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 23 - August 13, 2023
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 Little Shop of Horrors, a horror comedy rock musical. The show debuts Friday June 23 and will play most Thursdays through Sundays during the summer.
Winnipesaukee Playhouse, Meredith
July 12 – August 26, 2023
The Winnipesaukee Playhouse will perform two shows this summer in their outdoor amphitheater. From July 12 – July 22, Shout! The Mod Musical will take the center stage. This smashing revue tracks five groovy gals as they come of age during those liberating days that made England swing! In August, from the 16th – 26th, Driving Miss Daisy will be featured at the amphitheater. The story, written by playwright Alfred Uhry, starts out as indifference and disdain but turns into a friendship that transcends racial prejudices and social conventions. Two shows you’ll want to add to your summer calendar!
Jean’s Playhouse, Lincoln
July 6 – 8, 2023
Follow the yellow brick road to Lincoln this summer for an outdoor performance you won’t soon forget! The North Country Center for the Arts kicks off its summer season with the musical Wizard of Oz In Concert. The show will be performed in the North Field in Lincoln, right across from their indoor venue. The beautiful open field with stunning mountain views is the perfect setting for Oz. Get your tickets early to see Dorothy and her friends for what is sure to be a memorable performance of this beloved and nostalgic musical.
Opera North, Cornish
July 7 – July 30, 2023
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 a Cavalcade of Stars & Arias, a dazzling circus parade of acrobats and artists (July 7-9). Next up on the stage prepare to be transported to Spain’s back streets, bullrings and conflicted hearts in the beloved opera Carmen (July 16, 19, 21). Performances wrap up with Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Carousel, a classic American musical, set on the Maine coast during simpler times, the story spans heaven and earth in its exploration of human frailty, resilience and the power of forgiveness (July 27 – 30).
Photo credit: Lars Blackmore.
Photo credit top of page: Lars Blackmore