What to know
- Toronto-created Ones – The Beatles #1 Hits is celebrating its 10th anniversary with an eight-show run at Toronto’s Princess of Wales Theatre.
- The production features 30 Beatles No. 1 hits performed by 22 musicians, alongside archival photos and video chronicling the band’s rise from 1964 to 1970.
- The show is now co-produced by Mirvish Productions, marking a major milestone for the independently created Canadian production after more than 100 performances across North America.
- Creator Frank Zirone hopes the Mirvish run will open the door to future engagements, including additional Canadian dates and a possible European tour.
Celebrating its 10th year, Canadian-created Ones – The Beatles #1 Hits returns for an eight-show engagement co-presented by Mirvish Productions at Toronto’s Princess of Wales Theatre from July 28 to Aug. 2 — a major endorsement from Canada’s largest theatre producer and presenter.
Evening performances are at 7:30 p.m.; matinees are Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets range from $49 to $99.
Written and produced by Toronto musician Frank Zirone, the “note perfect” production tells the story of The Beatles’ arrival in America in 1964 through their breakup in 1970.
“The number one singles are in effect a chronology,” Zirone tells Now, the evening before show kick-off. “I thought what a perfect way to tell that piece of history between 1964 and 1970 because I have all these highlights as No. 1 hits as a focus of my story, and so they become a thread.
“I try and make the show as Canada-centric as I can. I’m Canadian. I grew up with The Beatles in Toronto. There are two songs that are specifically Canadian No. 1s [‘All My Loving’ and ‘Nowhere Man’]. The remainder tend to be No. 1 hits in the U.S. and the U.K.”
Featuring 22 musicians and vocalists, Ones – The Beatles #1 Hits includes 30 songs accompanied by a multimedia presentation of archival photos and video. “A cast of top musicians have paid attention to every detail, including 28 guitars and period correct amplifiers and drums that were used on the original Beatles recordings,” the description on the Mirvish website reads.” The narration is by Toronto radio personality Al Joynes.
For Zirone, the show is the crowning achievement of a career already filled with significant milestones. He also performs in the production.
Early in his career, he fronted the Juno-nominated rock band Zero-One, which was managed by Michael Cohl and Bill Ballard of Concert Productions International (CPI) and released one album on Anthem Records. His next band, Hanover Fist, was endorsed by Eddie Van Halen and released an album on MCA Records. He later toured with various acts, including The Monkees, Triumph and Randy Travis.
After writing Ones – The Beatles #1 Hits, Zirone premiered it at Oshawa’s Regent Theatre on Oct. 22, 2016. Since then, it has been performed more than 100 times across Canada, as well as in Maryland, New Jersey, California and numerous cities throughout Florida.
“Getting the original rights to perform the music is not a difficult thing,” Zirone says. “All you have to do is pay 3% of your gross income from the shows to [performing rights organization] SOCAN, and they deliver that money directly to the writers. My company pays a significant amount of money each year to obtain the licenses for pictures, film work and the occasional voice used in the show.”
In 2024, Zirone says they invited Mirvish executives, including David Mirvish, to see their show at Roy Thomson Hall on Oct. 25.. It was their second time at the renowned venue. “It was the third invite I had sent them,” he says. “They didn’t show up to the first or the second, but on the third invite they came, saw the show and thought it would be great for their audiences.”.
“They” refers to John Karastamatis, director of communications and programming for Mirvish Productions, who Zirone says reported to David Mirvsh, and they set up a meeting for him with Mark Lavaway, director, labour relations & business development.
The show was originally scheduled for the 700-seat CAA Mirvish Theatre but was upgraded to the 2,000-seat Princess of Wales Theatre.
Zirone says when Mirvish rescheduled Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles to perform at CAA, he was offered these eight middle of summer dates instead at the more prestigious venue in the theatre district. It’s a tough time to get people out, especially with the August long weekend, but sales are already approaching 80%, Zirone reports.
“Mirvish and I are partners,” he says. “I’m currently doing this run at Mirvish as a co-production.”
He also hopes to secure more eight-show runs and bring the show to Europe “We have promoters who are interested and I’m really looking forward to that possibility.”
