Guide to 2026 Summer Theater in New Hampshire

June 29, 2026

New Hampshire Magazine Staff,

Andy’s Summer Playhouse features outstanding plays performed by talented children. Photo by P.T. Sullivan

New Hampshire is home to some truly excellent talent and venues. Whether you appreciate Shakespeare or Broadway, there’s sure to be something happening that you’ll love. Here you’ll find, in alphabetical order, seasonal summer theater venues from across the state.

This summer you could spend a sunny afternoon with the family watching a production of “Legally Blonde” at the Prescott Park Arts Festival in Portsmouth, experience Shakespeare’s eternal brilliance in Sandwich, enjoy a night at the opera with Opera North and much, much more.

Venues:

Advice to the Players

As Hamlet said in his advice to the players, “Be not too tame neither, but let your own discretion be your tutor” and head over to the Advice to the Players to hear the challenging but inspiring words of Shakespeare. This talented group of Shakespeare enthusiasts has been presenting Shakespeare performances and workshops since 1999. The company is a mix of professionals, community members and teenagers.

Summer 2026 Performances:

Viragos: June 26-27
Camp Showcase: July 24
Romeo and Juliet at Quimby Park: July 31
Romeo and Juliet at the Castle in the Clouds: August 2
Paris and Juliet: August 29

Click here or call (603) 996-3912 for tickets and information.

54 Maple St., Sandwich

Andy’s Summer Playhouse

Andy’s Summer Playhouse features innovative plays by children intended to be enjoyed by those of all ages. From the website: “Andy’s Summer Playhouse exists to provide a safe environment for children to experience and learn about all aspects of the performing arts, with the goal of creating innovative theater for the surrounding community. Andy’s emphasizes education and community building, encouraging all participants to explore their own creativity.”

Summer 2026 Performances:

“Welcome to the Hilltop: One-Night-Only Celebration of New Plays Created by Young Artists” June 27
“The Murder of Rodger Ackroyd” July 3
“Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase,” July 8-10
“Everything You Wanted”, July 24- August 1
“it’s literally the end of the world, like, for real this time,” July 24- August 1
“The Day the Crayons Quit” (Touring Play) July 25- August 2
“The Forest Knows (a musical)” August 7- August 15
“Fated”, August 7- 15

Click here or call (603) 654-2613 for information, tickets and details on other programs such as the Andy’s Academy workshops, Writing Labs, the Greenhouse Initiative, the apprenticeship program and more.

582 Isaac Frye Hwy., Wilton

The Barnstormers Theatre

Located in the charming small village of Tamworth, the Barnstormers is one of the longest-running professional summer theaters in the country. The company was founded in 1931 by Francis Cleveland, the youngest son of President Grover Cleveland, Francis’s wife Alice and their friend Ed Goodnow — all of whom were involved with theater on Broadway. Today, The Barnstormers is one of three Equity theaters in New Hampshire, and consists of over 40 professional actors, some of which have been performing at Barnstormers for 50 years.

Summer 2026 Performances:

“Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,” June 25-July 4
“Eureka Day,” July 9 – July 18
“She Loves Me,” July 23- August 1
“Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express,” August 6- August 15
“Shear Madness,” August 20- 29

Click here or call (603) 323-8500 for tickets and information.

104 Main St., Tamworth

Hatbox Theater

(NOTE: We are waiting for information on their 2026 season!)
Boundary-pushing black-box theaters may seem like a luxury reserved for college campuses and big cities, but Concord has one of its own. The 99-seat space (located in a former Coldwater Creek in the Steeplegate Mall) hosts a wide variety of theatrical and performing arts productions throughout the year, from one-act plays to magic shows by the theater’s owner, Absolutely Magic’s Andrew Pinard.

Summer 2024 Performances:

“Discovering Magic with Andrew Pinard,” select Wednesdays
“Heathers the Musical,” July 12-July 21
“Cruel Intentions: The ’90s Musical,” August 2- 11

Click here or call (603) 715-2315 for tickets and information.

