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 5 outdoor productions and grab your ticket to summer fun!
Prescott Park Arts Festival, Portsmouth
June 24 - August 14, 2022
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 festival’s summer musical is a crowd-pleasing production of Footloose, delivering dynamic new songs and the timeless story of youthful exhilaration, the wisdom of listening to one another, and the power of forgiveness. The show will debut most Thursdays through Sundays during the summer, so you have plenty of opportunities to enjoy this wonderful production!
Winnipesaukee Playhouse, Meredith
June 29 – September 17, 2022
The Winnipesaukee Playhouse will perform three shows in the sun on their outdoor amphitheater this season! From June 29 – July 9, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare will take the stage, bringing to life the undying comedic and tragic tales of the emotive Shakespeare. Next up will be a classic we all know and love, Neil Pankhurst’s Robin Hood, on stage August 3 – 13. The outdoor season will end with a beguiling performance of The Conference of the Birds, a story based on the renowned poem by the twelfth century Persian mystic in which all the birds of the world gather on an epic journey to decide who shall be their king, playing from September 7 – 17.
Jean’s Playhouse, Lincoln
July 7 – 9, 2022
The White Mountains of New Hampshire will come alive with a special outdoor production of The Sound of Music in Concert, back by popular demand for its second year! This beloved musical tells the story of an animated young governess who brings the joy of music to a broken family in the dramatic setting of Austria in 1938. This unique show performed on the grounds of the Pemi Base Camp at Loon Mountain is one you won’t want to miss!
Opera North, Cornish
July 8 – July 30, 2022
Opera North will showcase two performances this summer at the historic Blow-Me-Down Farm in Cornish. The peaceful rolling hills and gentle sound of water from the nearby brook make this spot perfectly idyllic. The season will kick off with a family-friendly performance blending familiar stories, gorgeous voices, and high-flying aerialists in a fantasy carnival tale set in Venice (July 8-10). Next to take the stage will be a lively one-day musical performance titled Bette, Babs & Beyond on Saturday, July 30. The songs from legendary divas like Bette Midler, Aretha Franklin, Barbra Streisand, and Tina Turner will fill the air in an unforgettable show under open skies.
Photo credit: Lars Blackmore
Peterborough Players, Peterborough
July 15 – August 13, 2022
The Peterborough Players’ 2022 season will include one family-friendly outdoor performance set on the newly-loved Elsewhere Stage! This Second Company show will bring to life a coming-of-age tale with music and score by the Tony Award-winning team of Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty. Mark your calendars and don’t miss the
Emperor’s New Clothes matinee performances this summer!
Photo credit top of page: Lars Blackmore