Discover 7 Must-See Outdoor Summer Theater Productions Under 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 7 outdoor productions and grab your ticket to summer fun!
Opera North, Cornish
July 16 – August 1, 2021
Opera North will showcase three 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 high-flying circus artistry and vocal virtuosity in a family-friendly performance of Havana Nights. Next to take the stage is an inspiring one-day performance of Extraordinary Women. The season will end with an adapted English opera filled with romance, heartbreak, and the trappings of young love in La Bohème.
Photo credit: Lars Blackmore
Winnipesaukee Playhouse, Meredith
June 16 – July 31, 2021
The Winnipesaukee Playhouse will perform two shows in the sun on their outdoor amphitheater this season! From June 16 – July 3, Harold Pinter’s Betrayal will take the stage, bringing to life the emotionally devastating tale of illicit lovers in this sophisticated drama. Next up will be a powerful musical following the story of one brave girl’s battle against childhood leukemia in Dani Girl, on stage July 14 – 31.
New London Barn Playhouse, New London
June 29 – September 5, 2021
In this never-been-done-before season, the New London Barn Playhouse’s five summer shows will be performed under the stars on the campus grounds of Colby-Sawyer College! You can revel in musical performances all summer long, with a debut production of Shining On, an original revue of legendary Broadway tunes. The season will conclude with a show stopping performance of Always… Patsy Cline, a tribute to the country music sensation and her career. Check out the rest of their shows here!
Photo Credit: Windwood Productions
Jean’s Playhouse, Lincoln
July 8 – 10, 2021
The White Mountains of New Hampshire will truly come alive with a special outdoor production of The Sound of Music in Concert! 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 will be the first performance from Jean’s Playhouse in over 30 years to grace an outdoor stage, so you won’t want to miss this unique opportunity!
Prescott Park Arts Festival, Portsmouth
July 9 - August 15, 2021
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 production of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown: a family-friendly comedy that follows life through the eyes of Charlie Brown and his familiar friends from the Peanuts gang. The show will debut nightly, so you have plenty of opportunities to enjoy this wonderful production!
Great North Woods Center for the Arts, Columbia
July 12 – August 23, 2021
Grab the kids and head to Columbia for a family-friendly lineup presented in the open air (weather permitting). The local Patchwork Players will present three free shows for families to enjoy, including: Born to Entertain, Cinderella, and Best of Patchwork. And be sure to check out The GNW Center for the Arts' upcoming events for more summertime excitement including live music and local arts & crafts fairs!
Peterborough Players, Peterborough
August 4 – August 29, 2021
In this unique season, the Peterborough Players will perform Our Town by Thornton Wilder in downtown Peterborough. Our Town embodies the profound experience of everyday life, told through the lense of a cast of citizens based in Grover’s Corners, NH. Next, a relevant performance of Beehive: The 60s Musical will take place on the new outdoor ‘Elsewhere Stage’ at the Players! The show follows the tale of six young women coming of age in the radical 60’s, with popular hits from the decade scoring this emotional story!
Photo credit top of page: Lars Blackmore
Opera North, Cornish
July 16 – August 1, 2021
Opera North will showcase three 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 high-flying circus artistry and vocal virtuosity in a family-friendly performance of Havana Nights. Next to take the stage is an inspiring one-day performance of Extraordinary Women. The season will end with an adapted English opera filled with romance, heartbreak, and the trappings of young love in La Bohème.
Photo credit: Lars Blackmore
Winnipesaukee Playhouse, Meredith
June 16 – July 31, 2021
The Winnipesaukee Playhouse will perform two shows in the sun on their outdoor amphitheater this season! From June 16 – July 3, Harold Pinter’s Betrayal will take the stage, bringing to life the emotionally devastating tale of illicit lovers in this sophisticated drama. Next up will be a powerful musical following the story of one brave girl’s battle against childhood leukemia in Dani Girl, on stage July 14 – 31.
New London Barn Playhouse, New London
June 29 – September 5, 2021
In this never-been-done-before season, the New London Barn Playhouse’s five summer shows will be performed under the stars on the campus grounds of Colby-Sawyer College! You can revel in musical performances all summer long, with a debut production of Shining On, an original revue of legendary Broadway tunes. The season will conclude with a show stopping performance of Always… Patsy Cline, a tribute to the country music sensation and her career. Check out the rest of their shows here!
Photo Credit: Windwood Productions
Jean’s Playhouse, Lincoln
July 8 – 10, 2021
The White Mountains of New Hampshire will truly come alive with a special outdoor production of The Sound of Music in Concert! 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 will be the first performance from Jean’s Playhouse in over 30 years to grace an outdoor stage, so you won’t want to miss this unique opportunity!
Prescott Park Arts Festival, Portsmouth
July 9 - August 15, 2021
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 production of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown: a family-friendly comedy that follows life through the eyes of Charlie Brown and his familiar friends from the Peanuts gang. The show will debut nightly, so you have plenty of opportunities to enjoy this wonderful production!
Great North Woods Center for the Arts, Columbia
July 12 – August 23, 2021
Grab the kids and head to Columbia for a family-friendly lineup presented in the open air (weather permitting). The local Patchwork Players will present three free shows for families to enjoy, including: Born to Entertain, Cinderella, and Best of Patchwork. And be sure to check out The GNW Center for the Arts' upcoming events for more summertime excitement including live music and local arts & crafts fairs!
Peterborough Players, Peterborough
August 4 – August 29, 2021
In this unique season, the Peterborough Players will perform Our Town by Thornton Wilder in downtown Peterborough. Our Town embodies the profound experience of everyday life, told through the lense of a cast of citizens based in Grover’s Corners, NH. Next, a relevant performance of Beehive: The 60s Musical will take place on the new outdoor ‘Elsewhere Stage’ at the Players! The show follows the tale of six young women coming of age in the radical 60’s, with popular hits from the decade scoring this emotional story!
Photo credit top of page: Lars Blackmore
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