Segal Centre for Performing Arts

The Segal Centre for Performing Arts is a not-for-profit cultural institution and theatre complex in Montreal, Quebec. Located in the Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce borough, the centre occupies a building at 5170 chemin de la Côte-Sainte-Catherine and brings several artistic and educational activities together under one roof. Its facilities include the Segal Theatre, the Academy of Performing Arts, CinemaSpace, the Studio and the Dora Wasserman Yiddish Theatre. The institution was established in 1967, when the children of Saidye Bronfman gave the theatre building to the local community in recognition of their mother’s long-standing involvement in and support for the arts. The building was designed by Montreal architect Phyllis Lambert, who was also Saidye Bronfman’s daughter. The organization initially operated as the Saidye Bronfman Centre for the Arts. Its current identity dates from 2007. Following the winding-down of the Samuel and Saidye Bronfman Foundation, the centre adopted the Segal Centre for Performing Arts name in recognition of financial support from Leanor and Alvin Segal, working in partnership with the Bronfman family. The renamed organization broadened its institutional profile beyond a single theatre venue, combining professional performance, arts education, emerging-artist development, cinema, music, dance and Jewish cultural programming. The Segal Theatre is primarily an English-language theatre and has developed a reputation for professional productions involving artists from Montreal, elsewhere in Canada and internationally. Its artistic profile emphasizes new creation, innovation, diversity and intercultural collaboration. Programming commonly includes contemporary drama, fresh interpretations of established works, Canadian musicals and productions intended to connect with broad audiences. The centre’s stated cultural purpose is to encourage artistic creation and presentation while using the arts to promote dialogue and strengthen connections among communities. The institution has played a notable role in developing and presenting new Canadian musicals. Its 2008 co-production of Houdini with the Montreal Highlights Festival was later remounted by the Montreal International Jazz Festival, becoming the first play presented by that festival. The production attracted both French- and English-speaking audiences. Later projects included collaborations with the National Arts Centre, Théâtre du Rideau Vert and other Canadian organizations. In 2015, the centre presented Belles Soeurs: The Musical, an English-language adaptation based on Michel Tremblay’s play, and also launched The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz, a musical adaptation of Mordecai Richler’s novel. In 2016, it premiered Prom Queen: The Musical, which dramatized the real-life legal dispute of Ontario student Marc Hall over attending prom with his boyfriend. The Studio provides a smaller-scale venue for guest programming and special events, including SideMart Theatrical Grocery, the Power Jazz series and Broadway Café activities. The Dora Wasserman Yiddish Theatre, housed within the centre, has a long-standing role in presenting theatrical works connected to Jewish experience and Yiddish culture. Lisa Rubin became artistic director in 2014. The Segal Centre remains an active Montreal venue, producer and presenter whose activities span theatre, music, dance, cinema, education and Jewish arts and culture.

The Segal Centre’s origins date to 1967, when the children of Saidye Bronfman donated a theatre building to Montreal’s local community in recognition of their mother’s close relationship with and patronage of the arts. Designed by architect Phyllis Lambert, Saidye Bronfman’s daughter, the building became the home of the Saidye Bronfman Centre for the Arts. For much of its early institutional life, the centre operated as a cultural venue associated with the Bronfman family and Montreal’s arts community. Its later development expanded the facility’s role from a theatre into a multidisciplinary performing-arts centre. The building came to accommodate a principal theatre, educational spaces, a smaller studio venue, cinema programming and the Dora Wasserman Yiddish Theatre. A major organizational transition occurred in 2007. As the Samuel and Saidye Bronfman Foundation wound down, the Saidye Bronfman Centre was renamed the Segal Centre for Performing Arts. The new name recognized the financial contribution of Leanor and Alvin Segal, made in partnership with the Bronfman family. The rebranding reflected a broader mandate encompassing professional theatre, music, dance, cinema, arts education, emerging artists and Jewish arts and culture. The centre’s principal theatre developed as an English-language venue presenting professional artists from Montreal, across Canada and internationally. Its artistic approach has emphasized new creation, experimentation, diversity and collaboration across cultural and linguistic boundaries. Rather than limiting itself to imported productions or conventional repertory, the Segal has supported adaptations, new Canadian works and projects that connect local artistic production with national cultural institutions. In 2008, the centre co-produced Houdini with the Montreal Highlights Festival. The production was later remounted by the Montreal International Jazz Festival, marking the first time that festival presented a play. The production reached French- and English-speaking audiences and was well received by critics. In 2009, the Segal worked with the National Arts Centre on Sam Shepard’s Buried Child. The following year, its production of Jon Marans’s Old Wicked Songs, directed by Bryna Wasserman, was connected to a French-language presentation at Théâtre du Rideau Vert before the company moved to the Segal for an English-language version. The Segal became particularly visible as a producer and presenter of Canadian musicals during the 2010s. In 2015, it premiered Belles Soeurs: The Musical, based on Michel Tremblay’s play. The project involved book and lyrics by René Richard Cyr, music by Daniel Bélanger, an English adaptation by Neil Bartram and Brian Hill, and direction by Cyr. Produced with Copa de Oro, the musical later toured nationally and won the Capital Critics Circle Award for Best Production following its National Arts Centre engagement. Also in 2015, the centre launched a musical adaptation of Mordecai Richler’s The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz, with Alberta-born actor Kenneth James Stewart in the title role. In October 2016, it premiered Prom Queen: The Musical, based on Marc Hall’s legal fight to attend his Catholic-school prom with his boyfriend. The production was produced by Marcia Kash, with a book by Kent Staines, lyrics by Akiva Romer-Segal, music by Colleen Dauncey, musical direction by Mark Camilleri and choreography by Sean Cheesman. It received the Playwrights Guild of Canada’s Stage West Pechet Family Musical Award at the 2016 Tom Hendry Awards. Beyond the main stage, the Studio has served as a flexible venue for SideMart Theatrical Grocery, the Power Jazz series, Broadway Café events and visiting programming. The Dora Wasserman Yiddish Theatre, housed at the centre, has continued a long tradition of dramatizing Jewish life and experience. The Academy of Performing Arts provides an educational dimension, while CinemaSpace extends the institution’s activity into film. Lisa Rubin became artistic director in 2014. Under its current identity, the Segal Centre functions as a venue, producer, presenter and training environment. Its continuing mandate is to create, produce and present professional artistic work, nurture emerging artists and encourage intercultural understanding through the arts.

