Entertainment Notebook: Broadway lineup for Place des Arts set for 2026-27; Walk With Me;
Well, evenko and Broadway Across Canada have announced their third Broadway season, featuring three theatrical productions that will take center stage at the prestigious Place des Arts in Montreal. The 2026-2027 season will offer three show package including the return of Mamma Mia!, THE BOOK OF MORMON, and for the first time in Montreal, A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical. Moreover, Riverdance can be added to the subscription as a Season Option. Subscribers of Club Broadway evenko’s Montreal Season receive exclusive perks, including: an opportunity to purchase a three-show package at the best price starting at $172; priority seating access; guaranteed prices, guaranteed same seat locations for all season presentations; easy online exchanges; and an opportunity to buy extra tickets at the best price before the public on-sale.
Mamma Mia! will hit the stage October 13 to 18. Set on a Greek island paradise where the sun always shines, a tale of love, friendship, and identity is beautifully told through the timeless hits of ABBA. On the eve of her wedding, a daughter’s quest to discover the father she’s never known brings three men from her mother’s past back to the island they last visited decades ago. For over 25 years, people all around the world have fallen in love with the characters, the story, and the music that make MAMMA MIA! the ultimate feel-good show.
The Book of Mormon will be on March 2 to 7, 2027. The New York Times calls it “the best musical of this century.” The Washington Post says, “It is the kind of evening that restores your faith in musicals.” And Entertainment Weekly says, “Grade A: the funniest musical of all time.” Jimmy Fallon of The Tonight Show calls it “Genius. Brilliant. Phenomenal.” It’s THE BOOK OF MORMON, the nine-time Tony Award® winning Best Musical. This outrageous musical comedy follows the adventures of a mismatched pair of missionaries, sent halfway across the world to spread the Good Word. With standing room only productions in London, on Broadway, and across North America, THE BOOK OF MORMON has truly become an international sensation. Finally, A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical will be here April 13 to 18, 2027 and I can’t wait. It is the story of how a kid from Brooklyn became a chart-busting, show-stopping American rock icon. With 120 million albums sold, a catalogue of classics like “America,” “Forever in Blue Jeans,” and “Sweet Caroline,” an induction into the Songwriters and Rock and Roll Halls of Fame, a Grammy® Lifetime Achievement Award, and sold-out concerts around the world that made him bigger than Elvis, Neil Diamond’s story was made to shine on Broadway-and head out on the road across America.
Riverdance will be here February 4 to 7, 2027. Since it first emerged onto the world stage, its fusion of Irish and international dance and music has captured the hearts of millions worldwide. The Grammy award-winning music and the infectious energy of its mesmerizing choreography and breathtaking performances has left audiences in awe and established Riverdance as a global cultural sensation.
Go to: https://evenko.ca/en/broadway-2026
WALK WITH ME: Join the Cummings Centre at a screening of the documentary film Walk with Me and talk back with Montreal Director Heidi Levitt on Wednesday May 20 ( 6:30 pm) at CineStarz Cavendish Mall. Cost to attend is $36 and includes ticket, popcorn and a drink. This film follows Heidi and her 57-year-old husband, Charlie Hess, through a four-year journey after his Early-Onset Alzheimer’s diagnosis. To understand the disease, Heidi documents their efforts to adapt, find joy, and build a new life together. Life changes when Charlie, a 57-year-old talented graphic designer, father, and charismatic community leader, discovers that his recent fogginess is due to Early-Onset Alzheimer’s disease. His wife of 30 years Heidi is determined to better understand the disease, learn how to live their best life with it, forge a new path forward and document every step along the journey. Over the course of four years, what she captures as they crisscross the country is a testament to the strength, resilience, and humor of the human spirit. While Charlie’s cognitive facilities diminish, his charm, warmth and appeal take center stage, illuminating what might otherwise have been a dark journey into a story of love and a reminder that life is really about our relationships. I saw the film last year and it is powerful.
Levitt has cast films from the Academy Award-winning Best Picture, THE ARTIST to movies for acclaimed directors including Oliver Stone, Wayne Wang, Sally Potter, and Wim Wenders. She also executive produces films with directors she casts for. Recent credits include Victor Nunez’s film RACHEL HENDRIX starring Lori Singer and Wayne Wang’s COMING HOME AGAIN starring Justin Chon. She is a proud graduate of Barnard College and The American Film Institute where she is a senior lecturer in Directing. Heidi has won four Artios Awards for excellence in casting and is a member of the Casting Society of America and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
For more information or to register call 514.343.3510. To view the film trailer visit walkwithmedoc.com.
FULL CIRCLE: Ghostlight, a Broadway cabaret staged by Full Circle Productions, will take place on Sat. May 16 (8 pm) at Beanfield Theatre (2490 Rue Notre Dame O in Griffintown, in support of Hope for Dementia (HFD), a charitable organization whose mission is to support the prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment of dementia and other cognitive disorders. Spanning decades of song and dance, Ghostlight casts a spotlight on love, the fragility of memory, and the enduring allure of the Broadway stage. Through one couple’s moving story, it reminds us that even when the curtain falls, some lights continue to shine. “
The cast of Ghostlight.
Music and memory share a deep-seated connection,” says producer Tracy Braunstein. “ Songs and melodies often help us recall significant life moments, emotions and experiences. Because memory loss is one of the most significant symptoms of dementia, affecting a person’s ability to remember the past and learn new information, music therapy has emerged as a valuable and compassionate tool to prompt recall, connection and joy.”
