What’s on in Montréal courtesy of Tourisme Montréal
THEATRE
The Centaur Theatre Company presents master puppeteer Ronnie Burkett’s acclaimed marionette show Wonderful Joe about an old man and his dog who set out on one last fantastical adventure after gentrification forces tenants out of Joe’s apartment building to make room for a new condo tower.
Centaur Theatre Company presents master puppeteer Ronnie Burkett’s acclaimed marionette show Wonderful Joe, October 13 to November 1
Burkett recently told me, “Because I tour, I am always housed in city centres, and what I started noticing in so many cities was shocking to me, even in Montreal: ‘What are all these condos? It’s starting to look like Toronto.’ Beloved old neighbourhoods are being gentrified or torn down. That’s where my story came from.”
The production also touches on issues affecting aging LGBTQ communities, all told with Ronnie’s trademark campy wit and style. Age restriction: 16+. Runs October 13 to November 1.
Mamma Mia is at Salle Wilfrid Pelletier October 13-16
Photo: Joan Marcus
Over at the Segal Centre for the Performing Arts, the docu-concert The Secret Chord: A Leonard Cohen Experience has been updated for this restaging: the storytelling that carries the show between songs has been rewritten, so audiences who have already seen it will find a different experience built around the same music. Performers Divine Brown, Emily Schultz and Andrew Penner are all back. Runs October 5 to 25.
The smash hit Broadway musical Mamma Mia! runs at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier from October 13 to 18.
From Tchaikovsky to The Firebird with conductor Rafael Payare, and guest violinist Leonidas Kavakos, October 21 to 22
CLASSICAL MUSIC
The Orchestre symphonique de Montréal presents From Tchaikovsky to The Firebird with OSM artistic director and conductor Rafael Payare, and guest violinist Leonidas Kavakos. Runs October 21 to 22.
Bourgie Hall presents Between Quartets with the Musicians of the OSM (October 16), and Baroque Fantasy with Les Violons du Roy (October 23).
DANCE
Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal presents choreographer Guillaume Côté’s vision of William Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night Dreams at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier. Runs October 29 to November 1.
The prestigious Danse Danse series presents My Fierce Ignorant Step by Greek choreographer Christos Papadopoulos at Théâtre Maisonneuve. Runs October 28 to 30.
The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts presents The Soul Trembles, largest solo exhibition to date of Japanese artist Chiharu Shiota
EXHIBITIONS
The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts presents The Soul Trembles, largest solo exhibition to date of Japanese artist Chiharu Shiota. Covering more than three decades of creative output, the exhibition pays tribute to an internationally-renowned visual artist lauded for her performances and immersive installations made with red, black or white thread. Runs to February 14, 2027.
CIRCUS ARTS
La TOHU presents iD ÉVOLUTION by Cirque Éloize. Trampwall, aerial hoop, trail biking, breakdance and many other disciplines intertwine in an electrifying ballet where each jump, gesture and musical note tell a story. Performed by nine artists directed by Jeannot Painchaud, assisted by choreographer Elon Hoglung. Runs October 31 to November 15.
Paragraphe Bookstore presents the launch of author Jean Michel Fortier’s acclaimed queer novel It’s All Coming Back to Me Now
LITERATURE
Paragraphe Bookstore presents the launch of author Jean-Michel Fortier’s acclaimed queer novel It’s All Coming Back to Me Now, English translation of his bestseller Tout me revient maintenant. October 21 at 5 p.m.
CINEMA
The 55th edition of the Festival du nouveau cinéma de Montréal runs October 8 to 18.
Montreal’s annual Rocky Horror Picture Show Halloween Ball returns for six screenings over three nights at the Rialto Theatre (October 29 to 31). The ultimate interactive cult film experience, the Rocky Horror Picture Show Halloween Ball offers the original film projected on the big screen, a live shadow cast onstage, along with massive audience participation, a wild costume contest, the infamous Time Warp dance and an emcee arousing the audience for all the on and off-screen thrills.
COMEDY
British-Irish comedy superstar Jimmy Carr headlines Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier for three shows on October 20 and 21.
Prog-rock supergroup BEAT at Théâtre St-Denis on November 2
POP MUSIC
Rock duo The Black Keys at Place Bell (October 16), Canadian folk-music icon Bruce Cockburn at Le Gesù (October 18), pop superstar Olivia Rodrigo at Bell Centre (October 21 and 22), and British rock royalty STING headlines four shows at Théâtre St-Denis (October 26-27-29-30).
Concerts of note: Canadian singer-songwriter Loreena McKennitt brings The Mask and Mirror Anniversary Tour to the Maison Symphonique on October 26-27 and November 2.
Prog-rock supergroup BEAT – featuring former King Crimson members Adrian Belew and Tony Levin, virtuoso guitarist Steve Vai and legendary drummer Terry Bozzio – perform the music of King Crimson at Théâtre St-Denis on November 2.
Dubbed “Mr. Montreal” by the CBC, arts and culture journalist and columnist Richard “Bugs” Burnett knows Montreal like a drag queen knows a cosmetics counter.