The Next Wave of Musical Theatre Splashes in Montreal

Get those jazz hands ready for the fifth anniversary of Montreal’s Next Wave Festival of New Musicals, underway now at various locations around the city. The annual festival run by CETM (the Centre for Education and Theatre in Montreal) aims to increase the profile of both English and French musical theatre in Montreal by harnessing the power of song and dance.

Those who belt out tunes from South Pacific in the shower won’t want to miss My Favorite Things. This production features beloved musical hits, woven together in an original show by Next Wave’s artistic director Stephen Pietrantoni. What can the audience expect to go home singing? Tunes from Gypsy, My Fair Lady, The Sound of Music, and many others. Monday, Aug. 20 and Tuesday, Aug. 21 at CETM Studio (2205 Parthenais), 8 p.m., $22/$20 for students

On the other hand, those who rank Andrew Lloyd Webber akin to painful bowel movements might become converts to the musical theatre genre with South Park: Smaller, Shorter, and Definitely Cut, inspired by the film South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut. For those languishing in an a-cultural coma for the last 15 years, South Park is known for slaughtering sacred cows in a way that appeals to 13 year old boys and the easily offended. Creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker fart on everything idolized in pop culture, from Les Misèrables to Disney extravaganzas. The show promises features cameos of Saddam Hussein and Satan. Given that it’s election season, Pauline Marois may find a new PQ theme when she hears Oscar-nominated hit, “Blame Canada.” Saturday, Aug. 18, Maison de la Culture Frontenac (2550 Ontario E.), 8 p.m., $25/$20 for students

One other production to watch out for is a staged reading (in French) of Peau d’Âne: The Princess Without a Name. The production is a musical re-imagining of Charles Perrault’s classic 17th-century fairy tale (and of Jacques Demy’s trippy 1970 musical featuring Catherine Deneuve). A virtuous princess avoids an incestuous marriage to her father by hiding out in a donkey skin. The skin brings her jeers, but is also the source of wealth for the kingdom. Re-created by local musical theater missionaries, Theatre Exaltemps, the show promises to be innovative send-up of the tale. Saturday, Aug 18, Maison de la Culture Frontenac (2550 Ontario E.), 11 a.m., in French, $15 for adults and $10 for kids

The Next Wave Festival runs through August 21.