Main Auditorium

• 631 seat capacity, the largest of any theatre in York Region
• State-of-the-art acoustics suitable for large scale musical events, opera, choral music, symphonic performances, children’s programming and intimate solo performers
• Fully accessible facility, wheelchair seating and infrared hearing equipment
• 35 mm film projector and digital HD projector
• The only theatre in York Region to have an 18 metre high Fly Tower
• Full Hydraulic Orchestra Pit

Other Centre Features

• Lobby Galleries to exhibit an array of visual art
• Banquet kitchen facilities
• Plaza courtyard perfect for outdoor exhibitions, productions, and presentations in the open air
• Restored heritage building houses the RHCPA’s administrative offices on the second floor with
• commercial retail space on the ground level

Plaza Suite

• Multi-purpose hall with flexible configuration for interactive presentations, theatre, meetings, and social events
• Corporate events
• Intimate setting for performance
• Multitude of customized lighting options and sound set-ups
• Capacity for 271 in reception configuration and 200 in theatre style seating

RHCPA History

In September of 2003, Richmond Hill Council approved the site of the new Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts at the corner of Yonge and Wright Sts, formerly the site of the old Town Hall. Conveniently located in the downtown core, the new Centre is intended to be a theatre for the community, embracing the diversity of Richmond Hill and providing a world class cultural facility. Designed by internationally renowned architect Jack Diamond, the $30 million dollar construction project is the largest ever undertaken by the Town of Richmond Hill. The result is a unique 43,000 square foot performance complex highlighted by a 631 seat main auditorium, a hydraulic orchestra pit and York Region’s only fly tower. Integrated into the Centre is the fully restored Richmond Hill High School (circa 1897) which will house the administrative offices and a commercial space and demonstrates the Town’s commitment to honouring the past and the future. The theme of community unity through artistic diversity encapsulates the mandate of the Centre and an ambitious season of professional programming and community groups have filled every available night. The Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts will be a home for the arts community, create a destination in the downtown core, and be a major venue to bring Canadian and International performing and visual arts to Richmond Hill and York Region.

Hotels, inns, blacksmiths and taverns became the community’s main source of income and Yonge Street provided a steady flow of customers. Richmond Hill’s progenitor, Abner Miles, opened a tavern at the corner of Major Mackenzie and Yonge Street that quickly became a favorite for road weary travelers and established Richmond Hill as a community in flight.

The arrival of the railway, and its subsequent placement west of Richmond Hill, made Yonge Street and its travel industry obsolete. Overnight, the fortune of the community, so tied to the steady flow of traffic, waned. The community languished until the appearance of William Lawrence and the advent of the commercial rose business. Overnight, it seemed, Roichmond Hill became known as the rose growing capital of Canada and once again industry served to make the community prosperous. The village, centred around Yonge Street, began to blossom and the population doubled in the early part of the 20th century. In 1919, partly due to the new industry, William Wright designs a coat of arms for the village borrowing part of coat of arms from the Duke of Richmond and incorporating his motto "En la Rose Je Fleurie", French for ‘Like the Rose, I Flourish’.

The advent of the Depression and the war years slowed the development of Richmond Hill but the subsequent boom in suburban development pushed her to new heights. By 1957, the village had expanded its area and was granted Town status with William Neal as its first Mayor. Yonge Street and the downtown core of Richmond Hill continued to be the heart of this rapidly growing community. The population had exceeded 8,000 people and the downtown was the centre for entertainment, education and government for the Town. In 1971, improvements to Yonge Street reflected the growth of the community. Once deemed the "Ontario's worst stretch of highway", two lanes were expanded to four relieving the traffic congestion in the area. GO Train service was extended to Richmond Hill in 1978, as the Provincial government recognized the need to service the residents of a surging population.

In 1984, the Town’s motto became “A Little North, A Little Nicer” demonstrating that the values of Abner Miles and the earliest settlers had not changed. Richmond Hill continues to be a community of industry and sophistication but has managed to maintain all the best qualities of suburban life.

Curtain Up!
RICHMOND HILL CENTRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
GRAND OPENING NIGHT

On February 28th, 2009 at 8pm, the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts ‘Raised the Curtain’ on the premiere performance venue in York Region with an exciting Grand Opening Night featuring Tony nominated performer, Louise Pitre. The February 28th event was a celebration unlike anything York Region had seen before, a gala affair that attracted luminaries and dignitaries to historic downtown Richmond Hill. Hosted by Mayor Dave Barrow and Council and presided over by Lt. Governor David C. Onley, the evening included community performances supported by a professional ensemble of Canadian talent, the remarkable Dancetheatre David Earle and the world premiere of the Richmond Hill Philharmonic Orchestra.