What is closed?
With a ban on gatherings of 250 people and over in Quebec, venues and theatres in and around Montreal are facing the possibility of closing their calendars. Place-des-arts, which oversees multiple stages, has suspended events. The Montreal Symphony Orchestra has cancelled 11 concerts from here until beginning of April, and Evenko (which manages concerts and shows like Cats and the Harlem Globetrotters) has suspended its activities for the next 30 days. Danse Danse has cancelled its run with the Nederlands Dans Theater (visiting from The Hague) and another production due to start next week. The Segal Centre has wrapped up the remainder of The Times They Are A Changin, but a guest show under its roof will continue. Many librairies and community centres are closing their doors for the time being.
That being said, some spaces with capacity under the cutoff are keeping their events on - at least for now. Be sure to check in advance before you confirm plans, and call the box office or admissions beforehand.
This list was updated on Friday, March 13 at 11am.
The McCord Museum has suspended its family and cultural activities, but will remain open: the stylish Jean-Claude Poitras: Fashion and Inspiration looks at the influences of the designer, who made perfect coats for the wives of prime ministers. Griffintown: Evolving Montreal is a photography exhibit by Robert Walker that takes a look at the condo boom while also looking back at the neighbourhood's working-class history.
As of Friday midday, there is no word yet on plans to shutter the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, where The Mummies exhibit, Exploring Ancient Lives, is ongoing, and the Pointe-a-Callière Museum, where you can explore The Incas, Treasures of Peru, about the mysterious civilization's ancient rituals, art and achievements. Until April 13.
Cineplex theatres plan to continue as usual, and arthouse fave Cinema du Parc will be screening Oscar Best Picture winner Parasite, as well as the F13th Fan Film Mixtape, a compilation of amateur films shot in the '80s and '90s when slasher films were all the rage. (Cheap cheap costumes and fake ketchup blood!)
In MOB, a professional woman whose career is on a break seeks respite by booking a stay at a B&B in the Townships - but, of course, she gets more than she bargained for. A hit in the French theatre world, writer/actor Catherine-Anne Toupin's psychological thriller gets its first English opening, at The Centaur.
Teesri Duniya Theatre is presenting Rahul Varma's Counter Offence at the Segal Studio, a family drama set in Quebec that touches on relationships, race and discrimination.
Lakeshore Light Opera presents Gilbert & Sullivan’s Iolanthe, a tale of fairies who take over Parliament, creating mayhem! Love, mischief and more...proceeds to go to the Lakeshore General Hospital Foundation.At Lakeside Academy, with the Friday show on and the Saturday show TBD. Visit llo.org or call 514-804-4900 for tickets.
The Wiggle Room gets creepy and crawly with a Beetlejuice burlesque show. Charli Deville, Sweet Coco and Clara Develours are on the lineup.
And this weekend on CJAD 800, tune in to two special broadcasts on COVID-19: Elias Makos will be joined by Dr. Chris Labos and Dr. Joe Schwarcz, Saturday and Sunday, noon to 1pm, with the latest news. They will also answer your questions about the ongoing pandemic.
And a personal recommendation from me, a fervent bookworm: with public librairies shutting their doors, why not tackle your stack of unread books? If you have no unread material at home, try your library's e-book lending system! Look up how to download the appropriate reader app, or sign up to read your borrowed books on the browser on your phone, tablet or computer screen. Use your downtime to tackle chores, sort your paperwork, try that baking project. Play a board game with your family, go for a walk, or watch a favourite TV show (in moderation!).
And check in with the people in your life who might be most vulnerable at this time, like an older person, those with mental or physical health issues or a parent who's got the kids at home: offer to lend them a hand or ear. We are all the better for connecting with one another - even if it's by phone or six feet apart.