• Theatre By The Sea’s 2025 summer season includes four musicals: “Always… Patsy Cline,” “Waitress,” “Hairspray,” and “Heartbreak Hotel.”
• The season offers a mix of classic and contemporary productions, including biographical stories and upbeat musicals.
• In addition to the mainstage shows, Theatre By The Sea will host children’s theater productions and late-night cabarets.

It’s like a puzzle to assemble his four-show season at Theatre By The Sea every year, but Bill Hanney always keeps one thing in mind: the audience.

“Our audiences love musicals and the classics, so I’m always looking for that,” says the owner/producer of Theatre by the Sea in South Kingstown. “I shoot for a mix of old and new, smaller and blockbuster.”

The summer 2025 season perfectly reflects that goal – plus some luck when it came to what was available to him.

“Honestly, there’s just not room in the schedule for all that we want to do,” Hanney says.

Here’s what will be on stage this summer:

‘Always … Patsy Cline’

May 28 to June 21. The biography of the powerhouse country star who died tragically in 1963 is told through the eyes of superfan turned friend Louise Seger, and moves the audience from scenes at the Grand Ole Opry to Houston’s Esquire Ballroom to a Houston radio station. Popular songs like “I Fall to Pieces,” “Come On In (and Make Yourself at Home)” and “Crazy” dot the scenes for what Hanney calls “a smaller show with great music and story.”

‘Waitress’

June 25 to July 19. Hanney says he’s been waiting for this story of following your dreams to become available. Calling it a “big show,” he says it incorporates original music and lyrics by recording star Sara Bareilles to tell the story of a waitress who feels trapped by her job, an abusive relationship and an unplanned pregnancy until she draws on her baking skills and inner strength to break free.

‘Hairspray’

July 23 to Aug. 16. “I love this show!” says Hanney of the over-the-top musical that overlays 1960s teenage rebellion – all Tracy Turnblad wants to do is dance on the televised “Corny Collins Show” – peer bullying over her fuller figure, and advocacy for racial integration after some call the tunes Collins plays “Black music.” Unforgettable songs from the show – which was adapted into a film and a TV special – include “You Can’t Stop the Beat,” “Big, Blonde and Beautiful” and “The New Girl in Town.”

‘Heartbreak Hotel’

Aug. 20 to Sept. 14. Promising a lead actor who is “the closest thing to Elvis as possible,” Hanney says this biographical show is an evolution of “Elvis the Musical” some might remember from a few years ago. It follows the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll’s musical journey “to a great spot” and includes appearances by Frank Sinatra, Elvis’ wife, Priscilla, and Ann-Margret. The playlist includes hits like “Hard-Headed Woman,” “Can’t Help Falling in Love” and “Blue Suede Shoes.” “It’s a different take on his story, with all the music,” Hanney says.

In addition, Theatre By The Sea will feature the same culinary team and late-night cabarets at its adjacent Bistro by the Sea, plus a Friday morning children’s theater series with productions of “James and the Giant Peach Jr.” and “Simply Frozen,” as well as juggling and magic shows.

Theatre By The Sea is at 364 Cards Pond Road in South Kingstown. For more information, or to buy tickets, go to theatrebythesea.com.