Great live theater is not confined to the city limits of New York City and Boston. You can find thriving, professional, year-round theater throughout southern New England. Here, we share a baker’s dozen of professional theaters, many housed in historic architectural venues.
Connecticut
A.C.T of CT
Ridgefield
Housed in a state-of-the-art theater that was once laboratory space, A.C.T. of CT (A Contemporary Theatre of Connecticut) focuses on supporting American musical theater. The theater company stages professional productions of beloved musicals and provides space for playwrights to workshop emerging musicals. A.C.T. of CT also hosts a popular “Broadway Unplugged” series, in which popular Broadway performers sing tunes solo, accompanied only by piano.
Legacy Theatre
Branford
The Legacy Theatre’s opening is just the latest chapter in the storied and varied history of this entertainment locale, which has at turns hosted a silent movie house, a puppet museum and an aborted attempt by Orson Welles to host what might have been the first multimedia experience. Legacy Theatre offers an eclectic mix of crowd-pleasers and less well-known works in a village on Connecticut’s southern coast.
Yale Repertory Theatre
New Haven
Since its inception in 1966, this acclaimed theater has staged more than 100 premieres of new theatrical works, including two Pulitzer Prize winners. Connected with the storied David Geffen School of Drama at Yale University, Yale Repertory Theatre hosts university students as understudies or in small roles. It also incubates new theater at the more intimate Binger Center for New Theatre.
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Hanover Theatre & Conservatory
Worcester
Located in a historic and restored theater building, the Hanover Theatre hosts a season of touring Broadway-production musicals. Hanover Theatre’s more intimate BrickBox Theater provides the stage for shows from the THT Rep, a troupe that combines the work of professional actors with local actors in training.
Merrimack Repertory Theatre
Lowell
This 279-seat theater is nestled within a larger auditorium complex just a few blocks from the storied Merrimack River. For more than four decades, the theater company has staged seasons of thoughtful plays you are unlikely to see elsewhere in the region and hosted the world premiere of several plays from acclaimed playwrights.
North Shore Music Theatre
Beverly
A bastion of theater north of Boston, the North Shore Music Theatre stages crowd-pleasing musical theater throughout the summer and fall, and its much-beloved production of “A Christmas Carol” closes out each season. The theater has been in operation since 1954 and features 1,500 seats for in-the-round viewing.
New Jersey
Paper Mill Playhouse
Millburn
For the past 90 years, this 1,200-seat theater has hosted crowds in a historic building that harkens back to the region’s more industrial past. The playhouse stages both newer and well-loved musicals, as well as musical trivia and murder mystery events. Located close to the Big Apple, the theater attracts the talents of commuting New York City actors.
UCPAC
Rahway
A historic theater built in the old school, “picture palace” style, UCPAC (Union County Performing Arts Center) now serves as a multipurpose venue for live, performing arts. UCPAC also has the distinction of hosting its Sensory Friendly Theatre series of live theater, dance and music. This series is especially tailored to children and adults with autism and includes specially trained staff and volunteers who can assist theatergoers throughout the performance.
New York
Chenango River Theatre
Greene
An intimate professional theater far from New York City, the Chenango River Theatre offers shows that are also a bit off the beaten path. It is also one of the few professional theaters in the area that stages a summer and fall season with non-musical productions.
The Gateway
Bellport
Billed as “Broadway on Long Island,” the Gateway’s seasons favor crowd-pleasing jukebox musicals and seasonal fare. Located a relatively easy commute from New York City’s theater district, this theater draws its casts directly from the Big Apple.
Stanley Theatre
Utica
Housed in an historic Baroque-style theater, the Stanley Theatre hosts an eclectic mix of touring theater productions from Broadway and beyond. In addition, it provides a venue for many other live music and dance events.
Yorktown Stage
Yorktown Heights
This theater focuses squarely on crowd-pleasing performances, with touring Broadway-based musicals and many children’s shows. Yorktown Stage also hosts robust educational opportunities for future generations of musical actors.
Rhode Island
Trinity Repertory Company
Providence
Designated as the state theater of Rhode Island, Trinity Rep offers a diverse array of performances to best reflect the character of the communities of the Ocean State. In recent seasons, the theater has focused on offering different perspectives to well-known plays, and staging plays focused on Rhode Islanders. In addition, the theater offers space for Brown University MFA productions, and a summer slate of free, bilingual Spanish and English plays.
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What’s your favorite local professional theater? Share it with us in the comments.
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What? No mention of The Gamm Theatre in Warwick, RI? Wonderful venue celebrating its 40th year. Some of the best live theatre in New England.
Surprised to see Hanover Theater in Worcester mentioned, but not the Bushnell in Hartford. Very similar buildings/history/shows.
Full disclosure: I do have multiple personal connections to the Bushnell.
Another vote for Goodspeed Opera House! A National Historic Landmark, we’ve seen Broadway professional theater at Goodspeed for many years. The productions are always top notch!
Shadowland Stages in Ellenville, NY is a non-profit professional live theatre venue producing high quality shows in the Hudson Valley for forty years. Shadowland Stages produces work that reflects upon the human experience and is accessible, relevant, timely and well-told. Shadowland Stages strives to enhance this vital work by surrounding it with innovative education programs for all ages, partnerships that spur economic activity and increase well-being, and deeply integrated outreach opportunities. For more information visit shadowlandstages.org
Another vote for PPAC in Providence RI!
Also, Vokes Theater in Wayland MA – it’s tiny, but good quality.
Greater Boston Stage Company in Stoneham, MA!
No mention of Proctors in Schenectady, UPAC/Bardavon in Kingston/Poughkeepsie or Eisenhower “Ike” Hall at West Point?
I’m surprised and disappointed that you did not include 2 other theatres in Rhode Island. The Providence Performing Arts and the Stadium Theatre (in Woonsocket, RI). Both offer excellent plays, musicals, and shows in beautiful renovated theatres.
Penguin Rep Theater in Rockland County , New York. Provides us with a lot of wonderful theatrical experiences. I think that they should be included in your listings.
Thomaston, CT has a great theater in a recently renovated old opera house. The Landmark Community Theater (LCT) has put on many shows for adults and children alike over many years.
Where is Long Wharf Theatre? Repertory theatre housed in New Haven for 50 years.Though no longer “housed” at Long Wharf, the company can be found producing quality drama while exploring innovative theatrical spaces in & around New Haven.
You forgot the Goodspeed Opera House!