This summer theater season features military commanders – both cute and terrifying. It will have romances – both cute and silly. It will have blood lust and old fashioned love, cults of personality and cults of plants, and loads of explorations on how and why societies go wrong. From dance to Shakespeare to “Do-Re-Mi,” Massachusetts summer stages have so much to offer.
“Rooted,” the Lyric Stage, now through June 25
We’ve all done it. Accidentally start a cult, that is. Emery Harris is a loner living in a treehouse with her plants. Emery’s only contact to the outside world is her sister, Hazel, and her plant-centric YouTube channel. But when Emery’s channel goes viral and the citizens of her small town come to view her as a botanical messiah, she is forced to confront the public. Lyricstage.com
“Private Lives,” Gloucester Stage, Gloucester, now through June 25
Noël Coward’s 1930 play begins with ex-husband and wife discovering they picked the same French hotel to honeymoon with their new spouses. Did the hotel book them in rooms that share a balcony? Yes. Do sparks fly? Yes. Do hijinks ensue? Oh, absolutely. Gloucesterstage.com
“As you Like It,” Balch Arena Theater, Medford, now through June 25
The Actors’ Shakespeare Project closes its season with the crossdressing chaos and gender twisting of the Bard’s best comedy at a time when state legislatures across the country have set out to ban drag performances. actorsshakespeareproject.org
“Evita,” Loeb Drama Center, Cambridge, now through July 30
Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s musical about Eva Perón’s rise from a poor, rural childhood to first lady of Argentina had no business succeeding. But “Evita” won seven much-deserved Tonys. Come see what the always-adventurous American Repertory Theater does with the complex and stunningly-beautiful rock opera. Americanrepertorytheater.org
“Not Eye, Us,” Calderwood Pavilion, June 22-24
Directors Fernadina Chan and Adriane Brayton have created an immersive dance-theater work inspired by Michael Alfano’s sculpture “Cubed.” Through manipulation of the sculpture’s nine moveable pieces, each the color of a different skin tone, “Not Eye, Us” explores individual diversity and united community. Bcaonline.org
“The Sound of Music,” North Shore Music Theatre, Beverly, July 11-23
The North Shore is alive with the sound of music. Return to this charming tale of love, loss, mountain ranges, bedtimes, lonely goat herders, and all your favorite things. Nsmt.org
“Macbeth,” Parkman Bandstand on the Boston Common, July 19 – Aug. 6
As a democracy, we would do well to mind our Shakespeare. Set in a land of wild civil strife, a place where the social fabric is rotting, Macbeth dives into a murderous plot to become king. Come for the art, stay for the politics. Oh, and it’s free! Commshakes.org
“Come From Away,” Citizens Bank Opera House, Aug 8 – 13
Set in the week following the Sept. 11 attacks, “Come From Away” is inspired by the true story of 38 planes forced to land in a tiny town in Newfoundland and the townsfolk’s effort to keep 7,000 stranded travelers safe and sane over five days. Straightforward, sincere, kindhearted and revelatory, “Come From Away” is unlike any other Broadway show. boston.broadway.com
