FirstOntario Concert Hall facts for kids
FirstOntario Concert Hall
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| Former names | Hamilton Place (1973–1998), Ronald V. Joyce Centre for the Performing Arts at Hamilton Place (1998–2016) |
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| Address | 1 Summers Lane Hamilton, Ontario L8P 4Y2 |
| Coordinates | 43°15′23″N 79°52′19″W / 43.2563°N 79.87188°W |
| Owner | City of Hamilton |
| Operator | Core Entertainment (Comcast Spectacor) |
| Type | Theatre, Concert Hall |
| Capacity | 2,193 |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1972 |
| Opened | 1973 |
| Construction cost | $11 million |
| Architect | Trevor P. Garwood-Jones |
FirstOntario Concert Hall is a cool place in downtown Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. It's a special building where you can watch music shows and other performances.
It used to be called Hamilton Place when it first opened. Later, in 1998, it got a new name: the Ronald V. Joyce Centre for the Performing Arts at Hamilton Place. This happened after the Joyce Family Foundation gave a big donation. In 2016, a company called FirstOntario Credit Union paid $2.5 million to have their name on the building.
This concert hall is the main home for two important groups. These are the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra and Opera Hamilton.
Contents
About the Concert Hall
FirstOntario Concert Hall has two main performance areas.
The Great Hall
The biggest area is called the Great Hall. It has two balconies that hang from the ceiling. This hall can hold up to 2,193 people! The stage is very wide, about 37 meters. It can also be made deeper, from 11.4 meters to 16.2 meters. The Great Hall is famous around the world for its amazing sound quality. This means music and voices sound really clear and good inside.
The Studio
The smaller performance area is called The Studio. It used to be known as The Studio at Hamilton Place. This space can fit up to 350 people.
Other Spaces
The building also has other useful rooms. There are places for performers to practice, relax, and get ready. It even has a private outdoor area. There's also a large loading dock which is shared with the Hamilton Convention Centre and the Ellen Fairclough Building.
FirstOntario Concert Hall is directly connected to the Hamilton Convention Centre. You can walk between them through the concert hall's main lobby. The hall also shares an outdoor area called Commonwealth Square. This square is above Summers Lane. It connects the concert hall, the Convention Centre, and the Art Gallery of Hamilton. You can get to it from the concert hall's mezzanine level.
Famous Performances
Many famous musicians and performers have been to FirstOntario Concert Hall.
Music and Comedy Stars
Some of the well-known artists who have performed here include Tony Bennett, Leonard Cohen, Morrissey, and Sarah McLachlan. Kids' favorites like Sharon, Lois & Bram have also played there. Other bands like Tangerine Dream, The Proclaimers, The Tragically Hip, and Heart have rocked the stage. Funny comedians such as Billy Connolly, Margaret Cho, and Norm Macdonald have made audiences laugh.
Stage Shows and Recordings
The hall has also hosted big stage shows. These include musicals like A Chorus Line, Evita, and The Color Purple. Dance shows like Moulin Rouge: The Ballet and Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance have also been performed.
In 1983, two famous shows were recorded live at the Hamilton Place Concert Hall. One was the concert video Chris de Burgh The Video. The other was the stand-up comedy film Bill Cosby: Himself.
Images for kids
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The Great Hall stage from the first balcony.
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The Great Hall seating from the stage.
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The backstage area of the Great Hall.
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The Fly system in the Great Hall.
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A Steinway & Sons square grand piano in the Great Hall.
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The lobby and mezzanine inside the atrium.
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"Canadac", a sculpture by Kosso Eloul at Commonwealth Square.
See also
- Hamilton Convention Centre
- Ellen Fairclough Building
- Art Gallery of Hamilton
- FirstOntario Centre
- Sheraton Hamilton
- Lloyd D. Jackson Square
- List of tallest buildings in Hamilton, Ontario
