is shut out because they cannot afford a ticket.

The pre-season concludes on Aug. 8, 2008, at 8 a.m., when 12 screens at Silver City Richmond Hill will broadcast the opening ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics in high-definition.

Mr. Grit introduced actor Colin Fox who will be the voice of the theatre in the coming years.

“This is a very exciting time for Richmond Hill itself,” Mr. Fox said, espousing the national and international arts efforts soon to be staged here.

The town also launched its fundraising campaign, aimed at raising $631,000 from local residents.

The “Take Your Seat” campaign gives individuals and groups a chance to contribute, by purchasing a seat for $1,000.

“The Centre for the Performing Arts will give our downtown a sense of place,” said Mayor Dave Barrow, who described it as a place for educational, community-oriented and multicultural programming.

Mr. Barrow went on to unveil the centre’s logo, designed by artist Shirley Al.

The logo consists of a green arc, representing Richmond Hill, accompanied by blue, yellow and red bands highlighting the diverse flow of talent set to converge at the centre. A purple curl signifies a spark of creativity.

The 43,000-sq.-ft. facility has been budgeted at $30 million, with $12.1 million coming from the town.

Designed by Jack Diamond, the architect behind Toronto’s new opera house, the centre will include a 631-seat theatre in addition to a multi-purpose room, a rehearsal hall, lobby galleries and an outdoor piazza.

An opening night gala is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 15, 2008, and the box office is now open.

You can visit the box office at www.richmondhill.ca or call 905-737-8985, ext. 6007.

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