For a long time there's been talk about a new theatre to be built by Garth Drabinsky's Livent Inc. just south of The Pantages Theatre (home of The Phantom of the Opera) on Toronto's Yonge St.

Today Livent Inc. confirmed the project, to be built jointly by AT&T Canada Enterprises, Inc., Dundee Realty Corporation, Livent Inc., and to be designed by Moshe Safdie (also responsible for Vancouver's Ford Centre for the Performing Arts, Ottawa's National Gallery of Canada Vancouver's Ford Centre for the Performing Arts, Ottawa's National Gallery of Canada, and many other cultural complexes around the world.)

The Pantages Place will incorporate a new 1,400 seat theatre, an expanded backstage area for the already existing 2,200-seat Pantages Theatre, a hotel and condominium, as well as new parking spaces and retail services and stores, along with special perks for condo owners that will include complimentary membership in the Pantages Tower Theatre Club, offering "insider access" to Livent's theatres in Toronto, Vancouver, New York, Chicago and any other city presenting a Livent show.

The cost is estimated at $25 million (not including the land) and the property is scheduled to open in the year 2000.

This influx of corporate dollars, permanent residents and additional tourists may be exactly what the rather downtrodden area needs to revitalize it. For further information call Eleanor Goldhar at: 416-324-5791.

--By Mira Friedlander
Canada Correspondent