The Grand Theatre (Kingston, Ontario) facts for kids
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Grand Opera House (1901-2-)
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Leo, the Royal Cadet, The Grand Theatre Jun 3–5 1915
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| Address | 218 Princess Street Kingston, Ontario K7L 1B2 |
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| Capacity | 775 (main theatre); 105 (smaller theatra); proscenium stage; orchestra pit |
| Current use | Professional and amateur theatre |
| Opened | 1902 |
| Closed | 1936–1938; 1961–1966; |
| Years active | 1902–present |
| Website | |
| http://www.kingstongrand.ca/ Official Website of The Grand Theatre | |
The Grand Theatre is a famous old theatre in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. It is one of the main places for live shows in the city. The Kingston Symphony orchestra has performed here since 1964.
The main theatre can hold 776 people. It has a special stage called a proscenium stage. There is also an orchestra pit where musicians play. The building also has a smaller theatre called The Baby Grand. This smaller space can seat 105 people. It is known as a "black box theatre" because it is a simple, flexible space.
Contents
History of the Grand Theatre
Early Days and First Opening
The Grand Theatre was built between 1901 and 1902. It stands where another theatre, Martin's Opera House, once was. That older theatre burned down in 1898. When it first opened, the Grand Theatre was called the Grand Opera House. Its very first big show was on January 14, 1902.
From 1905 to 1936, a man named Ambrose J. Small owned and ran the theatre. Many famous performers appeared on its stage during these early years. These included Sarah Bernhardt, Al Jolson, and Nellie Melba.
Changes and Closures
In 1936, Ambrose J. Small sold the theatre. The new owners decided to close it as a live theatre. They wanted to turn the building into a movie cinema. After two years of work, the theatre reopened as a movie house on May 20, 1938. It showed movies until it closed again in 1961.
Saving the Theatre
In the early 1960s, the Grand Theatre was almost torn down. But a group of people in Kingston formed the Kingston Arts Council. They worked hard to stop the demolition. They wanted the theatre to be saved and used again for live performances. Their goal was for it to be a "civic theatre." This means a theatre owned by the city for public use. They also wanted it to be the home for the Kingston Symphony.
Work to restore the theatre began in 1964. The newly named Grand Theatre opened its doors on May 20, 1966. The first show was a musical called Spring Thaw.
Modern Updates and The Baby Grand
Starting in 1978, the theatre began a series of ongoing updates. These improvements added new lounge areas for visitors. They also made the backstage areas better for performers. The smaller theatre, The Baby Grand, was started in 1985. It was created by Sarah Garton Stanley and Eric Kaskens. The Baby Grand was updated and reopened in November 1990. Today, the Grand Theatre continues to be a busy place for many different kinds of shows.
