David Mirvish

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David Mirvish

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 art collector, art dealer, theatre producer, real estate developer and son of the late Toronto discount department store owner "Honest" Ed Mirvish and artist Anne Lazar Macklin.

Personal life

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.[1]

Mirvish married his high-school sweetheart Audrey in 1967.[2] They have three children, Jacob, Hannah, and Rachael.[3][4]

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.[5][6] 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.[7]

Mirvish Productions

Canadian theatre

In 1987, he took over direction of his father's 1497-seat Toronto theatre, the Royal Alexandra Theatre. For most of the theatre's history, it had functioned as a road house—a temporary venue for touring productions. In 1987, Mirvish founded the company Mirvish Productions for the purpose of producing and staging original works for the Royal Alexandra and, later, his new Princess of Wales Theatre (opened in 1993).[8]

Mirvish and Mirvish Productions enjoyed notable successes in this new venture as with the Canadian stagings of such musicals as

Tommy (1995), Jane Eyre (1996–1997), The Producers (2003–2004), Hairspray
(2004).

In 2005, he also joined in partnership with British theatre producer

The Lord of the Rings, a stage musical adaptation of J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy trilogy. This production opened at the Princess of Wales Theatre in March 2006. Because of poor reviews and slow sales the show closed early. On June 28, 2006, Mirvish announced that Sept. 3, 2006 would mark the show's closing,[9]
and that he would be unable to fully repay its investors. With an estimated capitalisation of $28 million, The Lord of the Rings had been advertised as the most expensive stage production in North American history.

The Old Vic

Main article: The Old Vic

Mirvish also operated the

Olivier Award
for a production of the musical Candide, but, unfortunately, three straight years of financial loss. In 1990, Mirvish terminated Miller's contract over budget issues, earning much negative criticism in the British press.

In 1997, Mirvish appointed Sir Peter Hall as artistic director of the Old Vic and, again, enjoyed critical acclaim with such productions as The Master Builder with Alan Bates and Waiting for Godot with Ben Kingsley, but continuing financial loss. Within a year of the appointment, Mirvish terminated Hall's contract—again to much negative comment in the press—and put the Old Vic up for sale. The theatre was subsequently (1998) purchased by a theatres trust, The Old Vic Theatre Trust.[10]

Real estate

In 2000, Mirvish began a new business venture as a real estate developer and began construction of a large

condominium
complex in downtown Toronto, known as One King West. The building opened for occupancy in 2005.

In March 2008 Mirvish announced the acquisition of the Panasonic and Canon Theatres in Toronto from Key Brand Entertainment, which had itself purchased the theatres from Live Nation in February 2008.[11] Mirvish had been operating the Canon Theatre under a 15-year lease signed in 2001 with Live Nation which gave him control over all bookings and management of the Canon. Mirvish acquired the theatre pursuant to a right of first offer contained in the same lease agreement. The purchase and sale triggered a lawsuit from rival Canadian presenter, Aubrey Dan, who had invested in Key Brand on the alleged promise that he would become manager of the Canon theatre. Dan sued both Mirvish and his own company, Key Brand, in an action which is still pending as of December 2008. The Canon was renamed The Ed Mirvish Theatre in honour of David Mirvish's late father on December 6, 2011.

In August 2010, Mirvish announced that he would provide a 9,765 square foot space to Theatre Museum Canada, thus providing the largely online museum with its first permanent space for exhibition.[12]

On October 1, 2012, David Mirvish announced a partnership with renowned architect Frank Gehry to redevelop his family's considerable real estate holdings on King Street West in Toronto. The proposed project includes three distinct tall buildings, called by Mirvish as "sculptures that people would live in," and a pedestal that would also house a new gallery devoted to Mirvish's extensive collection of abstract expressionist art and a new campus for the OCAD University. Should the project receive municipal zoning approval, it would be that the buildings currently on the site (four low-rise industrial and warehouse buildings and the Princess of Wales Theatre) would be demolished. The estimated time until completion is 10 years.[13]

Other ventures

Between 2002 and 2005, Mirvish was a member of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Ontario Museum and the National Gallery of Canada.[14]

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.[15] Mirvish's appointment as Chancellor was extended in 2014. However, in September 2016, Mirvish resigned as Chancellor citing increased personal and work responsibilities.[16]

Honours and awards

Distinguished awards

Tony Awards

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:[21][22]

References

  1. ^ "In conversation with David Mirvish". Holy Blossom Temple. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  2. ^ McLaren, Leah (14 July 2014). "David Mirvish on the Edge". Toronto Life. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  3. ^ "Anne Mirvish, wife of 'Honest' Ed Mirvish, dies at 94". CBC. 20 September 2013. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  4. ^ Mirvish, David (13 July 2007). "David Mirvish eulogy". Toronto Star. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  5. ^ a b c d e "David Mirvish". The Canadian Business Hall of Fame. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  6. ^ "Donate your tickets". Mirvish Productions. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  7. ^ "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.
  8. ^ David Mirvish biography"York University", accessed December 9, 2008
  9. ^ "Lord Of The Rings Stage Production To Close in September",[permanent dead link]City News, June 28, 2006
  10. ^ McGillivray, Peter."London's 180- Year -Old Vic Saved by Trust",AllBusiness, July 24, 1998
  11. ^ Brieger, Peter."Mirvish to buy two downtown theatres"[permanent dead link], Toronto National Post, May 7, 2008
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ [1]Toronto Star, Oct. 6, 2012
  14. ^ "David Mirvish – Mirvish Productions". University of Toronto. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  15. ^ "David Mirvish Named Eighth U of G Chancellor". University of Guelph. 14 February 2012. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  16. ^ "Mirvish Stepping Down as U of G Chancellor". University of Guelph. 16 September 2016. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  17. ^ "Mr. David Mirvish". The Governor General of Canada. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  18. ^ "Past Honorary Doctorates". Ryerson University. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  19. ^ "Olivier Winners 1998". Official London Theatre. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  20. ^ "David Mirvish Receives Honorary Degree from Sheridan". Sheridan College. 14 June 2012. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  21. ^ "Nominations (David Mirvish)". The Tony Awards. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  22. ^ "David Mirvish". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved 28 June 2023.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=David_Mirvish&oldid=1168947174"