Take your Montréal seminar, conference or gala up a notch by setting it onstage. These three Montréal theatres are gilded and eye-popping, rich in history, high-tech and simply crammed with cachet. Your attendees will be amazed before your first presenters even utter a word!
Petite gem: Cartier Theatre
Location: 2330 Sainte-Catherine Street East
Capacity: Up to 250 people
Website: theatrecartier.ca
Equipped with the latest AV equipment, The Cartier is perfect for live concerts, galas, fundraisers, conferences, corporate functions and more. It presides over the corner of Sainte-Catherine Street East and Fullum, and was named for its proximity to the Jacques-Cartier Bridge. The space, originally built in 1928 as the St. Vincent-de-Paul Church by well-known architect Ludger Lemieux, boasts completely restored original features including moldings, colour scheme and a beautiful St. Vincent-de-Paul mosaic, all enhanced with a judicious use of architectural lighting.
Mid-sized wonder: St-James Theatre
Location: 265 Saint-Jacques Street
Capacity: Up to 500 people
Website: stjamestheatre.ca
Formerly the home of the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce and distinguished by its colonnade and immense portico, the St-James is set in a building that comprises three main halls available for corporate rental. You’ll find marble, skylights, stained glass windows, stages and many nooks and crannies (like the original safe) that provides the perfect backdrop for a champagne room, scotch bar, photo booth or VIP suite. The high-tech equipment includes a portable stage, wireless microphones, a plexiglass podium and black velvet curtains.
Gloriously grand: Rialto Theatre
Location: 5723 Parc Avenue
Capacity: Up to 1,165 people
Website: theatrerialto.ca
The Rialto, architecturally inspired by the Opéra de Paris, has four restored halls of varying sizes for a wide range of events: fundraisers, galas, shows and cocktail parties. The opulent décor includes marble staircases, painted ceilings, gilded moldings and a Tiffany stained-glass dome, in addition to the touches of red velvet that give it that classic theatrical charm. The state-of-the-art lighting, sound and projection systems (and the inhouse technical assistance) make it easy to plug and play.
Read this next: Add some circus flair to your Montréal events
