Simply put , Massey Hall is a Toronto entertainment icon .
For 123 years , the famed performance venue and National Historic Site at 178 Victoria St . in the downtown Garden District has welcomed acclaimed acts from within the city and around the world . All the while , it has seen decades worth of substantial transformation , and while most of that transformation has happened throughout the city surrounding its brick-andstone-covered façade , over the years , some has taken place within its hallowed walls .
For example , in 1917 , The Albert Building behind the hall was added to the structure and later converted into a backstage area . In the 1940s , Massey Hall underwent extensive interior renovations that brought the original seat count of 3,500 down to about 2,750 . In 1994 , in commemoration of the venue ’ s 100 th anniversary , the basement was completely refurbished and Centuries , its onsite bar , was open for business .
But none of those transformations are as extensive or elaborate as the one that ’ s now underway . The Corporation of Massey Hall and Roy Thomson Hall has kicked off the most significant revitalization in its history , aiming to preserve and enhance the structure while adding new elements to better serve performers and patrons into the future . Those include improvements to accessibility , technical infrastructure , and the overall presentation environment .
The venue has adopted the slogan “ Change Nothing , Improve Everything ” for the $ 135-million project , and has already put that slogan to work ahead of the anticipated closure in July 2018 with the addition of a substantial new production technologies package that will enhance its upcoming productions before being integrated into the revamped space .
The package includes an impressive complement of stage lighting and control products sold by the hall ’ s longtime lighting rental provider , Christie Lites , which the team at the venue has been happy to put to work in these earliest stages of its exciting new era of operations .
PHOTO : SEAN STEPHENS
Massey Hall was able to secure funding to fast track the new production technologies package ahead of the structural renovations set to begin in July 2018 . Last year , the venue put in a brand new , top-tier line array audio system that has seen plenty of use throughout its current season .
When it came to refitting the lighting package in 2017 , there really wasn ’ t much to replace . Massey Hall had long been relying on touring productions to carry their own lighting packages , or would rent from Christie Lites ’ Toronto location to supplement its no-frills house lighting system and array of par cans .
“ You really noticed the difference between shows that were carrying their own production and those that weren ’ t , and we wanted more consistency to put our shows on a higher standard ,” begins Doug McKendrick , director of production at Massey Hall . “ We were really looking to up the overall production value for the patrons and artists , without having so much of the potential budget for a given show caught up in rental fees .”
Massey Hall 178 Victoria St .
Toronto , ON M5B 1T7 416-872-4255 www . masseyhall . com
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