Parlando: The COC Blog

are being constructed in the COC's Prop Shop, the larger set pieces are the domain of the Scene Shop.

UPDATE: Commenter Bruce McMullan below, former technical director at the COC, gives a corrected history of the building: 

"Just to correct your history about the former use of the Melita Street shop. The COC initially rented and ultimately purchased this facility in 1983 from a Mr Weinstein (not the NY producer). Mr. Weinstein was the "melon king of Toronto" and used the building for storage of all sorts of melons from around North America and then sold/distributed said melons to various chain stores in the GTA. (Much like the food warehouse on the Queensway.) At that point it had four truck bays for all the in and out movement. We closed off two of those bays in 1983 and the next year tore out the refrigerated rooms to open up the space. Overhead there is a 15 ton crane which still worked when we bought the place and it was helpful in transferring lumber etc. directly from trucks at the Northern loading doors to where it was needed in the shop. In 1987 we used the remaining funds raised to renovate 227 Front St to add a high bay in the centre of the shop to erect and test tall pieces of scenery. Unfortunately the crane was taken out of service as it had exposed electrical wires at 600 volts. (Think trolley cars) It was a very wise decision (on the part of John Leberg) to locate this building and convince the Board to buy it. One would have a hard time locating as suitable a structure in downtown anymore at the price we paid 27 years ago!"

The Scene Shop is where the sets and large pieces of stage furniture are built and where the scrims and backdrops are painted.