Though the arts sector might be reeling from the uncertainty caused by federal funding cuts, it has not stopped the creation of new theatrical works and the staging of classic productions. So when planning summer fun, consider heading to the theater where companies in Greater Boston and beyond are offering up world premieres (“Spirit of the People”), musicals based on popular films (“Back to the Future”) and, as always, a smidge of Shakespeare (“As You Like It”). Here are 15 shows tackling everything from food insecurity to unlikely friendships and familial bonds to catch onstage this season.
Through 29
A seemingly cute and harmless plant named Audrey II soon develops a thirst for blood in the sci-fi musical “Little Shop of Horrors.” Seymour Krelborn, a shy floral assistant tasked for caring for Audrey II, goes to great lengths to satisfy the plant’s hunger. The trade-off? Audrey II promises fame and popularity to Seymour, but how much is too much? The production, with book and lyrics by Howard Ashman and music by Alan Menken, is directed by Ilana Ransom Toeplitz.
‘The Victim’
Shakespeare & Company
June 19-July 20
Three women whose stories intersect are at the center of Lawrence Goodman’s play “The Victim,” which kicks off the 48th season at Shakespeare & Company in Lenox. This world premiere features Annette Miller (“Golda’s Balcony”) who will deliver the monologues of the three characters. One is a sought-after New York doctor whose diversity training has gone off the rails, another is a Holocaust survivor grappling with trauma, and the third is a health aide dealing with racism during the pandemic. But who in these stories is the oppressor and who is the victim? Daniel Gidron directs this narrative with themes of identity, barbarity and empathy.
June 26-29
The Theater Offensive, which “presents liberating art by, for, and about queer and trans people of color,” is launching its inaugural Queer [Re] Public Festival, a four-day event at Arrow Street Arts in Cambridge. Three projects will be showcased: Victoria Lynn Awkward’s dance work “In the Space Between,” Cheyenne Wyzzard-Jones’ “The Messenger” and Annalise “River” Guidry’s “Theater of Union.” The theatrical celebration with dance, readings and workshops is the result of the theater’s nearly two-year Emergent Artist Residency and True Colors Residency programs.
July 3-26
A rule-following sanitation worker named Danny butts heads with a new colleague named Marlowe over just about everything. But even though the beginning of their working relationship starts off bumpy in this comedy by playwright Lindsay Joelle, the two form an unlikely friendship. Danny and Marlowe come from different racial and educational backgrounds, but they soon find out that they have more in common than they thought. Gloucester Stage Producing Artistic Director Rebecca Bradshaw will helm the production.
July 8-20
It’s been 40 years since Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale’s sci-fi movie “Back to the Future” hit movie theaters. In the film, 17-year-old Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) time travels to the 1950s with the help of scientist Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd) and almost ruins his parents’ love story. Now, adapted for the stage by the film’s creators, the classic narrative is a musical with hit songs from the movie including “The Power of Love,” “Earth Angel” and “Back in Time,” and featuring songs by multi-Grammy winners Alan Silvestri and Glen Ballard (who penned Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror”). Tony Award-winner John Rando directs.
July 17-Aug. 3
The Williamstown Theatre Festival is leaning on its Creative Collective — a rotating group of guest curators — to work with their team to develop and shape their annual theater festival. The idea is to use the new energy, ideas and plays to further engage audiences each summer. This year, Jeremy O. Harris, the writer of “Slave Play” and “Zola,” leads the charge as the creative director of the festival with offerings that tie back thematically to the work of Tennessee Williams. Harris’ latest play, “Spirit of the People,” touches on land and power and will premiere at Williamstown this July with three weekend shows. Katina Medina Mora will direct.
‘As You Like It’
Commonwealth Shakespeare Company
July 23-Aug. 10
This year’s Shakespearean summer offering from Commonwealth Shakespeare Company brings together some of the area’s busiest thespians, including Jared Troilo, Joshua Olumide, John Kuntz, Kandyce Whittingham and Maurice Emmanuel Parent, for “As You Like It.” In the tale, Rosalind’s dad’s kingdom is seized by her uncle and she and her cousin flee in search of refuge. While away, they learn a lot about life from their new community in this romantic comedy, which will be directed by Steven Maler. A summer tradition, the show will be staged under the stars on Boston Common. The shows are free and open to the public.
‘Joan’
Barrington Stage Company
July 31-Aug. 17
The late comedian Joan Rivers was known for her razor-sharp wit and big personality. She got her start doing stand-up in clubs in New York and later rose to fame as a regular guest on “The Tonight Show.” Eventually, the Emmy and Grammy Award-winning Rivers went on to host her own show, “The Late Show with Joan Rivers.” After trying her hand at late night TV, Rivers switched gears and hosted the daytime talk show “The Joan Rivers Show” for seven seasons. In “Joan,” a play by Daniel Goldstein, audiences get a behind-the-scenes look at the legendary comedian, who, in between juggling fame, was a wife (she married twice) and a mom. David Ivers will direct this regional premiere, that will also be staged at The Cape Playhouse in September.
