Place des Arts (downtown)
Montreal Symphony Orchestra (downtown)
Geordie Productions (downtown)
La Maison Théâtre (Plateau)
Centaur Theatre (Old Montreal)
Disney on Ice (downtown)
Théâtre St. Denis (downtown)
Panadream Theatre (various locations)
Théâtre La Roulotte (various parks)
Maison des Arts de Laval (Laval)
TOHU (St. Michel)
Théâtre de l’Esquisse (Hochelaga-Maisonneuve)
Jazz Festival (downtown)
Repercussion Theatre (various parks)
Festival les Coups de Théâtre (various locations)

Place Des Arts (view map)
The Montreal concert hall regularly hosts children’s shows, geared to introducing children as young as three years old to music and theatre. “Sons et brioches”, a presentation of music and pastries, is held on Sunday mornings at 11 a.m. The music ranges from classical to worldbeat percussion, so check the schedule to see what’s coming up.
Address: 175 Ste. Catherine St. W. (Place des Arts metro) (view map)
Parking: There’s metered parking on the street and pay lots underground and in the area.
Telephone: 514-842-2112
Website: http://jeunesse.laplacedesarts.com/Default.aspx

Montreal Symphony Orchestra (view map)
The Montreal Symphony Orchestra offers a series of music/theatre concerts for children aged 5 to 12. The Children’s Corner programs offer music and bilingual animation, in themed performances. The 2009/2010 series offers Halloween at the MSO, Escape into Space and an adaptation of Scheherazade. The Space-themed show is an award-winning production. Performances are held on Sunday afternoons, and last about an hour. The MSO also offers a series of children’s concerts during the week for school groups.
Schedule: Halloween at the MSO, Sunday, Nov. 1 at 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.; Escape into Space, March 21, 2010 at 1:30 and 3:30 p.m., Scheherazade, May 16, 2010, 1:30 and 3:30 p.m.
Address: Théâtre Maisonneuve, Place Des Arts, 175 Ste. Catherine St. W., corner St. Urbain. Metro Place des Arts. (view map)
Cost: For one show: children $12, adults $30; For the series of three shows: children, $30; adults, $60
Telephone: 514-842-3402
Website: http://www.osm.ca/ (look for the information on the children’s series)

Geordie Productions (view map)
This production company has been staging plays for children of various ages since 1982. Over 300 English-language shows are staged in Montreal each year; the company also tours, performing at schools, libraries and community centres. Local performances are held downtown, at the D.B. Clarke Theatre on de Maisonneuve Blvd. Examples of past shows are the French classic Le Petit Prince and Maita, a play inspired by Indonesian shadow-puppet theatre. Although the targeted ages vary, the shows are typically for children at least 5 or 6 years and up.

Tickets: $13.50 children, $16 adults, $15 seniors
Address: 1455 de Maisonneuve Blvd., between Bishop and Mackay Sts. (view map)
Time: Depends on show; weekend performances are usually in the afternoon.
Telephone: 514-845-9810
Website: http://www.geordie.ca/

La Maison Théâtre (view map)
This theatre company regularly stages shows in French, for children as young as four years old, up till about 12 years old. Performances are often held on weekday mornings for school groups, and on weekends in the morning and afternoon for the general public. Shows typically last about an hour.

Address: 245 Ontario St. E. (view map)
Cost: Adults $15, children $11
Telephone: Box office:514-288-7211, ext 1. Box office is open Mon. to Sun. 11:30 to 4:30 p.m. Information: 514-288-7211.
Website:http://www.maisontheatre.com/

Centaur Theatre (view map)
Centaur Theatre, an Old Montreal theatre dedicated to English theatre, offers an annual children’s series. The season runs from October through May, with one children’s show staged each month.

Address: 453 St. François-Xavier St., Old Montreal (view map)
Cost: $6 for age 16 and up, $6 for 16 and under
Telephone: (box office) 514-288-4161, administration 514-288-1229
Website: http://www.centaurtheatre.com/

Disney on Ice (view map)
A few times a year, the Bell Centre hosts Disney on Ice performances. With storylines pegged to particular Disney movies, these shows are appropriate for kids from about 3 years and up (although parents can bring younger children). Your child gets the opportunity to see some of their favorite characters (and villains!) up close, and gliding around the ice. Most performances are done in French, but some are in English; they last about 90 minutes. Good tickets sell quickly, so get them fast. Warning: there’s a heavy commercial side to the shows. The entrance to the Bell Centre is packed with concession stands hawking Disney-related merchandise and junk food (candy floss, popsicles, ice cream, etc.) all at a very high markup (even a bottle of water costs $4). There’s also a 20-minute intermission, when concession salespeople troll the aisles selling toys and junk food. Either come prepared to buy something, bring toys/treats of your own, or explain to your child beforehand that the show itself is treat enough.

