Maggie Owen

Champion is based on a true story, focusing on the life of welterweight prizefighting champion Emile Griffith, a respected and famous boxer whose life rapidly changed after accidentally killing his opponent, Benny Paret, in the ring. Griffith was also bisexual in a time when it was socially unacceptable and was known for having said: “I kill a man and most people understand and forgive me. However, I love a man, and to so many people this is an unforgivable sin.”

The Opera de Montreal opened its 39th season on September 15th, 2018 with Giuseppe Verdi's opera Rigoletto at the Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier in Place des Arts. This 19th-century classic is steered by well-known director Michael Cavanagh as well as Italian conductor Carlo Montanaro, who leads the Orchestre Metropolitain and the Opera de Montreal Chorus. Rigoletto is performed by a mainly Canadian cast including Montreal's very own mezzo-soprano Carolyn Sproule.

Every year a group of performers take their final bows in their last performance as theatre students. This moment marks a turning point in any student's experience, encouraging reflection and subsequent planning for the next step in their careers. The BWW Montreal Emerging Talent, Student Edition aims to highlight students who are up-and-coming talents in the Montreal performing arts community. They are accomplished performers who have distinguished themselves with their work ethic, character, and talent and aim to pursue a career in the performing arts after graduation. This week we are highlighting Elijah Stefanesa and Jasmine Winter, two graduating Theatre students from the Professional Theatre Program at Dawson College.

'This cross-cultural, multilingual, meta-Brechtian romp set during the late 19th century is the company's most ambitious production to date; incorporating masks, multimedia, dance, buffoonery and authentic, embarrassing historical pronouncements. The talented cast of 9 plays over 70 characters!'

The Professional Theatre Program at Dawson College will be presenting its end of year production You Can't Take It With You, by Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman, this month. The production is directed by Matt Enos and features Dawson College Theatre students in their third and final year of the program.

Every spring, a group of performers take their final bows in their last performance as theater students. This moment marks a turning point in any student's experience, encouraging reflection and subsequent planning for the next step in their careers. The BWW Montreal Emerging Talent, Student Edition aims to highlight students who are up-and-coming talents in the Montreal performing arts community. They are accomplished performers who have distinguished themselves with their work ethic, character, and talent and aim to pursue a career in the performing arts after graduation.

The Opéra de Montréal has an exciting 39th season planned for the 2018-2019 production year. The Place des Arts lineup includes classics like Rigoletto, Das Rheingold, Carmen and the anticipated Canadian premiere of the jazz-opera Champion. In addition to these four operas, a chamber opera called Twenty-Seven will be presented at the Centaur Theatre and a concert with soprano Joyce El-Khoury and Pianist Laurent Philippe will be held at the Festival du Monde Arabe.

The Quebec premiere of Ronnie Burkett's The Daisy Theatre has been gaining critical acclaim since its opening show on February 22nd at Montreal's Centaur Theatre Company. Burkett has been a legend in the marionette world and continues to push the envelope with his topical shows. He is a craftsman, writer, puppet master, performer, vocal artist and provocateur extraordinaire. He has been creating his own marionettes for decades and is the sole-performer, other than his cheeky and charming characters for which Burkett provides all voices, in all of his shows.

The Montreal theatre company, Infinitheatre, has positioned its 2017-2018 season in a beautiful nook of Notre-Dame-de-Grace, partnering with the artist-run, non-profit, community center Espace Knox, and establishing the beautiful and historic Kensington Presbyterian Church as its primary venue for this year's season. Their first 2018 production, Conversion, written by Alyson Grant and directed by Guy Sprung, opened there on February 8th and will continue to run until February 25th. This is Grant's third play with Infinitheatre, having previously contributed the plays Trench Patterns in 2011 and Progress! in 2015.

 The touring production of Les Miserables has officially opened in Montreal at Place Des Arts, coming from its highly praised, two-and-a-half year run on Broadway. The show opened February 7th, at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier to eager spectators ready and willing to immerse themselves in early nineteenth century France, iconic songs, invigorating ensemble numbers and stunning sets. Expectations were high and excitement was palpable.

Raise The Stakes Theatre opened their production of Sophocles' Antigone last week at the Westmount Park United Church.Theatregoers have plenty of time to catch a show as Antigone runs from January 31st to February 17th. Quentin Fabiani has created compelling previews for future spectators, including scenes from 'Truth on Trial' and 'Burial at Thebes'. Both previews can be viewed on the RTS homepage at: https://www.rtsantigone.com/

The Baklawa Recipe is an emotional portrayal of finding ones voice and discovering what it means to be a woman in a rapidly changing world.

L'Opera de Montreal delights audiences with its production of Rossini's La Cenerentola. The show has a short run in Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier at Place Des Arts November 11, 14, 16 and 18 at 7:30.

What's in a Name? at the Segal Centre of Performing Arts is a summer delight! Verbal sparring, hilarious banter and touching moments will have you captivated! You do not want to miss this highly entertaining play!

The Lycric Theatre Singers captivated audiences with their opening night, spring show Hello Broadway! at the D.B. Clarke Theatre in Montreal, QC

The Segal Centre for Performing Arts, Dora Wasserman Yiddish Theatre presents It Shoulda Been You.

This week's Emerging Talent Montreal, Student Edition features Gita Miller, a talented young woman graduating from the Professional Theater Program at Dawson College in Montreal, QC.

Over 150,000 people have visited the Marc Chagall exhibit titled Chagall: Colour and Music a the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts this year. This collaborative and exquisitely curated exhibit, features over 300 masterpieces thematically positioned and chronologically presented revealing the evolving artistic journey of Russian artist Marc Chagall (1887-1985). It is the largest and most comprehensive tribute to Chagall ever presented in Canada.

BWW Montreal Emerging Talent, Student Edition interviews the talented up-and-coming actress Olivia Lepore on her artistic journey, graduating from Theater School and next steps in her career.

Million Dollar Quartet has audiences on their feet at the Segal Centre! Million Dollar Quartet, a musical depicting the historical, impromptu jam session of Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis opened to a delighted audience this week, prompting patrons to tap their toes, bob their heads and shake their tail feathers.