Show One Productions is a full-service production company presenting concerts with high-profile classical musicians, opera stars, and orchestras, as well as great dance and theatre companies. Formed in 2004 by Svetlana Dvoretskaia, Show One continues its brand of excellence, presenting in Canada’s most prestigious concert halls. The secret to Show One Productions’ success is its uniqueness among Canadian presenters because of its successful blend of North American entrepreneurship and a strong European cultural sensibility. It thrives as well on a firm knowledge and appreciation of a wide range of musical genres. Not only is Show One Productions busy with concerts in major Canadian cities but it does outreach to the ethnic communities and welcomes many new immigrant audiences to its concerts.
Show One roster so far includes some of the following projects:
CLASSICAL MUSIC
Orchestras and Conductors:
Opera in concert:
Pianists:
Chamber Music:
DANCE
SPECIAL ATTRACTIONS
“We’ve got a new cultural icon in the making, and Canadian audiences are already lining up at the box office.” – Lifestyles Magazine, 2004
Toronto’s Show One Productions was founded in 2004 by the enterprising Russian born impresario Svetlana Dvoretsky.
Initially focused on classical music and special projects, the company has since expanded greatly and is now a leading commercial presenter of international artists including musicians, and theatre and dance companies from around the world.
Svetlana’s own training as a classical pianist and her exposure at a young age to a wide range of musicians and other artists inspired her to celebrate them in her chosen calling.
She paid her dues upon arriving in Canada in 1998. Positions in the arts were hard to come by, so she volunteered at concerts and worked at a clothing store, with long hours and duties that were neither fulfilling nor relevant. She tried business development for two large human resource companies, but a “normal 9 to 5 job” wasn’t for her, either. “I have known what I wanted to do since I was 15,” said Dvoretsky in one media interview, “and that path has been calling me ever since I immigrated to Canada.”
Ms. Dvoretsky quit all her jobs, determined to forge ahead with her dreams. With very little money, but no shortage of spunk, she organized her first Toronto concert in 2004. The event, Vladimir Spivakov and the Moscow Virtuosi, was a huge success, and Show One Productions was born.
Fifteen years later, Show One Productions is proudly collaborating with extraordinary artists from around the world. The company is especially proud of its presentations of Mikhail Baryshnikov, John Malkovich, Valery Gergiev and the Mariinsky Orchestra, Vladimir Spivakov and the Moscow Virtuosi, Eifman Ballet, the Vakhtangov Theatre, and opera stars sopranos Sondra Radvanovsky and Hibla Gerzmava, and the late baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky. Trio Magnifico – the historic union at The Four Seasons Opera House of soprano Anna Netrebko and tenor Yusif Eyvazov in their Toronto debuts, with Hvorostovsky in his last Toronto appearance – remains an exceptional musical memory.
Show One produces around 50 performing arts events annually and attracts over 50,000 patrons, mostly in Toronto but also in Montreal, Vancouver and other locales.
Giving back is an important part of Svetlana’s philosophy. Show One constantly participates in charity events, supporting causes close to her heart, and extending invitations to unprivileged families. She served on the Board of Directors of Toronto’s Ashkenaz Festival from 2006 to 2009.
Svetlana is a proud recipient of the Order of York Centre Award given by the Government of Canada to “individuals that have improved the lives of others, and have acted as public leaders.”
The daughter of Dr. Michael Dvoretsky and the Russian pianist/St. Petersburg Conservatory faculty member Annetta Maisel, Svetlana was born and raised in St. Petersburg. She is a music school graduate and holds a masters degree in Business and Theatre Management from the Academy of Culture in that city. She has resided in Toronto since her arrival in Canada.
Svetlana is passionate about gourmet cooking and hosting friends at her house. She recently took up tennis, but while her new sport plays a big part in her life, nothing can beat travelling and discovering new worlds – and bringing some of the finest performing artists from these back to Toronto audiences.
Born and raised in the heart of Moscow, Natasha early on developed an inextinguishable passion for the performing arts, theatre, and museums. She is an operations manager and special projects coordinator with 30 years of experience in interpreting, public relations, logistics, sales, and related activities.
After completing her master’s degree in philosophy from the Moscow State University, she worked with some of the most influential enterprises in the high-tech industry – among them Microsoft, Dell, and IBM – in the fields of interpreting and public relations. After moving to Canada in 1999, Natasha branched out into more senior roles in logistics and sales, and later into operations management for such high profile North American manufacturing companies as Crane Payment Innovations, SlabbKiosks, and Access Machinery.
The end of this century’s first decade saw Natasha move to combine her career aspirations with her passion for the arts. One of her proudest achievements was the instrumental role she played, in 2018, to help preserve a piece of Canadian art heritage. She brought the media’s attention to the potential sale outside the country of a treasured painting – La Tour Eiffel by Marc Chagall. She began a nationwide petition that successfully overturned the National Gallery of Canada’s decision to sell the painting.
In 2019, Natasha joined the Show One Productions team, where she has proved an invaluable member. She has been closely involved with the Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit, most notably as editor-in-chief of the stunning commemorative art book, which contains enlightening commentary and high-quality photographs. She has also generated and overseen many special concepts and projects.
