Centaur Theatre announces its 50th Anniversary LEGACY SERIES

Centaur Theatre announces its 50th Anniversary LEGACY SERIES, three staged play readings that will each run for a limited time throughout the 2018-19 season. For the uninitiated, staged readings are not full-fledged productions, however the who's who of participating artists is guaranteed to evoke vibrant memories for audience members fortunate enough to have seen the original productions. For younger audiences, it's a rare opportunity to experience these enduring favourites.

"Throughout this very special year, we pay tribute to the audiences who remind us what a privilege it is to live in a city as vibrant and diverse as Montreal and who inspire us to tell stories that celebrate extraordinary human experiences. In their honour, we've selected two crowd-pleasing box office hits from our repertoire plus a yet-to-be-unveiled new work to metaphorically fling open the doors to Centaur's next 50 years", said Centaur Theatre's Artistic and Executive Director, Eda Holmes.

The 1979 critical and box office hit, Balconville, fittingly opens the series from September 28th to 30th, 2018. Step back in time to a hot summer in 'the Point' when the Expos were killing it at Jarry Park and lively, working class neighbours shared their lives and opinions across balconies in a colourful mix of French joual and English. David Fennario's trailblazing portrayal of his boyhood quartier on Centaur's stage and the subsequent cross-country and European tour, firmly established him as a new and exciting voice in Canadian theatre, well deserving of a place in the LEGACY SERIES. It is directed by another Centaur legacy, Alison Darcy, daughter of Centaur's founders, Maurice Podbrey and Elsa Bolam.

From December 14th to 16th, 2018, Centaur jumps ahead thirty years to the 2011 oh-so-Montreal smash, SCHWARTZ'S: THE MUSICAL, based on Schwartz's Hebrew Delicatessen: The Story, Bill Brownstein's popular book about 'the Main', brought to musical life by Montreal's beloved kings of parody, Rick Blue and George Bowser. What could be more Montreal than the hearty smoked meat sandwich that fueled the city's bustling lifeline of merchants and their diverse clientele? The lively re-enactment is under the gifted direction of Ms. Holmes.

Schwartz's: the musical
Script, music and lyrics by Rick Blue & George Bowser
Assistant musical direction by Chris Barillaro

Holly Gauthier-Frankel, and George Bowser Fri. Dec. 14 8pm
Sat. Dec. 15 8pm
Sun. Dec. 16 2pm
Adult: $30
Senior: $25
Subscriber: $25
Students: $20

The last event in the LEGACY SERIES, scheduled for May 10th to 12th, 2019, will be announced in the New Year. As Ms. Holmes busily makes her way through heaps of new scripts she assures that the selection will be a bold new voice from Montreal.

Single tickets and gift certificates are now on sale. For more information or to purchase tickets, call the box office at 514-288-3161 or click TICKETS