Founder and Artistic Director, Toronto Operetta Theatre

In 1985 Guillermo Silva-Marin founded the Toronto Operetta Theatre, and continues to serve as its General Director.

The Toronto Operetta Theatre has the distinction of being the only professional company of its kind in Canada dedicated to the presentation of classical operetta. To date, this critically acclaimed company, under the direction of Mr. Silva-Marin, has presented over twenty eight operetta productions including the LAND OF SMILES, THE MERRY WIDOW, DIE FLEDERMAUS, THE GYPSY BARON, COUNTESS MARITZA, THE BIRD SELLER, THE WHITE HORSE INN and THE CZARDAS PRINCESS. See LIST. Over twenty of these operetta productions have been staged by Guillermo Silva-Marin. In recent years Mr. Silva-Marin has expanded the company’s repertoire to include the magnificent operettas by Gilbert and Sullivan, Offenbach, and von Suppe including ORPHEUS IN THE UNDERWORLD, LA VIE PARISIENNE, HMS PINAFORE, YEOMEN OF THE GUARD and THE BEAUTIFUL GALATHEA.

In 1999, for the first time ever, Toronto audiences were introduced to a Spanish zarzuela, LA VERBENA DE LA PALOMA. Originally a one act operetta, Mr. Silva-Marin’s production was expanded to two acts and featured the renowned iArte Flamenco! Spanish Dance Company.

Legendary Canadian operetta LEO, THE ROYAL CADET made its long awaited return to the Canadian stage in May 2001 after almost 50 years. With a new orchestration by John Greer and a revised libretto by Virginia Reh, LEO, THE ROYAL CADET was hailed as Toronto Operetta Theatre's finest evening.

In addition to the TOT repertory of operetta productions, Guillermo Silva-Marin has introduced Sunday matinee concerts that provide upcoming Canadian performers with an opportunity to showcase their talent as they perform selections ranging from Gershwin to Strauss, from opera-bouffe to zarzuela.