Place: Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre (Website)
Address: 174 Market Avenue (Map)
Opened: September 30, 1970
Architect: Number Ten Architectural Group
Background:
In 1958, Winnipeg's Theatre 77 and Winnipeg Little Theatre joined forces to form the Manitoba Theatre Centre, Canada's first English-speaking regional theatre, John Hirsch, director of 77, became MTC's director, while Tom Hendry, manager of Winnipeg Little Theatre, became its general manager.
MTC spent their first decade at the ca. 1904 Dominion Theatre on Portage Avenue at Main Street. When it was demolished in 1968 to make way for the Richardson Building, the company worked from the Centennial Concert Hall while planning a new home.
In 1968, MTC announced plans for a new, $2.35 million theatre to be built on Market Avenue at Rorie Street. The Manitoba Centennial Corporation, which also built the Concert Hall / Museum / Planetarium complex, would foot a majority of the bill.
MTC Interior (source)
The new building had space for all of the theatre's shops, from carpentry to wardrobe. To keep the intimate feel that it had at the Dominion Theatre the stage was sunk five feet bellow street level and none of its 800 seats are more than 65 feet from the stage.
Grand OpeningIt began with a 10 am breakfast on the stage of the Concert Hall. A number of Winnipeg Theatre alumni attended as did Hollywood actor Darren McGavin, (who didn't have a Manitoba connection but he and his wife were supporters of theatre and came to see the new facility).
Later in the day, it was across the street to the theatre. Premier Schreyer accepted the key and in turn presented it to Albert Cohen, MTC's president, who did the honours of opening the front doors. One person not at the event was an ill Maitland B. Steinkopf, chairman of the Centennial Committee, (he died on November 22).
November 3, 1970, Winnipeg Free Press
MTC's first performance was on Monday, November 2, 1970: Bertolt Brecht's A Man's a Man, directed by John Hirsch. One of the actors was an up and coming Gordon Pinsent who got his start at Theatre 77. An opening night reviewer wrote:
"The theatre is a stark, simple structure, richly carpeted throughout, but with bare concrete and wood walls and huge glass panels. The spartan atmosphere created by the building was dispelled on opening night by the brilliant plumage of Winnipeg's first nighters. Long gowns, metallic pant suits and tuxedos were the order of the day. For glamor, the show was all in the lobby."
(Winnipeg Free Press, November 3, 1970)
(Winnipeg Free Press, November 3, 1970)
A number of well known actors graced the MTC stage, including: Gordon Pinsent, Eric Petersen, Keanu Reeves in Hamlet (1994), Judd Hirsch in Death of a Salesman (1996) and William Hurt in Richard III (2002).
In 2009 it was home to the first professional production of the Andrew Lloyd Webber / Ben Elton musical The Boys in the Photograph.
In 2009 the Market Avenue theatre was named a National Historic Site.
In 2010 Queen Elizabeth II bestowed Royal designation on the company making it the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre (RMTC).
Related:
Hirsch revives pro theatre in Winnipeg CBC Archives (1957)
Our History RMTC
Performance History RMTC
Manitoba Theatre Centre The Canadian Encyclopedia
Manitoba Theatre Centre Winnipeg Architecture Foundation
I came to your site because the website for the Pantages theatre is down. Maybe this is the same place, with a bit of difference in the street address. I think your post would have mentioned that though. If you see this comment you might take a look and get photos of 180 Market Street, which was the address for Pantages Theatre. I don't live in Winnipeg to look for it myself. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantages_Playhouse_Theatre
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