Theatre Space
Theatre Passe Muraille's 1975 production of "I Love You, Baby Blue" was seen by over 26 000 people before it was closed by the police. Charges brought against the theatre for "immorality" were thrown out of court for lack of evidence. However, the success of this celebrated production was profitable enough for the theatre to put a down payment on a permanent home. This was an important event, as to this day, still only a handful of non-for-profit theatres in Toronto own the spaces in which they perform.
Theatre Passe Muraille is located on Ryerson Avenue in the Alexandra Park neighbourhood of Toronto at 43°38′55″N 79°24′09″W / 43.64861°N 79.40250°W / 43.64861; -79.40250Coordinates: 43°38′55″N 79°24′09″W / 43.64861°N 79.40250°W / 43.64861; -79.40250.
The building was originally a bakery built in 1902 and has served several purposes over the decades. When TPM took the building over it had fallen under disrepair and large renovations were undertaken to bring the building up to the required standards.
A second round of renovations began in 1983, the most important additions of which were the building of a large cruciform opening in the floor of the second storey and the installation of a lighting grid. The theatre houses two stages: the "Mainspace" which seats 185 and the "Backspace" which seats 55.
The space was designated a historic building in 1977 by the Toronto Historical Board under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act, noting that, "the skillful use of brick and classical architectural design elements in the facade gives prominence in the neighbourhood"
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—Eleonora Duse (1858–1924)
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