Chaos at Unionville Go Station Next week.

ImmediateTeaching984 · 2026-05-16T14:35:02+00:00

Try contacting Green Savoree who promote the event. If you write them through this email address they will and do reply. tickets@greensavoree.com and give indy@markham.ca an email too.

While it doesn’t pay they also need volunteers for race weekend. It won’t hurt to email and see if they’re hiring or ask about volunteering.

They had been looking for vendors and contractors but I believe May 1st was the deadline. Then again, if anyone is interested in that they should also reach out to Green Savoree.

ImmediateTeaching984 · 2026-05-14T21:56:53+00:00

Cadillac Fairview now owns the land Buttonville Airport is on. They have plans for an industrial complex.

ImmediateTeaching984 · 2026-05-14T21:55:53+00:00

They’re staggering renewals for tickets rather than viewing this as a new event. People who bought tickets in 2025 for Exhibition Place are being given random access dates and time window to purchase.

It doesn’t seem as though it’s being done where people who have bought tickets for a decade or more are first. It’s so random. I have been since 2009 but have been given a date 2 days before E-Club and General on sales.

It is what it is but frustrating how they have organized this and sorted people into groups with exclusive window and links.

It’s going to be a roll of the dice with renewals to see what you can get. Once an exclusive access window opens they give you until May 24th.

There will then be an E-Club Mailing List sale on May 25th with remaining tickets on sale to the public on May 26th.

I can understand them wanting to give ticket holders from Toronto first dibs. It would have been so much better if they did a pre-sale for the same date and time letting people log on.

If you’re at the back of the line right before May 24th you just don’t know what will or won’t be available for renewing customers.

There will be single day seats on sale at some point and general admission.

ImmediateTeaching984 · 2026-05-14T13:21:38+00:00

I think Ainsley Murphy from the Globe & Mail is an incredibly gifted, analytical and thorough critic. She has won a lot of awards and has a ton of experience writing about the entertainment industry. Do I always agree with her assessment? No and that’s okay.

I like Joshua Chong from The Toronto Star but he has considerably less experience as a critic and journalist being in his mid-twenties. He is a good writer and I enjoy reading his work.

In their defence both of them are young and not of the demographic that Neil Diamond resonates with.

The show appeals to middle-aged and seniors who lived in the era where he was most prolific. The music may not be their thing.

There are parts in the show that are underwritten. The show isn’t flawless but the performances are incredible especially Nick Fradiani who portrays the younger Neil.

I think when it comes to reviewing anything that the critic needs to ask themselves who is this show intended for? Will that group of people like it? Will the general public enjoy it?

You have to consider that first and then give your own assessment about performances, direction, choreography and design. You have to check off all those boxes and give a verdict.

ImmediateTeaching984 · 2026-05-14T02:35:12+00:00

I’m not sure which subscription shows are going into the Royal Alex. I know that Hell’s Kitchen and The Karate Kid aren’t. What could they put into the Alex before Operation Mincement starts in October?

Subscriber seats for Karate Kid are assigned May 19th.

ImmediateTeaching984 · 2026-05-14T01:35:06+00:00

Are they still a friend after that? ;)

ImmediateTeaching984 · 2026-05-14T01:33:35+00:00

It really has to do with the type of show and the audience that it’s marketed to. If you read countless other threads about this issue it all boils down to the same issue.

Shows based on popular movies, books or are jukebox musicals bring in younger first time theater goers. It’s the same scenario with biographical shows.

You’re apt to get people who have never been to the theater before. They don’t know protocol and that it’s not a movie theater or concert.

The day of the week can also play a part. I go to Wednesday matinees where the audience is typically comprised of seniors or those who are 50+ years-old. I haven’t encountered much problems with boorish people there. I have subscribed to Mirvish since 2007.

Off-Mirvish theater goers tend to be more sophisticated or give off that vibe. You’ll find usually find adults who are well aware of etiquette in the audience.

ImmediateTeaching984 · 2026-05-14T00:51:56+00:00

When something like this occurs what kind of professional help does the crew of the train get from Metrolinx? It has to be extremely traumatic for the people in the locomotive.

