Centaur Theatre facts for kids
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| Address | 453 St François-Xavier Montreal, Quebec Canada |
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| Designation | Local authority |
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| Architect | Designed by George B. Post, Construction supervised by Edward and William Maxwell |
The Centaur Theatre Company is a well-known theatre group located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It is famous for presenting plays entirely in English. The company was started in 1969 by Maurice Podbrey and the Centaur Foundation for the Performing Arts. Today, Eda Holmes is the artistic and executive director, and Michael Baratta is the chairman of the board.
The Centaur Theatre is Montreal's main theatre company that performs only in English. It has been a key part of the city's arts scene for many years.
History of the Centaur Theatre
The Centaur Theatre Company first leased part of its historic building from 1969 to 1973. In 1974, the company bought the building. They spent $1.3 million on big renovations. Architect Victor Prus designed these changes.
The building reopened in 1975 with a second performance space. The original theatre, a "black box" style, was named "C1." It can seat about 245 people. The newer space was called "C2." This is a more traditional "proscenium stage" theatre, which means it has a clear stage opening like a picture frame. C2 can seat around 425 people.
Who has led the Centaur Theatre?
Maurice Podbrey, who helped start the company, retired in 1997. Gordon McCall took over as the next leader. From 2007 to 2017, Roy Surette was the artistic and executive director. In 2017, Eda Holmes became the fourth and current artistic and executive director. Michael Baratta was also named chairman of the board that same year.
The Old Stock Exchange Building
The Centaur Theatre is located inside a very old and important building. This building used to be the home of the Montreal Stock Exchange (MSE). It is often called the Old Stock Exchange Building.
The building was constructed in 1903. It was designed by an American architect named George B. Post. The Montreal Stock Exchange used this building until 1965. After that, the Centaur Theatre Company moved in and made it their home for plays and performances.
