Royal Alexandra Theatre Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
Royal Alexandra Theatre
Construction
RA, Royal Alexandra Theatre
The Royal Alexandra Theatre in 2012
Location	Toronto, Ontario
Coordinates	43°38′50″N 79°23′15″W / 43.64722°N 79.38750°W / 43.64722; -79.38750
Public transit	King street LRT St. Andrew subway station
Owner	Mirvish Productions
Capacity	1,244
Built	1907
Architect	John M. Lyle


National Historic Site of Canada
Designated	1986

The Royal Alexandra Theatre, often called the Royal Alex, is a famous historic theatre in Toronto, Ontario. It is located at 260 King Street West in the city's Entertainment District. The theatre is owned by Mirvish Productions and can seat about 1,244 people.

Built in 1907, the Royal Alexandra Theatre is the oldest theatre in North America that has been running without ever closing down for good. It is a place where people can see live plays and musicals, also known as legitimate theatre.

History of the Royal Alex
Famous People on Stage
Popular Shows at the Royal Alex
Gallery
See also

History of the Royal Alex

The Royal Alexandra Theatre is a beautiful building designed in the Beaux-Arts style. This was a very fancy and decorative style popular in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The theatre has a classic stage called a proscenium stage, which is like a picture frame for the performance.

The theatre is named after Queen Alexandra, who was the wife of King Edward VII of the United Kingdom. King Edward VII gave the theatre official permission to use the "Royal" name. It is believed to be the only legally "royal theatre" still operating in North America.

A Grand Beginning

When the theatre was built, it was in a very wealthy part of Toronto. It was financed by a group of businessmen led by Cawthra Mulock, who was only 21 years old. He wanted to build the finest theatre on the continent.

The architect, John M. Lyle, was given a large budget to create a masterpiece. The inside of the theatre was stunning, with marble floors, carved wood, and silk wallpaper. Lyle also included some amazing new features for the time. It was the first theatre in North America to have air conditioning, which worked by using a large pit of ice under the floor. It was also one of the first to be fireproof and to have balconies without any pillars blocking the view.

The theatre opened on August 26, 1907. In its early days, it faced tough competition from another theatre called the Princess Theatre. But in 1915, the Princess Theatre was destroyed in a fire. After that, the Royal Alex became Toronto's main theatre for major plays.

Saving the Theatre

By the 1940s and 1950s, fewer people were going to live theatre because of movies, radio, and television. The Royal Alex began to lose money, and the neighborhood around it became run-down. In 1962, the owners decided to sell the theatre. The plan was to tear it down and build a parking lot.

However, a man named Ed Mirvish bought the theatre in 1963 for $250,000. He owned a famous discount store called Honest Ed's. Mirvish said he didn't know anything about theatre, but he knew a good deal when he saw one. He promised to keep it open as a theatre for at least five years.

Mirvish closed the theatre for a year to clean and restore it. When it reopened in 1963, it was a huge success. To help bring people back to the area, he opened several fun restaurants next to the theatre. Soon, the neighborhood was transformed into a lively district with many places to eat and shop.

A Modern Makeover

In 2016, the theatre closed for another major renovation. This time, the goal was to make it more comfortable for modern audiences. All the old seats were replaced with larger, more comfortable ones with more legroom. This meant the theatre's capacity was reduced from 1,497 to 1,244 seats. The owners believed that a better experience would make people want to come back again and again.

The theatre reopened in November 2016 with the musical Come from Away. The show was so popular that it set sales records for the Royal Alex.