Live Performances to Look Forward to in Greater Boston

With vaccinations on the rise, many arts organizations are planning to welcome you back to experiencing live, in-person events. We’re compiling a list of shows and seasons to mark your calendars for in Greater Boston and Massachusetts. We’ll be updating this list as more events are announced, and be sure to head to these organizations’ websites for the most up-to-date information regarding tickets and safety procedures. 

For more, check out the ArtsBoston Calendar for an extensive look at what’s happening in your local arts scene.

THEATRE & MUSIC

Free Shakespeare on the Common with Commonwealth Shakespeare Company 

Boston Common will be alive with the magic of Shakespeare once again, with the 25th-anniversary production of Free Shakespeare on the Common, this time in “The Tempest,” starring John Douglas Thompson as Prospero. The streamlined, intermission-less performance will be open for registration during the week of June 21. Be sure to sign up to stay in touch with CSC for more updates as the performance draws nearer!

Lyric Stage Company

The Lyric opens the doors for their 47th season on September 24 with a lineup of plays (“Be Here Now” by Deborah Zoe Laufer, “Mr. Parent” by Melinda Lopez with Maurice Emmanuel Parent and Megan Sandberg-Zakian, “The Book of Will” by Lauren Gunderson, “The Light” by Loy A. Web) and musicals (“The Last 5 Years” and “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder”). Check back and stay in touch with Lyric Stage Company for announcements on dates and tickets!

Broadway In Boston

The Opera House is planning to open its doors again with a new lineup of touring performances. Aiming for November, the 2021-2022 season will begin with “Hadestown” (Nov. 2-14), and will be followed by “Jesus Christ Superstar” (Jan. 4-16, 2022, at the Emerson Colonial Theatre), “Pretty Woman: The Musical,” (Jan. 18-30), “Summer: The Donna Summer Musical” (Feb. 22-March 6), “To Kill a Mockingbird” (April 5-17), “Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations” (April 19-May 1, “Wicked” (June 8-July 24), and “Anastasia” (Aug. 16-28). “Hamilton,” will be back in Boston the following year, from Jan. 17-March 12, 2023.

Gloucester Stage Company

Gloucester Stage is heading into the outdoors at the Windhover Performing Arts Center! The company’s season starts in June with “Tiny Beautiful Things” (June 11-27) and is followed by “Baskerville” (July 2-25), “Seared” (August 6-22), “Reparations” (September 3 – 19), and “Think of Me Tuesday” (October 1-17).

THEATRE & MUSIC

Huntington Theatre Company

Along with the announcement that they are beginning a renovation to the historic Huntington Ave theater, the theater company also revealed a path to return to live performances starting this August. “Hurricane Diane” by Madeline George (Aug. 27 – Sept. 26, 2021), “Witch” by Jen Silverman (Oct. 15- Nov.14, 2021), “Teenage Dick” by Mike Lew (December 3, 2021- January 2, 2022), Lydia R. Diamond’s adaptation of Toni Morrison’s novel, “The Bluest Eye” (Jan. 28- Feb 27, 2022), “What the Constitution Means to Me” by Heidi Schreck at the Emerson Cutler Majestic Theatre (Feb. 22- March 20, 2022), “Our Daughters, Like Pillars” by Kirsten Greenidge (Apr. 8- May 8, 2022), and “Common Ground Revisited” from Kirsten Greenidge and Melia Bensussen (May 27- June 26, 2022).

Starlight Square

Going on now and through this Summer, Starlight Square brings together small businesses, performing arts companies, individual artists, and entrepreneurs for a series of performances, markets, and community events. All this, plus food (served every weekend 12-6pm, by Comfort Kitchen)! For the full schedule of performances under the stars, unique shopping opportunities, workshops, and community events, visit starlightsquare.org.

SpeakEasy Stage Company 

For their return to the stage this fall, Boston’s SpeakEasy stage presents Adam Rapp’s “The Sound Inside” (Sept. 24- Oct. 16, 2021), “BLKS” by Aziza Barnes (Oct. 29 – Nov. 20, 2021), “People, Places & Things” by Duncan Macmillan (Jan. 7 – Feb. 5, 2022), Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty’s “Once on This Island” – (Mar. 11 – Apr. 16, 2022), and “The Inheritance, Parts 1 & 2” by Matthew Lopez (April 22 – June 11, 2022).

The Hanover Theatre

Worcester’s Hanover Theatre has a full lineup of outdoor and in-person performances scheduled through 2021 and into 2022! August 4-22, catch an outdoor production of Shakespeare’s “Julius Ceasar” at the Worcester Common Oval, and starting in September, take your seats starting with a live concert from “The Voice” star Ricky Duran, followed by a season of musicals, dance and storytelling.

Shakespeare & Company 

Renowned actor Christopher Lloyd takes on the central role in “King Lear” at a new outdoor venue on the company’s campus in Lenox, MA from July 2 through Aug. 29.

Tanglewood Music Festival

The Boston Symphony Orchestra is open will be playing once again in the open air at the Tanglewood Music Festival, based in Lenox, MA, from July 9 through August 16.

DANCE

Jacob’s Pillow

The outdoor dance festival will return to the Berkshires from June 30 through Aug. 29. While a full lineup hasn’t yet been announced, there will be a representation of many dance styles, and the programming will coincide with online programming over the summer as well.

Windhover Performing Arts Center

In addition to serving as the home for Gloucester Stage Company’s outdoor season, the dance lineup at Windhover is not to be missed! BoSoma Dance’s Youth Company performs Saturday, May 15 & Sunday, May 16, NYC’s Continuum Contemporary Ballet Company takes the stage July 26 and 27, the award-winning team of dancers from Valentango is up July 11 and 13, and Michael Trusnovec and Co. will perform a solo work by Paul Taylor and more at the end of August.