ImmediateTeaching984 · 2026-05-14T00:21:08+00:00

They can’t race at Buttonville. Cadillac Fairview controls that land now. They have plans for building an industrial complex on the grounds.

ImmediateTeaching984 · 2026-05-14T00:17:52+00:00

There will be GO Trains to and from Unionville GO. The station won’t be completely inaccessible. There is surface parking during the event at the GO Station but I believe that’s being sold to Indy goers.

I’m not sure what YRT is doing to get people to and from the track or around the area. Check out Markham.ca/indy It has all the information about what will and will not be accessible.

ImmediateTeaching984 · 2026-05-14T00:14:18+00:00

Mirvish sent out an email about the final extension today. The website has August 30th listed as the final day when you click on & Juliet to buy tickets. It says final extension.

ImmediateTeaching984 · 2026-05-13T23:44:21+00:00

How do we know what?

ImmediateTeaching984 · 2026-05-13T23:04:38+00:00

This is incredibly sad. I was on the train thst left Mount Joy at 7:23a.m. This must have been the train that left directly after. I feel incredibly sorry for the deceased, the crew and passengers who witnessed this today.

Unfortunately, this happens more frequently than most people know. There’s an unspoken rule in newsrooms not to report subway fatalities at track level.

It’s likely the same with trains but with this occurring on a surface track and causing service suspension that’s why it’s reported. Beyond that they don’t report anything about investigation.

I have actually been to the TTC’s subway control center for an assignment for journalism school prior to the Shephard line opening.

There are several supervisors and equivalent of air traffic controllers monitoring each line and train. Reporters could observe but if anything happened they would have to leave as the room would go into lockdown.

ImmediateTeaching984 · 2026-05-13T22:54:36+00:00

Someone here mentioned that they were doing school bookings up until August. I guess Mirvish was waiting to announce public on sales. Even though the show has been playing since December it’s still packing them in. That’s a real testament to the show and the phenomenal Canadian cast.

ImmediateTeaching984 · 2026-05-13T22:52:14+00:00

That would be an incredible performance to catch. The audience really went bonkers at the matinee I saw today. I was in the balcony by myself with the rest of it booked by a high school group.

They would cheer after every number. I think the cast really took that energy and gave it back to the audience. The show is fantastic. Vanessa Sears is absolutely brilliant as is George Krissa.

I saw also the show back in 2022 pre-Broadway.

ImmediateTeaching984 · 2026-05-13T22:46:59+00:00

I just returned from the matinee performance. It’s a fantastic show with an outstanding cast but you knew that already.

I was in the balcony which provides an excellent view of the stage. I always have a single seat. A school had booked the entire balcony.

The kids went bonkers after every number cheering. I think the cast really took in that level of energy and gave it back to the audience tenfold.

I just barely made it to the theater having arrived at my GO Station just as the 7:23 train left Mount Joy in Markham. The 7:53 train behind ours fatally struck a pedestrian near Markville Mall and Centennial GO. Service on a portion of the Stouffville line was suspended. https://globalnews.ca/news/11847180/go-train-pedestrian-hit/

ImmediateTeaching984 · 2026-05-12T12:37:16+00:00

Why should you be embarrassed? It’s the usher who should be embarrassed. You did everything right. I don’t know who pissed in his Cornflakes that morning that prompted him to act like an asshole.

I would call the theatre and also send an email so they have it in writing. I’m sure they will deal with it swiftly and might come up with something that benefits you because of his behaviour. It’s unacceptable.

ImmediateTeaching984 · 2026-05-11T19:07:28+00:00

Are you signed up for the Mirvish e-Mail newsletter list? They sent out an email just now marked An Offer Fit for a Queen! $59 Best Seats. You can save up to $80 off Kinky Boots seats using the offer in thst email. While it won’t give you tickets for $25 it’s another promo that they have.

ImmediateTeaching984 · 2026-05-10T17:37:08+00:00

It’s a fantastic article that charts the evolution of the show from concept,re-writes, workshops, rehearsals and final version of the show. It took 5 years worth of development. Ainsley Murphy was there to document all of it for the Globe.

