With warmer weather here to stay for a few months, theatres can plan to expand on their virtual productions with the addition of outdoor shows. Plus, you can film or live-stream the production to keep your online audience in the mix and show off your theatre’s adaptability.
Keep the cast at ten and under with limited set locations, and you have the makings for a great outdoor theater experience. Here are seven shows perfect for outdoor performances.
Category: Musical
Genre: Jukebox/ Slapstick Comedy
Run Time: 1 hr, 50
Cast size: 1M, 3F
Other details: Much like Marilyn Monroe, Bing Crosby, and Bob Hope in Some Like it Hot, World War II nostalgia, cross-dressing, mistaken identities, comedic situations, and the music of a generation fuel the fun.
Playwright: Roger Bean
Synopsis: When the Andrews Sisters cancel their USO performance because of a Chickenpox outbreak, three willing stagehands come to the rescue, masquerading as Peggy Jones’ backup singers. The brothers perform some of the Andrews Sisters’ greatest hits with a host of hi-jinx and hilarity.
Recommendation: The antics of slapstick comedy and nostalgic music combine to make this play an engaging and memorable outdoor theatre experience.
Category: Play
Genre: Comedy/ TYA
Run time: 90 minutes
Cast size: 9F, 1M (Flexible)
Other details: Alice fans will love this magical show full of adventure, curiosity, madness, coming of age, and unbirthdays.
Playwright: Mark Landon Smith
Synopsis: Smith’s adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland follows the restless birthday girl, Alice, as she chases a busy bunny and ends up in its fantastical world, encountering the Cheshire Cat, the Mad Hatter, and the mercurial Queen of Hearts.
Recommendation: This familiar story with a unique twist is a perfect play for outdoor performances that delight young audiences.
Category: Original Musical/ TYA
Genre: Coming of Age
Run Time: 1 hr 45 min
Cast size: 8F, 8M (Flexible)
Other details: Remember feeling like a fish out of water at summer camp? All those memories will come rushing back.
Playwright: Book & Lyrics by David Spiegel & Stacy Davidowitz
Music & Lyrics by Adam Spiegel
Synopsis: Robert Benjamin’s parents are separating, and he’s going to summer camp for the first time. He’d rather be home playing baseball. Not in some weird place with a bunch of kids he doesn’t know. But what Robert doesn’t know is that this is the first summer of the rest of his life.
Recommendation: Pack up your trunks and head to Camp Rolling Hills, where new friendships and first loves make for excellent outdoor summer theatre.
Category: Drama/ TYA
Genre: Coming of Age
Run Time: 75 min
Cast sibze: 5F, 6M (Flexible)
Other details: Baloo, the bear, narrates this new take on the beloved children’s story featuring masks, puppets, and contemporary elements.
Playwright: Briandaniel Oglesby
Synopsis: This living storybook adaptation of The Jungle Book follows Mowgli as he struggles to fit in, find his family, and contend with Kaa and Sheer Khan. With the help of his besties, Baloo and Bagheera, Mowgli’s search comes to a happy conclusion.
Recommendation: Summer fun for the whole family with themes including coming of age, family bonds, class distinction, courage, and revenge.
Category: Musical
Genre: Jukebox Review
Run Time: 1 hr 45 min
Cast size: 4M (Flexible)
Other details: This fun in the sun show features 34 of the greatest rockin-road hits of the 20th century, including “Dead Man’s Curve,” “King of the Road,” “Little GTO,” and “Little Old Lady from Pasadena.”
Playwright: Roger Bean
Synopsis: A large car radio narrates the journey from Chicago, where Route 66 begins, then takes the audience on a nostalgic road trip traveling along the famed “Main Street of America,” all the way to the sunny California coast.
Recommendation: Get your kicks traveling from Chicago to the California coast, serenaded by the surf music of the 1960s with this smash coast-to-coast hit musical revue.
Category: Musical
Genre: Family / TYA
Run Time: 1 hr 40 min
Cast size: 4F, 7M, 1 Child (Flexible)
Other details: Fantasy and mythology blend themes of prejudice, acceptance, friendship, and freedom.
Playwright: Book, Music & Lyrics by Phil Darg
Synopsis: A small boy named Sam gets lost in the woods and comes face-to-face with Bigfoot, who, as it turns out, is friendly and has a name, Arthur. They form a great friendship as they search for their families and navigate their way around opportunists who want to capture a Sasquatch.
Recommendation: Take a musical romp in the Pacific Northwest woods to meet Sasquatch, the legend.
Category: Adaptation
Genre: School
Run Time: 1hr 30min
Cast size: 23F, 13M, 4 F/M
Other details: This very loose adaptation is flexible for 30 or 40 minutes or a full-length play with a 10-15 minute intermission. In any case, the final play must be Adieu.
Playwright: Jon Jory
Synopsis: Find out what happens when mermaids, Smee, and some cranky crocodiles have their say. Here’s a look at the world of Peter Pan and what goes on when no one is looking.
Recommendation: A fun mash-up of favorite childhood characters, perfect for an outdoor high school theatre performance.
Outdoor theatre is one way to get back on the stage and remain flexible in challenging times. On The Stage’s all-in-one platform offers a hub for promotion, ticketing, audience engagement, and more.