Amélie Poulain is welcoming people back to the Two Windmills Cafe! The META-nominated production of AMÉLIE: The Musical returns for a limited engagement. Presented by Penumbra Théâtre Pénombre at the Centaur Theatre from August 28 to 30.
Amélie Poulain is an extraordinary young woman who lives quietly in the world but loudly in her mind. She covertly improvises small but surprising acts of kindness that bring joy and mayhem. But when a chance at love comes her way, Amélie realizes that to find happiness she’ll have to risk everything and say what’s in her heart. Be inspired by this imaginative dreamer who finds her voice, discovers the power of connection, and sees possibility around every corner!
Penumbra Théâtre Pénombre first performed AMÉLIE at the Mainline Theatre in February 2025. The production was nominated for three Montreal English Theatre Awards (Outstanding Independent Production, Outstanding Lead Performance, Outstanding Contribution to Theatre – Puppet Design). In a brand new venue, the team can’t wait to share this exciting new interpretation of AMÉLIE with Montreal audiences!
Some of the cast include Cat Preston as Amélie Poulain, Billy Iliopoulos as Nino Quincampoix, Daniel Kasenberg as Raphael/ Bretodeaum, Cassie Muise as Amandine/ Philomène, Marc Ducusin as Joseph, Joël Marchand as Hipolito/ Lucien, Craig Dalley as Collignon/Dufayel and Mike Mastromonaco as Blind Beggar. Aly Slominski is the producer.
Tickets are on sale now!
Box Office: https://centaurtheatre.com/shows/amelie-the-musical/
MTL COMEDY CLUB PRESENTS SUGAR SAMMY: Montreal has never been short on comedians. On Sunday, September 6, one of the city’s most recognizable comedy names will take the stage to shine a spotlight on the next generation. Sugar Sammy returns to Montreal’s Salle Pierre Péladeau this Labour Day weekend to host the second annual Montreal All Star Gala, presented in collaboration with MTL Comedy Club.
The September 6 gala brings together five rising Montreal comedians — Gino Durante, Akeem Hoyte Charles, Ben Cardilli, Quinn Lague and Seby Jacob — for an evening celebrating the depth, diversity and talent of Montreal’s English comedy scene. For MTL Comedy Club, the event represents more than a night of stand-up. It is a continuation of its commitment to putting local comedians at the centre of the Montreal comedy experience.
“Montreal has an incredible comedy community, and there are so many talented comedians here who deserve to be seen by bigger audiences,” said Sid Khullar of MTL Comedy Club. “The All Star Gala is about putting some of those artists on one of Montreal’s biggest stages and giving them the opportunity to perform alongside one of the city’s comedy legends.”
The five comedians featured at this year’s gala have already built impressive résumés through festivals, television, film, touring and live comedy.
Durante has established himself as a distinctive voice on the Montreal comedy circuit, bringing his sharp perspective and energetic stage presence to audiences across the city and beyond.
Hoyte Charles has earned recognition through major comedy stages and festivals, continuing to build a reputation as one of Montreal’s exciting emerging performers.
Cardilli is a familiar face on the Montreal comedy scene, with credits that include major comedy stages and appearances connected to productions such as The Good Doctor and Tracker.
Lague has quickly become a standout in Montreal’s comedy community, performing at major festivals and opening for established names while developing his own growing following.
Jacob has also made his mark through Montreal’s comedy circuit and major comedy events, bringing his own perspective and style to a new generation of comedy audiences.
Collectively, the five performers have accumulated credits and experience connected to Just For Laughs, CBC, Montreal’s Got Jokes, the Winnipeg Comedy Festival, Ghosts, The Good Doctor and Tracker, among others.
They have also shared stages with comedy heavyweights including Nate Jackson, Mikey Longfellow, Andrew Packer and Sammy Obeid.
Montreal has long been recognized as one of Canada’s great comedy cities, producing performers who have gone on to national and international success.But before comedians make it onto television, major festivals or international tours, many of them develop their voices in the city’s comedy clubs and smaller stages.That is the ecosystem MTL Comedy Club says it wants to continue building.With a large roster of comedians performing throughout its programming, MTL Comedy Club has made showcasing Montreal talent a central part of its operation. The Montreal All Star Gala is designed to take that local-first philosophy and put it on a much larger stage.
And having Sugar Sammy — one of Montreal’s most internationally recognized comedians — as host makes the evening an especially significant homecoming for the city’s comedy community.The result is a show built around both recognition and discovery: a familiar Montreal comedy icon introducing audiences to comedians who could become the city’s next major comedy names.
For tickets go to https://mtlcomedyclub.com/sugar-sammy-all-star-gala
WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A QUEBECER: CBC TV’s Sudha Krishnan recently spoke with Quebecers from a range of backgrounds to get their thoughts on what it means to be a Quebecer. It is wonderful series which can be accessed via their website and on YouTube. Just click here for the link .
TORONTO GLOW: Toronto summers have a glow all their own, and Destination Toronto is bottling it and bringing it to you! To celebrate the city’s most iconic summer moments, Destination Toronto has created TO Glow, a limited-edition collection of hydrating face mists inspired by four classic Toronto experiences: Golden Hour, Patio Season, Main Stage, and Fandom. This summer, TO Glow hit the road with a roaming product drop in Montreal and Ottawa. Inspired by classic ice cream bikes, the brightly wrapped TO Glow bikes will pop up in busy summer hotspots, serving complimentary chilled face mists. Folks can explore all four scents, discover which Toronto summer experience best matches their personality, and take home a limited-edition bottle while quantities last. It’s a little bit of fun, a whole lot of glow, and the perfect way to cool down while enjoying the summer sunshine. The experience was designed to surprise and delight, giving people something fun to discover, photograph, and share. They set up shop at the Lachine Canal August 15 and 16.
CONSOLATION TOUR: Internationally acclaimed Canadian pianist and composer Alain Lefèvre will launch his Consolation tour on September 27, featuring the latest compositions from his 2025 Warner Classics album of the same name. Presented in 12 cities across Québec, the intimate recital tour will continue into spring 2027 and will include a major symphonic performance on May 8, 2027, when Lefèvre will perform Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 with the Orchestre Philharmonique et Choeur des Mélomanes (OPCM) at Montréal’s Maison symphonique.
This season is also marked by an important international honour. The International Peace Alliance (IPA-AIP) has awarded Lefèvre its 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award in Music. As one of the 2026 Cultural Ambassadors of Peace, he joins internationally renowned figures including Susan Sarandon, Peter Kennard, Ken Loach, and Gerhard Richter. The award recognizes individuals whose artistic, cultural, or humanitarian achievements foster dialogue among peoples and promote the values of peace. The honour will be formally presented on October 24 at Toronto’s Fairmont Royal York, during the Peace Ambassadors Awards Gala & Grand Ball, the closing event of the International Peace Festival.
“Music has always been, for me, a universal language capable of building bridges between people and cultures. Receiving this award is a deeply moving honour because it recognizes not only an artistic journey, but also the unifying power of music,” said Lefèvre.
At the heart of this new season is Consolation, a musical journey inspired by Alain Lefèvre’s latest album. An invitation to reflection, serenity, and hope, the program reflects the profoundly humanistic vision that runs throughout his work.
“Consolation is intended to be a balm, a haven of peace, and a ray of light for our shared humanity,” the pianist explains.
Have an item to share? E-mail mcohen@thesuburban.com. Follow me on Instagram @mikecohencsl