Backstage Toronto 2007 May 12, 2007

"So, what really goes on back there?"

TORONTO ALLIANCE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
PRESENTS
BACKSTAGE TORONTO 2007
BRINGING BACKSTAGE FRONT AND CENTRE

Toronto, Ontario….The TAPA Board of Directors is proud to launch a new spring initiative - BACKSTAGE TORONTO. On Saturday, May 12, 2007, twelve venues will open their doors to the public for behind-the-scenes, guided tours at some of Toronto's most intriguing performing arts spaces - both large and small.

BACKSTAGE TORONTO features three unique tour packages. Ticket holders will board buses (courtesy Gray Line Bus Tour) at designated venues, and travel throughout the day to performing arts spaces throughout the downtown core. In addition to exploring backstage, each venue will introduce an additional "backstage" element ranging from box office tours to wardrobe, lighting and rehearsals. Each tour also includes a delicious complimentary lunch featuring special guests from the performing arts industry. Staggered bus runs begin at 9:45am with the final tour ending at 2:30 p.m.

Confirmed venues for the BACKSTAGE TORONTO event include Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, Diesel Playhouse, the Elgin Winter Garden Theatre Centre, The Princess of Wales, the Royal Alexandra Theatre, The National Ballet of Canada/Walter Carsen Centre, Harbourfront Centre, St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, Tarragon Theatre, Four Season Centre for the Performing Arts and CanStage-Berkeley Street Theatre.

Tourists and Torontonians alike will love this sneak-peak into the inner workings of Toronto's most-loved and vibrant performing arts institutions. "Backstage Toronto showcases a wide variety of our city's theatre, dance and opera spaces and is a unique opportunity to visit behind-the-scenes at some of these fabulous venues," Says Celia Smith, Chair of TAPA's Board of Directors

Proceeds from this event will assist TAPA in enhancing the services and support it offers to over 190 member companies and doubles as an event to enhance public awareness of some of the live performing arts venues in the downtown Toronto core. Tickets for BACKSTAGE TORONTO are $60 per person (or $100 for 2 tickets), which includes transportation, tours and lunch, and are available for purchase at www.totix.ca, or by calling 416.536.6468, or in person at the T.O.TIX Booth at Yonge-Dundas Square.

EVENT DETAILS

DATE: May 12, 2007

TICKETS: $60.00 per person / $100 per couple

TOUR A: Departures at 10:00am and 10:30am from Royal Alexandra Theatre
Tour A includes tours of the Royal Alexandra Theatre, Factory Theatre, Diesel Playhouse, St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, Tarragon Theatre (Lunch at the Diesel Playhouse)

TOUR B: Departures at 10:00am and 10:30am from Four Seasons Centre for the Arts
Tour B includes tours of the Four Seasons Centre for the Arts, Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, Diesel Playhouse, the Walter Carsen Centre, Harbourfront Centre (Lunch at the Diesel Playhouse)

TOUR C: Departures at 9:45am and 10:15am from the Princess of Wales Theatre
Tour C includes tours of the Princess of Wales Theatre, CanStage-Berkeley Street Theatres, The Elgin Winter Garden Theatre Centre, Diesel Playhouse (Lunch at the Diesel Playhouse)
BOX OFFICE: Tickets for BACKSTAGE TORONTO are $60 per person, which includes transportation and lunch, and are available for purchase at www.totix.ca, or by calling 416.536.6468, or in person at the T.O.TIX Booth at Yonge-Dundas Square.

The Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts (TAPA) is a professional arts service organization dedicated to advancing the arts in the City of Toronto by promoting and advocating on behalf of local theatre, dance and opera companies and providing services to enhance the artistic, technical and administrative development of its membership.

Among the programs and services provided by TAPA are: the T.O.TIX Booth - Toronto's One-Stop Ticket Shop at Yonge-Dundas Square and online at www.totix.ca; the Dora Mavor Moore Awards; the Go Live Theatre Guide with current listings for theatre, dance and opera performances; www.goliveto.ca featuring comprehensive show listings; The City Special, offering free performing arts tickets to members of communities-at-risk; hipTIX, sponsored by BMO Financial Group, offering $5:00 tickets to students between the ages of 15 and 25; 5 Star Experiences, unique and affordable theatre packages; and the Commercial Theatre Development Fund.

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Press contact:
For further media information and interviews please contact
Jacoba Knaapen at (416) 536-6468 ext. 25 or [email protected]

Group Booking contact:
For information on group rates and bookings, please contact
Kathy MacKenzie at (416) 536-6468 ext. 21 or [email protected]

www.tapa.ca

Official Website: http://www.tapa.ca