Toronto the Good
A summer musical about Toronto in the 1890’s
Artword Theatre
75 Portland Street, Toronto ON M5V 2M9
 

Tel: (416) 408-1146
Fax: (416) 408-0532
website: www.artword.net
email: artword@artword.net
The Venue: Artword Theatre

  • Artword Theatre was created by Ronald Weihs and Judith Sandiford in 1993. For five years, from 1993 to 1998, we had a 50-seat theatre on the second floor of an industrial building at 81 Portland Street. In 1998, with the assistance of our landlord, Abrar Galani, we converted a clothing factory at 75 Portland Street into the elegant and versatile arts facility we currently occupy.
    Our Main Stage has 150 comfortable seats and a sprung stage. A second space, called the Artword Alternative (60 seats), is for more experimental productions. The Artword Gallery, which hosts art shows curated by Judith Sandiford, functions as the lobby for the two theatres. People find Artword warm, friendly and attractive.

    From 1999 to April 2002, Artword Theatre has presented:

    • 31 theatre productions, including 8 Artword productions
    • 14 dance programs, including 2 Artword productions
    • 11 music/concert productions
    • 5 chamber concerts (Amati Quartet Rush Hour Concert Series)
    • 34 new music concerts (Eugene's Sunday Series)
    • 4 festivals
    • 12 play readings (Actors Repertory Company, Skazmos Theatre)
    • 2 film events
    • 2 puppet shows

    Advance ticket sales and reservations for Artword Theatre are handled by the St. Lawrence Centre box office.

    The theatre is managed by Ronald Weihs, Artistic Director and Judith Sandiford, Managing Director. To date, Artword has not sought public funding. The three most important reasons for this policy are as follows:

    1. We started Artword at a time when public arts funding was being drastically reduced. There was not enough money to go around to existing companies and facilities.
    2. Surviving outside the funding system enables us to be agile in our strategies and tactics, and to focus our resources on production rather than fundraising.
    3. We are working to please only one constituency – the audiences who buy tickets.

    Since we opened the new space, we have been working hard to develop marketing strategies that will move toward self-sufficiency. We have been wanting to try a summer show since we opened. Now we think that we have found the right vehicle.

    •