“There is an increased demand for HFD’s music therapy programs across Quebec,” added Parsa Famili, President of Hope for Dementia. “For many isolated seniors, group musical activities offer more than entertainment, they provide emotional connection, cognitive stimulation and moments of recognition that can be profoundly meaningful. Events like Ghostlight help us continue expanding these essential programs throughout Quebec and beyond.”
Tickets are $50 per person and can be purchased online at: https://www.zeffy.com/fr-CA/ticketing/broadway-cabaret-concert
Hope for Dementia is a federal non-profit charitable organization whose mission is to support the prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment of dementia and other cognitive disorders. Hope for Dementia aspires to be a leading advocate and catalyst in the prevention and reversal of dementia. To achieve this, Hope for Dementia raises funds to provide services and fund promising research and clinical trials to reverse the symptoms in persons diagnosed with dementia. Hope for Dementia provides seven programs to persons in Québec, and throughout Canada who are at high risk for dementia or who have been diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment.
Founded in 2016, Full Circle Productions (FCP) specializes in musical theatre, creating original themed productions that feature songs from beloved Broadway musicals alongside original choreography, unique arrangements and harmonies, and distinctive costumes, set designs, and audiovisual elements. Through larger-scale stage productions and smaller cabaret-style musical revues, its casts have delighted audiences at venues across Montreal—including The Centaur Theatre, The Segal Centre for the Performing Arts, The Rialto Theatre, Le Balcon, and Theatre Beanfield (formerly the Corona Theatre)—as well as on several outdoor stages and at the iconic 54 Below in New York City.
TURNING DISRUPTION AND CHANGE INTO GROWTH: As career paths become increasingly non-linear and organizations face constant evolution, two experienced strategists have joined forces to launch Pivot Point Strategies Inc., a consultancy focused on helping individuals and teams turn disruption and change into clear, purposeful growth. Founded by Veronika Roux-Vlachova, an international human capital expert and Lianne Castelino, a journalist and communications strategist, the firm brings together deep multi-sector expertise with a highly personalized, people-first approach. Its guiding philosophy — “People-centred. Purpose-powered.” — reflects a commitment to putting people first not just as a principle, but as a promise.
Castelino and Roux-Vlachova.
“At a time when so many are facing unexpected change, the real challenge isn’t just navigating it — it’s making sense of it,” says Roux-Vlachova, Co-founder and Chief Purpose Officer. “What sets us apart is how deeply we integrate purpose with strategy. We meet our clients with both empathy and expertise, helping them reconnect with what matters most to them, and translate that into clear, actionable direction.”
Between them, Roux-Vlachova and Castelino bring decades of experience spanning finance, media, healthcare, education, nonprofit and entrepreneurship — along with firsthand insight into career pivots, reinvention and leadership transitions.“
Pivot points like workforce entry, layoffs, restructuring, starting a family, are often where people lose clarity,” says Castelino, Co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer. “Our role is to bring structure and perspective so individuals and organizations can move forward with confidence, not hesitation.”
At the core of Pivot Point Strategies Inc., is a proprietary four-step framework — Discover, Design, Define and Deploy — translating self-awareness into purposeful strategy and measurable action across individual advisory, HR leadership support and team transformation engagements. Pivot Point Strategies operates out of offices in Montreal and Toronto.
Info: pivotpointstrategiesinc.ca
THE RUBIN REPORT: From the weekly files of rocker Stewart Rubin, see below.
This week was a trifecta of musical delights.
Back to the ’80s with Glass Tiger
I attended the Glass Tiger show on Sunday night at the Cabaret du Casino. Alan Frew and the gang hit it out of the park. The show began with a video parody devised by lead singer Alan Frew, featuring the late Canadian comic icon John Candy, who was “asked” to play in Glass Tiger but had to refuse for numerous reasons.
The lights came up, and Glass Tiger hit the stage. From hit to hit, they tore it up. Both new fans and longtime followers were treated to a “best of” performance that concluded with the encore, « Don’t Forget when I’m Gone » . For the full review, follow the link below.
The announcement of the West Island Blues Fest.
West Island Blues Festival Press Conference
Errol Johnson and Jim Beis are no strangers to raising funds for numerous charities and organizations. This marks the 23rd West Island Blues Festival, showcasing artists from across Greater Montreal.
Beis thanked the many sponsors who made the event possible—without their support and that of the community, the festival would not have achieved the success it enjoys today.
The event will take place across three West Island municipalities: Dorval, DDO, and Pointe-Claire, featuring a jam-packed lineup of musicians, activities, and food. At the end of the press conference, attendees were treated to live performances by the headliners.
Mark your calendars—it’s going to be an amazing summer of blues.
Dragged Over Coals Brings New Orleans to NDG
On Thursday night, the band Dragged Over Coals brought their New Orleans-style ensemble to the legendary NDG Wheel Club. Led by Frank Sharp, who is no stranger to the music scene, the band transported the audience straight to the bayou with an incredible mix of Cajun and blues.
Sharp possesses a million-dollar smile when he sings—you can truly feel his enjoyment on stage. He has surrounded himself with a group of exceptional Montreal musicians who also perform in various other bands.
One of the highlights for me was the double duelling saxophone solo—something you don’t see too often. Dragged Over Coals continues to play across the city and is currently in the studio recording new material.
For the full review, go to daylitevampires.com – MTL Music Blog by Daylite
Have an item for this column? E-mail mcohen@thesuburban.com. Follow me on Instagram @mikecohencsl