Join Theater in the Open for a journey away and return changed!
OUR MAINSTAGE SEASON
Petrushka & the Caterpillar
Everyone's favorite clown returns!
May 17–25 | Saturdays & Sundays at 2 PM
Maudslay State Park
Pay-What-You-Will
What happens when your favorite stories need a new ending? Journey into the forest with everyone's favorite clown, Petrushka, as she upends iconic fables and fairytales in our signature storytelling style – with tons of imagination, humor, and heart!
This program is supported in part by grants from the Local Cultural Councils in Lawrence, Merrimac, Newbury, Newburyport, Salisbury, Rowley, Georgetown, West Newbury, & Haverhill, all local agencies which are supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.
As You Like It
Anything can happen in the woods!
Banished from the court, Rosalind heads to the Forest of Arden disguised as a boy. In the woods, love blossoms, identities get mixed up, and everyone finds out who they really are (with a lot of laughter along the way). TITO presents this wild, witty adventure that proves sometimes you have to get lost in the forest to find your way home.
Circus Smirkus
August 1 at 2 pm and 7 pm
August 2 at 1 pm and 6 pm
The annual Big Top Tour returns to the Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm in Newbury on August 1 and 2. Four shows over two days with some of the most talented young circus performers in America—all proceeds help benefit Theater in the Open’s programs and scholarships. We’ll see you out at the farm!
Roll the dice, whirl the spinner, and join the ultimate circus showdown—The 2025 Circus Smirkus Big Top Tour: Game On! This high-energy, action-packed spectacular brings your favorite board games to life with daring circus acts, playful twists, and nonstop fun for all ages!
From gravity-defying flips to hilarious hijinks, this game is full of surprises—and the only rule? Expect the unexpected! It’s your turn now—so get ready to have fun! When Circus Smirkus is in town, it’s always GAME ON!
Tickets go on sale May 1 through Circus Smirkus.
Bar(d)
Choose Your Own Shakespeare!
Shakespeare walks into a bar… and forgets his lines. At Bar(d), the audience calls the shots (sometimes literally), the actors get their cue scripts moments before curtain, and the next scene might just include you. Choose your play, choose your pint, and prepare for a tragically funny night of theatrical mayhem.
Poe.
The Raven….and so much more!
TITO’s beloved scary season production returns with the Edgar Allan Poe stories you know and love. Join us as we bring historic houses to life with the works of the literary master.
Maudslay is Haunted
Our annual haunting of Maudslay State Park returns this October for more frightening fun and giggling ghouls! This family friendly stroll through the park is our largest fundraiser of the year—grab your costumes and join us for some spooky, Halloween fun!
A Nutcracker Panto
The Holiday Tradition – At Firehouse Center for the Arts!
Theater in the Open’s annual holiday panto returns to the Firehouse Center for the Arts in December with A Nutcracker Panto! A goofy spin on Tchaikovsky’s classic ballet, join Clara for an unforgettable Christmas, filled with pratfalls, snowballs, and plenty of laughs. Whether a Theater in the Open Panto has been part of your holiday tradition in the past, or you’re joining us for the first time, we are thrilled to welcome you to the Firehouse for some holiday cheer.