Impact Report 2020 the Performing Arts Have the Power to Bring Us Back Together

George Weston Recital Hall at the Meridian Arts Centre Photo by Jonathan Castellino

Impact Report 2020 The performing arts have the power to bring us back together.

TO Live is uniquely positioned to champion our city’s cultural recovery. Pandemic restrictions have given us time to reflect and adapt with a plan to emerge a more resilient and inclusive organization. The scale and breadth of our footprint, programs, and network mean that we are uniquely positioned to get artists and arts companies back to work, propelling the recovery of the cultural sector and the economy.

TO Live has a successful track record of empowering and engaging a vibrant array of cultures, communities, and perspectives. Over the past year, we have channelled and leveraged our experience to create deep partnerships, provide vital support to artists, artistic companies, and community partners so that we all come back stronger. With our supporters behind us, we are focused on bringing the city together. 2020 HIGHLIGHTS & ACHIEVEMENTS

Empowering creative expression reflective of Toronto’s diversity

TO Live’s 2020 programming began strong with with Radical Vitality: Solos & Duets. Meridian the final week of the celebrated gallery exhibition Hall hosted the return of Drum TAO, the Mandela: Struggle for Freedom, exploring incredible drums and dance troupe from Japan, Nelson Mandela’s renowned fight for justice and just before shutting down. human dignity in South Africa. That exhibition was followed by Ears, Eyes, Voice, a ground-breaking When performances were suspended at the start photography exhibition featuring 41 important of the pandemic, TO Live immediately focused visual works by renowned Black Canadian on finding ways to support local artists, creating photojournalists. the multi-disciplinary digital series Living Rooms. Living Rooms provided an immediate virtual Programming at the Meridian Arts Centre refuge for audiences and directly supported 100 continued with the sold-out Hyprov: Improv local artists. Under Hypnosis featuring Colin Mochrie and Asad Mecci, and the Canadian debut of New Additionally, TO Live partnered with Small World Orleans-based vocalist Quiana Lynell, part of Music’s eMERGEnce initiative, creating Small our Jazz at the George series. World Wednesdays within Living Rooms featuring an artist every Wednesday from this program At the St. Lawrence Centre, TO Live in dedicated to supporting refugee, newcomer, and association with Canadian Stage presented marginalized emerging artists in Toronto. Marie Chouinard, one of Canada’s most creative and controversial dancers and choreographers, Photo by David Ley, MANDELA: Struggle for Freedom exhibition at as she delved into her company’s vast repertoire Meridian Arts Centre, Next came The Arts Squad, offering children capacity to local artists and arts groups. This ages 5-8 captivating ways to create, perform, support has provided hundreds of short-term and discover their creative talents. Each episode employment opportunities for artists and arts of The Arts Squad focuses on a different artistic workers, including writers, actors, directors, and discipline: music, theatre, storytelling, dance, production and operations staff. and comic arts, with each discipline taught by a different artist. In 2020, TO Live:

TO Live and Buddies in Bad Times Theatre joined Commissioned works for various audiences on prestigious theatres and cultural institutions new platforms, Metamorphosis: A Viral Trilogy, worldwide to present the Pomegranate Arts three fictional audio diaries by internationally production of Taylor Mac’s Holiday Sauce… acclaimed multiple award-winning Toronto Pandemic! This special, live-streamed event novelist André Alexis; Ministry of the Mundane reimagined for this time of social distancing Mac’s Mysteries: Playdate (Outside the March) and celebrated Holiday Sauce show, which The Los three contributions to The Transformations Angeles Times praised for its “freewheeling love Project. and generosity,” and called the show “a present from the island of misfit toys...and a Christmas The Transformations Project is a grassroots miracle.” initiative from Canada’s theatre community. TO Live partnered with arts organizations across The Arts Squad by the numbers: the country to respond to pressing social justice issues in a thought-provoking new collection of short video, audio, and text creations. TO Live has commissioned works from local Toronto artists: Susanna Fournier & ted witzel, Ian Kamau, and Yolanda Bonnell. 469 4,417 subscribers hours of Provided space and technical support for filming, watch time broadcasting, and live streaming to partners such as Fall For Dance North, Sinfonia Toronto, and Hannaford Silver Street Band; and Toronto Fringe Festival’s Next Stage program allowing these companies to stay connected with their audiences. 63,000+ 254,980 Provided DopoLavoro Teatrale (DLT), led by views impressions Artistic Director Daniele Bartolini, with a four- week residency to conceive and create the new work, The Spectators’ Odyssey o dell’Inferno.

