About Ogunquit Playhouse is a professional regional theater on 10 Main Street (United States Route 1) in Ogunquit, Maine. Ogunquit Playhouse is one of the last remaining summer theaters from the Summer Stock which still produces musical theatre. The Playhouse's season runs from May–October, producing 5 shows each season.
New Works Ogunquit Playhouse's New Works Program launched in 2016 and has fostered new productions such as Heartbreak Hotel, Grumpy Old Men, The Da Vinci Code, Mystic Pizza the Musical, From Here to Eternity, The Nutty Professor, and Mr. Holland’s Opus. According to the Boston Globe, “Developing new musicals has been part of the theater’s mission, and Kenney says he and the board have been looking for suitable projects and partnerships since 2016, when the theater launched its new works program. That program yielded staged readings of “Frida” and “Mr. Holland’s Opus” in New York, as well as the 2017 world premiere of “Heartbreak Hotel” (described as the prequel to “Million Dollar Quartet”), produced with Fingerlakes Musical Theatre Festival.” In 2024, Ogunquit Playhouse presented the World Premiere of My Best Friend’s Wedding based on the beloved Julia Roberts comedy. The World Premiere of Small Town featuring the music of John Mellencamp running October 1-November 1 will finish up the 2026 season.
History Source:
1927- Walter Hartwig starts the Manhattan Theatre Colony
1933- Walter and Maude Hartwig establish Ogunquit Playhouse in a downtown garage
1937- The Playhouse is built at 10 Main St
1941- Walter Hartwig dies, Maude Hartwig takes over
1950- John Lane becomes General Manager, then owner of Ogunquit Playhouse with business partner, Henry Weller
1994- John Lane retires and transfers ownership of the Playhouse to the Ogunquit Playhouse Foundation, a not-for-profit foundation that oversees the Playhouse to this day
1999- Roy M. Rogison is hired as Producing Artistic Director, and the Playhouse begins producing its own shows, Children's Theatre Program Begins
2000- John Lane dies
2006- Bradford T. Kenney becomes Executive Artistic Director, Season expands from 10 week to 21 week season
2012- Ogunquit Playhouse celebrates its 80th season featuring- Always, Patsy Cline, 9 to 5, South Pacific, Damn Yankees, Ballroom With a Twist, and Buddy-The Buddy Holly Story
2022- Ogunquit Playhouse celebrates its 90th season featuring- The Cher Show, The Nutty Professor, Mr. Holland’s Opus, and Beautiful-The Carole King Musical
2023- Deborah Warren becomes Managing Director
2025- Bradford T. Kenney marks his 20th season with the Playhouse
Past Productions Source:
Shows by season for the last 10 seasons:
2014 Season
Grease, With Mo Gaffney, Directed and Choreographed by DJ Salisbury, May 21-June 21, 2014 Billy Elliot, Directed by BT McNicholl, June 25-July 26, 2014 Mary Poppins, Directed by Shaun Kerrison, July 30-August 30, 2014 The Witches of Eastwick, American Northeast Premiere, Starring Sally Struthers, Directed by Shaun Kerrison, September 3-September 27, 2014 The Addams Family, Directed and Choreographed by Keith Andrews, October 1-October 26, 2014 Mary Poppins (At The Music Hall in Portsmouth, NH), Directed by Shaun Kerrison
2015 Season
Sister Act, Directed by Steven Beckler, May 20-June 20, 2015 Victor/Victoria, Directed by Matt Lenz, June 24-July 18, 2015 Nice Work If You Can Get It, with Sally Struthers and Brenda Vaccaro, Directed by Larry Raben, July 22-August 15, 2015 Million Dollar Quartet, Directed by Hunter Foster, August 19-September 19 Saturday Night Fever, Directed by Keith Andrews, September 23-October 25 White Christmas (At The Music Hall in Portsmouth, NH), Directed by Jayme McDaniel, December 9-December 20, 2015 2016 Season Let It Be: A Celebration of the Music of the Beatles, Directed by Daniel A. Weiss, May 18-June 11, 2016 Anything Goes, With Andrea McArdle and Sally Struthers, Directed by Jaymie McDaniel, June 15-July 9, 2016 The Hunchback of Notre Dame, With Paolo Montalban and F. Michael Haynie, Directed by Shaun Kerrison, July 13-August 6, 2016 Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Directed by David Ruttura, August 10-September 3, 2016 Million Dollar Quartet, Directed by Hunter Foster, October 5- November 6, 2016 Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (At The Music Hall in Portsmouth, NH), Directed by Sam Scalamoni, November 30- December 18, 2016