‘No Child’
Gloucester Stage Company
Aug. 7-23
Educators have the exciting, but challenging job of imparting knowledge while hopefully inspiring the students they encounter. In Nilaja Sun’s one-woman show “No Child,” teaching artist Ms. Sun arrives at Malcolm X High School, located in a poor area, aiming to engage students through a six-week workshop. During the workshop, the class focuses on “Our Country’s Good,” a play about marines and convicts staging a show, in the vein of the excellent and moving film “Sing Sing.”
At first, the students resist. But Ms. Sun marches onward in her quest to move them. Over time, and through relationship-building and theater techniques, they all learn how perseverance leads to change. Sun’s autobiographical play with multiple characters was borne of her experience as a teaching artist in New York for nine years. Pascale Florestal (“Fairview,” “Next to Normal”) will direct.
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Aug. 7-30
Actress, screenwriter, playwright, producer and director Renée Taylor has written a new play about her life, covering love and loss and everything in between, called “Dying is No Excuse.” The theatrical memoir delves into Taylor’s swiftly occurring, but enduring marriage to actor Joe Bologna as they steered their busy careers, deepened their partnership and raised children up until his death from cancer. The production, which Taylor will also star in, will be directed by Elaine May, a Grammy-winning stage actress and comedian, at The Unicorn Theatre in Stockbridge.
‘The Wiz’
Broadway in Boston
Aug. 12-24
The musical “The Wiz” — an adaption of “The Wizard of Oz” based on the novel by L. Frank Baum — with a Black cast premiered on Broadway on Jan. 5, 1975, at the Majestic Theatre. The show featured a stellar cast of actors that included Stephanie Mills as Dorothy, Mabel King as Evillene and Hinton Battle as the Scarecrow. William F. Brown adapted Baum’s novel and Charlie Smalls provided the music and lyrics for “The Wiz,” which was turned into a film in 1978. The film starred Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Lena Horne, Richard Pryor and Nipsey Russell. It’s been more than 40 years since the revival of the musical in 1984, and now the gospel, soul and rock-infused classic is back with direction by Schele Williams (co-director of the musical adaptation of “The Notebook”), and choreography by JaQuel Knight, who created the moves for Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies.” The show received some slight language updates from TV host Amber Ruffin, a writer and performer on “Late Night with Seth Meyers.”
Sept. 4-27
Kate Hamill shows great skill when crafting fresh takes on classic tales. Most recently, she wrote and acted in a feminist-leaning version of “The Odyssey.” In this comedic production at Gloucester Stage, she has turned her attention to Sherlock Holmes and John Watson and reimagined them as Ms. Holmes and Ms. Watson. In the story, Ms. Watson moves in with Ms. Holmes and they soon get tapped for a criminal case to solve. Over time, the duo tackles a variety of situations where they come to face to face with all kinds of criminals. But at its core, according to a description on the website, Holmes is really trying to solve the “mystery of Watson.” Rebecca Bradshaw will direct.
Sept. 11-Oct. 12
Four sisters bid farewell to their dying mother in this homecoming tale by playwright Jez Butterworth. The women grew up in a seaside town dreaming of becoming singers, a career their mom trained them for. But, as the show progresses, the sisters start to reconsider their choices. The show premiered at the Harold Pinter Theatre in London’s West End in 2023 and later moved to Broadhurst Theatre on Broadway in 2024. Loretta Greco will direct this play with themes of familial bonds, regret and music.
Sept. 12-Oct. 11
Imaginary friends are typically considered child’s play, but in Eboni Booth’s “Primary Trust,” lead character Kenneth, a 30-something bookstore worker, has had his imaginary friend follow him into adulthood. When Kenneth gets laid off, his world is upended and it sets him on a path of self-discovery. Booth’s play, which won the 2024 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, started off as a project while she was a student at The Julliard School, she shared in an interview. In that version, the character worked at a bank with sketchy business tactics and liked to drink. Booth’s finalized version, “Primary Trust,” explores life’s twists and turns and how shifting circumstances can change one’s perspective. Dawn M. Simmons, SpeakEasy Stage’s new artistic director, will direct the production.
Sept. 19-21
Season after season, ArtsEmerson offers boundary-pushing theatrical productions that vary greatly in theme and presentation. From this year’s “It’s a Motherf**king Pleasure,” a satirical take on identity politics, to last year’s interactive dinner gathering “Mrs. Krishnan’s Party,” to 2022’s movement-focused history lesson “Drumfolk,” ArtsEmerson stays true to its mission to “inspire connection across our differences.”
Kristina Wong’s “Food Bank Influencer,” showing in September, falls in line with that ideology. Wong’s one-person musical focuses on the emergency food system. This commentary on food insecurity across the nation is the “sing-along you never knew you needed,” according to the show’s description, and even promises audiences food to take home. Wong is a comedian and finalist for the 2022 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for her performance piece “Sweatshop Overlord.” With “Food Bank Influencer,” she promises to deliver the show with humor.