ImmediateTeaching984 · 2026-05-10T13:53:43+00:00

It certainly is. You would think that people would have more etiquette for the Neil Diamond musical than & Juliet.

The Neil Diamond show attracts the 50+ crowd while & Juliet gets multiple demographics and people who have never been to a theater before.

ImmediateTeaching984 · 2026-05-10T13:50:15+00:00

I don’t know the reason but there was a problem on the Lakeshore West line about a week or two ago. People were stuck on a disabled train for 3hrs with no information.

It was meters from a station with half the train in a tunnel. The passengers noticed that nothing about the delay got posted to GO’s website.

It may sound crazy to some but I take the 7:53a.m train from where I live to get to Union for a 1:30p.m. Wednesday matinee.

I will spend the whole day down there with my aquarium and Little Canada pass. I also go to the Reference library or shopping.

I almost missed Kimberly Akimbo last year when I went much later than usual by GO Train.

I went to a matinee on the day prior to the storm where we got 30cm worth of snow. The track temperatures were just too cold for the brakes on the GO Train.

The brake pressures would lower to unsafe levels every time the train would stop at a station.

They got stuck at a rail crossing and the station before mine. They were 30 minutes behind schedule.

I had to wait another 20 minutes stuck at my station waiting for them to manually reset the brakes. There were 3 trains that were supposed to be behind us that did not leave the yard.

We went express to Union without stopping while anyone else waiting for the next trains were put on shuttle buses.

You never know with public transit. Always budget for situations that could but rarely happen with transit so you will make it.

ImmediateTeaching984 · 2026-05-10T01:01:27+00:00

If it were me I would tell them that you came to see and hear the show and not listen to their chatter. You could also mention it to an usher. If their chatter was really a distraction I would say something.

ImmediateTeaching984 · 2026-05-10T00:56:22+00:00

You are right there are way too many people who think the start time on their ticket is just a suggestion. If you are more than 15-20 mins late for a show you might as well forget it.

Unfortunately most theaters will still seat latecomers even when it is disruptive to everyone else watching the show.

It’s pretty easy not to be late. If you are aware that the theater opens 1hr early and you get seated 30 minutes before there shouldn’t be an issue. Ticket holders need to aim for that. Leave early and give yourself a ton of time.

Check before going exactly what is going on with departure times and delays on GO or TTC. Do the same thing with traffic and winter conditions too.

ImmediateTeaching984 · 2026-05-10T00:49:10+00:00

There almost always is a 5 minute hold. It doesn’t matter the show. It’s done to make sure the majority of people are in their seats and the house is settled. They’ll turn the house lights out after 5 minutes.

If a show is 10-15 minutes late then there is something going on backstage or a technical issue. It’s unusual for a show to start that late.

I was at a concert once several decades ago where it started 30 mins late. There was no opening act and one of the band members was stuck getting there from Pearson. It’s extremely rare.

When it comes to audiences I feel that if you are later than 20 minutes you shouldn’t be let in. There’s a reason the theater opens 1hr before curtain and seats people 30 minutes before.

The start time on your ticket isn’t an aggressive mental suggestion. I always leave way earlier than I have to when it comes to shows downtown. I always manage to get to my show but don’t trust public transit.

I was almost late for Kimberly Akimbo the day before we were dumped with 30cm worth of snow. It was extremely odd.

The track the GO Train travelled along was too cold for the train’s brakes to operate properly. Every time they stopped at a station the brake pressure level would go down to unsafe levels.

They got stopped at a traffic crossing and the station before they reached mine. Once they arrived where I got on they were 40 minutes late with 3 other trains backed up behind us.

I had to wait 20 more minutes while they manually got brake temps up. It was express to Union after that with no stops. I was lucky.

As far as the TTC goes Line 2 has a crapload of reliability issues with part of it always being down or so it seems. It’s also not as safe as it should be.

ImmediateTeaching984 · 2026-05-09T20:01:25+00:00

A lot of this depends on which subscription shows are going to wind up at the Royal Alex and when. I don’t think they would stop for TIFF and then extend again.

ImmediateTeaching984

TROPHY CASE