Over the course of her career, Natasha has gained a remarkable track record as an integral multifunctional operative, acting as a liaison between a company’s executive team, its various departments, and its clientele. She believes mindfulness and optimism are the keys to success, and lives by those attributes in all areas of her life, at work and at home.
Andrei has brought his background in journalism and TV production to the arts world, where his career has since taken off.
He got his start by providing technical support to various community music events and festivals, while at the same time working as a news anchor.
He went on to manage projects in key venues both in Canada and the USA, working with many theatrical and music productions and tours across North America.
Andrei became involved with Show One Productions in its early days, creating video content for the company’s events, commercials and radio voiceovers. Later, he was asked to provide production support, and proved so skilled and knowledgeable that he has now been named the permanent Production Manager and Technical Director for Show One.
Despite a busy travelling schedule, Andrei loves being home in Toronto, to help grow Canada’s arts scene. In addition to the diversity of acclaimed projects he handles for Show One, he finds time to assist in various production management roles with the other Canadian theatre companies. Among these was his work with Musical Stage Company’s Dora Award-winning musical, Next To Normal.
When he manages to take a break, Andrei is an avid canoeist and a huge tennis fan.
Michael is a freelance arts writer in Toronto and founding editor of Lighthouse Immersive’s smART Magazine. Starting as a copywriter for Show One Production he partnered with Lighthouse Immersive to create the digital magazine which presents co-productions by Starvox Entertainment and Show One Productions alongside exciting interviews and features with artists in the performing arts.
Michael is also the creator and chief editor of briband.com, which is a digital platform that presents and celebrates conversations and performances in ballet, classical music, opera, as well as literature. He’s the author of The52, which is a weekly music journal reviewing orchestral recordings on vinyl. He’s also the host of The Blue Riband Podcast.
Elsewhere, he is a performing arts critic at large, and a regular contributor to Opera Canada, The Dance Current, Schmopera, Ludwig van Toronto and more. Recently, he launched the REMOTE podcast series for Ludwig van Toronto, featuring candid interviews with classical artists and arts administrators in Canada and beyond.
In his spare time, Michael is working towards a degree as a Health & Disease Specialist in the Human Biology department at the University of Toronto. His passions include listening to music, running, and watching basketball.
Facebook: Michael Zarathus-Cook
IG: @blue_riband.
Alexey is a marketer with over a decade of experience administering brands and products in international corporations. He has worked with a variety of business situations, from local advertising agencies to brands in worldwide markets. Among companies that have benefited from Alexey’s services are Visa, PepsiCo, Mars, Unilever and Western Canada Lottery Corporation.
Despite his success in the field, Alexey has chosen to return to both his need for creative outlets and a longtime interest in event production.
Alexey is one of those rare breeds who can separate their minds into both the creative and the analytical – a skill that makes him fit in perfectly with the Show One team.
His creative side is enhanced by his love of music, and affinity for performances, events, and a variety of other artistic experiences.
His analytical abilities allow for the development of strategies and implementation tactics that help a brand to grow and succeed in the market.
Humour is a vital part of Alexey’s nature, so you’re sure to have a good time when talking with him!
Bob Ramsay is an author, writer, marketer, and the founder of the speaker series, RamsayTalks, which brings some of the world’s brightest minds to Toronto. Many years ago, he co-founded Canada’s first arts promotion company, Stephenson Ramsay O’Donnell (SRO). He has also served as Chair of the Board of the Toronto International Festival of Authors, and Chair of the Fund-Raising Committee of TIFF, the Toronto International Film Festival.
Bob Ramsay has been part of ShowOne Productions’ team for over a decade as a consultant on sponsorship, marketing, and communications.
Beginning his journey in the performing arts as a stage technician, stage manager and tour manager, Mark spent the bulk of the past 5 decades running an independent producing and promoting company in Toronto and later serving as Vice President of programming at the 3000-seat Sony Centre (now Meridian Hall). His collaboration with Show One Productions started during this period.
As an independent producer, Mark worked alongside the late impresario Uriel Luft, presenting over 100 dance, theatre, world music, comedy, cabaret and clown shows in Toronto and across Canada. At Sony Centre, he revamped the show selection review process. He forged lasting partnerships with local, national and international arts and entertainment organizations, significantly increasing programming activity to the delight of the owner, the City of Toronto. His notable contributions include the first independent dance series in the 1980s and the introduction of a dance series, a ‘live film” series and other new programming at Sony Centre in the 2000s.
Alongside presenting and programming, Mark was: a founding member of the contemporary dance company, Dancemakers; CEO at the Sony Centre during which time it returned the best financial results for decades; founding Artistic Director of the Canada Dance Festival at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa; Managing Director of LaLaLaHuman Steps, one of Canada’s finest and most successful dance companies; a Programmer for Antwerp’s 1993 year as Culture Capital and representative for Kodo Drummers in Canada for 40 years. Additionally, he has served as Arts Officer at the Ontario Arts Council and Canada Council for the Arts.
At this time Mark continues to work with Show One Productions as a colleague and collaborator on various projects.