2017 Season
Mamma Mia!, With Patrick Cassidy and Angie Schworer, Directed by Larry Raben, May 17-July 1, 2017 Bullets Over Broadway, With Sally Struthers and Vincent Pastore, Directed and Choreographed by Jeff Whiting, July 5- July 29, 2017 Ragtime, With Klea Blackhurst, Directed by Seth Skylar-Heyn, August 2-August 26, 2017 Heartbreak Hotel, World Premiere, Written and Directed by Floyd Mutrux, August 30-September 30, 2017 From Here to Eternity, North American Premiere, With Robyn Hurder, Directed and Choreographed by Brett Smock, October 4-October 29, 2017 White Christmas (At The Music Hall in Portsmouth, NH), With Sally Struthers, Directed by Jaymie McDaniel, November 29-December 17, 2017
2018 Season
Smokey Joe’s Cafe, With Kyle Taylor Parker and Jelani Remy, Directed and Choreographed by Joshua Bergasse, May 16- June 9, 2018 Oklahoma!, Directed by Fred Hanson, June 13-July 7, 2018 An American in Paris, With Clyde Alves, Directed and Choreographed by Jeffry Denman, July 11-August 4, 2018 Grumpy Old Men, American Premiere, With Sally Struthers and Hal Linden, Directed by Matt Lenz, August 8-September 1, 2018 Jersey Boys, With Jonathan Mousset, Directed by Holly-Anne Palmer, September 5-October 28 Elf The Musical (At The Music Hall in Portsmouth, NH), With Jennifer Cody, Directed and Choreographed by Connor Gallagher, November 28-December 16, 2018
2019 Season Jersey Boys, With Jonathan Mousset, Directed by Holly-Anne Palmer, May 15-June 15, 2019 42nd Street, With Rachel York, Directed and Choreographed by Randy Skinner, June 19-July 13, 2019 Cabaret, With John Rubinstein, Directed by BT McNicholl, July 17-August 10, 2019 Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express, With Kate Loprest, Directed by Shaun Kerrison, August 14-August 31, 2019 Menopause The Musical, With Cindy Williams, September 4-September 14, 2019 Kinky Boots, With Kyle Taylor Parker, Directed by Nathan Peck, September 18- October 27, 2019 Annie (At The Music Hall in Portsmouth, NH) With Sally Struthers and Angie Schworer, Directed by James A. Rocco, November 27- December 22, 2019 2020 Season Playhouse Patio Cabaret, Outdoor concert series featuring Playhouse stars Broadway Gives Back to the Playhouse (Streaming Event) A Very Brady Musical (Streaming Benefit Event), With Gavin Lee, Kerry Butler, and Klea Blackhurst, Directed by Richard Israel, Wednesday October 28, 2020 2021 Season
All took place in the Leary Pavilion
Spamalot, With Charles Shaughnessy and Jennifer Cody, Directed by BT McNicholl, June 16- July 10, 2021 Escape to Margaritaville, Regional Premiere, With Cailen Fu and Megan Kane, Directed by Richard J. Hinds, July 14- August 28, 2021 Mystic Pizza, World Premiere, With Krystina Alabado, Gianna Yanelli, and Kyra Kennedy, Directed by Casey Hushion, September 1- October 2, 2021 Young Frankenstein, With Sally Struthers, John Bolton, and Hannah Cruz, Directed by Jeff Whiting, October 6-October 31, 2021 Playhouse Patio Cabaret, Outdoor concert series featuring Playhouse stars
2022 Season
