The Story of TMT Part I

Toronto Masque Theatre was founded in 2003, as a result of many serendipitous factors. TMT artistic director Larry Beckwith sat down with a number of his trusted friends in January, 2003 in the Upper Library at Massey College and outlined plans for a new performing arts company that would combine many of his passions and interests. These included theatre, dance, baroque music, contemporary music and the joy of performing with committed, dedicated, thoughtful artists. The response to these plans was very positive and an initial Board of Directors was struck. Larry took advantage of an invitation from the Guelph Spring Festival to direct a concert performance of Handel's Acis and Galatea which opened the GSF in April, 2003. With wonderful soloists - tenors Michael Colvin and Colin Ainsworth, soprano Teri Dunn and bass Alexander Dobson - a lovely small choir and a one-on-a-part orchestra, as well as Daniel Gariepy's La Belle Danse company, Larry was able to produce a "model" performance of what TMT might look like. The evening was a great success and the company was launched. The next step was to commission the first new piece for TMT from composer James Rolfe and novelist Andre Alexis.