• 2016

  Prom Queen: The Musical premieres

  [1]Segal Centre for Performing Artsen.wikipedia.org

  The centre premiered a musical based on Marc Hall’s school-board legal challenge and the production later received a national Canadian theatre award.

• 2015

  Belles Soeurs: The Musical premieres

  [1]Segal Centre for Performing Artsen.wikipedia.org

  The centre premiered the English-language musical adaptation of Michel Tremblay’s play in a co-production with Copa de Oro.

• 2015

  The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz musical launches

  [1]Segal Centre for Performing Artsen.wikipedia.org

  The centre presented the world premiere of a musical adaptation of Mordecai Richler’s novel.

• 2014

  Lisa Rubin becomes artistic director

  [1]Segal Centre for Performing Artsen.wikipedia.org

  Lisa Rubin took over as artistic director.

• 2008

  Houdini co-production and festival remount

  [1]Segal Centre for Performing Artsen.wikipedia.org

  The centre co-produced Houdini with the Montreal Highlights Festival; the production was later remounted by the Montreal International Jazz Festival.

• 2007

  Renamed the Segal Centre for Performing Arts

  [1]Segal Centre for Performing Artsen.wikipedia.org

  The former Saidye Bronfman Centre for the Arts adopted its current name in recognition of support from Leanor and Alvin Segal in partnership with the Bronfman family.

• 1967

  Community theatre building established

  [1]Segal Centre for Performing Artsen.wikipedia.org

  The children of Saidye Bronfman gave the theatre building to the local community. The structure was designed by architect Phyllis Lambert.

A Montreal-based, multidisciplinary and community-oriented performing-arts centre combining professional English-language theatre with education, emerging-artist support, cinema, music, dance and Jewish cultural programming. Its theatre identity is associated with innovation, diverse artistic voices, intercultural collaboration and the development of Canadian musicals.

• Mainstage theatre · 1967

  Segal Theatre

  The principal English-language theatre venue of the centre. It presents professional productions from Montreal, across Canada and internationally, with programming that includes contemporary works, reinterpretations of classics, new Canadian musicals and intercultural collaborations.

• Studio and guest-performance venue

  The Studio

  A smaller and flexible performance space used for guest programming, SideMart Theatrical Grocery, the Power Jazz series, Broadway Café events and other presentations.

• Arts education

  Academy of Performing Arts

  The centre’s educational arm and training environment, supporting participation in the performing arts and helping develop emerging artists.

• Cinema

  CinemaSpace

  A cinema-focused facility within the centre that extends its programming beyond live performance into film presentation and related cultural activities.

• Yiddish theatre

  Dora Wasserman Yiddish Theatre

  A resident theatre dedicated to presenting works connected to Yiddish language, Jewish experience and Jewish cultural life. It has operated as an important component of the centre’s multidisciplinary identity.

• 2008

  Develop Houdini through festival co-productionProduct launch

  Background

  The centre sought to expand its producing activity and connect theatre with Montreal’s major cultural festivals.

  Action taken

  It co-produced Houdini with the Montreal Highlights Festival; the production was subsequently remounted by the Montreal International Jazz Festival.

  Aftermath

  The remount became the jazz festival’s first play and reached both French- and English-speaking audiences.

  Source

• 2007

  Rebrand and broaden the institutional mandateStrategy

  Background

  The Samuel and Saidye Bronfman Foundation was winding down, while support from Leanor and Alvin Segal and the Bronfman family provided the context for a new institutional identity.

  Action taken

  The Saidye Bronfman Centre for the Arts was renamed the Segal Centre for Performing Arts and positioned as a multidisciplinary centre covering theatre, music, dance, cinema, education and Jewish cultural programming.

  Aftermath

  The renamed organization developed a broader profile as a venue, producer, presenter and training ground, rather than operating solely as a theatre.

  Source

1. 1Segal Centre for Performing Artsen.wikipedia.org