FirstOntario Concert Hall
FirstOntario Concert Hall is a music and performing arts venue in downtown Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The venue was originally known as Hamilton Place, and in 1998, became known as the Ronald V. Joyce Centre for the Performing Arts at Hamilton Place[3] after receiving a donation from the Joyce Family Foundation.[1] The current name was adopted after a $2.5 million naming rights deal with FirstOntario Credit Union in 2016.[4]
 FirstOntario Concert Hall | |
| Former names | Hamilton Place (1973-1998), Ronald V. Joyce Centre for the Performing Arts at Hamilton Place (1998-2016)[1] |
|---|---|
| Location | 1 Summers Lane Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8P 4Y2 |
| Coordinates | 43.2563°N 79.87188°W |
| Owner | City of Hamilton |
| Operator | Core Entertainment (Comcast Spectacor) |
| Type | Theatre, Concert Hall |
| Capacity | 2,193[2] |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1972 |
| Opened | 1973[3] |
| Construction cost | $11 million[3] |
| Architect | Trevor P. Garwood-Jones[3] |
| Website | |
| www | |
The venue is the permanent home of the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra and Opera Hamilton.[3]
Description
There are 2 theatres located within FirstOntario Concert Hall. The main theatre (known as the Great Hall) features 2 suspended balconies and has a seating capacity of 2193. The stage is 37.35m wide, and has an adjustable depth from 11.4m to 16.2m. The Great Hall is recognized internationally for its outstanding acoustics. The smaller theatre is known as The Studio (formerly The Studio at Hamilton Place) and can accommodate up to 350 people. The venue also features rehearsal, break, and dressing rooms, as well as a private courtyard and a large loading dock that is shared with the Hamilton Convention Centre and the Ellen Fairclough Building. FirstOntario Concert Hall is directly connected to the Hamilton Convention Centre via the theatre's main lobby, and shares a common outdoor plaza and sculpture court with the Convention Centre and the Art Gallery of Hamilton known as Commonwealth Square, located above Summers Lane, and accessible via the theatre's mezzanine.[3]
Performances
FirstOntario Concert Hall has hosted musicians and performing artists like Tony Bennett, Leonard Cohen, Morrissey, Sarah McLachlan, Sharon, Lois & Bram Tangerine Dream, The Proclaimers and The Tragically Hip. Comedians Billy Connolly, Margaret Cho and Norm Macdonald have performed at the venue, as well as classic rockers Heart. Theatrical runs have included performances of A Chorus Line, Evita and The Color Purple, in addition to dance-based shows such as Moulin Rouge: The Ballet and Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance.
The stand-up comedy film Bill Cosby: Himself was recorded at FirstOntario Concert Hall in 1983.
Images
The Great Hall at FirstOntario Concert Hall's stage viewed from the first balcony
Great Hall at FirstOntario Concert Hall's Seating viewed from the stage
Great Hall at FirstOntario Concert Hall's backstage area
Great Hall at FirstOntario Concert Hall's Fly system
Steinway & Sons square grand piano in the Great Hall of FirstOntario Concert Hall
Lobby and mezzanine located within FirstOntario Concert Hall's atrium. The connection to the Hamilton Convention Centre is located in the lobby, and the exit to Commonwealth Square is located on the mezzanine level
"Canadac", a Stelcoloy sculpture by Kosso Eloul located at Commonwealth Square
See also
References
- "A Brief History of our Concert Hall". Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
- "Book an Event at FirstOntario Concert Hall". Core Entertainment. Retrieved November 3, 2017.
FirstOntario Concert Hall has a capacity of up to 8,963...
- Betts, Lorne; Church, Sarah; Hall, Frederick A. (December 16, 2013). "Hamilton Place". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Historica Canada. Retrieved November 3, 2017.
- Van Dongen, Matthew (December 7, 2016). "FirstOntario Credit Union buys naming rights for Hamilton Place". The Hamilton Spectator. Retrieved November 3, 2017.