The Opera House

HISTORY

The Opera House is located at 735 Queen Street East in Riverside, Toronto. Opening in 1909, the building was originally known as the La Plaza Theatre, an Edwardian vaudeville stage. The venue seated nearly 900 people and was the main entertainment venue in the neighbourhood. La Plaza started off featuring theatres but progressed throughout the years and eventually functioned as a cinema. When multiplexes emerged, it made single screen venues no longer viable as cinemas, and the space was transformed into a performing arts venue.

In 1989 the building was sold and transformed once again, into what is now known as the legendary Opera House. With such gorgeous classic features, the Opera House has held on to all the charm of its original 1900’s vaudeville theatre architecture. The stage is surrounded by the original and elegant 35-foot proscenium arch, which is now lit up for every event to enhance its beauty. The back of the balcony features a couple of the old projectors as well.

THE OPERA HOUSE TODAY…

100 years later, the original building is standing strong and The Opera House has held on to all the allure of its original architecture for the past 30 years while adapting to the modern world.

The venue’s main floor includes the main lobby, 3 bars, coat check, and gorgeous 900 sq. ft. stage with sound and lighting. The balcony is a more relaxed environment with 1 bar and overlooks the main floor and stage with immaculate views. The Opera House has tiered levels on both the main floor and balcony, which allows for great sight lines throughout the venue. Events at The Opera House are typically standing room general admission; however, furniture can be rented to accommodate a seated event.

The Opera House operates as a full-service licensed venue with in-house sound and lighting production, video, audio, and lighting technicians, security, coat check and bar staff. The entertainment venue is 12,000 sq. ft. and hosts various types of events, such as concerts, weddings, comedy shows, theatre performances, video shoots and more.

The Opera House is a unique historical landmark and in its 30 years the venue has hosted an impressive list of talent from all over the world. Legends such as Metallica, Nirvana, Eminem, Foo Fighters, The Black Eyed Peas, Green Day, Halsey, The Killers, Maroon 5, Rick Astley, and Travis Scott, are just a few that have graced its stage.

FAQ

General details on the services provided are outlined below.

Where is the venue located?
The Opera House is located at 735 Queen Street East, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The closest main intersection is Queen Street East and Broadview Avenue.

How do I purchase tickets for an event?
All tickets purchased in advance are done online ONLY. There is no box office at the venue during the day or in advance of the show. If the show does not sell out, tickets may be purchased in person on the day of the show starting at the time of the doors. Tickets are subject to availability. We do not hold or reserve tickets, and we cannot guarantee there will be tickets left at the time of your arrival. Purchasing tickets online is your safest bet. Will call is also only available at the time doors open.

We accept printed tickets with barcodes, as well as tickets on mobile devices. Mobile tickets must be the official pdf, and not a screenshot of a ticket and/or barcode.

A question we often get is “why does my GA ticket have a seat number on it?”.
The ticketing companies often have seat numbers for auditing purposes. The Opera House is generally a standing venue, with very few exceptions depending on the event.

Is alcohol served at the venue?
The Opera House has four bars. Three on the main floor, and one in the balcony. Each bar has a selection of beer, wine, mixed drinks, cider, coolers, pop, juice, energy drinks, and more. Cash, debit and credit are accepted at all bars. Alcohol is not permitted outside of the venue.

Is smoking permitted in the venue?
The Opera House is a non-smoking establishment. There is zero tolerance for smoking or vaping of any kind inside the venue. You will be immediately escorted out of the building and not allowed re-entry. There will be no refund on your ticket. Cannabis consumption and possession within The Opera House will follow the legal guidelines of the Canadian Federal Government. Patrons can carry up to the legal amount and can bring the legal amount inside the venue but can only smoke outdoors.

Does the venue have seating?
The Opera House is generally a standing venue. We have a tiered main floor and a tiered balcony that offers limited seating. On occasion, promoters will offer seated events. If this is the case, it will be advertised as a seated show. Please see below for information regarding accessible seating. Is there accessible seating at the venue? The Opera House is an accessible venue. We have an accessible restroom on the main floor, as well as a portable ramp, and 12 reserved accessible seats for every show. If you require assistance, please make sure you arrive at the venue 10-15 minutes before door time and ask security or a staff member at the front doors for assistance.

