“What’s really exciting? The Toronto arts community isn’t just recovering -it’s thriving.”

TO Live is one of Canada’s largest multi-arts organizations.  The company programs and operates three iconic civic institutions in Toronto: Meridian Hall, St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts and Meridian Arts Centre.

Appointed in 2017, Clyde has overseen the merger of all aspects of the three venues—including seven theatres and an art gallery—into one entity, TO Live. He established a purpose-driven mission for the organization focused on inclusion, diversity, equity, and access. He has also spearheaded a new strategic plan to build creative community hubs through TO Live’s venues in downtown and uptown Toronto.

Clyde led a historic naming rights partnership with Meridian, Ontario’s largest credit union, which included a $30.75 million investment over 15 years to TO Live—one of the largest agreements of its kind in Canada’s arts and culture sector.

An internationally accomplished producer, Clyde’s previous experience includes serving as Senior Producer at the Park Avenue Armoury in New York. He was the first Producer and General Manager of the Luminato Festival in Toronto. He served as Executive Producer, overseeing all productions, until he left the organization to join TO Live. Clyde also founded a mobile tech startup and served as an Associate Creative Director for eLUXURY.com, an e-commerce platform launched and owned by LVMH (Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton), the largest luxury website at the time.

Clyde’s optimistic outlook on the performing arts and theatre industry provides reassurance to passionate artists and audiences. Since 2020, he says the industry isn’t just recovering from pandemic-related changes – it’s thriving.

“We’re seeing attendance and ticket sales that have actually surpassed 2019 levels. Audiences are showing no hesitation about coming back. People are genuinely eager to be in theatres again to share that live experience.”

For Clyde, the experience of being together becomes even more meaningful when people come together as a community. While much of our work and daily life has shifted into digital and isolated spaces—which says something more profound about our society—gathering in community to celebrate the arts takes on even greater significance.

He predicts the performing arts industry will continue to grow and diversify through the creation of bold, innovative work that captures the energy and complexity of Toronto. Audiences are responding positively to that challenge.

Our online conversation then shifted to an exciting production coming to Toronto for the Christmas holiday season. Clyde is proud to be part of the process of bringing the show to Toronto.

From December 16, 2025, to January 4, 2026, at Toronto’s Front Street Meridian Hall, TO Live, ADEM Company Inc., and the Canada China Cultural Development Association present the North American premiere of Wing Chun Dance Drama. This groundbreaking show sparked a phenomenon in China.

TO Live’s mandate is to showcase Toronto’s diverse cultures; living in the world’s most multicultural city offers its residents a remarkable opportunity to connect with stories and artists from across the globe.

Wing Chun Dance Drama originated from a dialogue with the local Chinese community and a longer journey that included trips to China to see different performances. This show stood out to those involved, including the producers who brought Wing Chun to life.

“We hope — and believe — [Wing Chun] will resonate not just with the Chinese community, but with the broader Toronto audience as well.”

The show is 100% family-friendly. It’s a values-based story which speaks about how to live a meaningful life. Clyde believes the production is a fantastic introduction for children to this particular form and to martial arts in general.

Will audiences be able to understand what is transpiring while watching the show at Meridian Hall?

“You can go in cold and still have a fantastic experience. When I saw the show in China, I understood it completely, even though I speak neither Mandarin nor Cantonese. Every single moment made sense.”

For the Toronto performances, English surtitles will be available at Meridian Hall as audiences embark on a memorable journey. Clyde assures that, above all, audiences will be in awe of the exceptional quality of the dance and martial arts on stage, which is truly spectacular.

As our email conversation concluded, Clyde expressed strong opinions about the influence and significance of performing artists and their role in Toronto. He recognizes that an artist’s life hasn’t changed much, as it remains challenging. He writes:

“If individuals feel called to [the profession], if it’s really their passion, they should absolutely go for it. What we’re trying to do is make that difficult journey a little bit easier. We have programs in place here at TO Live that support emerging artists. For example, our explorations program provides research and development funding – not project-based, like most Arts Council grants, but truly for artists to sit, think, and explore their ideas. The enthusiasm we’ve seen for this is incredible, and that time to reflect is so important.”

How does Clyde feel about sourcing and approving new works brought to Toronto?

He loves the question and is eager to share what’s going on.

“[At TO Live], we’ve just gone through a bit of an overhaul in our programming department. We’ve spread the decision-making process across a fantastic group of people who truly represent Toronto’s diversity. Their role is to create multiple pathways for artists and creators to bring their work forward, ensuring each project is considered thoughtfully by an experienced, professional team. We review everything, from the season lineup to available dates and funding, to how we can best support each presentation.”

TO Live also focuses on co-commissioning and presenting new works across its venues to help artists reach wider audiences and maximize the impact of their work.

Wagner also speaks of the MAKING SPACE program, which builds on those grants and projects. Making Space provides artists with the opportunity to use TO Live Spaces for creative development, with costs underwritten. That’s especially important for emerging artists to have that private, dedicated, and invaluable time to work on a project.

Look for my review of Wing Chun Dance Drama to follow after the opening.

To learn more about the upcoming Wing Chun Dance Drama, please visit: https://www.wingchundancedrama.com/

To learn more about TO Live, visit: www.tolive.com