24 Facts About David Mirvish

David Mirvish owns and operates Toronto-based theatrical production company Mirvish Productions, which he founded with his father in 1986.

David Mirvish has produced and presented several productions on Broadway and in London's West End.

David Mirvish owned an independent bookstore specializing in art and design between 1974 and 2009.

David Mirvish is the only child of Anne Lazar Macklin, an artist, and "Honest" Ed David Mirvish, who was a Toronto businessman and owner of the discount department store, Honest Ed's.

David Mirvish has contributed to, and partnered with, many non-profit organizations, charities and other philanthropic organizations, including the Toronto Public Library, the Toronto Arts Foundation, and Kids Up Front.

In 1986, David Mirvish co-founded David Mirvish Productions with his father, with the purpose of producing and presenting large-scale original works at the Royal Alexandra Theatre, and, in 1993, the newly built Princess of Wales Theatre.

David Mirvish experienced early success with Canadian productions, such as Les Miserables, Miss Saigon, Crazy for You, and Beauty and the Beast.

In 1999, David Mirvish announced they would be launching a Canadian sit-down production of The Lion King, which premiered at the Princess of Wales Theatre in March 2000.

In 2008, David Mirvish finalized a deal to acquire both the Canon Theatre and the Panasonic Theatre.

The sale was challenged by Aubrey Dan, but David Mirvish ultimately prevailed, giving him two Yonge Street theatres.

In 2018, David Mirvish mounted a sit-down production of the Canadian musical Come from Away at the Royal Alexandra Theatre.

In November 2023, David Mirvish announced that The Lion King would return to Toronto for an open-ended run at the Princess of Wales Theatre.

David Mirvish began his career as an art collector in 1963, when he was 19 years old.

Since the closure of the art gallery in 1978, David Mirvish continues to buy and sell Canadian and international artwork as a private collector.

In 1963, at the age of 19, David Mirvish opened an art gallery that specialized in American abstract painters of the 1960s and 1970s known as the Color Field school.

The David Mirvish Gallery was one of the first businesses to open in the new Markham Street community, which later became known as Mirvish Village.

In 1999, David Mirvish worked with Toronto real-estate developer Harry Stinson to purchase the building at 1 King Street West in downtown Toronto, and transform it into a mixed-use development featuring luxury condominiums, hotel suites, and commercial office space.

The luxury condos opened in 2006 later that year, David Mirvish dissolved the partnership with Stinson.

David Mirvish accused Stinson of owing him $11.8 million that was overdue.

In September 2012, David Mirvish unveiled plans to demolish the Princess of Wales Theatre, where it would be replaced as part of a development project designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry.

Between 2002 and 2005, David Mirvish was a member of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Ontario Museum and the National Gallery of Canada.

In February 2012, David Mirvish was appointed the 8th Chancellor of the University of Guelph and was installed as Chancellor at the June 2012 convocation ceremonies.

However, in September 2016, David Mirvish resigned as Chancellor citing increased personal and work responsibilities.

David Mirvish presents several shows specifically for Toronto that play for either a limited engagement or an extended run, of which David Mirvish was a producer or co-producer on:.