As a theater fan who grew up in the Boston area, I have a lot of familiarity with the Boston-area theater scene. While not as flashy as neighboring New York, Boston theater is still rich, diverse and high quality. Dozens of shows play each year across a wide range of companies with various specialties. For those who want to get involved in Boston theater, the wide range of companies and shows on offer can sometimes feel overwhelming. As such, I have compiled this guide to some Boston-area theater companies, from well-established favorites to hidden gems.
Actors’ Shakespeare Project (ASP): It’s fitting that ASP is first on this list, as they are the company that I am most familiar with, and have the most personal affection for. I participated in their youth theater programs throughout high school, and can personally vouch for their excellent education programming—one of the things the company is known for. ASP began as an actor-run company with an emphasis on Shakespeare and stripped back productions. While the company has drifted from their original mission statement since then, they are still predominantly known for their excellent Shakespeare productions. If you’re a lover of classical theater, Shakespeare and more experimental productions, put ASP on your radar.
Location: Charlestown, MA and various Boston-area theater spaces
Currently playing: “Seven Guitars”
American Repertory Theater (ART): The ART can sometimes feel like a bit of a hybrid between a Harvard University theater space and a professional company. This blurb will focus on their professional productions, which are highly regarded throughout the Boston area. The ART produces a broad range of shows on a large budget, and there should be something for everyone in each season. They are probably most famous for being the original company to stage the Broadway hit “Waitress,” and in that vein, don’t miss any musicals that are passing through the ART. More likely than not, they’ll be on Broadway.
Location: Cambridge, MA
Currently playing: “The Wife of Willesden”
Artists’ Theater of Boston: Founded by Brandeis alum Anneke Reich ’12, Artists’ Theater of Boston is a smaller company focused on producing works relating to systemic injustices and social movements. Their theater is fresh, accessible, low-cost and on a smaller scale than some of Boston’s larger companies. However, it’s absolutely worth checking out the work Artists’ Theater does. They do a great job balancing theater and activism, and have produced some excellent new works as well.
Location: Somerville, MA and Boston, MA
Currently developing: “The Roslindale Love Canal”
Central Square Theater (CST): The Central Square Theater houses two companies: The Nora, a feminist theater group, and the activist/collaborative Underground Railway Theater. The CST has a similar social justice mission to Artists’ Theater of Boston, but it is a little broader in terms of scope, and a larger, more established part of the Cambridge theater scene. The company also collaborates with local youth and schools through their education programs.
Location: Cambridge, MA
Currently playing: “Alma”
Commonwealth Shakespeare Company (CSC): CSC is most well known for their signature event, “Free Shakespeare on the Common.” Every summer, the company stages a Shakespeare play on the Boston Common, and admittance is free and open to everyone. These productions have become a local tradition, and are generally large scale, impressive affairs that you should definitely catch if you’re in the area for the summer. Alongside “Free Shakespeare on the Common,” CSC also runs a series of cultural events, has an educational company (CSC2), and runs a well-known Shakespeare and theater apprenticeship program for college-age artists (well worth checking out if you’re a theater major).
Location: Boston, MA
Upcoming: “Romeo and Juliet”
Fresh Ink Theater Company: One of the smaller companies on this list, Fresh Ink devotes itself exclusively to new plays by local playwrights. Their staged readings have a real collaborative feel, and they stage at least one world premiere production per year. This year, that production will be “John Deserves to Die” by Brandeis alum Rachel Greene ’20, and it is well worth checking out. While unpredictable, the new work coming out of Fresh Ink is always exciting, and they’re a company worth putting on your radar.
Location: Somerville, MA and Boston, MA
Upcoming: “John Deserves to Die”
Front Porch Arts Collective: Front Porch is a Black theater company with a focus on racial equity and Black works. It often collaborates with Central Square Theater, and is currently working with the Huntington Theater, but it is still very much a unique company in its own right. They produce a combination of full productions and staged readings, with a focus on Black culture and community.
Location: Boston, MA
Upcoming: “K-I-S-S-I-N-G”
The Huntington Theater Company: The doyenne of Boston theater, the Huntington is an impressive and well-known theatrical establishment. They sponsor numerous smaller companies (such as Front Porch), host touring shows and companies, while also producing their own works. The Huntington Theater is an absolutely gorgeous space (though currently under renovation) and their shows—a mixture of contemporary plays and musicals—are always worth checking out. Generally, the Huntington is recognized as Boston’s leading professional theater—and it’s certainly one of the oldest, most famous and most well-established.
Location: Boston, MA
Upcoming: “Clyde’s”
Lyric Stage Company: Tucked away in Back Bay is the Lyric Stage Company. Their beautiful black box-style space, coupled with a penchant for earnest storytelling and strong productions makes them a local favorite among Boston theater-goers. They produce a wide range of work—classics, contemporaries, musicals, new works—across all genres, and are certainly a company to keep on your radar. No season at Lyric is the same, and odds are every season will include a show that interests you.
Location: Boston, MA
Currently Playing: “The Great Leap”
SpeakEasy Stage Company: For a long time, SpeakEasy could feel like Lyric’s quiet younger sibling. Not anymore, as the post-pandemic SpeakEasy has sprung back into action with renewed talent, and has one of my favorite seasons this year. SpeakEasy is a highly contemporary company, generally producing at least one musical a year and featuring works that touch on a wide range of topics, issues and tones. Contemporary plays are the company’s speciality, but they are still versatile in the works they can put on. All in all, SpeakEasy is certainly a company to keep your eye on.
Location: Boston, MA
Currently playing: “Fairview”
The Theater Offensive (TTO): The Theater Offensive is a queer and trans theater company with a focus on social-justice oriented plays for both queer people and people of color. TTO also does quite a bit of educational and community building work with local queer and trans youth. While TTO feels like a newer company, they’ve actually been around for 33 years, and is probably the most established of Boston’s social justice-y theater companies. They produce shows as well as running residencies and workshops.
Location: Boston, MA
Upcoming: “Radical Futures” workshops
