Segal Centre Sets Stage for New Season

With plays by Arthur Miller, Morris Panych and more

The Segal Centre for the Performing Arts at the Saidye is one of Montreal's premier theatres. It's long name incorporates the legend that was the Saidye Bronfman Centre into the new performing arts facility that it has become.

Saidye Bronfman was the matriarch of the legendary Bronfman family, fabled booze merchants, paragons of philanthropy, one of the most prominent families in Canada. Saidye was a matron of the arts, and moved in illustrious circles. According to legend, she had a run in with writer Mordecai Richler at the 1976 premier of the film version of The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz. Mrs. Bronfman allegedly said to Richler “You've come a long way for a kid from St. Urbain Street,” to which Richler apparently replied “And you've come a long way for a bootlegger's wife.”

In a way, Richler was right. Sam Bronfman's history is indeed a colourful one. But however the Bronfman family made their fortune, the foundation that Mr. Sam, as he was known, named after himself and his wife eventually lead to the creation of the Saidye Bronfman Centre for the Arts in Montreal's Snowdon area. The fine arts school that shared space with a theatre has since given way to a performing arts academy, but the theatre is still there, and has grown by leaps and bounds.

A few years ago the Saidye Bronfman Centre was bought by the Segal family. They changed the name, but as a tribute to the late Mrs. Bronfman, called it The Segal Centre for the Performing Arts at the Saidye. Each year they put up what they bill as a season of first class theatre, and this year is no exception.

There are actually 2 theatres at the Segal. The main stage, and The Studio, site of the upcoming world premier of Gordon, a new play by Canadian award-winner Morris Panych (September 22-October 16). Arthur Miller's A View From The Bridge will go up across the hall on the main stage, directed by Montrealer Diana Leblanc (October 3-24). The Segal's CinemaSpace is a state of the art, 77-seat screening room which doubles as a lecture hall where, over the next few months, the Segal will feature a free lecture series, in conjunction with l'Opera de Montreal, called Place a l'Opera. And for the jazz lover, The Segal's Power Jazz Series takes over Sunday evenings for a series of intimate concerts with some of Montreal's best jazz musicians.

The Segal Centre is also home to the internationally acclaimed Yiddish Theatre, named for its immortal founder, Dora Wasserman. Next summer they will once again play host to the world, as they did in 2009, when they stage the second Montreal International Yiddish Theatre Festival (more on this at a later date).

Watch this space over the next few weeks for more details on some of what The Segal has to offer, along with a look at what some of Montreal's other theatres have on tap this season.