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Dancap Productions
Founded2007
FounderAubrey Dan
Dissolved2012
TypeTheatrical productions
Location

Dancap Productions was a Canadian theatrical production company, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Founded in 2007 by Aubrey Dan, the company presented large-scale musicals and plays in Toronto. The company initially found success with its Canadian production of Jersey Boys, which ran in Toronto for two years.[1] After six years, Dancap Productions closed in July 2012.[2]

History

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Formation

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In 2004, Aubrey Dan was approached by the non-profit Canadian Stage Company to consider a sponsorship deal for some of the productions they were presenting in Toronto.[3] Dan's interest in live theatre led to him (through his Dancap Private Equity company) partnering with the Canadian Stage Company to present three shows in Toronto between 2004 and 2006. This included the Canadian premiere of Urinetown at the Bluma Appel Theatre, between May 19 and July 11 2004.[4] Ain't Misbehavin' played at the Bluma Appel Theatre between April 14 and June 25, 2005.[5] In 2006, Hair was presented at the Bluma Appel Theatre between March 30 and June 17, 2006.[6]

Following these experiences, Dan exited his partnership with the Canadian Stage Company and established his own theatrical production company, Dancap Productions. He sought to present more Broadway quality shows in Toronto, and envisioned Dancap Productions becoming a viable alternative and competitor to Mirvish Productions for commercial theatre productions in Toronto.[7] Despite this, Mirvish offered Dan an opportunity to join as a co-producer on the Canadian production of We Will Rock You, but Dan was not optimistic about the show's chances and refused.[8] The Canadian production of We Will Rock You ultimately was financially successful and ran for sixteen months.[9]

Early on, Dancap Productions presented their shows in downtown Toronto at the Elgin and Winter Garden Theatres, which was rented from the Government of Ontario.[10] However, in April 2008, Dancap Productions reached an agreement with the City of Toronto to rent the Toronto Centre for the Arts.[11] This gave Dancap Productions another theatre to present their shows in, albeit a theatre located in North York rather than in downtown Toronto.

Initial successes

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In July 2007, Dancap Productions partnered with Elephant Eye Theatrical to develop several new musicals with the aim of eventually bringing them to Broadway. As part of the agreement, Dancap had the first right to present these productions in Canada.[12] This partnership developed The Addams Family, which was critically panned but financially successful on Broadway and had a tour stop in Toronto.[13][14] They also co-produced Saved, a musical based on the 2004 film that was presented off-Broadway in 2008.[15] Other planned productions did not pan out, however, which included a musical based on the life of Bruce Lee and a musical that features the songs of Sheryl Crow.[16]

Between August 21, 2008, and December 6, 2008, Dancap Productions presented a national tour of Jersey Boys at the Toronto Centre for the Arts, which quickly performed to sell-out audiences and received critical acclaim.[17] Following the success of the tour stop, Dancap Productions subsequently announced a Canadian production of Jersey Boys.[18] The production opened on December 12, 2008 at the Toronto Centre for the Arts. It starred Jeremy Kushnier as Tommy Devito, Derek Krantz as Bob Gaudio, Michael Lomenda as Nick Massi, and Jeff Madden as Frankie Valli.[19] The production ran for two years, closing on August 22, 2010, and was the longest running musical in the venue's history.[20]

Decline and closure

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In early-2008, Dan purchased a 12.5% equity stake in Key Brand Entertainment, who owned and operated the Canon Theatre and Panasonic Theatre in downtown Toronto. Despite this, Mirvish had already signed an agreement with Key Brand Entertainment in 2001 to manage both theatres through 2015 and retained a first right to bid for both theatres upon being placed for sale.[21] Later in 2008, Mirvish successfully bid $35 million for both theatres after they were placed up for sale. Subsequent legal challenges that occurred in the following years attempted to prevent the sale, but were ultimately unsuccessful.[22] This left Dancap Productions without a theatre that they owned where they could present their productions. This forced Dancap Productions to continue renting theatres, a factor which Dan attributed to the company's ultimate downfall.[23]

As part of their 2012 season, Dancap announced they would be presenting non-equity tours of In the Heights and Shrek the Musical as part of their subscription series. This was met with significant criticism from the Canadian Actors’ Equity union, who protested this decision and asked Toronto critics to not review these productions.[24][25] Dan defended his decision to present non-equity tours, stating that, while the company was mitigating their own financial risk, they were nevertheless still quality productions.[26]

In April 2012, Dancap Productions announced that it would be closing at the end of their 2012 season. In a statement announcing the closure, Dan wrote, "With a heavy heart, I am announcing that Dancap Productions will not be presenting a 2013 subscription season. Looking toward the near-future, I do not see enough quality shows that I would like to bring to Toronto in 2013."[27]

The final Dancap Productions show presented in Toronto was Million Dollar Quartet, which closed on 22 July 2019.[28]

Subsequent events

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In 2017, Dan returned to the Toronto theatre to present a local, re-imagined production of The Jazz Singer in partnership with the Harold Green Jewish Theatre Company. The play ran between May 23 and June 18, 2017 at the Toronto Centre for the Arts.[29]

