The Performing Arts

Circus

The extraordinary circus company Cirque du Soleil is based in Montréal. Each show is a celebration of pure skill and nothing less than magical, with acrobats, clowns, trapeze artists, and people costumed to look like creatures not of this world -- iguanas crossed with goblins, or peacocks born of trolls. Cirque performs internationally, with as many as 18 shows simultaneously, but there isn't a permanent show in Montréal. Check www.cirquedusoleil.com for the schedule.

Concert Halls & Auditoriums

Montréal has a score of venues; check newspapers, magazines, and websites to find out who's playing where.

Dance

Montréal hosts frequent appearances by notable dancers and troupes from other parts of Canada and the world -- among them Paul Taylor, the Feld Ballet, and Toronto's Le Ballet National du Canada -- and has accomplished resident companies as well.

Comedy

The once red-hot market for comedy clubs across North America may have cooled off in most places, but it lives on in Montréal, mostly because the city is the home to the highly regarded Juste pour Rire (Just for Laughs) Festival (tel. 888/244-3155; www.hahaha.com) every summer. Those who have so far avoided the comedy-club experience should know that profanity, bathroom humor, and ethnic slurs are common fodder. To avoid becoming the object of comedians' barbs, sit well back from the stage. Check before buying tickets whether the show you're interested in is in French or English.

There's a full array of comedy at Comedyworks, a long-running club at 1238 rue Bishop (tel. 514/398-9661; www.comedyworksmontreal.com). Monday is open-mic night, Tuesday and Wednesday are improv nights (a comedy troupe works off the audience's suggestions), and Thursday through Saturday nights feature international headliners. No food is served, just drinks. Reservations are recommended, especially on Friday, when it may be necessary to arrive early to secure a seat. Shows are in English and happen nightly at 8:30pm, with additional shows at 11pm on Friday and Saturday.