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 20 - August 10, 2025
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 Disney’s Freaky Friday: The Musical, a heartwarming story where a mother and daughter swap lives and see the world through each other’s eyes. The show debuts Friday, June 20 and will play most Thursdays through Sundays during the summer.
The Patchwork Players, Whitefield and Columbia
July 1 – August 22, 2025
This summer, the Patchwork Players will perform four captivating shows on the outdoor stage at the Weathervane Theatre and throughout northern NH. These performances will kick off on July 1 with the timeless story of the Wizard of Oz (July 1 - 11). Then, Polka Dots: The Cool Kids Musical will take the stage, a tale inspired by the events of The Little Rock 9 (July 16-25). A sweet, family-friendly comedy called Last Chance Tuesday will follow up to tell the tale of a hero dog finding his forever home (July 30-August 8). And the season will conclude with Somebody’s Got Your Back: Celebrating Disney Sidekicks, which tributes Disney’s beloved companions from all your favorite movies (August 13-22)!
Advice to the Players, Sandwich
July 8 – August 10, 2025
This summer, find your favorite Shakespearean tales performed by Advice to The Players, Sandwich’s Shakespeare Company. The season’s first outdoor performance will take place at Quimby Park to tell the tale of The Taming of the Shrew on the evening of July 8th. Next up is the timeless romantic tragedy of Romeo and Juliet on July 25th. The summer’s main stage production will perform The Merry Wives of Windsor, a hilarious romp exploring themes of money, marriage, and friendship — performing August 1-10 with a special performance at Castle in the Clouds on August 7th.
Opera North, Cornish
June 27 – July 18, 2025
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 the classic tale of The Little Prince, a beloved tale of an aviator who crashes in the desert and meets a prince from another planet (June 27-29). Next, a new production takes us back in time to the 1920’s following servants Susanna and Figaro as they outwit their philandering employer, sung in Italian with projected English subtitles (July 13-18). The final show to grace the summer stage is a beloved opera: Man of La Mancha. This epic story follows the adventures of the mad knight Don Quixote with windmills to battle, damsels to save and a quest to follow (July 24-27).
Photo credit: Lars Blackmore.
Photo credit top of page: Lars Blackmore
