Mirvish Productions to Suspend Performances of ROCK OF AGES and MAMMA MIA! During G20 Week, June 21 to 27, 2010

From Press Release

Mirvish Productions will not perform its shows ROCK OF AGES (at the Royal Alexandra Theatre) and MAMMA MIA! (at the Princess of Wales Theatre) during the week of the G20 summit in Toronto.

The Royal Alexandra and Princess of Wales theatres are located on King Street West, at the edge of what is designated the “traffic zone” for the G20 summit. Over the last few months Mirvish Productions has met with organizers of the G20 security team and the Toronto Police to determine how the G20 preparations and activities would affect its performances during the week of the Summit.

Mirvish had every intention of carrying on performances during the week in question, assured by the various levels of authority that the G20 would not impact the theatres. More recently, as more information has been released about the G20 preparations and as some of this information appears to be inconclusive or contradictory, especially with regard to traffic on King Street West, Mirvish has decided it would be best and safest to suspend performances.

“It wasn’t an easy decision to make,” said producer David Mirvish. “The theatrical adage we have always lived by is ‘the show must go on.’ But in this instance – an unprecedented instance for us as we’ve always performed our shows – we have concluded that our audiences are best served by the shows not going on.

“It is a shame, really, as people will not be able to see these multi-talented performers on our stages during that week. But they will be able to see them the weeks prior to the G20 and, in the case of ROCK OF AGES, the weeks after the G20.

“For MAMMA MIA!, which is a touring production on a set schedule, the G20 suspension will mean that the show will now have to close on Sunday June 20, instead of the previously scheduled closing on June 27.

All those holding tickets to the performances the week of June 21 to 27 will be contacted and offered an exchange to other performances.”

ROCK OF AGES is now playing at the Royal Alexandra Theatre, 260 King Street West, until September 5, 2010. There will be no performances June 21 to 27, 2010. Performance schedule: Tues-Fri 8 pm; Sat 2 & 8 pm; Sun 2 & 7 pm.

MAMMA MIA is now playing at the Princess of Wales Theatre, 300 King Street West, until June 20, 2010. Performance schedule: Tues-Sat 8 pm; matinees Wed, Sat & Sun 2 pm.

For tickets to both shows call 416-872-1212 or 1-800-461-3333, or go to www.mirvish.com