Our History
The Yorkminstrels is north Toronto's premier musical community theatre company. Founded in 1957 by a few couples who wanted to perform, the group has grown from modest Gilbert and Sullivan operettas to offering two full-scale productions per year. We typically feature large casts (25-45 performers), full orchestras, professional lighting and set design, and outstanding costuming. Our talented production personnel help us get the most "bang for the buck", enabling us to present professional-calibre productions at reasonable cost to our audiences.
After having been at Earl Haig Secondary School’s Cringan Hall for nearly thirty years, we moved in the fall of 1995 to the wonderful stage at the Leah Posluns Theatre (LPT) at the Bathurst Jewish Community Centre. Many of LPT’s subscribers, who missed the live theatre presentations after the facility was closed, have discovered us and now regularly attend our productions.
Another arm of the group is The Yorkminstrels Show Choir, a costumed and choreographed mixed-voice ensemble formed in 1974. The choir performs all over Toronto and the GTA at seniors’ homes, hospitals, and for civic, private and corporate functions. Repertoire includes Broadway medleys, golden oldies, contemporary music and seasonal songs.
We have almost 150 members on our roster, including many who have been with The Yorkminstrels for over twenty-five years. There is a strong feeling of "family" within the group, encouraging people to stay involved. We are also a registered not-for-profit charitable organization, with a large number of supporting patrons and some corporate sponsors.
We welcome new members to work behind-the-scenes, to join the choir, or to audition for our main-stage productions. See our Contact Us page for more information, or watch our main page for audition notices.