270 Loudon Rd., Concord,

Interlakes Summer Theatre

This company seeks to bring the Lakes Region a wide variety of productions, from children’s theater to classic favorites.

Summer 2026 Performances:

“Great Balls of Fire,” June 27-28
“Always… Patsy Cline,” July 8-12
“Hello Dolly” July 16- 26
“Cabaret,” July 30- August 9
“Annie,” August 13-16

Click here or call (603) 707-6035 for tickets and information.

1 Laker Ln., Meredith.

Jean’s Playhouse

This North Country theater has been open for more than three decades and prides itself on bringing the community together. Over 150,000 locals have come out to support the theater and each summer the children’s theater entertains over 12,000 members of nearby communities. Jean’s Playhouse is home to many concerts and events throughout the year, but stop by in the summer and fall for great theater.

Summer 2026 Performances:

“Juston McKinney” July 3 & 4
“iMPACT Fairytale Theatre for Children” July 8- August 12
“Hairspray” July 9- August 22
“Dueling Pianos” July 18
“Footloose,” July 23- August 21
“NCCA 40th Anniversary Gala” August 8

Click here or call (603) 745-2141 for for tickets and information.

34 Papermill Dr., Lincoln

M&D Playhouse

Tucked away in a strip mall on the edge of the White Mountains, North Conway’s M&D Playhouse has quietly amassed a reputation in its 19-year history for staging some of the most challenging theater in the state. Daring past productions include “Equus” and “Glengarry Glen Ross.” Below are this summer’s shows, but performances continue into the fall and winter.

Summer 2026 Performances:

“Jon Stetson, The Mentalist” June 27
“Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors,” July 16- August 2
“Reefer Madness,” August 27- September 13

Click here or call (603) 733-5275 for tickets or more information.

2760 White Mountain Hwy., North Conway

New London Barn Playhouse

One of the oldest summer stock theaters in the country, the New London Barn Players combine emerging talent with seasoned professionals to produce high quality theater. Although some things have changed since its 1933 opening (such as the 50-cent tickets), Mr. Holmes’ core mission still stands true — “To establish … a theater group presenting dramas of stimulating artistic and literary merit.”

Summer 2026 Performances:

“67th Annual Straw Hat Revue” June 3-7
“Million Dollar Quartet” June 10- 21
“Chicago,” June 24- July 12
“Shades of Bublé,” July 6
“Young Frankenstein,” July 15- August 2
“The Music of John Denver and Friends,” July 20
“Escape to Margaritaville,” August 5-16
“Once a Barnie Always a Barnie,” August 10
“Baskerville; A Sherlock Holmes Mystery,” August 19-30

Click here or call (603) 526-6710 for tickets and information.

84 Main St., New London

Opera North

In 2017, the National Park Service chose Opera North to partner in the creation of a park for the arts at the 46-acre property, which is deeded to the adjacent Saint-Gaudens National Historic Park. Augustus Saint-Gaudens was one of America’s great sculptors, and he lived seasonally in Cornish starting in 1885 and year-round from 1900 to his death in 1907. The sculptor’s friends — some of the most talented artists, musicians and writers in the country — joined him there, creating what became known as the Cornish Colony. Today, you can visit the gorgeous home and grounds, which is sprinkled with Saint Gaudens’ sculptures. Opera North is reviving that artistic spirit, and Summerfest is a fantastic opportunity to be a part of the exciting process.

Summer 2026Performances:

“La Cenerentola,” June 26- July 1
“The Ballad of Baby Doe,” July 12- 17
“Fiddler on the Roof,” July 23- 26

Click here or call (603) 448-0400 for tickets and information.