Is the venue close to transit?
The Opera House is within walking distance of many TTC routes including the 501, 503, 504B, 508, 301 and 304. The closest subway stations are Broadview Station and Queen Station. Is parking available at the venue? The nearest public parking is Carpark 45 (Green P), at 111 Broadview Ave, Toronto, ON. This is just a short 1 minute walk from the venue. Are there age restrictions for the venue? If a show is listed as “All Ages and 19+”, ID is only required for purchasing and drinking alcohol. If a show is listed as “19+”, ID is required for entry, purchasing, and drinking alcohol. Please see below for identification requirements.

Do you need to show identification before entering the venue?

If you are asked to provide identification (ID), you will be required to show an official government issued ID, with name, photo and birthdate. An acceptable ID includes a valid, non-expired, government-issued photo ID. See below for a list of acceptable forms of photo identification.

Driver´s Licence with a photo of the person to whom the licence is issued
A Passport
Citizenship Card with a photo of the person to whom the card is issued
Armed Forces Identification Card
A photo card issued by the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO), entitled Bring Your ID (BYID)
A Secure Indian Status Card issued by the Government of Canada
A Permanent Resident Card issued by the Government of Canada
A photo card issued under the Photo Card Act, 2008
A photo Health Card
Photocopies or digital images of ID are not acceptable. If we have any concerns about your ID, we will request a secondary piece."

Does the venue have coat check?

The Opera House has coat check and bag check available year round. No backpacks are allowed in the venue and must be put in coat check at the beginning of the night. If you do not want to use coat check, please refrain from bringing a backpack. Small purses are permitted in the venue. Coat check is cash only, but we do have two ATMs in the venue.

Who do I contact for lost items?

Please contact us at 416-466-0313 or email athena@theoperahousetoronto.com and we will do our best to find it!

What is the photo/video policy at the venue?

Recording policies are at the promoter or artists discretion and varies based on the event. There is no professional photography or video allowed, unless approved by individual artist management in advance.

What are the payment options at the venue?

All of the bars in The Opera House accept cash, debit, and credit, and can administer cashback. The venue also has two ATMs. Service charges may apply.

What items are prohibited at the venue?

We do not allow outside food and drinks, illegal drugs, drug paraphernalia, spray paint, permanent markers, laser pointers, weapons of any kind, and hand sanitizer. Security has the final say on prohibited items and if they believe the item is questionable it can be confiscated or held at the security room for pick up at the end of the event. Please use good judgement!

Are outside food and drinks allowed in the venue?

We do not allow any outside food or drinks inside the venue. Reusable water bottles are permitted as long as they are empty upon entry. The Opera House has an attached restaurant called The Opera House Grill & Patio. The grill offers limited indoor seating. During the spring and summer season, we offer a fully licensed patio that can accommodate 60 patrons. During events, food can ordered in takeout containers and can be taken inside the venue. Hours are subject to change seasonally.

Am I allowed to bring my prescription medication into the venue?

Physician-prescribed medication that is not expired and is a necessary dosage for the time span is permitted inside the venue. The label on the bottle must include your name (matching your photo ID), the name of the medication, the directions to use, and the date the prescription was filled. If questionable, medication will be held with security and will be available for pick up at the end of the event.

THE OPERA HOUSE TOP BANDS FROM 1989 – 2020

A$AP ROCKY

AFI

ALEXISONFIRE

ALICE IN CHAINS

ANDY C

BARENAKED LADIES

BRANTLEY GILBERT

BEDOUIN SOUNDCLASH

BILLY TALENT

BJORK

BLACK EYED PEAS

BLACK KEYS

BLACK LABEL SOCIETY

BLINK 182

CHEAP TRICK

CHILDISH GAMBINO

CYNDI LAUPER

CLASSIFIED

EMINEM

FOO FIGHTERS

GARY NUMAN

GOO GOO DOLLS

GREEN DAY

GWAR

HALSEY

H.E.R.

IMAGINE DRAGONS

JORJA SMITH

KARDINAL OFFISHALL

KILLERS

KINGS OF LEON

K-OS

LADY ANTEBELLUM

LIL UZI VERT

MAC DEMARCO

MARILYN MANSON

MAROON 5

METALLICA

METRIC

MIA

MODEST MOUSE

NIRVANA

PHILLIP PHILLIPS

RADIOHEAD

RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE

RICK ASTLEY

ROBBIE WILLIAMS

SEAN LENNON

SYSTEM OF A DOWN

TOKYO POLICE CLUB

TRAGICALLY HIP

TRAVIS SCOTT

TYLER THE CREATOR

WEEZER

WU TANG CLAN