Next show: Oct. 7 to 12, 2009: Disney, 100 Years of Magic.
Age: 3 and up
Cost: Tickets range from $17 (in the nosebleeds) to $85 for floor-level. Mid range seats with good visibility (in the red A section) cost $34.50.
Address: Bell Centre, 1260 de la Gauchetière St. W., corner de la Montagne St. (view map)
Parking: There’s metered parking on the street and pay lots on the site and in the area (where you’ll pay at least $10).
Telephone: 514-790-1245
Website: http://www.bellcentre.ca/en/home/

My comment: I took my 4-year-old son to Disney on Ice as a special treat, and came out wishing I hadn’t. I spent close to $100 on two tickets (although our seats were close to the ice), parking ($15), and an insanely expensive bottle of water ($4) in the everything-is-a-rip-off-here Bell Centre. Although I bought him an ice cream bar from the concession stands on the way in, the many hawkers aggressively selling toys during the intermission pushed him over the edge. I had to keep re-explaining why I wouldn’t spend more money, when he kept seeing other kids getting them. He had a knock-down, drag-out tantrum on the way out, and the show itself was forgotten. Speaking of the show itself, it’s not particularly high-quality. Costumes and makeup are basic and three skaters fell over during the performance.

Théâtre St. Denis (view map)
This downtown playhouse, at the corner of St. Denis St. and René Lévèsque Blvd., regularly hosts children’s shows tied to cartoon characters like the Backyardigans and Whinnie the Pooh.

Age: 3 and up
Next show: Disney Live! Playhouse, Dec. 18 to 29, 2009.
Address: 1594 St. Denis St., corner Rene Levesque Blvd. (view map)
Cost: $18.50 to $59.50 per ticket
Ticketpro: 514-790-1111
Website: http://theatrestdenis.com/index.html

Panadream Theatre

This theatre company specializes in string marionnettes and shadow puppets in shows designed for various audiences. This company has staged children’s shows at the Jewish Public Library and in cooperation with Geordie Theatre. They also offer birthday party entertainment.

Telephone: 514-995-4762
Website: http://www.panadreamtheatre.com/

Théâtre La Roulotte
This company offers shows for children age 4 to 12 in Montreal parks during the summer.
For information, email: laroulotte@ville.montreal.qc.ca

Maison des Arts de Laval (view map)
This Laval cultural centre offers Croissant-musique breakfasts on Sunday mornings. There’s a buffet of pastries, coffee and juice at 10 a.m., followed by a show at 11 a.m. Shows are performed by young artists and may be suitable for children as young as 4. Check the schedule on the website for details.

Address: 1395 de la Concorde Blvd. W., Laval (view map)
Telephone: 450-662-9564 (office), 450-667-2040 (tickets)
Website: http://www.ville.laval.qc.ca/ (click on culture)

TOHU (view map)
TOHU, located in St. Michel, is a centre for circus arts training, production and performance. TOHU hosts circus performances, including a number of outdoor shows during the summer for kids. You can also take children 8 years and up on a tour of TOHU’s permanent exhibition, which tells the story of the circus, featuring memorabilia, artifacts and pictures. TOHU is part of the St. Michel Environmental Complex, a 192-hectare area of land that was once a landfill. Over the next 15 years, the land is being develop into a park that will be comparable in size to Mount Royal.

Telephone: 514-376-8648 (tickets), 514-374-3522 (office)
Address: 2345 Jarry St. E. (corner Iberville St.) (view map)
Website: http://www.tohu.ca/

Théâtre de l’Esquisse (view map)
This east-end theatre offers both adult and family programming during its season, which runs from October through March. Performances are at 1:30 p.m. on Sundays, typically for ages 4 to 12. Check the website for descriptions of shows, which last about 50 minutes (no intermission).

Time: Shows are at 1:30 p.m.
Cost: $5 child, $7 adult
Address: 1650 Marie Anne St. E., corner Marquette.(view map)
Telephone: 514-527-5797
Website: http://www.theatredelesquisse.qc.ca/

Jazz Festival
The world famous Montreal International Jazz Festival takes over downtown every summer, offering great activities for kids. With so many free outdoor concerts, it’s a great way to introduce children to jazz and music from around the world. Let kids sit on your shoulders, get a mango on a stick from one of the many street vendors, and listen to the music. The festival also hosts La Petite École du Jazz, concerts meant for just kids, with entertainers and interactive activities. Check the website for days, times and locations. There’s also usually a music park outside place des arts with inflatable games and face painting.

Age: 2 and up
Dates: July 1 to 12, 2009
Website: http://www.montrealjazzfest.com/

Repercussion Theatre
If you’d like to introduce your child to Shakespeare, this is a great way to do it. Repercussion Theatre stages productions of Shakespeare in the park every summer; shows are usually in the evenings. The 2009 show is As You Like It, running from July 23 to Aug. 16. Bring your own chairs. Check the website or call for exact times and locations.

Age: 10 and up
Cost: Free
Telephone: 514-931-2644
Website: http://www.repercussiontheatre.com/

Festival Les Coups de Théâtre
This festival of music, dance and theatre for children age 5 to 12 is held every two years, at venues around the city. Performers come from around the world, and shows are mostly in French (some are in English). The next festival will be held in 2010.
Website: http://www.coupsdetheatre.com/