Also in 2017, Dan worked with Mirvish to co-produce An American in Paris on Broadway, and, in 2018, present the musical in Toronto at the Princess of Wales Theatre.[30]

Theatrical production history

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2007

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The lone show presented in the 2007 season was:[31]

2008

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The shows presented in the 2008 season were:[32]

2009

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The shows presented in the 2009 season were:[33]

2010

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The shows presented in the 2010 season were:[34]

2011

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The shows presented in the 2011 season were:[35]

2012

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The shows presented in the 2012 season were:[36]

References

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  1. ^ Lewis, Jessica (3 August 2010). "JERSEY BOYS Bids Farewell to Toronto Aug. 22 in Their Own Words". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  2. ^ Menon, Vinay (6 July 2012). "The rise and fall of Dancap Productions". Toronto Star. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  3. ^ Menon, Vinay (6 July 2012). "The rise and fall of Dancap Productions". Toronto Star. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  4. ^ Jones, Kenneth (2 February 2004). "Urinetown Gets Canadian Premiere in Resident Toronto Production, May 19-July 11". Playbill. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  5. ^ Kaplan, Jon (14 April 2005). "Ain't Misbehavin' ain't perfect". NOW Toronto. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  6. ^ Hoile, Christopher (6 April 2006). "Hair, In Toronto". Stage-Door. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  7. ^ Warnica, Richard (7 November 2012). "Dancap takes on the Mirvish machine (and loses)". Canadian Business. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  8. ^ Posner, Michael; Bradshaw, James (16 May 2012). "Losses in the limelight: The education of Aubrey Dan". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  9. ^ Posner, Michael; Bradshaw, James (16 May 2012). "Losses in the limelight: The education of Aubrey Dan". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  10. ^ Posner, Michael (7 May 2008). "Clash of Toronto's theatre titans". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  11. ^ "Dancap signs deal for access to large Toronto theatre". CBC. 14 April 2008.
  12. ^ Posner, Michael (31 July 2007). "Dancap shoots for the big leagues". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  13. ^ Healy, Patrick (13 April 2010). "Critics May Rant, but 'Addams Family' Rakes It In". New York Times. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  14. ^ Knelman, Martin (11 October 2010). "Dancap may bank on Addams Family". Toronto Star. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  15. ^ "Toronto's Dancap to help develop new musicals". CBC. 30 July 2007. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  16. ^ Posner, Michael (31 July 2007). "Dancap shoots for the big leagues". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  17. ^ Jones, Kenneth (15 April 2008). "Dancap to Program Main Stage of Former Ford Center in Toronto; Jersey Boys Will Play There". Playbill. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  18. ^ Ouzounian, Richard (23 June 2010). "Jersey Boys finds its millionth customer". Toronto Star. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  19. ^ Gans, Andrew (18 November 2008). "New Cast Announced for Canadian Production of Jersey Boys". Playbill. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  20. ^ Gans, Andrew (1 July 2010). "Toronto Jersey Boys to Close in August". Playbill. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  21. ^ Jones, Kenneth (26 August 2008). "Mirvish Productions Buys Toronto's Canon and Panasonic Theatres". Playbill. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  22. ^ "Judge allows Mirvish to buy Canon, Panasonic Theatres". CP24. 19 August 2008. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  23. ^ Menon, Vinay (6 July 2012). "The rise and fall of Dancap Productions". Toronto Star. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  24. ^ Dixon, Guy (8 February 2012). "Actors' Equity protests non-union production of In the Heights". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  25. ^ Sumi, Glenn (27 April 2012). "Dancap Productions calls it quits". NowToronto. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  26. ^ Dixon, Guy (8 February 2012). "Actors' Equity protests non-union production of In the Heights". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  27. ^ Sumi, Glenn (27 April 2012). "Dancap Productions calls it quits". NowToronto. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  28. ^ Menon, Vinay (6 July 2012). "The rise and fall of Dancap Productions". Toronto Star. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  29. ^ "The Harold Green Jewish Theatre Company and Dancap Productions to Present THE JAZZ SINGER". BroadwayWorld. 16 May 2017. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  30. ^ Hauen, Jack (25 May 2017). "United with an unlikely partner, Aubrey Dan is back in the Toronto theatre scene". National Post. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  31. ^ "New theatre company brings blockbuster musicals to Toronto". CBC. 23 April 2007. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  32. ^ Adams, James (17 May 2007). "Dancap to bring Jersey Boys to North York venue". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  33. ^ "Dancap announces 3 family musicals for 2009". CBC. 20 May 2008.
  34. ^ "Dancap brings Miss Saigon back to Toronto". CBC. 4 February 2010. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  35. ^ Leung, Wayne (7 March 2011). "Dancap Productions to bring Donny & Marie Osmond, Colm Wilkinson and Green Day musical, American Idiot to Toronto in 2011". Mooney on Theatre. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  36. ^ Nestruck, J. Kelly (17 October 2011). "2012 Dancap season mixes high calibre, low cost". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
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