THURSDAY 24

The terrific 32nd annual Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain direct from Paris continues its run at the Tohu (2345 Jarry E.) with 10 circus acts from around the world, including Russia and China. Runs until Feb. 27. Over at the Espaces des Arts (9 Ste-Cat. E.), it’s the second POMPe queer monthly party (all proceeds go towards start-up costs for Montreal’s new L’Equeerie project), a mash-up of glitter, glamour, gossip, lo-fi high fashion, dirt-bag chic, wicked dance moves and all the best pick-up lines you’ve ever heard. With DJs Mary Hell, Jonny Bonny Rock, Don de Dieu and Alekks C ($5 at 10:30 p.m.).

FRIDAY 25

The iconic Governor General’s Award-winning Canadian musical Billy Bishop Goes to War, which also headlined Broadway and London’s West End, is back in Montreal after all these years with the original cast: John Gray and Eric Peterson. A must-see Canadian classic that has aged extremely well, at the Segal Theatre (5170 Côte-Ste-Catherine), until March 6. Across town in Old Montreal, check out the Montreal debut of New York’s DJ Eddie Martinez at the long-running Drama Queen night at Bains Douches (390 St-Jacques W.). No one gets bored looking at these club kids strike a pose.

SATURDAY 26

Today is the eighth annual all-night Nuit Blanche with over 170 scheduled free activities: www.montrealenlumiere.com/volets/nuit_blanche/en_bref_en.aspx. Black History Month events continue with the annual Sounds of Color concert at the Montreal School of Performing Arts (3975 Notre-Dame W.) celebrating the ABC’s of black history, this year with a special tribute to Lena Horne, beginning at 8 p.m. ($10). Show repeats on Feb. 27. And finally, over at the Woof Bistro Bar (1661 Ste-Cat E.) in the Gay Village, Ethnoculture & Queer McGill present Get Your Groove On for Black History Month! (a fundraiser for Haiti) featuring, among others, Ian Poe Kerr of the Dukes of Drag and drag queen Liberia. A $10 suggested donation; show time is 10 p.m.

SUNDAY 27

The Musicians of the World Symphony Orchestra with conductor Joseph Milo presents Romantic Arias-Music for Lovers, with soprano Sharon Azrieli, mezzo Jessica Bowes, tenor Hugues Saint-Gelais and baritone Charles Linton Prévost performing famous arias from operas like Carmen, Don Giovanni, The Marriage of Figaro, Die Fledermaus and La Traviata. At the Oscar Peterson Concert Hall (7141 Sherbrooke W.) at 2 p.m. ($25-$30). Over at Jello Martini Lounge (151 Ontario E.), the Black History Month Legacy Series presents the Young Divas: The Legacy Continues soul music concert at 8 p.m. ($12).

MONDAY 28

Black History Month winds down with a special night of conversation with renowned Haitian storyteller Joujou Turenne, hosted by Christian Ndiaye at Librairie Olivieri (5219 Côte-des-Neiges) beginning at 7 p.m. Info: 514-739-3639. Meanwhile, on the second floor of the Jazz Fest’s Maison du Festival (305 Ste-Cat. W.), check out the Art and Desire exhibit by Quebec painter Corno celebrating women, in their upstairs Galerie Lounge TD. Runs until May 15. Free admission.

TUESDAY 01

The Centaur Theatre (453 St-François-Xavier) in Old Montreal presents the world premiere of Montreal playwright Michael Mackenzie’s new play Instructions to Any Future Socialist Government Wishing to Abolish Christmas, a satirical play about the 2008 market crash. The play runs through April 3 (tix: $34.50). Over at Le Belmont (4483 St-Laurent) on the Main it’s the Mascara and Popcorn cocktail bash and networking event, where amateur filmmakers and B-movie enthusiasts can preview Montreal’s B-Movie Celebration this summer. Doors at 8 p.m. (info: 514-845-8443). Over at Métropolis, pop-rocker Girl Talk headlines with opening acts Max Tundra and Junk Culture.

WEDNESDAY 02

Don’t miss Black Theatre Workshop‘s Black History Month School Tour remount of Dutchman, the 1960s NYC play by Amiri Baraka about a black man whose self and values are challenged by a white woman in a claustrophobic metro car – and she has more on her mind than conversation. At Théâtre Ste-Catherine (264 Ste-Cat. E.) until March 6 ($12). Over at Casa del Popolo (4873 St-Laurent), The Beets open for France’s Beatles-esque Revolver at 8:30 p.m. ($10), and across the street at Sala Rossa (4848 St-Laurent), Midnight Romeo and The Message open for Roads ($8).