Elevating the artistic potential that Provided and committed significant support illuminates our city to Obsidian Theatre Company’s 21 Black Futures and Outside the March’s Lessons in Temperament through stage time, operations, Under the direction of our Board of Directors and and production staff to film. with the help of the City of Toronto, TO Live has invested in Toronto’s artistic community through commissioning works and providing space for creative development, underwriting production costs, and providing filming and livestream Making the arts accessible to all Torontonians

TO Live’s Education and Engagement program spans all performing arts disciplines, ages, ethnography, and abilities and is crucial to engaging the community and building broad public appreciation for the performing arts.

In 2020, TO Live welcomed 2,038 community members to 57 education and engagement events. Free drop-in Community Classes offered dance, yoga, and meditation to curious beginners and seasoned participants alike. In partnership with Nova Dance, Discover Dance presented free monthly lunchtime dance demonstrations, and Xenia Concerts brought sensory safe performances to a neurodiverse audience.

TO Live also presented four pre-show talks in the winter season, providing additional opportunities for the audience to engage with the show’s creative teams and three masterclasses, which provided a unique opportunity for local artists to engage with visiting performers, artistic directors, and choreographers.

In March 2020, we presented two school workshops alongside Ears, Eyes, Voice, a groundbreaking photography exhibition featuring 41 important visual works by renowned Black Canadian photojournalists and our last in-person event of the year; and a screening of a docu-film project created by a local arts organization, Jamii Esplanade, together with 150 neighbourhood community members.

Visitors to Ears, Eyes, Voice exhibition at Meridian Arts Centre, Feb 2020, Photos by Phoebe Sequino Inspiring and Entertaining Meridian Hall’s rich history has notably included Audiences for 60 Years the 1960 worldwide premiere of the Lerner and Loewe musical Camelot starring Richard Burton, October 1, 2020 marked the beginning of Julie Andrews and Robert Goulet; and Russian Meridian Hall’s 60th year. The name above the ballet star Mikhail Baryshnikov defecting from the door was The O’Keefe Centre, and its opening USSR from the stage in June 1974. on October 1, 1960, positioned Toronto as the destination in Canada for world-renowned arts Congratulations on 60 years and thank you experiences. The City of Toronto’s iconic theatre for the many memories shared by so many. went on to be called the Hummingbird Centre, “ Looking forward to many more years!” the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts, and in - David Comacchio 2019 was renamed Meridian Hall. “I remember the thrill of seeing ‘Camelot’ As Canada’s largest soft-seat auditorium, when the theatre opened. I am 90 years Meridian Hall has been at the centre of live old now, but at that time I was the right age arts and culture in Toronto and across the to swoon over Robert Goulet. Thank you country. We’ve had the privilege of hosting and for reviving old happy memories. promoting six decades of world-class art, sharing - Helen Lyon unforgettable experiences, and creating enduring ” memories.

Richard Burton and Julie Andrews, Camelot world premiere at the O’Keefe Centre, 1960 Recognition List

The City of Toronto is an important partner, but TO Live’s aspirations will not be realized without philanthropic support. Government subsidies account for only 14% of TO Live’s budget and 85% of TO Live’s revenue is usually derived from its rental business which has ceased while live performances are suspended.

For now, the organization is working with the support of the City of Toronto, principal sponsor Meridian, and the generous donations of other partners and individuals to be able to continue to provide space to artists and associated activities. We gratefully acknowledge the generosity of our supporters.

