Princess of Wales Theatre, Toronto

The Princess of Wales Theatre in Toronto is a lively theater with a meaningful name. It honors Diana, Princess of Wales, and is connected to the nearby Royal Alexandra Theatre. The name also brings to mind Toronto's first-class Princess Theatre, which was located three blocks to the east until 1931.

Originally constructed by Ed and David Mirvish, the theater was designed as a state-of-the-art venue capable of hosting large-scale musicals for extended periods. Mirvish Productions, a family-owned enterprise, also owns other prominent theaters in Toronto, including the Royal Alexandra (formerly the Canon) and Panasonic theaters.

David Mirvish commissioned Frank Stella, a renowned American abstract expressionist painter, and sculptor, to create expansive murals for the Princess of Wales Theatre. These impressive artworks cover 10,000 square feet, including the auditorium ceiling dome, proscenium arch, lounges, lobbies, and the exterior back wall. This extensive mural installation is considered one of the largest of its kind. Stella's artistic influence is also seen in the decorative fronts of boxes and balconies, as well as the embellished end-caps of each seating row.

The theater has three levels—orchestra, dress circle, and balcony—all accessible by elevators. It follows the layout of a 19th-century English proscenium theater, with wheelchair accessibility to all levels, which is rare among older Toronto theaters. The Princess of Wales Theatre blends traditional and contemporary design. According to the Toronto Star, it is akin to a "glittering glass jewelry case, a sparkling glimpse into a spectacle of total design."