Canadian theatre impresario Aubrey Dan is stepping up to a new stage in his strategy to build a theatre empire.
In a deal announced Wednesday, Dan will take over management of Broadway Across Canada, a touring company, and two Toronto theatres that once belonged to Live Nation — the Canon and the Panasonic.
His partner is Key Brand Entertainment, a newly created theatre firm owned and controlled by British producer John Gore and led by U.S.-based entertainment producer Thomas B. McGrath.
Key Brand Entertainment takes ownership of all eight theatres, including properties in Boston, Minneapolis and Baltimore, that once were owned by Live Nation.
The New York-based company will also manage Broadway Across America, which is presenting touring productions in 42 cities.
"The beauty of this transaction is it brings together people who have an inexhaustible passion for the theatre and those who have decades of experience running large entertainment companies" said McGrath, who was formerly with Viacom and is founder of Crossroads Media, which is involved with film, radio and TV production.
No financial terms were announced, but the deal marks the creation of a significant new force in North American theatre.
Key Brand has announced it is devoted to "development, production and distribution of live theatre" across North America.
Canada 'hungry' for Broadway shows: DanDan has taken a stake in Key Brand Entertainment, and his Dancap Productions, which is already bringing Broadway shows to Toronto, will be hooked up with the Canada-wide theatrical touring company Broadway Across Canada.
Dan will manage the Canon and Panasonic theatres, giving him two crucial downtown Toronto locations for touring shows.
He also is to manage Broadway Across Canada, which is touring shows such as Riverdance and High School Musical in Canadian cities including Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal and Vancouver.
Dan becomes chair of Broadway Across Canada after the deal is closed.
"Canada is hungry for great Broadway and West End productions that we will continue to provide while making it a priority to showcase the many talented actors, directors, craftspeople, designers and musicians we have in such abundance in Canada," he said in a statement.
His DanCap Productions is already bringing shows such as The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, My Fair Lady and Jersey Boys to Toronto.
Dancap Productions is also a member of theatrical development and production company Elephant Eye Theatrical, which is developing theatrical projects such as The Addams Family, Bruce Lee: Journey to the West and Saved.
Plummer to read Jacob Two-Two in Stratford benefit
Canadian actor Christopher Plummer will do a public reading of Jacob Two-Two Meets the Hooded Fang next summer in a benefit to raise funds for student tickets to the Stratford Shakespeare Festival.
Heppner to miss simulcast performance of Tristan
Ben Heppner will miss another three performances of Tristan und Isolde at New York's Metropolitan Opera, including the performance that is to be simulcast to cinemas.
San Francisco, Royal Opera record productions for the screen
Taking a page from the Metropolitan Opera in New York, the San Francisco Opera has announced it will begin screening its productions in cinemas.
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