Major Partners

Major Program Supporters

Venue Sponsors Bangarra Dance Theatre - Spirit, Photo by Zan Wimberley

Donors

Rochelle Alexandroff Tom Davis Christine Kelsey A. Ambrose Patricia Deline Tammy Kong Arts Capital Sarah Dionne Megan Kotze & Michael Longfield Shirley Arnold Shannon Dowd Val Koziol Elizabeth Attfield Anne Dumais Jeremy Kramer Gail Asper, Asper Family Foundation Penelope Evans Peggy Lappalainen Barbara Basta Mary Ann Farrell Jill Lavine Sandra Bates Matt Farrell Jessica Leader Eva Bednar Alan Feller Svitlana Levit Sandra Bellisario Norma Fisher-Stitt Stephanie Leyco Jason Benny Samantha Flint Edith Lo Paul Bernards Darrell Flynn Emilia Lomaga Shira Bernholtz Robert & Julia Foster Kathleen Lumsden Eleanor Bothwell Kevin Garland Priya Malik Marta Braun Christina Giannelia Jane Mallen James Bredin Jeanette Goldman Leslie Mandelbaum Zora Breslin Dorothy Gordon Gianna Manzerolle Stephanie Brown Joe Goverde Laurie Markus Louise Burley Marcus Hahn Mina Mastromarco Jessica Capobianco Shana Harris Honora McCabe-Slinger David & Pauline Carpenter Wayne Hawes David McCracken Doris Chan Gary Hawker Linda McGuire Belinda Chang Robert Herman Melissa McRae Giselle Chin Tony Hill Isabel Menanno Dr. Donette Chin-Loy Chang Dr. Rob Horvath Rebecca Merchant Kelvin Chukwu Rob Italiano William Milne Jamille Clarke-Darshanand Lauren Jackson Leslie Milthorpe Charles Coffey Susan Jamieson Susan Moellers Judith C. Cole Christopher Jeanneret Sandra Moretti Cheryl Cottle Janice Johnson Tyler Morse Laura Daniel Ron Jones Fatima Mubeen Senator Donna Dasko Alice Kamagaju Eric Nearing Lisa Davidson Tasker Kelsey Greig Nishio Judith O’Callaghan Jeffrey Rohrer Valerie Tih Natalia Ogrodnik Ronni Rosenberg Celeste Tikal Sorina Oprea Ali Rouzrokh Steve Till Helen Ostapuk Jo Rucinski Roz Tobias Devin Packer Omeonga Saidi Marek Ulanicki Heather Pagura Linda Salna Tanja van Loenen Jennifer Parkin Rob Sandolowich Vanitha Velayutham Frances Hunter Gary Sawatsky Salvatore Viola Eulalia Pereira Gregory Sawchuk Peeranut Visetsuth Arlene Perly-Rae & Hon. Bob Rae Beverley Scott Clyde Wagner & Steven Tetz Tram Pham Jack Sethi Steven Weil C. Pickett Stephanie Slobodnik Lee Weissling Jacqueline Pratt Lisa Smecca Lisa Weitz Jill Purdy Debbie Smith Lorna White John Quirke Richard Spares Firth Whitwam Rehana Rahman Karyn in Toronto Deni Wise Martha Randall Richard Spooner ted witzel Michael Rea Bonnie Staring Wai Yee (Sandy) Wong Gillian Reain In Honour of Alexander & Helen Stark Janet Young Kim Reid Patricia Steer Anonymous (15) Josephine Ridge Evelyn Steinberg Kenneth Robertson Patti-Anne Tarlton

Meridian Hall at night. STOMP masterclass - Education and Engagement program

TO Live Board of Directors Senior Leadership

Robert J. Foster, Chair Clyde Wagner, President & CEO Councillor Gary Crawford, Vice Chair William Milne, VP, Finance & Administration Paul Bernards Jeff Rohrer, VP, Marketing & Communications Councillor John Filion Sandra Bellisario, VP, Development & Sponsorship Myriam Gafarou Leslie Lester, VP, STLC Redevelopment Kevin Garland Josephine Ridge, VP, Programming Mustafa Humayun Matt Farrell, VP, Operations Owais Lightwala Dawn T. Maracle Gabriel Michaan If you’d like to become a donor, there are many Kathleen Sharpe ways you can support TO Live. Find out more at Gillian Smith www.tolive.com/support or email us at Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam [email protected].

For inquiries please contact: Megan Kotze, Director of Development & Sponsorship [email protected] 416-368-6161 x7217