The Cher Show, Regional Premiere, With Sara Gettlefinger, David Engel, and Angie Schworer, Directed by Gerry McIntyre, May 12-June 25, 2022 The Nutty Professor, World Premiere, With Dan DeLuca, Klea Blackhurst, and Jeff McCarthy, Directed by Marc Bruni, July 1-August 6, 2022 Mr. Holland’s Opus, World Premiere, With Akron Watson, Anastasia Barzee, and Veanne Cox, Directed by BD Wong, August 13- September 10, 2022 Beautiful- The Carole King Musical, Regional Premiere, With Sarah Bockel, Ben Jacoby, and Anthony Festa, Directed by David Ruttura, September 15- October 30, 2022 Elf The Musical (at The Music Hall in Portsmouth), With Steven Booth and Diana Huey, November 20- December 18, 2022 2023 Season Million Dollar Quartet (at The Music Hall in Portsmouth), With Daniel Durston, Scott Moreau, and Nat Zegree, Directed by Hunter Foster, March 22- April 9, 2023 Beautiful- The Carole King Musical, With Sarah Bockel, Ben Jacoby, and Matthew Amira, Directed by David Ruttura, May 11-June 10, 2023 Singin’ in the Rain, With Max Clayton, Christian Probst, and Kate Loprest, Directed by Jaymie McDaniel, June 15-July 15, 2023. On Your Feet! The Story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan, The New International Production, With Gaby Albo, Directed by Luis Salgado, July 20-August 19, 2023 The Da Vinci Code, World Premiere, With Michael Urie, Hannah Cruz, and Charles Shaughnessy, Directed by Leigh Toney, August 24-September 23, 2023 Tootsie, Regional Premiere, With Dan DeLuca, Sally Struthers, Reed Campbell, and Jennifer Cody, Directed by Larry Raben, September 28-October 29, 2023 The Sound of Music (at The Music Hall in Portsmouth), With Emilie Kouatchou, Barrett Foa, Elizabeth Teeter, and Kate Loprest, Directed by Anthony C. Daniel, November 29-December 17, 2023 2024 Season Waitress, Regional Premiere, With Desi Oakley, Ben Jacoby, and Cleavant Derricks, Directed by Abbey O’Brien, Choreographed by Cost n’ Mayor, May 9-June 8, 2024 Crazy For You, With Max Clayton, Sally Struthers, and Taylor Aronson, Directed by Angelique Ilo, June 13-July 13, 2024 A Little Night Music, With Kathleen Turner, Julia Murney, and Nik Walker, Directed by Hunter Foster, July 18-August 17, 2024 Little Shop of Horrors, With Latrice Royale, Talia Suskauer, and Etai Benson, Directed by Hunter Foster, August 22-September 21, 2024 My Best Friend’s Wedding, World Premiere, With Krystal Joy Brown, Matt Doyle, and Lianah Sta. Ana, Directed by Kathleen Marshall, September 26-October 27, 2024 Disney’s Frozen the Broadway Musical (at The Music Hall in Portsmouth), With Cate Hayman and Marilyn Caserta, Directed by Angelique Ilo, November 27-December 22, 2024
2025 Season
Come From Away, With Mary Kate Morrissey, Directed and Choreographed by Richard J. Hinds, May 15-June 14, 2025. Guys and Dolls, With Rob McClure, Ephraim Sykes, and Bianca Marroquin, Directed and Choreographed by Al Blackstone, June 19-July 19, 2025. High Society, With Robyn Hurder, Bryan Batt, and Sara Gettelfinger, Directed by Matt Lenz, July 24-August 23, 2025 When Elvis Met The Beatles, World Premiere, Directed by Hunter Foster, August 28-September 27, 2025 Titanic The Musical, With Wesley Taylor and Charles Shaughnessy, Directed by Shaun Kerrison, October 2-November 2, 2025 2026 Season
Ain't Too Proud- The Life and Times of the Temptations, Directed by Gerry McIntyre and Choreographed by Rachelle Rak, May 14-June 13, 2026. Hello Dolly, with Beth Leavel, Matt Doyle and Ruthie Ann Miles. Directed by Maggie Burrows and Choreographed by William Carlos Angulo, June 18-July 18, 2026. City of Angels, Directed by Hunter Foster and Choreographed by Jenn Rias, July 23-August 22, 2026. The Producers, Directed and Choreographed by James Gray, August 27-September 26, 2026. Small Town, World Premiere John Mellencamp Musical, Directed and Choreographed by Kathleen Marshall, October 1-November 1, 2026.
Notable performers Performers who have appeared at the Ogunquit Playhouse include the following:
Clyde Alves – Jerry Mulligan in An American in Paris (2018) Ethel Barrymore Anastasia Barzee – Mrs. Wilkinson in Billy Elliot the Musical (2014), Iris Holland in Mr. Holland's Opus (2022) Bryan Batt- Uncle Willie in High Society (2025) Klea Blackhurst – Miss Lemon in The Nutty Professor (2022) John Bolton – Dr. Frederick Frankenstein in Young Frankenstein (2013), Dr. Frederick Frankenstein in Young Frankenstein (2021) Krystal Joy Brown – Julianne Potter in My Best Friend's Wedding (2024)