20 West Park St., Lebanon

The Palace Theatre

The Palace Professional Theatre for Children Series takes the stage this summer at one of New Hampshire’s most well known and historic theaters. The beautiful 840-seated theater is the only one of it’s kind in the area. The children’s series will have you and your children leave the theater singing.

Summer 2026 Bank of NH Children’s Summer Series Performances:

“Peter Pan Jr.” July 7-10
“Willy Wonka Jr.” July 14-17
“The Wizard of Oz,” July 21-24
“How to Train Your Dragon the Musical” July 28-31
“Madagascar: A Musical Adventure,”- August 4-7
“Shrek the Musical Jr.,” August 11- 14
“Madagascar Jr.” July 29- August 1 (Children’s Summer Series)
“The Little Mermaid Jr.“ August 18-21
“BJ Hickman Magic Shows” August 25-27

Click here or call (603) 668-5588 for tickets and information.

80 Hanover St., Manchester

Peterborough Players

A true rustic theater company, the Peterborough Players was founded in 1933 (2023 marked their 90th anniversary!) and perform in an 18th-century barn to this day, but don’t worry — there’s air conditioning.

Summer 2026 Performances:

“Baskerville,” June 17- June 28
“Million Dollar Quartet,” July 15-26
“A Danger to Yourself and Others” July 1-12
“Proof,” July 29- August 9
“Emma,” August 12-23

Click here or call (603) 924-7585 for tickets and information.

55 Hadley Rd., Peterborough

Prescott Park Arts Festival

A delightful summer tradition since 1974, and held in the waterfront Prescott Park, the festival offers a full summer of events that are family appropriate. The main musical is featured here, but the festival includes much more, including other live theater performances, outdoor movies, music, a fairy house tour, chowder fest, road race, chili cook-off, brewfest and other entertainment and special events. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the festival- make sure to check out their star studded River House Concert Series as part of their summer long anniversary celebration!

Summer 2026 Performances:

“Cinderella” Through August 9
Check out Camp ENCORE, Through August 9, where performers, artists and aspiring technicians, ages 8-17, all work together towards a common goal — a fully produced musical presented at the end of each session.

Click here or call (603) 436-2848 for tickets and information.

105 Marcy St., Portsmouth

Seacoast Repertory Theatre

This award-winning professional performance space once acted as the warehouse for the Portsmouth Brewery in the ’70s but has since made a great addition to the Seacoast community’s theater life. Though there are performances all year long, Portsmouth is a popular summer destination, and it would be a shame to leave out this excellent theater. While you’re in town to soak up some summer seaside life, stop in at the Rep for an excellent show.

Summer 2026 Performances:

“Grease,” July 9- August 16
“American Idiot,” August 27- September 27

Click here or call (603) 433-4472 for tickets and information.

125 Bow St., Portsmouth

Weathervane Theatre

The Weathervane Theatre brings Broadway all the way to North Country New Hampshire for its 59th season this summer. Weathervane is the only professional alternating repertory theater in the country, producing seven shows in eight weeks — a different show every night.

Summer 2026 Performances:

“North Country Shakes: Special Villains Unit” June 24- July 2
“Tick…Tick…BOOM” June 30- August 1
“Private Lives” July 5- 24
“Rent” July 15- August 8
“Xanadu” July 29- August 22
“Come From Away” August 12-September 11
“Peter Pan Goes Wrong,” August 26- September 13

Click here or call (603) 837-9322 for tickets and information.

389 Lancaster Rd., Whitefield

The Winnipesaukee Playhouse

The Playhouse is a nonprofit, award-winning theater specializing in high-energy shows. Newer to the theater scene, The Playhouse was founded in 2004, and was soon thereafter regarded as a cultural gem of central New Hampshire. You can catch performances in the fall and winter as well, but there’s something extra special about catching a show on a warm summer evening after a day spent on the lake. This year, two shows will be performed at the outdoor amphitheater (noted below). The Playhouse also offers some excellent summer youth educational camps and other programming.

Summer 2026 Performances: