What’s on in Montréal – Some choice arts and entertainment events for September

What’s on in Montréal courtesy of Tourisme Montréal

DANCE

Les Grands Ballets presents four performances of their blockbuster production of the classic fairy tale Cinderella, September 8 to 10 at Salle Wilfred-Pelletier. Choreographed in 2011 by Jayne Smeulders when she was a Principal Dancer with the West Australian Ballet, Cinderella is set in a fantastic and timeless realm, thanks to glittering new sets and costumes designed and crafted in Montreal. Some roles have been created especially for the company’s dancers to bring yet more magic to the scenes in the enchanted garden.

Amanda Kellock stars in The Greatest Play In The History Of The World

THEATRE

The Greatest Play in the History of the World… is a love story that asks profound questions and explores our quest for meaningful connections, by playwright Ian Kershaw, starring Amanda Kellock and directed by Dean Patrick Fleming. Runs at the Hudson Village Theatre from September 13 to 24.

POP MUSIC

The POP Montréal International Music Festival runs from September 27 to October 1. Headliners this year includes legendary soul and disco diva Candi Station at The Rialto Theatre on September 29.

One of the most enduring acts in music, Staton is best known for her iconic liberation anthem Young Hearts Run Free that reached No. 1 in 1976. The song was written for her by David Crawford.

Candi Staton is best known for her iconic liberation anthem Young Hearts Run Free that reached No. 1 in 1976

“Warner Bros. Records president Mo Ostin called me up and asked if I would be interested in working with David and they flew me to California,” Ms. Staton told me recently. “I told David about the abusive relationship I was in. I would talk to David as a friend and he wrote it down and when I walked into the studio and heard that music I said, ‘David, that is the most beautiful music I’ve ever heard in my life. What is that?” He said, ‘I’m writing you a song that’s going to last forever.’ How right he was.”

Other shows of note: British rock royalty Peter Gabriel (September 13 at Bell Centre), Janelle Monáe (September 20 at MTELUS), and both Hozier (September 20) and The Australian Pink Floyd (September 30) headline Place Bell.

MUSEUMS

Two excellent exhibitions wind down soon:

The blockbuster Portable Universe: Thought and Splendour of Indigenous Colombia exhibition at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts brings together 400 works of Colombian art dating from about 1500 BCE to the present day. The exhibition features some of the most remarkable artworks ever made in this region, including jewelry and sculptures made of Tumbaga, an alloy composed of gold and copper. This is the largest exhibition of art from Colombia ever to be presented outside that country. Runs to October 1.

Just a few steps from Pointe-à-Callière, in Old Fire Station No. 1 on Place D’Youville, explore the remarkable history of the archaeological site of St. Anne’s Market and the Parliament of the Province of Canada in the terrific Montréal Capital City exhibition displaying 300 artifacts. Free admission. Runs to October 9.

FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT

If you are fascinated by dinosaurs, you will enjoy the Jurassic World Live Tour which headlines the Bell Centre for seven shows from September 8 to 10.

The action-packed all-ages exhibition Hockey: Faster Than Ever at the Montréal Science Centre will dazzle hockey and science fans. Spread out over eight zones, there are more than 30 interactive activities, such as getting behind the wheel of a real Zamboni, testing your slap shot skills and taking photos on authentic seats from the old Montreal Forum’s white section and watching yourself on the Jumbotron. Runs to September 10.

This year’s edition of Gardens of Light illuminates the Botanical Garden from September 1 to October 31.

COMEDY

Australian comic Jim Jefferies headlines two shows at Théâtre St. Denis on September 20 at 7 pm and 9:30 pm.

CINEMA

The Parc at Midnight series continues on weekends at Cinéma du Parc in the great tradition of the rep-house “midnight movies” of the 70s. One film classic being screened is the 1980 supernatural horror thriller The Changeling directed by Peter Medak and starring the great George C. Scott (September 15-16-17).

The Society for Arts and Technology – called The SAT by locals – presents the acclaimed 42-minute cinematic show Pink Floyd: The Dark Side of the Moon in their Satosphere until October 27. Shows are at 5:30 pm, 6:45 pm and 9:15 pm. You can book tickets online.

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.