What’s on in Montreal – Some choice arts and entertainment events for April Richard "Bugs" Burnett April 3, 2025 395 What’s on in Montréal courtesy of Tourisme Montréal NOS AMOURS Expos Fest has raised $1.9 million to support Le Pavillon Kat Demes at the Montreal Children’s Hospital. The Pavilion houses families of sick children in long-term care. “Jersey Retirement Night” is the theme of the 2025 edition of the Expos Fest gala on April 26. Guests include Expos legends Bill “Spaceman” Lee, Claude Raymond, Mel Rojas, Al Oliver, Jeff Reardon, Ross Grimsley, Tim Wallach, Moises Alou, Hall-of-Famers Larry Walker and Vladimir Guerrerro, broadcaster Dave Van Horne and Expos icon Felipe Alou. Gary Carter’s wife Sandy Carter will also be in attendance. Expos Fest to raise funds for The Childrens Hospital April 26 “It is important to honour the jersey numbers of our best because it would have been done anyways if we still had a team,” says Expos Fest organizer Perry Giannias. “Our history lies in our hands right now. We can’t depend on anyone else.” While the gala is sold out, everyone can buy raffle tickets on the Exposfest.com website, as well as bid on items in their silent auction online starting April 12. THEATRE Hudson Village Theatre presents Ken Ludwig’s The Game’s Afoot, an uproarious Sherlock Holmes-themed murder mystery, directed by Heidi Hawkins. Runs April 4 to 13. Evenko and Broadway Across Canada present the blockbuster Broadway musical MEAN GIRLS at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier. April 22 to 27. Bent is one of four plays translated into French Three gay French-language productions of note: Martin Sherman’s classic play Bent about the persecution of gays in Nazi Germany, at Le Théâtre La Comédie de Montréal (April 10 to 12); acclaimed Montréal playwright Eric Noel’s Ces regards amoureux de garçons altérés, about a young man’s crystal meth-fueled 60 hours in a gay sauna, at Théatre Prospero (April 8 to 26); and Québec icon Michel Tremblay’s French translation of Montréal playwright Steve Galluccio’s signature play Mambo Italiano, at L’Espace La Risée (April 25 to 27). The Segal Centre for the Performing Arts presents Our Little Secret: The 23andMe® Musical, the hilarious, moving and completely true story of Noam Tomaschoff’s discovery that he wasn’t an only child… he actually had more than 35 siblings around the world. April 27 to May 18. The 41st annual Festival international de cinéma Vues d’Afrique CLASSICAL Under the artistic direction of Maestro Rafael Payare, the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal presents the Mozart Festival (April 16 to 25) including a concert version of Così fan tutte with renowned baritone Thomas Hampson (April 24 and 25). EXHIBITIONS The PHI in Old Montréal presents the Jean-Marc Vallée: Mixtape multimedia and sound journey into the memory and work of the famed Montreal film director for whom mixtapes were an essential part of his creative process. With the participation of Marc-André Grondin, Evelyne Brochu, Denis Villeneuve, Reese Witherspoon, Vanessa Paradis, Laura Dern and others. Runs to May 4. Free admission but reservations required. CINÉMA The 41st annual Festival international de cinéma Vues d’Afrique runs from April 3 to 13. The festival screens international features, documentaries and shorts by filmmakers from across Africa and the African diaspora. Members of The Harlem Globetrotters visited Westmount High School prior to their April 17 and 18 games in Montreal FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT Basketball’s iconic Harlem Globetrotters will entertain kids of all ages at Place Bell (April 17) and the Bell Centre (April 18), followed by Stars on Ice at Place Bell (April 29). COMEDY British stand-up comedy character Troy Hawke (a.k.a. Milo McCabe) at the Beanfield Theatre on April 12, Steve-O brings his Super Dummy! Tour to the Olympia on April 17, and Palestinian-American stand-up comedian Mo Amer headlines the Olympia on April 20 and 21. POP MUSIC Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Heart with opening act Cheap Trick (April 2), and Hip Hop legend Nelly (April 15), at the Bell Centre. Colombian Prince of Reggaeton J Balvin (April 7) and Montreal favourite Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds (April 24), both at Place Bell. Scottish rock band Franz Ferdinand (April 14) and legendary Montreal indie rockers GrimSkunk (April 17) headline MTELUS; American blues, boogie-woogie and jazz pianist Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne backed by the Ben Racine Band at Petit Campus (April 18); English post-punk legends Gang of Four at the Beanfield Theatre (April 22); the Colin James Trio at Salle Désilets (April 24); and Montreal folk legend Martha Wainwright celebrates the 20th anniversary of her eponymous debut album with a special concert at the Outremont Theatre (April 25). 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.
