Summer Theatre in the Sun

The perfect recipe for summer fun? Sunshine, laughs, and a good show. That’s why playhouses all across the state have decided to bring productions outdoors this season—joining the dramas of theatre with the dynamic backdrop of nature! Giggle through hilarious comedies in the park, watch whimsical stories on a mountainside stage, or appreciate the tragedies of an opera sitting riverside. Check out these 4 outdoor productions and grab your ticket to summer fun!



Prescott Park Arts Festival, Portsmouth
June 21 - August 11, 2024
Each year, Prescott Park in Portsmouth transforms into an art and culture mecca on the coast. Outdoor movies, summer concert series, and other special events take place on the green for all to enjoy. This season, the summer mainstage musical theatre production is Legally Blonde The Musical, an upbeat story of self-discovery. The show debuts Friday, June 21 and will play most Thursdays through Sundays during the summer.



The Patchwork Players, Whitefield and Columbia
July 2 – August 23, 2024
This summer, the Patchwork Players will perform four fascinating shows on the outdoor stage at the Weathervane Theatre and at the Great North Woods Center for the Arts. These captivating performances will kick off on July 2 with the timeless story of Peter Pan (July 2-12). Then, Swiftly Chasing Dreams will take the stage, bringing to life a Taylor Swift biography complete with some of her greatest hits (July 16-26). A new musical for the whole family called The Claw will follow up to tell the tale of a gaggle of toys that live in a suddenly operational claw machine (July 31-August 2). And the season will conclude with the North Country Moosical Musical, which follows a young moose who must make his first solo journey through the Northern Forest (August 14-23)!   



Jean’s Playhouse, Lincoln
July 4 – 6, 2024
This season's summer kickoff event takes the form of a concert performed on the outdoor stage surrounded by the wonder and beauty of the White Mountains. The tale of The Secret Garden is an enchanting story told in a musical style. Witness the story of 11-year-old Mary Lennox as she returns to Yorkshire and encounters a secret magical garden where her adventures truly begin. This performance displayed under the summer sky is one you won't want to miss!



Opera North, Cornish
July 11 – August 4, 2024
Opera North will host a trio of live performances this summer at the historic Blow-Me-Down Farm in Cornish. The season kick offs with Orpheus in the Underworld, a comedic romp on both mythology and man (July 11-14). Next, grab your hood and basket because we're going over the bridge and through the woods to grandmother's house with the classic tale Into the Woods featuring fan-favorite fairytale characters (August 1-4). The final show to grace the summer stage is one of the most popular and beloved operas ever written: Rigoletto! This epic opera is tells a passionate story of jealousy, vengeance and sacrifice (July 21, 24, 27).
Photo credit: Lars Blackmore.


Photo credit top of page: Lars Blackmore