PRESS RELEASE
Amidst controversy and delay, the Regent Theatre Renewal Project has been given a breath of new life!
If you have waited and waited for the grand old lady to be resurrected……join us for a glimpse of what it could look like this Saturday, July 14th. 12 noon ~ 2:00pm
All downtown business owners are invited to visit Glyn Laverick, the man who revitalized Toronto’s Danforth Music Hall at 147 Danforth Avenue 416-778-8163
Take DVP north or south, exit at Bloor St. Then east on Bloor to Danforth
(Bloor St. becomes Danforth Ave. at Broadview)
Mr. Laverick pledges to restore Oshawa’s Regent Theatre!
All of downtown is encouraged to attend the next Council meeting Mon. July 16th. 6pm to hear Mr. Laverick’s proposal to buy the historic building and restore it to its former glory! As Chair for the Danforth B.I.A., Laverick is unequivocally committed to the arts and to community development.
Come out and show your support for the Regent Theatre!
TheStar.com - News - Entrepreneur pledges to restore Oshawa's historic Regent Theatre
July 12, 2007
Carola Vyhnak
Staff reporter
The man who revitalized Toronto's Danforth Music Hall wants to do the same with Oshawa's long-neglected vaudeville-era Regent Theatre.
Glyn Laverick proposes to buy the historic building in Oshawa's downtown and restore it to its former glory.
"It needs a lot of work. It needs love and care put into it," Laverick said Tuesday, surveying crumbling plaster and water damage. "But it's a great space and the timing is perfect for getting it back as an arts and cultural hub in the community."
He hopes to do about $3 million worth of repairs and renovations in time to reopen for live theatre, concerts and lectures for next summer.
If the City of Oshawa agrees, it will resolve a years-long controversy over what to do with the rundown 750-seat theatre that has been closed since the city bought it for $700,000 in 2001. It would also give Durham Region a performing arts centre – albeit on a small scale – which it currently lacks.
The Regent, built in 1919, is the same age as the Danforth Music Hall and has many similarities, said Laverick.
"Acoustically speaking, they don't make buildings like this any more." Since the rebirth of the Music Hall in May 2006, it has attracted large crowds to a variety of music, dance and theatrical productions.
Laverick, an entrepreneur in his mid-20s, envisions a similar future for the Regent.
"I think we'll see exactly the same thing that's happened on the Danforth," he said. "There are so many collateral benefits to bringing people downtown on a nightly basis. You'll see empty storefronts full again and restaurants expanding and flourishing."
That's music to councillor Louise Parkes' ears. She's been working on the revitalization of Oshawa's downtown core, and the Regent Theatre, for seven years. Panicked by council's plan to decide its fate next week – a developer had proposed to take over the building – Parkes "cold-called" Laverick last Friday after learning about his success in Toronto.
"I knew the only way to turn downtown and the arts and cultural district around was to have an after-5 entertainment venue for people to go to. And we needed someone who can run a performing arts venue."
She and Laverick immediately clicked. "He's the guy. He's the real deal."
Laverick agreed their connection was serendipitous.
"We both want exactly the same things," said Laverick, who unbeknownst to Parkes, had written to the city weeks ago but never got a reply.
He said he'd like to talk to the Oshawa Durham Symphony Orchestra, which doesn't have a permanent home, about moving in.
Ed Vanhaverbeke, chair of the symphony's board of directors, said they'd look at any possibility.
"We're not closing any doors."